Pilot Projects Bury CO 2 in Basalt

Basalt formations, such as these towers on the Columbia River in Washington state, could be used to trap carbon dioxide. Image: Kevin Schafer/Corbis

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By early August, scientists will have pumped 1,000 tons of pure carbon dioxide into porous rock far below the northwestern United States. The goal is to find a permanent home for the carbon dioxide generated by human activities.

Researchers at the US Department of Energy?s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) in Richland, Washington, began the injections into the Columbia River Basalt formation near the town of Wallula on 17?July. The rock contains pores created as many as 16?million years ago, when magma flowed across what is now the Columbia River Basin. Bubbles of CO₂ migrated to the edges of the magma as it cooled, forming layers of holes sandwiched between solid rock (see 'Rock steady').

In pumping emissions back underground, ?we are returning the carbon dioxide from whence it came?, says Pete McGrail, an environ?mental engineer at the PNNL who is heading the experiment, part of a larger energy-department program on ways to sequester carbon.

The Wallula project is the second of two worldwide to target basalt formations, which scientists hope can hold ? and permanently mineralize ? vast quantities of gas. In basalt, dissolved CO₂ should react with calcium and magnesium to form limestone over the course of decades. Until the gas is locked away, the porous basalt layers are capped by solid rock that will prevent leaking. That should eliminate concerns about leakage that have dogged other proposals to store CO₂ deep underground, often in sandstone reservoirs.

Source: PNNL

The basalt reactions are part of a natural weathering process that has helped to regulate atmospheric CO₂ levels throughout geological time. Scientists have analyzed mineralization in the lab, but it is only now being tested in the field.

Researchers working on the other basalt project, based in Iceland and run by a consortium of US and European scientists along with Reykjavik Energy, made their first CO₂ injections last year and will conduct another round this year. Early results look promising, says Juerg Matter, a geochemist at Columbia University?s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory in Palisades, New York, who is working on the Iceland project. ?The mineralization reaction is most likely faster than what we in the community had thought,? says Matter, who has also contributed to the Wallula project. Assuming that holds true for basalt generally, ?you reduce the risk of leakage, and you can pretty much walk away from your storage reservoirs?.

In Wallula, researchers are already monitoring a series of shallow wells around the injection site for signs of CO₂ leaking into the soil and groundwater. Once the injection is finished, they will start taking samples from the injection well to monitor water chemistry, track changes in carbon isotopes and check for other evidence of reactions. Lab tests and computer simulations suggest that in general, around 20% of the CO₂ should be mineralized within 10?15 years, says McGrail.

The pilot project, however, is operating on a shorter timescale. Fourteen months after the end of injection, the team plans to drill another well and pull up a core of rock to assess the results, says McGrail. ?At that point, we are hoping to have some carbonized rock in our hands.?

But achieving sequestration is only half the battle: scientists and engineers must still work out how to capture CO₂ from industrial facilities and transport it to the sequestration site cost-effectively. And even if a carbon-mineralization industry took off, establishing it on a global level would require an undertaking on the scale of rebuilding the oil industry.

Source: http://rss.sciam.com/~r/ScientificAmerican-News/~3/YGHN01hs8gE/article.cfm

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Celebrity Trainer Tracy Anderson & Husband Split!

Celebrity Trainer Tracy Anderson & Husband Split!

Tracy Anderson and her husband Matt Mogol are calling time on their marriage after only two years. The 38-year-old celebrity trainer, who actress Gwyneth Paltrow credits for giving her her toned body, confirmed the separation. Tracy Anderson’s spokesperson confirmed that Tracy and Matt Hogol, who tied the knot in 2011, decided to part ways. They ...

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Source: http://stupidcelebrities.net/2013/07/celebrity-trainer-tracy-anderson-husband-split/

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Nokia Promises All major iOS and Android Apps Are Coming, Only Question is When

Engadget had a chance to sit down with?Bryan Biniak, the general manager of app development at Nokia and asked the tough questions. Mainly when are we going to see the Android and iOS gap filled in WP? Bryan?s answer was interesting to say the least; where he mentioned that not a single major app developer they approached had said ?no? instead all that matters is the ?when? of the apps arrival to the platform.

We?re not having a single conversation with anybody, of any material application that?s out there, that isn?t going to be coming to the platform. It?s not a matter of if ? I had those conversations, the ?if? conversations, before ? all of our conversations now are ?when.?

Of course one of those major apps would have to be Instagram, which although the demand has been sated by the likes of instance metrogram and now even Oggl, it remains the most prominent app to hold out on the platform.

The other big name who is absent from WP would have to be Google, who for competitive reasons (under the pretence of there being no interest in WP) have barely released any apps at all (only Google search and the Youtube app with Microsoft), they?ve even abstained from creating a Google+ app (not that many people care ). When asked about Google?s stance towards developing for WP Bryan?s reply was:

They are doing themselves a disservice by not being on every screen.? He also used the big G as an example of a company that prefers web-based apps, whereas Nokia is pushing for native apps. ?That will get resolved over time, but as consumer demand builds, they?re not going to have an option,? Biniak said. For clarity, we asked whether Google is actively discussing WP8 apps, to which Biniak replied, ?yeah, absolutely.?

What I find most interesting about this, is the fact that once again it?s Nokia going the extra mile (or ten) to fill the WP app gap, while Microsoft does god knows what. (as far as I can think of, the new Halo is practically the only real big app Microsoft have created besides the social apps).

Source

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Category: Applications, Lumia, Nokia, Windows Phone

Source: http://mynokiablog.com/2013/07/27/nokia-promises-all-major-ios-and-android-apps-are-coming-only-question-is-when/

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Obama hosts Ramadan dinner at White House (cbsnews)

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One in Four Surgical Errors Is a Machine's Fault

Technology might be transforming the world of healthcare, but it's also throwing up its fair share of problems, too: according to a new study, 1 in 4 surgical errors is a result of a technological glitch.

Read more...

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/5IWKVWcJHB0/one-in-four-surgical-errors-is-a-machines-fault-921008443

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Tony Clark becomes No. 2 official of baseball union

NEW YORK ? Former major league All-Star Tony Clark has been promoted to deputy executive director of the baseball players union, giving ailing head Michael Weiner a No. 2 official who could take over if his health worsens.

The 41-year-old Clark joined the union staff as director of player relations in March 2010. He assisted in collective bargaining the following year and was most recently director of player services.

Weiner took over from Donald Fehr in December 2009 to become the fourth head of the union since 1966. Weiner said last August that he had been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor and said last week that his condition deteriorated in June. He must use a wheelchair and cannot move his right side or right arm.

Clark's appointment was approved 26-0 Tuesday by the union's executive board.

Source: http://www.sportingnews.com/mlb/story/2013-07-24/tony-clark-becomes-no-2-official-of-baseball-union-mlbpa-michael-weiner

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Adenoviruses may pose risk for monkey-to-human leap

[unable to retrieve full-text content]Adenoviruses commonly infect humans, causing colds, flu-like symptoms and sometimes even death, but now researchers have discovered that a new species of adenovirus can spread from primate to primate, and potentially from monkey to human.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/irowj8tJDCc/130725091236.htm

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Kids Who Grow Up Using iPads Have Restricted ... - Business Insider

Oli Scarff/Getty Images

The iPad generation will learn fewer words, experts fear, as using text messages, emails and computers to learn could be stunting children?s vocabulary.

Our brains are hardwired to learn new words when we hear others use them in conversation. But as children increasingly learn through devices instead of listening to others they do not get the opportunity to hear a wide range of words.

Therefore experts believed that the oral tradition of passing on knowledge is being eroded, and all generations spend too long staring at their screens.

Marco Catani, of the Institute of Psychiatry, King?s College London, told the Daily Mail that increasingly people do not have time to communicate and children turn to the internet, iPhones, mobile phones and tablet computers to which they all have access to.

"These are visual rather than auditory, so it is likely that they will end up with a lower average number of words than previous generations,? he said.

Over reliance on computers has previously been blamed for shorter attention spans and making children increasingly self-centered.

In a study, 27 volunteers had their brains scanned as they learned made-up words, and it was found that hearing and verbally imitating speech was the key to understanding.

Dr Catani explained that when learning new vocabulary you start by hearing it then repeat it until you get it right, and therefore increase your vocabulary and by the time a person reaches adulthood they know around 30,000 words.

One area of the brain, the arcuate fasciculus, is key to this process.

It is a bundle of nerve fibres which links two regions of the brain which are tied to language ? one that hears and decodes sounds, and one that moves the mouth to form speech.Those with a stronger arcuate fasciculus found it easier to learn new words, the scans showed.

Once familiar, words are stored in other parts of the brain, according to the study reported in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Dr Catani said: ?Now we understand that this is how we learn new words, our concern is that children learn new words, our concern is that children will have less vocabulary, as much of their interaction is through text, email and screen.

"This research reinforces the need for us to maintain the oral tradition of talking to our children.?

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/kids-who-grow-up-using-ipads-have-restricted-vocabularies-2013-7

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ClearCydia.com Lays Out Comprehensive Cydia Info for More "Exciting" Apple Devices

ClearCydia.com must-known information and guide for downloading, installing and using Cydia to make the most out of iDevices.

Napa, CA (I-Newswire) July 18, 2013 - For many, owning an Apple gadget is tantamount to having a highly useful and reliable partner that deliberately squeezes modern mobile technology into a handy device. While so, Apple devices, such as iPhones, iPads and iPods can do a bit more, if only manufacturer restrictions could be bypassed. Unsurprisingly, many iDevice owners find it practical to jailbreak the gadget.

Once jailbroken, the iPhone turns itself into a device with which owners can create a world of their own. Cydia, a management system specially designed iOS devices, makes this possible.

ClearCydia.com is a website dedicated to featuring everything Cydia. Created by Jay Freeman, Cydia is the software application that enables iDevice owners to browse and download applications for their jailbroken gadget. At ClearCydia.com, users will find a wealth of Cydia tutorial, how-to Cydia articles, as well as Cydia sources, tweaks and apps.

ClearCydia.com suggests for Apple gadget owners to try out free jailbreak software online, such as RedSnow, Absinthe or Greenpoison, which are commonly used by around the world. According to the website, jailbreak is a relatively easy process that completes a few minutes, and ensures good results with a good tutorial. There are also jailbreak tools that will ask users to download and install Cydia apps.

ClearCydia.com offers the blueprint for downloading and installing Cydia, guiding visitors throughout the process, so that they ultimately learn to manage other third-party applications or packages using the software. With a Cydia download and installation, Apple gadget owners can install themes, change their background colors, and create custom ringtones to make the product truly reflective of their personality. Following the installation of Cydia, users can also redefine their repositories and install other free apps or tweaks. The website cautions users, however, to beware untrusted sources.

To find out more about Cydia and everything that the online tutorial has to offer, please visit http://www.clearcydia.com/ for information.

Source: http://www.i-newswire.com/clearcydia-com-lays-out-comprehensive/230847

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Apple Reportedly Testing iPad and iPhones With Bigger Screens

Some of Apple's future iPhones and iPads might give you more screen real estate, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal.

The Cupertino-based company has recently been testing an iPhone screen larger than 4 inches and an iPad screen slightly smaller than 13 inches with its Asia suppliers. The current iPhone 5 has a 4-inch screen and the iPad has a 9.7-inch display.

But before you start holding out for these bigger devices, it's important to remember that Apple has long tested different designs that never make it to market. Just take a look at all these iPhone prototype designs.

However, this isn't the first time there has been speculation about a bigger iPhone in the last few months. In June Reuters reported that Apple was looking at iPhones with 4.7-inch and 5.7-inch displays.

Apple declined to comment on the reports when reached by ABC News, however, CEO Tim Cook addressed the question of larger screened phones earlier this summer while speaking at the All Things D conference.

When asked about a range of iPhones, Cook said it's something that the company hasn't done, but "that doesn't shut off the future."

Cook also said the iPhone doesn't have a larger screen right now for a few reasons. "A large screen today comes with a lot of tradeoffs," he said. "People do look at the size, but they also look at things like if the photos show the proper color, the white balance, reflectivity, battery life, brightness, the longevity of the display." He also added that Apple only expands product lines, as it did with the different iPads, when there is a need to.

"On the phone, that's the question. Are we now at a point to serve enough people that we need to do that?" Cook asked.

Samsung, Apple's fiercest competitor in the smartphone space, has released phones and tablets in what seems like every size. Its Galaxy Note 2 has a 5.5-inch screen and comes with a stylus.

Apple is expected to release the next version of the iPhone -- the iPhone 5S -- later this year, which is said to have minimal aesthetic tweaks but some internal changes. The iOS 7 software for the new phone, however, will be drastically overhauled. The operating system, which Apple previewed in June, has a host of new features, including multitasking options and a command center.

Source: http://everythinglubbock.com/fulltext?nxd_id=205592

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Feng Shui: Redecorating Done properly | The Lawyer

W hen a homeowner sets seem to redecorate the inside of the home there unique to take into account. Things like new paint, new flooring, wall paper, countertops, and even furniture are all usually the main point on a homeowners mind. There is certainly the one thing however that a great many homeowners often overlook knowning that another thing is FENG SHUI SYDNEY.
Feng Shui is actually the art of arranging and positioning furniture and various objects in a house into proper positions in order that the energy flow inside a home promotes better health, energy, and living. Feng shui arose in ancient China and is particularly in line with the thought that energy flows by having a home on its unique characteristics.

Working with a professional Feng Shui expert, a house owner can be sure that not merely will he/she feel great for their home on the other hand new furniture and decor will appear fantastic also. Once hired, an authority will commence examining a home?s interior and also the interactions between people as well as the actual building. They?re going to consider several things including time related factors and then determines just how to create new furniture and fixtures within some kind of room. Feng Shui experts may even show homeowners the partnership relating to the interior along with the outside of their residence and exactly how it relates to their outlook on life and well-being. As soon as a firm assessment has been manufactured Feng Shui experts will make sure that new furniture and in some cases other sorts of decor they fit properly inside of a home.
Some Feng Shui experts are affordable, homeowners redecorating but operating on very strict and modest budgets ought to do a little things themselves. Most professionals will advise do-it-yourselfer?s to arrange furniture so that it faces a door and it?ll suggest that seating areas be create away from areas inside of a home that receive drafts. Do-it-yourselfer?s will even need to work hard to prevent clutter out of the areas that happen to be for the purpose of relaxation. In combination with these matters some do-it-yourselfer?s may wish to dangle one after their hallway so that the hallway doesn?t could be seen as a dead-end and could want to place one behind the stove too to avoid surprises when someone approaches them from behind.
Individuals give your very best to purchase and care for qualities. When it?s time for redecorating remodeling they will undoubtedly choose to make certain that improvements they generate for their home bring them more pleasure and relaxation than did their previous arrange. If your homeowner intends on remodeling the inside with their home and adding new furniture why don?t you take the project completely and use a feng shui for anxiety?

For more information about feng shui marriage visit our website.

Tags: feng, shui

Source: http://thelawyer.com.ng/feng-shui-redecorating-done-properly/

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ROUTES CIS: Transaero Introduces Cargo Link to London

Posted 20 July 2013 18:29

Russian carrier Transaero has introduced a new direct cargo service between Moscow and London to support the growing demand for air freight services within its network.? The airline currently offers passenger flights into London Heathrow but the use of single-aisle aircraft alongside its widebodies to meet demand means it has only limited cargo uplift potential.

The new weekly dedicated freight service will enable it support the demand and it has selected London Satnsted Airport for the operation, the UK?s third busiest cargo airport.? Alongside accessing the Russian capital, the link also has access to multiple connections across Transaero's wide-ranging network and has been specifically developed to cater for increased demand from freight forwarders.

"We are delighted Transaero have chosen London Stansted as their preferred UK airport for developing their UK cargo services.? This is the first new cargo service to London Stansted since the recent acquisition by M.A.G, and we are certain it will not be the last,? said Conan Busby, Cargo Business Development Manager, M.A.G.

"Transaero's arrival clearly demonstrates the attractiveness of London Stansted as a UK cargo hub and is a perfect example of why M.A.G chose to invest in our new London gateway, the only London airport with spare capacity and world-class infrastructure already in place to meet demand and support growth in the South East right now,? he added.

Stansted is one of the largest freight hubs in the UK and home to an international cargo operation that transports over 240,000 tonnes of goods to destinations in nearly every continent, including the Americas, the Far East, Africa and the Middle East.? Testimony to the airport's status as a major international cargo facility is the growing number of industry leaders that have already chosen to operate from the airport ? Asiana, British Airways World Cargo, Cargolux, Global Supply Systems, FedEx, Martinair, Royal Mail, Panalpina, Titan, TNT and UPS.

The new route is being flown using a Tupolev Tu-204-100C and follows the recent arrival of a second example in the carrier?s fleet.? Transaero has acquired both aircraft from Ilyushin Finance Corporation (IFC) and introduced the first example into service in April on the Moscow ? Novosibirsk ? Yakutsk - Moscow route.? According to the carrier the aircraft will be used on a mix of domestic and international routes, with the Austrian capital, Vienna, another western European market to be served by the type.

?Transaero intends to develop the segment of cargo transportation and the acquisition of Tu-204-100C aircraft underlines the carrier?s commitment to supporting Russian aircraft industry,? a spokesperson told The HUB this week.? According to statistics from Russia?s Transport Clearing House, Transaero was the number one domestic cargo operator in Russia during the first four months of 2013, growing its freight turnover to a total of 76.1 million tonne km.

Source: http://www.routesonline.com/news/29/breaking-news/209835/routes-cis-transaero-introduces-cargo-link-to-london/

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Waiting For Next-Gen | Games Thirst ? Video Game News, Reviews ...

I?ve been a gamer all my life, and although the amount of time I put into sessions weekly has waned, I?ll be a gamer until I die. Yes, old and grey won?t be able to quench my passion, because when something?s in your blood, nothing can kill it but death itself. So in my 80s, 90s and over the century ? if I live that long (haha) I?ll be gaming hard.

I said all this to make a point: I?m super-excited about next-gen! I?m excited for the new ways of play that will be enabled through the new machines. I know Killzone: Shadow Fall looks exactly like what we?d expect, with prettier visuals and a more open world, but nonetheless I?m looking forward to getting my hands on that game so bad that I wish the time would speed up!

Games like Destiny has me intrigued! The Order: 1886 looks amazing! And even if we have no idea what Naughty Dog and Sony Santa Monica are working on, judging by their past works, you know they?ll be awesome. Yet that?s not all Sony has to offer, and I don?t believe we?ve scratched the surface of the awesomeness next-gen will bring, and that?s without mentioning titles like The Division from Ubisoft, Watch Dogs, again from Ubisoft, and other daring next-gen third-party efforts.

But you say, ?Ernice, what of Microsoft and Xbox One?? Well, there are some great titles coming to that system as well. The most outstanding is Respawn Entertainment?s Xbox One timed-exclusive Titanfall. It won the most awards at E3 and the prestigious Game of Show award, too. The demo shown at the event looked amazing, and it?s from the makers of Call of Duty and Modern Warfare. Expect nothing less than excellence.

Then there?s second-party efforts like Ryse from Crytek, Quantum Leap from Remedy, and Killer Instinct, a Rare IP being helmed at Double Helix. So Microsoft got some great offerings, too. I?m not buying that box, however, at least not until Microsoft decides to make Kinect a peripheral that I don?t need to purchase to play games on Xbox One, because like I?ve said elsewhere many times, I just can?t live in a house with a device that?s constantly watching and listening to my every move. Worse, it was revealed that MS has been giving the NSA and CIA people?s personal data, and I don?t know about you, but that to me is just scary.

Anyway, I?m pumped for the eighth generation of gaming ? are you?

What games are you most excited for and looking forward to? You realize I didn?t mention Call of Duty: Ghosts or Battlefield 4 ? these games we?ll be awesome I?m sure, and I?m getting both, but they?re current-gen titles looking to successfully transcend into the next, and I only mentioned Killzone: Shadow Fall because I?m a huge fan.

November is most likely when the new consoles will launch, and November, I reckon, cannot come fast enough.

Source: http://www.gamesthirst.com/2013/07/20/waiting-for-next-gen/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=waiting-for-next-gen

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King David-Era Palace Found in Israel, Archaeologists Say

Archaeologists say they've uncovered two royal buildings from Israel's biblical past, including a palace suspected to have belonged to King David.

The findings at Khirbet Qeiyafa ? an fortified hilltop city about 19 miles (30 kilometers) southwest of Jerusalem ? indicate that David, who defeated Goliath in the Bible, ruled a kingdom with a great political organization, the excavators say.

"This is unequivocal evidence of a kingdom's existence, which knew to establish administrative centers at strategic points," read a statement from archaeologists Yossi Garfinkel of the Hebrew University and Saar Ganor of the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA).

The IAA announced the finds as a seven-year long excavation at the site is wrapping up. The government agency and the Israel Nature and Parks Authority have halted the planned construction of a nearby neighborhood, hoping to make the site a national park. [In Photos: Archaeology Around the World]

Garfinkel has previously said Khirbet Qeiyafa could be the site of Shaaraim, a biblical city associated with King David in the Bible. Shaaraim means "two gates" and two gates have been found in the fortress ruins. Others researchers, meanwhile, have claimed this site might be Neta'im, another town mentioned in the book 1 Chronicles in the Old Testatment.

Prior radiocarbon analysis on burnt olive pits at the site indicated that it existed between 1020 B.C. and 980 B.C., before being violently destroyed, likely in a battle against the Philistines. Much of the palace was further wrecked 1,400 years later when a Byzantine farmhouse was built on the site.

The archaeologists found a 100-foot-long (30-meter-long) wall that would have enclosed the palace, and inside the complex they discovered fragments of ceramic and alabaster vessels, some of them imported from Egypt. The researchers say the building was strategically located to overlook the city and the Valley of Elah.

"From here one has an excellent vantage looking out into the distance, from as far as the Mediterranean Sea in the west, to the Hebron Mountains and Jerusalem in the east," the archaeologists said. "This is an ideal location from which to send messages by means of fire signals."

The excavators also found a pillared building measuring about 50 feet by 20 feet (15 m by 6 m) that was likely used as an administrative storeroom.

"It was in this building the kingdom stored taxes it received in the form of agricultural produce collected from the residents of the different villages in the Judean Shephelah," or Judean foothills, the archaeologists said. "Hundreds of large store jars were found at the site whose handles were stamped with an official seal as was customary in the Kingdom of Judah for centuries."

Follow Megan Gannon on Twitter and Google+. Follow us @livescience, Facebook & Google+. Original article on LiveScience.com.

Source: http://www.livescience.com/38318-king-david-palace-found-israel.html

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Iraq: Sunni mosque bombing, other attacks kills 26

BAGHDAD (AP) ? A bomb hidden in an air conditioner that ripped through a Sunni mosque during midday prayers and other attacks killed at least 26 in Iraq on Friday, extending a wave of violence targeting worshippers during the holy month of Ramadan.

Suicide attacks, car bombings and other violence have killed more than 200 people since the Islamic holy month of daytime fasting and charity began last week, according to an Associated Press count.

The violence is an extension of a surge of attacks that has roiled Iraq for months, reviving fears of a return to the widespread sectarian bloodshed that pushed the country to the brink of civil war after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion.

Most of those killed Friday were slain while performing midday prayers in the packed Abu Bakir al-Sideeq mosque in the town of Wijaihiya, which is about 80 kilometers (50 miles) northeast of Baghdad.

Worshippers and other eyewitnesses said the bomb apparently was planted inside a wall-mounted air conditioning unit to the left of the pulpit. AP television footage of the aftermath showed the interior of the mosque near the bomb site charred black and shrapnel damage peppering the walls. Glass, shoes and other debris littered the blood-soaked red prayer rugs lining the floor.

One of those praying inside, 30-year-old Mohammed Faleh, said the blast struck as male worshippers, including children, were kneeling during communal prayers.

"I stood up to find blood-stained bodies lying on the ground. The Friday prayer turned into a disaster. Whoever left these bombs has no religion," he said.

Faleh said security forces found a second bomb left near the mosque that they rendered safe with a controlled detonation.

Between 250 to 300 people were inside the mosque when the bombing happened, said Sami Dawoud Salman, a member of the local Sahwa, a group of anti-al-Qaida Sunni militiaman that work alongside government security forces. He said the mosque was unguarded and that the local imam had been unsuccessful in getting increased protection.

"I'm asking the government for a solution. There's no security," survivor Jassim Dawoud said. "It's a disastrous situation."

Diyala province, where the attack occurred, was once the site of some of the fiercest fighting between U.S. forces and insurgents in Iraq. It remains a hotbed for terrorist attacks. The area is religiously mixed and witnessed some of the worst atrocities as Shiite militias battled Sunni insurgents for control in the years after the invasion.

"Terrorism is targeting all sects in Diyala mainly by attacking Sunni and Shiite mosques, funerals and football fields to draw the province into a sectarian conflict. All the victims were civilians," said Diyala provincial councilman Sadiq al-Husseini, appealing for calm. "I call on all Diyala residents to show self-restraint."

Police and hospital officials said that at least 22 people were killed and more than 50 were wounded in the mosque blast.

The U.S. Embassy condemned the mosque attack, saying that the fact it struck a place of worship during Ramadan "is especially despicable and cowardly and exposes the nature of those perpetrating these attacks."

Attacks outside the restive city of Mosul, 360 kilometers (225 miles) northwest of Baghdad, claimed four more lives. Two women died when mortar shells landed outside their house in nearby village, and a roadside bomb killed a father and son when it struck their car, authorities said.

The officials provided details of the attacks on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to release the information to media.

The attacks struck as Iran's outgoing president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, wrapped up a two-day trip to Iraq with visits to Shiite Muslim holy cities of Najaf and Karbala south of Baghdad. There was no indication the attacks were related to his trip.

Violence across Iraq has risen sharply since a heavy-handed crackdown by security forces on a Sunni protest camp in the northern town of Hawija on April 23. That raid followed months of rallies by Iraq's minority Sunnis against the Shiite-led government over what they contend is second-class treatment and the unfair use of tough anti-terrorism measures against their sect.

The surge in bloodshed has left more than 2,800 people dead and many more wounded since the start of April.

Attacks on Sunni mosques, for years a relatively rare target in Iraq, have picked up significantly in recent months.

There has been no claim of responsibility for Friday's bombing or many of the other recent attacks.

Sunni extremists such as al-Qaida's Iraq arm that seek to undermine the Shiite-led government are frequently blamed for bombing attacks targeting civilians. They could be behind the Sunni mosque bombings too, hoping to incite a sectarian backlash against Shiites. So could Shiite militias that have been remobilizing following years of relative quiet.

___

Associated Press writers Adam Schreck, Sinan Salaheddin and Sameer N. Yacoub contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/iraq-sunni-mosque-bombing-other-attacks-kills-26-183143049.html

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The coming IPO parade

FORTUNE -- It's been a busy few days for IPOs, and things only are expected to heat up next week.

Seven companies have priced on U.S. exchanges since Tuesday, including last night's $191 million raise for?digital coupon marketplace RetailMeNot (SALE). It hopes to mimic the 60% aftermarket bump achieved yesterday by cancer "stem cell" company OncoMed Pharmaceuticals (OMED).

On tap next week are a whopping eleven offerings:

Next week's calender doesn't include anything huge, but it could be interesting to see if OncoMed provides any halo effect to any of the five VC-backed biotechs. I'd expect us to see some larger offerings come fall, which is when IPO volume traditionally increases.

Some additional IPO thoughts from an interview I did this morning on CNBC:

Source: http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2013/07/19/the-coming-ipo-parade/?section=money_termsheet

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Environmental assessment of new Mobile shopping mall could slow ...

MOBILE, Alabama ? A 600,000-square-foot development anchored by a new Costco near Hank Aaron Stadium needs the appropriate environmental permits before it can be constructed on a wetland.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Alabama Department of Environmental Energy are examining an application from McGowin Properties that would impact 17.4 acres of wetland area and relocate approximately 1,462 feet of a stream.

Steve Tingle, a partner with McGowin Park LLC ? the developers of what is being described as a "regional" shopping mall featuring boutique stores along Satchel Paige Drive ? said while he "absolutely" believes the project will get its environmental approvals, it might take a while to do so.

The developers are going before the Mobile County Commissioners on Monday and the City Council Tuesday for approvals on separate development agreements needed to move the shopping center forward.

"That's what we're applying to the Corps for is to deal with the wetlands issues as well as environmental issues," Tingle said. "The application to the Corps is bringing in all the different agencies in to look at it. The permit has not been issued and will not be for some time."

According to the application filed on April 24 with the U.S. Department of Energy, the developers propose filling 13.6 acres of low-quality "scrub-shrub" wetland area for construction of buildings, a parking lot and out parcels; and convert a 2 acre forested wetland area to a herbaceous system that would be used as a secondary wetland treatment system to "polish" discharged water from a proposed detention pond.

Additionally, the developers propose to fill approximately 1,462 feet of degraded stream and relocate the system into an engineered box culvert system. The culvert is proposed to accommodate stormwater flows currently carried by a stream that leads toward Bolton Branch, which would have to be re-routed during the construction of the project.

"This box culvert system is proposed to accommodate stormwater flows currently carried by the stream and would also improve downstream water quality by substantially reducing the amount of silt that currently migrates towards Bolton Branch and Dog River, from the subject site, during heavy rainfalls," the Corps of Engineers report states.

The developers have also applied for state water quality certification through the federal Clean Water Act, which requires approval from ADEM.

According to the Corps, a decision on whether to issue a permit will be based on an evaluation of the probable environmental impact of the proposed development. Preliminary review of the application also shows that the development likely will not affect any endangered species, according to the Corps' report.

While the Corps is currently seeking public comments on the project, at least two local environmental groups haven't had a chance to review the plans.

But Casi Callaway, executive director of Mobile Baykeeper, said she believes the mall should be built somewhere else due to the struggles of pollution into the Dog River.

"The area is full of important wetlands that drain into Dog River and then Mobile Bay," Callaway said. "The silt that is consistently filling Dog River along with trash and other pollution is a great reason to avoid it and instead rebuild somewhere."

Environmental concerns arose during the 1996 construction of Hank Aaron Stadium after environmental groups challenged the city over the construction of the ball park on wetlands. The stadium's parking lot was reduced by 7.4 acres as a result, but the city won a federal lawsuit allowing an access road to be constructed through the wetlands.

While the shopping center is not a city project, the council and commissioners will vote on sales tax incentives that could generate millions of dollars in sales tax revenues to McGowin Properties.

As proposed, the developers of the project will get 1.4 cents of the city's 5-cent sales tax from new sales generated within the shopping center for 20 years. The county pledges 30 percent of its 1-cent sales tax.

There are questions on what type of retail stores will locate within the shopping center, including a possible Target store. If that is the case, the Target store at Bel Air Mall might have competition or relocate to McGowin Park.

A Bell Air Mall official did not return a call for comment. McGowin has yet to confirm or deny any potential tenants within the mall and the city has said the entire development requires a new warehouse retail store serving as an anchor.

Semoon Chang, formerly of the University of South Alabama and now an economist with Gulf Coast Center for Impact Studies, said if half of the sales from within the mall come from stores transferred from elsewhere in the city, the revenue to Mobile will be substantially less.

"How successful the new project is to the community depends on how successful the shopping center is in attracting new expenditures without hurting existing sales in the community," Chang said.

Early projections are that the shopping center could generate up to $200 million in new sales.

"It all depends on how much of the $200 million sales will come from new or outside customers rather than transfer sales from other local stores," Chang said.

Source: http://blog.al.com/live/2013/07/environmental_assessment_of_ne.html

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Google Play Music All Access debuts Down Under, koalas and kiwis rejoice

Google has a history of rolling out its new services to unexpected markets, and the first non-US territories for Google Play Music All Access are no different. Mountain View recently tweeted that users in Australia and New Zealand can now can now take advantage of its subscription-based service, complete with the playlist sharing and track ratings tune hounds saw in the States. Naturally, there's a trial with the same 30-day restriction in place as on the internet giant's native soil -- after that, Kylie Minogue's home team will need to cough up $9.99 in local currency each month for unlimited streaming. That $10 deal only applies if you sign up before August, after that it takes a cue from kangaroos and, ahem, jumps to $11.99.

Filed under: Mobile, Google

Comments

Source: Google Play (Twitter)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/07/18/google-play-music-all-access-australia-new-zealand/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget

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Commission: Reports Nigerian troops kill civilians

LAGOS, Nigeria Nigeria's National Human Rights Commission said Sunday it has credible reports security forces are killing, torturing, illegally detaining and raping civilians in a fight to halt an Islamic uprising in northeast Nigeria that has killed nearly 2,000 people since 2010.

A report by the commission said troops retaliating against civilians have torched homes and tried to hide evidence of gross violations by disposing of bodies.

In the most egregious case, where troops went on a rampage in several villages after a soldier was killed in mid-April in the fishing village of Baga, it quoted police as saying soldiers "started shooting indiscriminately at anybody in sight including domestic animals. This reaction resulted to loss of lives and massive destruction of properties."

The military said 36 people were killed, most of them extremist fighters. Witnesses told the AP at the time that some 187 civilians were killed.

The commission said the killings also came after militants had ransacked an armory, with subsequent reports indicating the extremists enjoyed an increase in the caliber and quantity of weapons and "had become both more organized and emboldened by their apparent successes despite the enhanced security presence."

That contradicted military reports that they have taken control of the region in a military emergency covering thee states and one-sixth of the sprawling country. Instead, they appear to have pushed the fighters into rocky mountains with caves where it is more difficult to flush them out. The extremists regularly attack towns and villages.

The commission, a government body, issued an interim report saying it would finalize it when its investigators are able to visit the area where soldiers have cut mobile phone and Internet connections. A state of emergency was declared May 14 when the government said extremists from the Boko Haram terrorist group had taken control of some towns and villages.

The insurgency poses the biggest threat in years to security in Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation of 160 million and the continent's biggest oil producer.

Communities trapped between the Islamic militants and the security forces "reportedly live in desperate fear and destitution," the commission said.

It warned of an imminent public health emergency and food shortages because farmers have been forced from their fields.

Food prices have nearly trebled, the commission said, with a 50-kilogram (110-pound) sack of rice selling for up to 18,000 naira ($112.50) from 7,000 naira ($44).

Some medical experts from the region have reported a notable upsurge in sudden deaths, heart attacks and aneurysms, it said.

Northeast Nigeria already presents "the worst statistics of human development in Nigeria generally," it said.

Maternal mortality rates were three times the national average of 545 deaths for every 100,000 live births, and reports reaching the commission suggest the emergency has even more mothers dying in childbirth.

Northeast Nigeria is the poorest region in the country, with government statistics indicating 75 percent of the population lives from hand to mouth on less than $1 a day.

The commission's interim findings corroborated AP reports from the region. Militants who began by targeting government personnel and health workers - they preach that Western religion and medicine are forbidden - are increasingly targeting civilians in attacks on schools and vaccination campaigns.

"The Commission equally received several credibly attested allegations of gross violations by officials of the JTF (joint task force of police and military), including allegations of summary executions, torture, arbitrary detention amounting to internment and outrages against the dignity of civilians, as well as rape," the rights commission said.

"In particular, we have received persistent and credibly attested allegations of indiscriminate disposal of dead human remains by personnel of both the JTF and the Borno State Environmental Protection Agency."

The military and presidential spokesmen did not respond to requests for comment.

Source: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/06/29/4137964/commission-reports-nigerian-troops.html

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Sam Mendes' Charlie And The Chocolate Factory Musical Open For ...

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory premiered this week on London?s West End, and it looks like a DELICIOUS staging!

While director Sam Mendes might be more used to working with Bond girls lately, he manages to bring out the sexy villainry of these OOMPA LOOMPAS!!!

Okay, not really. But we still can't WAIT to see this show!

Check it outttttttttt (above)!

Tags: broadway babies, charlie and the chocolate factory, etc., london, oompa loompa, opening, play, sam mendes, theatre, trailer, west end

Source: http://perezhilton.com/2013-06-29-charlie-and-the-chocolate-factory-opens-on-the-west-end

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