Skype still only "coming soon" for Windows Phone 7, despite Microsoft ownership (Digital Trends)

You could be forgiven for thinking that a Skype app was already be available for Windows Phone 7 devices, given that not only is it very popular, but also as the company is now owned by Microsoft. However, you?d be wrong, and a search of the Windows Marketplace still reveals nothing officially related to the VoIP service at all.

Any misunderstanding could also be connected to the talk of such an app arriving late last year too, however Windows Phone owners shouldn?t give up all hope, as during an interview at CES 2012 Skype?s vice president said they?re hard at work on a Windows Phone app right now, and that it?ll be ?coming soon.?

Of course, this particularly vague time-frame doesn?t really help, but thanks to some information discovered in some leaked internal documentation by winsupersite.com, it seems likely to be arriving in the first half of this year. Perhaps this will coincide with the release of Windows Phone Tango, the next version of the mobile OS, also rumored to coming around the same time.

Going back to the video interview with Skype?s VP Rick Osterloh, he also adds they?re integrating the service with other Microsoft products, including Xbox and Windows 8.

In the meantime, if you?re desperate to get at least part of the Skype experience on your Windows Phone, then the IM+ app offers access to Skype chat. Alternatively, there?s the cross-platform messenger service WhatsApp, or the Tango Video Call app too.

This article was originally posted on Digital Trends

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Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/tech/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/digitaltrends/20120116/tc_digitaltrends/skypestillonlycomingsoonforwindowsphone7despitemicrosoftownership

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Finance and climate: impossible to solve one crisis without the other ...

Author: Yongsheng Zhang, DRC

The global financial crisis and the climate crisis are twin concerns: we cannot solve one without solving the other.

Green growth must be recognised as part of the solution to the current global financial crisis. To overcome these dual problems, both developed and developing countries should progress to a greener model of development, and move beyond traditional ways of thinking about these issues.

The global financial crisis is to some extent a crisis of the traditional development model that brought prosperity to the industrial world and which is now bringing ?prosperity? to the emerging world. Consumers in industrialised nations devour cheap goods that are often produced by developing countries in an emission- and resource-intensive way. As a result, developing countries achieve rapid growth through producing and exporting these emission-intensive goods. On the surface, it looks like a ?win-win? situation; the industrial world has high standards of living, and the emerging world has impressive GDP growth, foreign reserves and sovereign bonds. But this results in global imbalances, and these in turn have led to the global financial crisis.?

There are two major reasons why green growth is difficult in this context. First is the failure of conventional analysis on climate change. This analysis sees carbon mitigation as conflicting with economic growth. It fails to recognise the possibility that mitigation may drive the economy to become even more competitive, such that countries undertaking strict mitigation policies will benefit economically. In this sense, mitigation could become a form of self-interested behaviour for key countries. Second, since green growth is not yet a widespread reality, policy makers usually see ?green? as a risk and are reluctant to take decisive action.

But mitigation and green transformation represent enormous opportunities. Green transformation is a comprehensive and fundamental transformation of the development pattern established during the Industrial Revolution. It includes social, economic, environmental and political transformations ? not just the adoption of a few cutting-edge green technologies, as some seem to think.

Responding to doubt over green-growth potential requires us to revisit old energy debates. Most economists are not concerned about the eventual exhaustion of fossil fuels, since based on economic logic they believe there will be a strong incentive to invent or find alternative energy when fossil fuels begin to run out. These incentives will guarantee green growth in the future. But now, with the current climate and financial crises, we cannot afford to wait for green growth to occur organically further down the track ? we need immediate action to find solutions. Global carbon mitigation will ensure the ?natural process? of green growth happens earlier, and this new reality must be addressed within established energy narratives.

In China, more and more people have realised the opportunities green growth represents. Green transformation is not just seen as a burden ? it is also seen as a new source of growth. Compared to industrial economies, which to some extent are locked into a high-carbon economic structure, China can still gain the ?late-comer?s advantage? in avoiding lock-in effect and promoting green growth. This is the key message in a forthcoming green-growth report being jointly produced by the Development Research Centre (the Chinese government think tank) and the World Bank. And affected as we are by these twin crises, the world urgently requires a new breed of great thinkers and visionary politicians who are capable of moving beyond the current economic and political rut.

Yongsheng Zhang is Senior Research Fellow at the Development Research Centre of the State Council, China.

Source: http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2012/01/16/finance-and-climate-impossible-to-solve-one-crisis-without-the-other/

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Man sentenced to life in NYC airport terror plot (AP)

NEW YORK ? A Muslim man was sentenced Friday to life in prison for joining a failed plot to firebomb John F. Kennedy Airport in 2007 by blowing up jet fuel supplies with the help of a notorious al-Qaida explosives expert.

A federal judge in Brooklyn gave Kareem Ibrahim the life term after a jury found him guilty last year of conspiracy.

Ibrahim's attorneys had argued in court papers that he deserved only 13 years, claiming prosecutors had exaggerated his role in a scheme that had been infiltrated by an FBI informant and had no chance of succeeding.

But U.S. Judge District Court Dora Irizarry said the case "shows the government at its best in terms of protecting the security of this country."

Ibrahim, 66, a Shiite imam from Trinidad, "abandoned the true tenants of his religion" by participating in the plot, U.S. Attorney Loretta Lynch said in a statement.

Three other men were charged in the plot: Co-defendants Russell Defreitas, a former cargo handler, and Abdel Kadir, an engineer and former member of Guyana's parliament, both were sentenced to life in prison. Abdel Nur was sentenced to 15 years behind bars.

Ibrahim, Nur and Kadir were arrested in Trinidad in June 2007 and extradited to the United States. Defreitas was arrested in New York.

At a pair of trials, prosecutors accused the men of wanting to kill thousands of people and cripple the American economy and avenge U.S. mistreatment of Muslims worldwide by using explosives to blow up the fuel tanks and the underground pipelines that run through an adjacent Queens neighborhood.

The government relied heavily on the informant's secret recordings, including some that captured Defreitas bragging about his inside knowledge of Kennedy Airport and its vulnerabilities.

"For years, I've been watching them," he said of the fuel tanks while on a reconnaissance mission with the informant.

In other tapes, Defreitas spoke of punishing the United States with an attack that would "dwarf 9/11."

Prosecutors told jurors that in 2007, Defreitas sought Ibrahim's assistance ? showing him video surveillance of the airport's so-called fuel farms ? because Ibrahim had connections with militant leaders in Iran.

On tape, Ibrahim told Defreitas that the attackers must be ready to "fight it out, kill who you could kill and go back to Allah."

The plotters also discussed reaching out to Adnam Shukrijumah, an al-Qaida member and explosives expert who was believed to be hiding out in the Caribbean at the time.

Shukrijumah, an FBI most-wanted terrorist, has been indicted on federal charges he was involved in a failed plot to attack the New York City subway system with suicide bombers.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/terrorism/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120113/ap_on_re_us/us_airport_terror_plot

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'30 Rock' Premiere: Jack Seeks Programming Advice From His Baby Daughter (VIDEO)

After a much longer than usual break, "30 Rock" (Thu., 8 p.m. EST on NBC) returned to the Peacock's Thursday night lineup. It's a bitter pill to swallow for fans of the network's quirky comedies, as "Rock" nestles into the time slot "Community" has held since 2009. But while one fanbase laments, the other rejoices -- and fans of both feel conflicted.

The show picked up after the holiday break of "TGS," with a wholly different Liz Lemon. She's happy and positive. It's very disconcerting. Meanwhile, Jenna has found tremendous success as the mean judge of a new kid's singing reality show. Ratings are through the roof as she reduces toddlers to tears with her comments. But that was the trouble for Jack, as his own daughter is now nearly one.

Suddenly, there was a conflict between the ruthless executive Jack Donaghy and the new dad Jack Donaghy. So he had a heart to heart with his daughter about what was the right thing to do. Some convenient mishearing gave him all the answers he'd wanted to hear all along, and the show would go on with no format changes whatsoever.

Surprisingly, Liz came by her newfound happiness naturally, as part of a dance troupe, and her satisfaction and fulfillment hadn't been shattered by the end of the episode. How long can this possibly last?

Find out as "30 Rock" continues each Thursday at 8 p.m. EST on NBC.

TV Replay scours the vast television landscape to find the most interesting, amusing, and, on a good day, amazing moments, and delivers them right to your browser.

Related on HuffPost:

MONDAY, JANUARY 9: "Pretty Little Liars"

1?of?23

"Pretty Little Liars" (8 p.m. EST, ABC Family) After their recent encounter with "A," Aria, Emily, Hanna and Spencer think they may be closer than ever to figuring out who "A" really is. But when the girls decide to enlist Caleb's hacking skills to help with their quest, Hanna no longer wants a part of the plan. Instead of focusing on figuring out who the "helper" is, Hanna decides to put all of her efforts into throwing a surprise party for Caleb. But will a surprise party at Spencer's lake house be the diversion Hanna is looking for, or just a recipe for disaster? Meanwhile, Aria and Ezra must deal with the aftermath of coming clean. "Pretty Little Liars" (8 p.m. EST, ABC Family)

After their recent encounter with "A," Aria, Emily, Hanna and Spencer think they may be closer than ever to figuring out who "A" really is. But when the girls decide to enlist Caleb's hacking skills to help with their quest, Hanna no longer wants a part of the plan. Instead of focusing on figuring out who the "helper" is, Hanna decides to put all of her efforts into throwing a surprise party for Caleb. But will a surprise party at Spencer's lake house be the diversion Hanna is looking for, or just a recipe for disaster? Meanwhile, Aria and Ezra must deal with the aftermath of coming clean.

MONDAY, JANUARY 9: "Pretty Little Liars"

"Pretty Little Liars" (8 p.m. EST, ABC Family) After their recent encounter with "A," Aria, Emily, Hanna and Spencer think they may be closer than ever to figuring out who "A" really is. But when the girls decide to enlist Caleb's hacking skills to help with their quest, Hanna no longer wants a part of the plan. Instead of focusing on figuring out who the "helper" is, Hanna decides to put all of her efforts into throwing a surprise party for Caleb. But will a surprise party at Spencer's lake house be the diversion Hanna is looking for, or just a recipe for disaster? Meanwhile, Aria and Ezra must deal with the aftermath of coming clean. "; var coords = [-5, -72]; // display fb-bubble FloatingPrompt.embed(this, html, undefined, 'top', {fp_intersects:1, timeout_remove:2000,ignore_arrow: true, width:236, add_xy:coords, class_name: 'clear-overlay'}); });

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/13/30-rock-jack-advice-from-baby-daughter-video_n_1203724.html

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Behind the scenes with live ESPN 3D boxing at CES 2012

ESPN had a presence at this CES like no other we've witnessed from the sports network and the last of the four letter network's big events was Top Rank Boxing live from the show floor. The event drew quite a crowd and the 3D quality didn't disappoint. The crew was using a Sony HDC-P1 camera system with 3D rigs by the Pace Cameron Group all sent through a Sony MVX-8000x production switcher. If you didn't catch it live on ESPN 3D, we're sure there will be plenty of opportunities to catch the 3D reruns.

Gallery: Behind the scenes with live ESPN 3D boxing at CES 2012

Behind the scenes with live ESPN 3D boxing at CES 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Jan 2012 20:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/12/behind-the-scenes-with-live-espn-3d-boxing-at-ces-2012/

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Jersey Shore: Vinny trying to win bid for NBA Celebrity All Star Game

Examiner.com is the inside source for everything local. We are powered by Examiners, the largest pool of passionate contributors in the world.

Examiners provide unique and original content to enhance life in your local city wherever that may be. Examiners come from all walks of life and contribute original content to entertain, inform, and inspire.

Source: http://www.examiner.com/jersey-shore-in-national/jersey-shore-vinny-trying-to-win-bid-for-nba-celebrity-all-star-game

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Not Over Yet in SC (talking-points-memo)

Share With Friends: | | Politics - Top Stories News, RSS Feeds and Widgets via Feedzilla.

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2nd mosque in Canada on Target [Anonymoused]

Ottawa, January 09: A second Gatineau, Que., mosque was the target of anti-Muslim slurs last week just hours after vandalism at another mosque.
Hicham Ouhaid, president of the Mosque of Aylmer, said he received an email early last Monday urging Muslims to get out of Canada.
The message, he said, included a photo of a 2010 Time magazine cover depicting a young Afghan woman whose nose and ears were cut off.
This is not the first time the Aylmer mosque, located at the corner of Park Street and Chemin Eardley, has been targeted, he added, as a hateful letter was dropped in the mailbox last spring.
"We felt very concerned. We felt our community is somehow targeted," Ouhaid told the CBC's Alistair Steele.
"Although we don't really understand why, because we have been there for quite some time and everything was fine."
Ouhaid said he has yet to forward the email to police.

Anti-Muslim incidents may be linked
Ouhaid believes the email is connected to vandalism where cars were smashed outside the Outaouais Islamic Centre in Gatineau early last Monday.
Then in the early morning of Jan. 5, a lone man in his 20s was caught on camera painting racist messages on the centre's front doors, across the building's side and on two other entrances to the building.
The same man is suspected of both cases of vandalism at the Gatineau mosque.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney have spoken out against the Gatineau mosque attacks, and Marc Bureau, the city's mayor, visited Friday prayer.
Gatineau police are investigating the Monday vandalism at the Outaouais Islamic Centre as a hate crime.
-Agencies

Source: 2nd mosque in Canada on Target | Siasat

The following is in reference to the first mosque:

Star of David on Canada Mosque

Ottawa, January 09: A mosque in Canada?s largest province of Quebec has been vandalized, with anti-Arab slurs and a Star of David spray-painted on the Muslim worship place, to the condemnations of Jews and Muslims in the country.
"This kind of bigotry has no place in Canada," said Immigration Minister Jason Kenny, reported CTV Television Network.
Anti-Arab slurs and a Star of David were spray-painted on the doors of a mosque Gatineau in Quebec last week.
The attack came a few days after unknown people attacked the mosque, smashing its windows.
?Any act of vandalism is deplorable. But vandalism against houses of worship of any faith is particularly cowardly and hateful,? said Kenny.
?Our government strongly condemns these heinous attacks that have been terrorizing the whole community,? said Kenney.
?Our government is deeply disturbed by the acts of individuals who promote this type of hatred. Canada is recognized as a peaceful and tolerant country, where people from around the world aspire to live.?
Prime Minister Stephen also condemned the "heinous attacks" in a statement in French.
"Members of the mosque have asked for help in funding infrastructure and security projects and have received funding from our government," Harper said.
The attack is the fourth on the mosque in the past six months.
"It is classified as a hate crime," said Guy Berthelotte, deputy chief of the Gatineau police.
Condemnations
The mosque attack was swiftly condemned by Jewish and Muslim groups in the country.
"The incident is not only an affront to the some 4,000 Muslims in the Gatineau area, but is also an outrage to all Canadians who value diversity and respect,? said Frank Diamant, the chairman of the Jewish group B'nai B'rith Canada.
?The use of the Jewish star in association with hate messaging only adds to the offensive nature of this latest incident.?
The mosque?s imam downplayed the attack, saying it does not reflect a wide anti-Muslim hostility in Canada.
"This does not characterize Canadians," imam Nabil Bouzoubaa said.
"We live with them and, thank God, we're all Canadians."
Muslims make around 2.8 percent of Canada's 32.8 million population, and Islam is the number one non-Christian faith in the Roman Catholic country.
A recent report from the Washington-based Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life said that Muslims are expected to make up 6.6% of Canada?s total population in 2030.
A recent survey showed that the overwhelming majority of Muslims are proud to be Canadian, and that they are more educated than the general population.
-Agencies

Source: Star of David on Canada Mosque | Siasat

Source: http://forums.islamicawakening.com/f18/2nd-mosque-in-canada-on-target-54999/

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'Hunger Games' Music Is 'Insane,' Josh Hutcherson Says

Actor tells MTV News at People's Choice Awards, 'Everything is amazing. It's coming together great.'
By Kara Warner

Josh Hutcherson
Photo: MTV News

It's hard to contain our excitement for "The Hunger Games," and although we still have more than two months to wait until its release in theaters, our anxiousness is alleviated whenever we have the opportunity to speak with one of the film's stars.

At Wednesday night's (January 11) People's Choice Awards, MTV News was lucky enough to catch up with presenter Josh Hutcherson, who plays Peeta Mellark and revealed that he has actually seen some of the finished film via his Automated Dialogue Recording sessions. ADR is very common in postproduction work on films wherein actors re-record certain sections of dialogue in order to improve the quality of the audio.

"I did ADR yesterday, actually. I saw a good little bit of the film yesterday; it looks good," he assured. "I'm really excited. The music is insane. The sound design, the editing, everything is amazing. It's coming together great."

Hutcherson said the first scene of competition in the actual Hunger Games — which, for those unfamiliar with the bestselling book upon which the movie is based, is a fight to the death among children — is going to blow people's minds in the best way possible.

"The scene with the Cornucopia, where we all first rush in to get the weapons and whatnot, the way [director Gary Ross] has that scored and cut looks so amazing," he shared. "I can't wait for people to see it."

Hutcherson added that, despite the film's PG-13 rating, Ross hasn't watered down the brutality and bloodshed from Suzanne Collins' book.

Regarding how the flick gets around showing all the gore, Hutcherson teased, "Gary Ross does it. I can't give it away, but he does it. It's a little trick. It looks great, and it still has the brutality that the book had, while being PG-13."

Check out everything we've got on "The Hunger Games."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

Stick with MTV News all night for the People's Choice Awards 2012 winners, and don't miss all the fashion from the People's Choice Awards red carpet!

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1677153/hunger-games-music-josh-hutcherson.jhtml

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Why did Brad Pitt carry a cane on the red carpet?

Brad Pitt has been sporting a new accessory in recent days ? a cane ? due to an injury to his ACL (a ligament in the knee).

Story: Angelina Jolie buys Brad Pitt a California waterfall

Seeing the sexy star with a walking stick has baffled fans, but the mystery has now been solved.

VIEW THE PHOTOS: Hollywood Dads & Their Adorable Little Ones!

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The ?Moneyball? star revealed he suffered the injury in order to protect his daughter during an accidental fall.

Slideshow: Brad Pitt (on this page)

?I was carrying my daughter (Vivienne) down the hill and I slipped,? Brad, 48, explained to reporters at the 23rd International Palm Springs Film Festival in Palm Springs, Calif., on Saturday. ?It was either her or me.?

VIEW THE PHOTOS: Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie

Brad?s longtime love, Angelina Jolie, said she doesn?t mind Brad?s new adornment.

?I like the cane,? she told reporters, adding that the injury hasn?t slowed Brad down. ?He?s not that kind of guy. He does everything still.?

Story: Writers nods: 'Bridesmaids' in, 'War Horse' out

Thanks to dad Brad?s valiant actions, Angelina said their 3-year-old daughter did not sustain any injuries.

VIEW THE PHOTOS: Then & Now: The Lovely Angelina Jolie!

?Vivie?s okay,? Angelina said. ?She was absolutely fine.?

Angie also revealed that she too has sustained an injury for the sake of her offspring.

VIEW THE PHOTOS: Brangelina?s Family Album

?I think all parents get injured in the line of fire. When Maddox was young, I fell and hurt my elbow,? she said. ?It?s a pretty common occurrence.?

Copyright 2012 by NBC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/45924896/ns/today-entertainment/

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Bill O'Brien, 'the right guy,' takes Penn St reins

Penn State's new football coach Bill O'Brien addresses the media after he was introduced during an NCAA college football news conference, Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012, in State College, Pa. O'Brien, who is currently the offensive coordinator for the New England Patriots, replaces Hall of Famer Joe Paterno, fired Nov. 9 in the aftermath of child sex abuse charges against retired assistant coach Jerry Sandusky. (AP Photo/Andy Colwell)

Penn State's new football coach Bill O'Brien addresses the media after he was introduced during an NCAA college football news conference, Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012, in State College, Pa. O'Brien, who is currently the offensive coordinator for the New England Patriots, replaces Hall of Famer Joe Paterno, fired Nov. 9 in the aftermath of child sex abuse charges against retired assistant coach Jerry Sandusky. (AP Photo/Andy Colwell)

Penn State's new football coach Bill O'Brien is surrounded by the media after he was introduced during an NCAA college football news conference, Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012, in State College, Pa. O'Brien, who is currently the offensive coordinator for the New England Patriots, replaces Hall of Famer Joe Paterno, fired Nov. 9 in the aftermath of child sex abuse charges against retired assistant coach Jerry Sandusky. (AP Photo/Andy Colwell)

Penn State's new football coach Bill O'Brien addresses the media after he was introduced during an NCAA college football news conference, Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012, in State College, Pa. O'Brien, who is currently the offensive coordinator for the New England Patriots, replaces Hall of Famer Joe Paterno, fired Nov. 9 in the aftermath of child sex abuse charges against retired assistant coach Jerry Sandusky. (AP Photo/Andy Colwell)

Larry Johnson, Penn State's defensive line coach, answers a reporter's questions after the introduction of Bill O'Brien as Penn State's new head coach during an NCAA college football news conference, Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012, in State College, Pa. Johnson will remain in his position on the new staff, according to O'Brien's statements Saturday. O'Brien, who is currently the offensive coordinator for the New England Patriots, replaces Hall of Famer Joe Paterno, fired Nov. 9 in the aftermath of child sex abuse charges against retired assistant coach Jerry Sandusky. Looking on are acting athletic director Dr. Dave Joyner, left, and university president Rodney Erickson. (AP Photo/Andy Colwell)

Penn State's new football coach Bill O'Brien is surrounded by the media after he was introduced during an NCAA college football news conference, Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012, in State College, Pa. O'Brien, who is currently the offensive coordinator for the New England Patriots, replaces Hall of Famer Joe Paterno, fired Nov. 9 in the aftermath of child sex abuse charges against retired assistant coach Jerry Sandusky. (AP Photo/Andy Colwell)

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) ? Sporting a Nittany Lions pin on the lapel of his dark gray jacket, Bill O'Brien took the podium, looked straight ahead and introduced himself with two quick, no-nonsense sentences.

"I feel like I'm a mentally tough guy right now. I feel like I'm the right guy."

And with that, the 42-year-old O'Brien, the New England Patriots' offensive coordinator the past four years, was off and running at his first briefing as Penn State's new head football coach, the school's first in nearly a half century.

It is his first head-coaching job.

"This is unbelievable," he said.

Actually, for many Penn State fans and former players all over the country, how this all came to be is exactly that ? unbelievable.

Until Nov. 9, the Nittany Lions had been directed by the same person for 46 seasons ? Joe Paterno, who was fired that day in the aftermath of a child sex abuse scandal involving retired assistant coach Jerry Sandusky. The case also forced the school president to resign.

Not only is O'Brien replacing Division I's winningest coach, he is joining a still-reeling school attempting to steer its way through federal, NCAA and Big Ten inquiries ? not to mention criminal proceedings against former administrators. Sandusky, meantime, is awaiting trial after waiving a preliminary court hearing last month. He has denied the charges.

O'Brien will remain with the Patriots for the duration of their playoff run. New England has a bye this weekend.

The new coach said he would pull together his staff during the next two or three days, and get the assistants on the recruiting trail immediately while he works with New England. He will retain assistant Larry Johnson from Paterno's staff to coach the defensive line.

"I'm going to surround myself with good people," O'Brien said, "and I'm excited to do that."

His five-year contract, finalized Friday, included base compensation starting at $950,000, with a 5 percent increase each season. O'Brien will also collect another $1 million a year for radio and television work, as well as a $350,000 Nike contract.

The base package is roughly on par with Paterno's compensation, which was about $1.02 million last year ? a relative bargain for a coach with two national championships. Until now, Penn State never released details of salary from endorsement deals outside the school.

O'Brien joined New England in 2007 following 14 seasons on the college level, including stops at Duke, Maryland and Georgia Tech. The Patriots are third in the NFL overall in scoring (32.1 points per game), and second in total offense (428 yards) and passing (317.8 yards).

Penn State finished a 9-4 campaign with a 30-14 loss in the TicketCity Bowl to Houston on Jan. 2. The Nittany Lions relied on defense much of the year after the offense struggled with a two-quarterback system.

Asked how the looming uncertainties affected his decision-making, O'Brien said he had tough questions for school officials during his interview and received "very, very honest answers." He declined to give specifics.

"I'm here now. ... It's my job as the head football coach at Penn State to have the best football program both and off the field," said O'Brien, who, like Paterno, is a Brown graduate. O'Brien added he looked forward to meeting Paterno and stresed respect would be shown for JoePa's accomplishments.

"Replacing a legend, I've heard it a lot in the past few days. I'm not here to be Joe Paterno. There's only one Joe Paterno," O'Brien said. "What I'm going to try to do is be Bill O'Brien and we're going to do the best we can to continue the success that he's had here for many, many years."

School President Rodney Erickson said the Nittany Lions were looking for someone who would "maintain the school's commitment to excellence on the field and in the classroom. We have that leader in Coach O'Brien."

John Nichols, professor emeritus at the College of Communications and a member of the search committee, said O'Brien's credentials as a coach, along with his enthusiasm as a "true believer in the college model" and the education of student-athletes, stood out.

He said the committee also made sure it found someone of the "highest integrity," which Erickson had deemed a non-negotiable criteria.

"In the current environment, we just absolutely had to do that," Nichols said. "This person will be entrusted with a huge chunk of Penn State's reputation in a critical time. Finding that person was absolutely integral."

Russ Rose, women's volleyball coach and another member of the search committee, said he liked O'Brien's confidence during the interview.

"I liked the fact that he said 'I'm a hell of a football coach.' I think it's important we hire a hell of a football coach," Rose said. "I took it as a real positive that he had confidence he was a good football coach."

O'Brien rocked on his heels and fidgeted with a water bottle while taking questions from reporters at the Nittany Lion Inn, a hotel on campus. Stepping to the podium, he surveyed the crowd and found his young son, Michael, wearing the blue No. 25 jersey of tailback Silas Redd. O'Brien and his wife, Colleen, have another son, Jack.

"I can't wait to get going on this," he said, "get everyone headed in the right direction."

This was O'Brien's first year coordinating the Patriots' powerful offense, but he has also coached star quarterback Tom Brady since 2009 and spent 2008 coaching receivers.

O'Brien recently was in the spotlight when he and Brady got into a heated argument, shown on national television, after Brady threw an interception in the end zone in the fourth quarter of the Patriots' 34-27 win over the Washington Redskins on Dec. 11.

Asked about the incident and his relationship with Brady, he spoke of the Pro Bowl quarterback in glowing terms, adding: "Football is an emotional game."

Brady has described O'Brien as a great coach and friend; Pats receiver Julian Edelman said he is charismatic and emotional.

New England coach Bill Belichick, whom O'Brien thanked during the news conference, said in a statement: "This is a great match between a storied program and an old-school football coach. Bill will be up to the task and I couldn't be happier for him."

Defensive coordinator Tom Bradley, who served as interim coach ? winning just one game down a tough, season-ending stretch ? was passed over for the position but wished O'Brien well. The longtime assistant, who interviewed for the job, remained on the staff as of Saturday though his future was uncertain.

"No matter the challenges that the university may face, Penn State will always have my support," Bradley said. "This is forever my home and forever my family. It is important that we come together to support our players and our university."

Not everyone, though, was willing to hop aboard the O'Brien bandwagon.

In column Saturday for the Washington Post, ex-NFL linebacker and Penn State standout LaVar Arrington said his initial postings on Twitter on Friday amid rumors of O'Brien's hiring were too harsh.

At one point, Arrington wrote on the social media site, "I'm done all my PSU stuff will be down before obriens introduction! We are! No more for me!"

"This hiring represents the Board of (Trustees') feeling toward all that has happened," he wrote in the column. "In my opinion, the board has concluded that everyone and everything associated with the football team is guilty of a crime that we simply did not commit ? and that's wrong."

O'Brien addressed the rumblings in a letter he said he sent to former players.

"We respect the rights to one's opinions, beliefs and contributions to Penn State," he said, reading it at the briefing. "We respectfully request the opportunity to earn your trust through communication ... In time, we will find we have more common interests and goals than not."

Designating himself the new leader of the "Penn State football family," O'Brien said he commended those with passionate loyalties to the school.

"You should love this school. You are why we want to be here," he said, reading from his letter. "We want you to know that you will always be welcome and be part of the program because we are Penn State."

In a separate statement Saturday released through the school, Tim Sweeney, president of the official Football Letterman's Club, said the new coach had the full support and backing of the organization.

"Our highly regarded standard of academic achievement equals that of our on-field performance, and we feel that Coach O'Brien is an excellent choice to continue this tradition that for so long has defined Penn State," Sweeney wrote. "Welcome to the Penn State Football family, Coach."

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2012-01-07-Penn%20State-O'Brien/id-642bccd9135e427eb087694dd84c72e9

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CRUDE OIL: Retains Medium Term Bias, Upside Risk Points To The 103.38/72 Levels.

While Crude Oil may be hesitating, it continues to hold on to its medium term bias and faces the risk of returning to its key resistance level at 103.38/72. This zone is very crucial to its medium term uptrend as a violation of there will turn attention to the 104.60 level, its May 11'2011 high. Further out, its major resistance resides at 114.81 level, its May'2011 high. Its higher time frame charts are supportive of this view. Alternatively, the risk to this analysis will be for the commodity to return to the 94.99 level where a breach will call for a run at the 94.13 level, its Aug 03'2011 low and then the 90.69 level, its Sept 07'2011 high. We may see a respite here turning the commodity back up but if this fails to occur, further declines should target the 84.22 level. All in all, Crude Oil faces the risk of climbing back above the 103.38/72 levels though hesitating.

Source: http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/279303/20120110/crude-oil-retains-medium-term-bias-upside.htm

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TVs you can talk to, without sounding crazy

Workers set up a flat screen display at the Samsung exhibit for the Consumer Electronics Show, Monday, Jan. 9, 2012, in Las Vegas. The 2012 International CES trade show, the world's largest consumer electronics exhibition starts Tuesday. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

Workers set up a flat screen display at the Samsung exhibit for the Consumer Electronics Show, Monday, Jan. 9, 2012, in Las Vegas. The 2012 International CES trade show, the world's largest consumer electronics exhibition starts Tuesday. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

LG Electronics USA showed the new large-screen Cinema 3D Smart TV line-up Monday, Jan. 9, 2012, a day ahead of the opening of the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.(AP Photo/LG Electronics USA)

This undated product image provided by LG Electronics USA, shows the large-screen LG Cinema 3D Smart TV. (AP Photo/LG Electronics USA)

A show floor worker wipes down displays at the Motorola exhibit booth for the Consumer Electronics Show, Monday, Jan. 9, 2012, in Las Vegas. The 2012 International CES trade show, the world's largest consumer electronics exhibition starts Tuesday. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

LAS VEGAS (AP) ? Talking to the TV is usually a sign of extreme agitation, mental instability or loneliness. TV manufacturers are set to make it a more rational behavior this year, with a range of sets that respond to speech.

LG Electronics on Monday said it will sell a remote with its high-end flat-panel TVs that contains a microphone. You'll be able to speak into the microphone to enter text on the TV for Twitter updates and Web searches. You still won't be able to change the channel or control the volume by yelling at the TV.

Samsung Electronics also said it would have TVs that responded to voice commands. In addition, it's launching its first TV with a built-in camera. As you watch the ES8000 set, it will watch you back, looking for hand gestures that prompt it to move the onscreen cursor or launch apps.

The two Korean rivals were the first to show new models at a preview day ahead of the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, which opens Tuesday. The show will feature many variations of so-called "smart" or Web-connected TVs.

Google Inc. has tried to break into the living room with software for smart TVs. So far it has been a flop. But Sony Corp. revealed at the show that it's sticking to Google TV and bringing out a Blu-ray player that runs the software. That player will have a remote with a microphone for voice-powered Web searches.

"Smart" TVs have been around since 2008, but two things are holding them back. One is that the conventional TV remote is a hopeless tool for Web browsing, typing, and other PC-like behaviors.

"Anyone who's actually checked email on a 50-inch (127-centimeter) TV knows it's not a good experience," said Shawn Dubravac, head of research at the Consumer Electronics Association, which puts on the show.

As TVs become increasingly complex, more buttons are popping up on remotes. But that's a trend that can't continue, Dubravac said. TV makers are now looking for alternatives. Last year, LG introduced a "Magic Wand" remote that's motion-sensitive, much like a game-console controller. This year, it's taking another page from Microsoft Corp.'s Kinect game console and introducing a 3D camera that perches on top of a TV and interprets viewers' motions, letting them control the on-screen cursor with hand movements.

"I think 2012 will be the year of the interface," Dubravac said.

Samsung will be using its built-in cameras to try to recognize who's in front of the TV. It will then bring up the right household member's personalized "hub" of applications.

The other thing holding back "smart" TV: Viewers interact more with the cable or satellite set-top box than they do with the TV itself. The set-top box is where you find shows and change the channel.

Cable and satellite companies seem far less interested in revamping how people interact with their boxes. Dish Network Corp. unveiled a new box it calls the "Hopper" on Monday. It takes digital video recording to a new level by automatically recording all primetime shows of the four major networks. But it comes with a conventional remote, covered in buttons.

The renewed focus on smart TVs comes as TV makers are scrambling for new features to interest buyers. U.S. TV sales are in decline after a rush to upgrade to high definition and flat panels abated.

Amid the slowdown, Asian TV makers tried to make 3-D a "must-have" feature, but that effort has fallen flat. Leichtman Research Group conducted a survey that found 80 percent of Americans have heard of 3-D TVs, but just 5 percent intend to buy one.

There's another innovation waiting in the wings: Both LG and Samsung showed off TVs made of organic light-emitting diodes, or OLEDs, and said they'll start selling them this year. It's the first new screen technology since LCDs hit the scene. OLED sets are thinner than LCD sets and can boast impressive image quality. But they'll be too expensive to be more than a niche product, and manufacturing difficulties may keep the price level high for years. Sony brought out a small OLED TV a few years ago, but has since given up on the technology.

LG is also showing off an 84-inch (213-centimeter) set with a resolution that's more than four times that of top high-definition set. This so-called "4K" resolution represents another advance in screen technology that will take time to reach consumers, if it ever does ? there are as yet no 4K TV channels or movie discs.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2012-01-09-Gadget%20Show-Smart%20TVs/id-1fd152044ace44da8aebba9771bd0f3e

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EMA observing tornado drills at schools

Students line up Friday with books over their heads in a hallway at Hokes Bluff Middle School. The students are supposed to line up along both sides of the hallway facing the wall instead of in a cluster as they are here. The Gadsden/Etowah County Emergency Management Agency supervised the drill and provided feedback to the school.

Buy Photo SARAH DUDIK | GADSDEN TIMES

Published: Friday, January 6, 2012 at 10:50 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, January 6, 2012 at 10:53 p.m.

The students at Hokes Bluff Middle School were orderly and quiet as they made their way from their classrooms to the hallway ? with textbooks in hand.

The students sat in the floor and were instructed by Principal Dena Cook over the public address system to face the wall with the books over their heads.

It was part of monthly tornado drills held at the school, but this month?s drill was a little different.

Officials with the Gadsden/Etowah County Emergency Management Agency monitored the drill ? not as a critique, but as a way to learn and share with other schools, Patrick Huselton, public information officer with the EMA, said.

All school systems in the county already have plans in place for tornadoes, fires and other issues, but the plans can vary from school to school.

Michael Amberson with the EMA said it took three minutes from the time the drill was announced for all students to be in their designated places.

?That is a good response time,? he said.

Amberson said the conduct of the students also was impressive.

?They take it very serious, especially since the April 27 tornadoes,? Cook said.

One of EMA?s concerns is notifying students through the intercom system of a possible tornado if the power is out.

But Cook said the school has a bullhorn and there is enough staff to separate and go to each area if necessary.

Even though students were orderly during the drill, EMA Director Mike Bryant said their reactions will be different if they know it?s not a drill.

Cook said they wanted the EMA to attend the drill. ?We want them to give us any recommendations that they might have,? she said. ?We want to be sure we?re doing everything we can to be as safe as possible.?

It?s important to practice drills at school on a regular basis, Huselton said, so students are confident in what they should do.

Schools usually are one of the safest places to be during severe weather, Huselton said. A lot of effort has gone into creating safety plans and the structures also typically are stronger than a lot of other structures.

?We hope if parents know they?re children are safe, they won?t have a knee-jerk reaction to want to run to the school to pick them up,? Huselton said. ?Being in a car, racing away from a tornado, is one of the most unsafe places you can be.?

He said the EMA plans to attend tornado drills in all schools in the county.

Source: http://www.gadsdentimes.com/article/20120106/news/120109907

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