China?s lottery falls short on spending transparency

Over the past several months, local governments across China have disclosed information on the use of funds raised through the state-run lottery.

However the number of government agencies that have opened their books falls far short of the requirements outlined by Beijing.

In March, China?s Ministry of Finance called upon finance, civil administration, and sports bureaus in each of China?s 34 provinces to make public information on the use of lottery funds, saying that the reports should be released before the end of June.

However the Guangzhou newspaper Information Times reported last week that only 30 provincial-level government bureaus had published lottery data so far.

Among them were 13 sports bureaus, 8 civil administration bureaus, and 9 finance bureaus.

A man who won a 260 million-yuan ($41.3 million) prize in the China Welfare Lottery, wearing a mask poses in Sichuan province on Feb. 14, 2012. Pic: CFP

Of the provinces that complied with the finance ministry?s order, many released the relevant data long after Beijing?s deadline had passed.

The Sports Bureau of Jiangsu Province published its lottery figures in the official Xinhua Daily newspaper on July 20, while sports authorities in Henan released lottery data on July 22.

China?s lottery is divided into two separate organizations, the China Sports Lottery and the China Welfare Lottery.

China?s Sports Lottery is managed at the national level by the country?s State General Administration of Sports, and overseen locally by provincial sports bureaus.? Funds raised are typically used to promote public fitness, as well as support training of China?s Olympic athletes.

The China Welfare Lottery falls under the authority of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, and uses its proceeds to fund a wide range of humanitarian projects, from nursing homes to disaster relief.

China?s lottery has seen steady growth in recent years.? On July 18, the Ministry of Finance reported that lottery sales in the first six months of 2012 had reached 129 billion yuan, a nearly 28 percent increase from the same period in 2011.

However the lottery has come under occasional criticism for its lack of transparency.

Earlier this month, popular Hong Kong economist and TV host Lang Xianping called on viewers to stop buying lottery tickets, likening the Welfare Lottery to China?s Red Cross, another charitable organization which has been heavily criticized for corruption and misuse of funds.

Source: http://asiancorrespondent.com/86623/chinas-lottery-falls-short-on-spending-transparency/

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Romney resume from 2002 in focus amid Olympic rift

Avoiding a traffic jam, Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney walks down Grosvenor Place in London to meet Ireland's Prime Minister Enda Kenny at the Embassy of Ireland, Friday, July 27, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Avoiding a traffic jam, Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney walks down Grosvenor Place in London to meet Ireland's Prime Minister Enda Kenny at the Embassy of Ireland, Friday, July 27, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Avoiding a traffic jam, Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is recognized by bystander as he walks down Grosvenor Place to meet Ireland's Prime Minister Enda Kenny at the Embassy of Ireland in London, Friday, July 27, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney meets with Ireland's Prime Minister Enda Kenny at the Embassy of Ireland in London, Friday, July 27, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

LONDON (AP) ? On a trip already marked by misstep, Mitt Romney has an Olympic history that could prove problematic: His stewardship of the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City, while widely celebrated, was not without controversy.

Romney and his wife, Ann, are set to attend the opening ceremony at the Summer Games on Friday, an event that punctuates the first leg of a three-nation tour that will also take him to Israel and Poland. It's the first international swing for the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, who has crafted an itinerary designed to showcase his diplomatic skills and political strengths.

The Olympic appearance carries special significance for Romney. His political career was born out of his leading role at the Salt Lake City Games, which were plagued by scandal before he was tapped to take over.

"I can't resist the pull of the beginning of the Olympics here," Romney told reporters Thursday. "My experience as an Olympic organizer is that there are always a few very small things that end up not going quite right in the first day or so ? these get ironed out and then when the games themselves begin and the athletes take over, all the mistakes of the organizing committee ? and I made a few ? all of those are overwhelmed by the many things that the athletes carry out and by the spirit of the games."

Romney's comments were aimed at downplaying his earlier suggestion that British officials might not be prepared to pull off a successful Olympics. In an interview with NBC News, he called London's problems with games preparation "disconcerting." The remark sparked sharp responses from Britain's top officials.

Prime Minister David Cameron said Romney and other doubters would "see beyond doubt that Britain can deliver." London Mayor Boris Johnson told tens of thousands gathered in Hyde Park: "There's a guy called Mitt Romney who wants to know if we are ready. Are we ready? Yes, we are!"

On Friday, the former Massachusetts governor said "it looks to me like London is ready," although he observed in a subsequent NBC interview that "it is hard to put on the Games in a major metropolitan area."

Asked about the stir his earlier remarks caused, he said "I'm absolutely convinced that the people here are ready for the Games, and in just a few moments, all the things the politicians say will be swept away" by excitement over the competition.

Later in the day, Romney discussed economics with Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny at the Irish Embassy in London. The Republican had to walk there from his hotel because of snarled traffic related to the Olympics.

Romney again raised eyebrows Friday when he referred to looking out of the "back side" of 10 Downing Street, Cameron's residence, to see the beach volleyball stadium and after he let slip that he'd met with the head of MI-6, Britain's intelligence agency. Briefings with British spy chiefs usually are kept secret.

"I also applaud the organizers for bringing the Olympic experience right into the heart of London, if you look out of the back side of 10 Downing Street you'll see a venue having been constructed," Romney told reporters.

The negative attention distracted from Romney's push to highlight the U.S.-British bond and bolster his foreign policy credentials as he auditions for the world's most powerful elected office. The Olympic focus also brought fresh attention to his actions in Utah a decade ago.

"The country is in need of a turnaround. The Olympics was a turnaround," Romney told CNN in an interview broadcast early Friday as London slept. "The attacks that come by people who are trying to knock down my business career, or my Olympic experience or our success, those attacks are not going to be successful."

Such attacks have been plentiful in recent months, even though the Salt Lake City Olympics came off smoothly and were considered a success for athletes and spectators at the time.

Democrats and even some Republicans have criticized Romney for taking credit for the 2002 games' success while relying on federal funding to help cover costs as the Salt Lake Olympics sought to recover from financial mismanagement and corruption.

Romney took over the games in 1999 after its leaders were accused of sending money to members of the International Olympic Committee to help Salt Lake City win the games.

By Romney's account, the government spent about $600 million helping the Salt Lake Olympic Committee. An additional $1.1 billion was planned for projects like roads and bridges, infrastructure improvement projects that the government probably would have paid for eventually, though the timing of the games may have sped up the construction.

Romney has made himself the very public face of the effort, claiming that he personally cut millions from the budget, wooed major companies and won sponsorships himself and pulled the whole endeavor back from the brink of failure. His record in Salt Lake was the cornerstone of his run for governor in Massachusetts, a campaign he announced in March 2002, just weeks after the games concluded.

Romney, who promises to slash federal spending if elected, rarely acknowledges the federal support for the 2002 games on the campaign trail. His aides say much of it was for increased security costs after the 2001 terrorist attacks, which occurred about five months earlier.

But Romney doesn't mention the commitments the government already had made to cover costs associated with the games ? or elaborate on his role in persuading congressional appropriators and critics to give the games more money.

In the 2004 book he wrote about the games, "Turnaround," Romney outlined how he revamped the Salt Lake Olympic Committee's lobbying operations in Washington and elsewhere. In one instance, he highlights how he made arrangements for different states to send experienced bus drivers to Utah. He helped arrange to pay them union wages, he wrote in the book ? and he persuaded the federal government to pick up the tab.

One of the lessons he learned: "If you work at it long enough, there is always another way to get the help you need in Washington," he wrote.

Meanwhile, President Barack Obama may have upstaged Romney's weekend visit to Israel by signing a bill that expands military and civilian cooperation with the U.S. ally. Romney, a critic of the president's policy toward Israel, said he was happy to see improved cooperation but questioned Obama's commitment to the region.

In London, first lady Michelle Obama is also scheduled to appear at Friday's opening ceremony, in addition to other events. She and Romney are expected to avoid the same venues.

Romney said he would attend at least one event besides the opening ceremony. The family has a horse competing in an equestrian event. But Romney told Britain's Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg that he would prefer to watch swimming.

Why?

"That's just what's been arranged. It fits in the schedule," Romney said. "Swimming is always fun, and Americans typically do well in swimming."

___

Peoples reported from Washington. Associated Press writer David Stringer in London contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2012-07-27-Romney-Olympics/id-3c8e9ee942dc4655a2c9dbdc00297472

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'The Obesity Olympics': Marketing junk food to kids | MinnPost

Somehow I doubt that the athletes competing in the London Olympics trained on a diet that included regular servings of McDonald?s Happy Meals, Coca-Cola soft drinks and Cadbury?s chocolate bars.

But that?s what our children may think as they?re bombarded with ads from these three official Olympic food sponsors over the next two weeks. For, as a public health official told a BBC news reporter earlier this year, research suggests that children perceive junk food to be less unhealthy when it?s associated with sporting events.

And the food manufacturers know this. Cadbury?s (the games? official ?treat? sponsor) has called the Olympics ?the biggest sales opportunity of our lifetime.? That?s not hyperbole. Cadbury?s pre-games Willy-Wonka-like ?Unwrap Gold? promotion was the most successful in the company?s history.

Coca-Cola also had huge pre-game success with its sponsorship of the Olympic torch relay celebration that (literally) ran throughout England for weeks. The company?s logo was constantly visible at these family-oriented events, and Coca-Cola promotional products and samples were handed out to children as well as adults by people in tracksuits along the relay route. (Marketing junk food directly to children is normally banned in Britain.)

McDonald's has celebrated the Olympic spirit by building its largest-ever restaurant (seating capacity: 1,500). The company expects to sell 50,000 Big Macs, 100,000 servings of french fries and 30,000 milkshakes during the 29 days of the Olympics and its companion event, the Paralympics.

?The Obesity Olympics?

Earlier this week, the London-based Children?s Food Campaign (CFC) released a scathing report called ?The Obesity Olympics? that takes the International Olympics Committee (IOC) to task for permitting junk-food manufacturers to continue to sponsor the Games.

?Even before a medal has been won, McDonald?s, Coca-Cola and Cadbury?s are already big winners of the Games,? write the authors of the report. ?Their sponsorship buys them unchallenged prominence and it gives them a particularly valuable association with athleticism and success. They want people either to forget that their flagship brands are high in calories, sugar and fat, or believe instead that consuming such food and drink is part of a healthy, and ?winning? formula. The increased emphasis these companies place on ?obesity-offsetting? ? funding sports equipment and exercise schemes ? is also part of their drive to convince us that they are trying to be a positive force for the nation?s health.?

You?d have to do a lot of ?offsetting? to counter the calories in the flagship junk-food products sold by McDonald?s, Coca-Cola and Cadbury, the report points out. To burn off the calories in a meal that includes a Big Mac and a medium-sized Coca-Cola, you?d need to bicycle for 110 minutes, for example. And to undo the calories in a Cadbury?s Dairy Milk chocolate bar, you?d need to swim laps for 30 minutes.

?The Olympics have become a celebration of 'big,'? a CFC official told the Guardian. ?For the junk food companies who sponsor the Games, that means big restaurants, big audiences, big brand value, big profits. But for children that could also mean bigger waistlines and bigger health problems later in life."

A cynical strategy

IOC president Jacques Rogge acknowledged this summer that there might be a ?question mark? over the suitability of having fast-food manufacturers sponsor the Olympics. But that didn?t keep the IOC from letting McDonald?s and Coca-Cola sign up for another two rounds of the Games.

?What we now see coming to fruition in London2012,? write the authors of the CFC report, ?is a cynical money-before-health strategy that values pounds in the pocket, but ignores the pounds of fat in our already obese society, contradicts medical advice and undermines parents? best efforts to encourage their children to eat healthily.

?Members of the International Olympic Committee must hold up their hands and recognise that they bear some responsibility,? the report adds. ?Ultimately though, it is up to all of us ? whether spectators, armchair fans or Olympic refuseniks ? to make a stand against the double standards which see companies making fat profits out of a sporting event at the expense of the health of our children and young people. If we do so, London2012 could yet have a more positive legacy: as the start of a successful movement to change the way the Games, and other major sporting events, select their sponsors and expect them to behave.?

Don?t hold your breath.

Countering the message

Parents will need to make an extra effort this Olympics to point out to their children that athletes don?t become top competitors by eating nutrient-poor and calorie-laden burgers, soft drinks and chocolate bars, no matter what the TV ads suggest. In fact, not eating such foods is what makes them more competitive.

Take the example of Ryan Lochte, the 27-year-old American swimmer who is likely to win several medals in London. He overhauled his diet after not performing as well as he hoped in the 2008 Olympics.?

Before, his typical breakfast was often ?two or three McDonald?s egg McMuffins, some hashbrowns and maybe a chicken sandwich,? he told People magazine?s Kristen Mascia. And he?d down a whole bag of chips before each practice. Now, however, Lochte starts his day with scrambled eggs, fruit and oatmeal, and eats salads or healthy wraps for lunch and dinner. His new diet has made him much fitter, he told Mascia.

That?s a great message for our children ? and one no Olympics sponsor will be promoting.

Source: http://www.minnpost.com/second-opinion/2012/07/obesity-olympics-marketing-junk-food-kids

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Breastfeeding Benefits for Baby & Mom, Why Nursing, Psychetruth ...

www.psychetruth.net Breastfeeding Benefits for Mom & Baby, Why Nursing is Best, Psychetruth Health, Happiness & Nutrition Marilee, a new mom of sweet little Melody, talks about why she chose breastfeeding and why it?s the most beneficial thing for mama and for baby. This video was produced by Psychetruth http www.twitter.com www.facebook.com www.myspace.com ? Copyright 2011 Target Public Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Breastfeeding breastfeed ?Breastfeeding benefits? baby mom nursing ?why breastfeed? psychetruth health happiness nutrition ?how to be happy? ?cute baby? ?how to? ?how to be happy? cosleeping pregnancy

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Persistence Is the Secret to Earn Money Online Through Paid Surveys

When my cousin told me about paid surveys initially, I did not believe him. The entire process seemed unbelievable ? imagine someone paying people just to get surveys. So I ignored what my cousin said and continued with only my regular work as an in a bank. It absolutely was only when I observed how my brother?s life changed in per year that I began to believe that you can actually generate income by doing surveys.I am an person, and I?ve a pattern of filling in surveys in virtually all the businesses I run into with resorts, restaurants, supermarkets, etc. As long as there are surveys to fill, I?ll do it, just to let producers or management knows what I feel about their services and products. Since I?ve enough knowledge of using the computer and the net, I began my career doing paid surveys by exploring about it.I discovered a lot of testimonials from people who gained a lot of money taking surveys, in addition to those who were not effective with it. I may say I got mixed emotions after doing my research, and I began to doubt if I would earn the maximum amount of cash online like my buddy did by filling out surveys online, or if I?d join the number of those who did not grow making use of their paid surveys career.Despite of my questions, I still tried my fortune to see if paid surveys are for me. Things didn?t turn out just how I desired the things to turn out. Since I just received several surveys the very first month to do paid surveys, I did not generate a great deal of money on line. Also, many of the surveys I found didn?t pay any money, just things, or things that I didn?t find intriguing at all.When I mentioned this to my cousin, he was really amazed that I was ultimately performing paid surveys, but he was happy to share with me some suggestions on what to Make a Bundle by Doing Surveys. The first thing I was told by him was that I needed to become listed on as many study internet sites as you possibly can, when I need to do well with paid surveys. The main tip that I got from him, however, is to be patient. He also advised me to remain far from scam sites.After following the tips of my cousin, I blossomed with my new job of taking surveys online. I?ve quit my job and now Generate Income Online At Home. A lot of my friends couldn?t think that the reason why I resigned from my previous job was as a result of an online job. I told them that whenever my husband found how much I was making by using surveys online, he asked me to stop my job and home based so I can care for our kids well. I was very much ready to do this.

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Source: http://2leep.in/persistence-is-the-secret-to-earn-money-online-through-paid-surveys.html

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Some rue neglect at SKorea's 'enemy cemetery'

PAJU, South Korea (AP) ? Just south of the Demilitarized Zone, hundreds of identical wooden grave markers poke from a grassy hill surrounded by rice paddies and trees. Some markers are rotting; others have been knocked to the dirt; most have no names.

Here, within sight of the North's dark mountains, is South Korea's badly neglected "enemy cemetery," final resting place for Chinese and North Koreans, most of them killed in the Korean War that ended with an armistice agreement 59 years ago Friday.

The two Koreas remain bitter enemies. China, however, has become one of Seoul's most important economic partners and a significant source of tourists. But those interested in visiting the graves of their countrymen who fought in the 1950-53 conflict may have a hard time even finding it. There is no parking lot, no signs on the main road; those who do make it are often saddened by what they see.

"My fellow countrymen were left in the wild by themselves. So lonely," said Huang Zhun, son of a Chinese Korean War veteran who survived. Huang, a businessman in east China's Hangzhou city, visited the cemetery last year to honor the dead.

Last year, more than 2 million tourists visited South Korea from China, which established diplomatic ties with Seoul in 1992 and has been its biggest trading partner since 2004. South Korean records estimate nearly 150,000 Chinese troops died in the Korean War, while China says 116,000.

Inspired by visiting Chinese, local officials have reviewed plans to renovate the cemetery. But the bitter feelings most South Koreans have toward their northern neighbors remains a seemingly insurmountable obstacle.

"How can we sympathize with people who aimed their guns at us?" said Won Bok-gi, an 82-year-old Korean War veteran. "I absolutely oppose such a move. ... We should destroy such a place."

The South Korean government has collected the scattered remains of about 770 North Koreans and 270 Chinese and buried them here since 1996, calling it a humanitarian measure. Most of the dead are unidentified.

Qin Furong, a 63-year-old bank employee from Jinan, in eastern China, had long dreamed of finding the remains of her father, who was killed in the war when she was 2. She visited the enemy cemetery after learning about it 2010, but found most of the graves marked only by wooden signs that read "anonymous."

"No names," she said in a phone interview with The Associated Press in China. So she burned paper "spirit money," bowed before a mass grave and made offerings of fruit and alcohol.

"Let it be for all the Chinese soldiers who are buried there," said Qin, who later asked a friend to bring her soil from the cemetery, which she plans to take to her father's hometown as a memorial to him. She's grateful South Korea has a place for its former enemies, but she's disappointed there's no way to know if her father is among them.

Only a few people visit the cemetery each day. During a recent visit by Associated Press journalists, the burial mounds were littered with cigarette butts, possibly used in lieu of incense offerings by Chinese visitors.

Some South Koreans want to do more. Local resident Kim Dong-hun is pushing for private development of the cemetery, hoping it could increase tourism and also be a site of pilgrimage for the Chinese.

Mukgai, a South Korean who goes by his Buddhist name and plans to soon become a monk, conducted a 108-day prayer session at the cemetery this year, and plans to build a small temple there and hold a concert.

"Offering the highest-level respect to the dead is a heroic act," he said.

Gyeonggi province, which has jurisdiction over the cemetery, discussed a renovation plan with Defense Ministry officials earlier this year, but provincial officials later shelved the idea because of worries over a possible conservative backlash ahead of December's presidential election. Provincial officials who attended the meeting spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity, saying they were not authorized to discuss it with the media.

The Defense Ministry declined to comment.

Tensions between the Koreas remain high since the sinking of a South Korean warship and a North Korean artillery strike on a border island in 2010. Pyongyang has threatened several times in recent months to attack Seoul, and its April rocket launch, said by North Korea to be a peaceful attempt to send a satellite into space, was widely seen as a test of its long-range missile capabilities.

Further complicating the cemetery's fate is that not all who are buried here died in the Korean War. Also among the forlorn graves are the bodies of nearly 30 North Korean commandos who unsuccessfully stormed South Korea's presidential palace in 1968, as well as a North Korean agent who killed himself after planting a bomb that killed 115 people aboard a South Korean jetliner in 1987.

Neither Pyongyang nor Beijing has shown interest in taking back the remains of their nationals or trying to identify them.

In a written response Thursday to an AP request for comment, the Chinese Civil Affairs ministry said it "will closely monitor the conditions of overseas facilities for Chinese martyrs and will collaborate with related departments on relevant efforts." It made no direct reference to the South Korean cemetery.

Pyongyang hasn't commented on the cemetery, and when Seoul asked it to retrieve its troops' remains in the 1980s, North Korea accepted only the ashes of dozens of Chinese soldiers.

Lee Chang-hyung, an analyst at Seoul's government-affiliated Korea Institute for Defense Analyses, said the South should fix up the Chinese graves and leave the North Korean ones until ties between the Koreas improve.

"We need to make a good use of the cemetery," he said, "for the development of our military and diplomatic relations with China."

___

Tang reported from Beijing.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/rue-neglect-skoreas-enemy-cemetery-131755081.html

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Clarksville Parks and Recreation reports Lettie Kendall Park to ...

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Clarksville, TN ? Lettie Kendall Park, located at 300 A Street, will be closed to the public Saturday, July 28th, 2012 for the New Providence Police Bike Rodeo.

The park will reopen to the public at dawn on July 29th, 2012.

For more information, please call the Clarksville Parks and Recreation Department at 931.645.7476.

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Poll: Few think Romney's faith resembles their own

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Most of America doesn't relate to Mitt Romney's religion but that may not matter in his race against President Barack Obama.

Those are the findings of a new Pew Research Center poll released Thursday, about a month before Republican Romney is set to become the first Mormon presidential nominee of a major political party.

Misgivings about the Mormon faith are widespread and persistent. Nearly two-thirds of non-Mormons said they see Romney's faith as very different from their own while just half consider it a Christian faith. Those numbers are little changed since Romney's first run for the presidency pushed Mormonism to the political forefront in 2007.

Despite those qualms, most voters who know that Romney is a devout Mormon say they are comfortable with his religious beliefs, and few voters reject his candidacy solely because of concerns about his faith.

Romney rarely discusses the details of his faith in public, preferring to focus on how it has helped him connect with people. In an interview Wednesday with NBC News, Romney again credited his religion with shaping his perspective and said he would talk about his experiences in the church. He did not address his spiritual beliefs.

"I'm ? without question ? I'm a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I'm proud of that," Romney said. "Some call that the Mormon Church, that's fine with me. I'll talk about my experiences in the church. There's no question they've helped shape my perspective."

Views of Mormonism generally have held steady.

About six in 10 non-Mormons see it as very different from their own faith, and about half say they consider it to be a Christian religion, as Mormons themselves do. Among other Christians, black Protestants (66 percent) and white evangelicals (63 percent) are most apt to say they consider the faith sharply different from their own, while white evangelicals (42 percent) were most likely to say the Mormon faith is not a Christian one.

The poll, conducted jointly by the Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion and Public Life and its Center for the People and the Press, found the public's knowledge about the religious beliefs of the two men vying for the presidency remains murky ? even as two-thirds say it is important that a president have strong religious beliefs. Nearly three in 10 voters (29 percent) were unaware of or incorrect about the religious backgrounds of both candidates.

Sixty percent of registered voters know Romney is a Mormon, about the same as in a March poll. Nine percent think he follows another faith and 32 percent weren't sure. About eight in 10 who know of Romney's beliefs are either comfortable with them (60 percent) or say it doesn't matter (21 percent).

Discomfort with Romney's faith peaks among several groups not often on the same side in politics: white evangelical Protestants, black Protestants, atheists and agnostics. White evangelical Protestants broadly back Romney for president despite their misgivings about his religious background, while the other groups are far more likely to support Obama.

Overall, the poll found Obama holding a 50 percent to 43 percent lead over Romney.

Concerns about Romney's religion seem to dampen enthusiasm for his candidacy among some Republicans. Those Republicans who are aware of Romney's faith and are uncomfortable with it are far more tepid about his candidacy than Republicans who express no concerns about his faith.

That diminished enthusiasm could hurt Romney this fall. A candidate's strongest supporters often are the most likely to turn out to vote. The poll found Romney lagging behind Obama in strong support generally, with 32 percent strongly backing the president and 15 percent committed to Romney.

With regard to Obama, the poll found that misperceptions about his faith persist.

About half of registered voters correctly say Obama is a Christian. Seventeen percent misidentify him as a Muslim, 3 percent say he adheres to some other faith and 31 percent say they are unsure.

That's a slightly higher number misidentifying the president as a Muslim than in October 2008, during his first run for the presidency. Back then, 12 percent said they thought Obama was a Muslim. Nearly all of that increase is among Republicans, however, as the share in that group saying Obama is a Muslim has nearly doubled in that time.

Overall, those who are aware of the president's faith are broadly comfortable with it. Among those who know Obama is a Christian, 82 percent say they are comfortable with his faith. Only about one-fourth of those who identify him as a Muslim say they are comfortable with what they see as the president's religious beliefs.

The poll was conducted by telephone June 28-July 9 among a random national sample of 2,973 adults, including 2,373 registered voters. Results among all adults have a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 2.1 percentage points, among registered voters, it is 2.3 points.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/poll-few-think-romneys-faith-resembles-own-180816422.html

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Cameron hits back after barbed Romney comments

Prime Minister David Cameron insisted Thursday that Britain would deliver a memorable Olympics after US presidential hopeful Mitt Romney backtracked on barbed comments he made about the London Games.

With excitement mounting on the eve of the opening ceremony, Prince William, his wife Catherine and Prince Harry welcomed the torch to Buckingham Palace where tens of thousands of spectators had gathered.

But Romney, in London to attend Friday's opening of the Games, said the preparations had been "disconcerting", pointing to the failure of a private security contractor to provide the number of guards it had promised.

The Republican candidate also wondered aloud whether the British public would get behind the first Games to be held here since 1948.

On the eve of the Olympics, Cameron said security "matters more than anything else", and said he was convinced the Games would prove that Britain could stage a world-class event.

Cameron also said he was sure Britons would get behind the Games despite an economic downturn -- and took an apparent swipe at Romney's past as head of the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.

"We are holding an Olympic Games in one of the busiest, most active, bustling cities anywhere in the world," Cameron said.

"Of course it's easier if you hold an Olympic Games in the middle of nowhere."

Cameron said he would take personal responsibility for the security of the Games, which are guarded by Britain's biggest ever peacetime force.

Britain has deployed an additional 4,700 troops in recent days to make up the shortfall in guards supplied by giant contractor G4S, taking the total military deployment to 18,200.

Romney told NBC News on Wednesday that "the stories about the private security firm not having enough people, the supposed strike of the immigration and customs officials -- that obviously is not something which is encouraging".

It was "hard to know just how well it will turn out", he added.

But he struck a more diplomatic note after talks with Cameron later.

"I am very delighted with the prospects of a highly successful Olympic Games," Romney said.

"What I have seen shows imagination and forethought and a lot of organisation. I expect the Games to be highly successful."

The US team meanwhile seemed happy with the conditions in London.

"Our experience has been nothing but positive," said Scott Blackmun, US Olympic Committee chief executive officer.

"We're not seeing any indication of anything less than great enthusiasm from people on the street."

The rising excitement was displayed at Buckingham Palace where thousands cheered on charity worker Wai-Ming Lee as he picked up the torch under the gaze of Prince William.

Lee, 38, said the experience "was exhilarating and over too soon" and revealed that Prince William had joked to him "don't drop it".

However, spirits were later dampened when Great Britain's footballers conceded a late goal in their opening match of the Games against Senegal.

Craig Bellamy had put the hosts into an early lead, but Moussa Konate struck in the 82nd minute to ensure the spoils were shared.

Meanwhile, the Games was rocked by a doping scandal after Greece's world indoor high jump champion Dimitris Chondrokoukis was barred for failing a drugs test.

His coach and father Kyriakos Chondrokoukis said his son had tested positive for stanozolol, the steroid used by disgraced sprinter Ben Johnson at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

Meanwhile, Games organisers tried to downplay a mix-up which saw North Korea's women football team walk off the pitch in an embarrassing start to the competitive action at the Games.

The International Olympic Committee apologised to the North Korean delegation after its players were shown on giant screens next to South Korea's flag, at their opener against Colombia on Wednesday at Hampden Park in Glasgow.

IOC president Jacques Rogge described the incident as "most unfortunate".

"This was an honest mistake, honestly made," Cameron said."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/cameron-hits-back-barbed-romney-comments-183107087--oly.html

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Samsung smartphones obliterate iPhone sales in Q2 as rivalry reaches boiling point

Juniper also found that every other smartphone manufacturer is basically way, way behind the twins titans of the smartphone industry, as HTC (2498)?shipped 11.6 million smartphones on the quarter, followed by Nokia (NOK) with 10.2 million smartphones shipped and RIM (RIM) with 7.4 million smartphones shipped.

Strong Sales of Galaxy S3 Helps Extend Samsung?s Lead over Apple in Smartphone Market Says Juniper

Hampshire, UK ? 26th?July 2012: Data from leading mobile analyst firm?Juniper Research?shows Samsung has taken a sizeable lead in the smartphone market in terms of unit shipments. In the second quarter of 2012, the company estimates Samsung shipped 52.1 million smartphones, just over double the number shipped by its leading rival, Apple ? 26.0 million. The Korea-based company has also doubled its lead over Apple quarter-on-quarter, with its flagship Galaxy S3 playing a key role, having achieved sales of 10 million in June. However, with consumers waiting for the next iPhone expected later in the year, Apple will undoubtedly narrow the gap.

Samsung?s Recipe for Success

While the Galaxy S3 has been a phenomenal success, Samsung has leveraged its global brand strength and the popularity of the Android OS to drive sales of smartphones in all price tiers. RIM (with 7.4 million smartphones shipped in Q2) continues to struggle to cope with the transition to the touchscreen era and an OS which lacks the user base to attract developers, and Nokia (10.2 million) is yet to show any clear indication it is benefitting from the switch to Windows Phone 7, with its hopes riding on Windows 8.

Meanwhile Samsung?s Android competitors continue to fall short, with the resources needed to compete with Samsung?s marketing push halting HTC?s early promise (11.6 million) and Motorola, distracted by the Google acquisition, lacking a strong presence in Western Europe.

The company believes that Sony has the strongest potential with Daniel Ashdown, Research Analyst at Juniper Research noting: ?Sony should be doing better: it, like Samsung, has a global name and the Xperia brand is well-established but its marketing and products have been disappointing so far.?

Apple Needs Another Siri to Speak-Up

With Samsung?s Galaxy products hitting all price points, and another smash hit in the flagship Galaxy S range, Apple has extended its back catalogue, continuing to sell legacy iPhones at lower price points. While the iPhone 4S added a new killer feature, Siri, the next iPhone will need something of a similar magnitude, particularly if the device retains the 3.5-inch display size, which is now dwarfed by the Galaxy S3 (4.8-inch) and other high-end smartphones. Overall, the smartphone market continues to go from strength-to-strength, with the analyst firm estimating that 132.9 million shipped in Q2 2012 ? up from 105.2 million a year ago.

The whitepaper ?The Smartphone Opportunity?, and further details of Juniper?s report, ?Smartphone Evolution Strategies: Premium, Standard & Economy Markets 2011-2016? are available at?www.juniperresearch.com.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/samsung-smartphones-obliterate-iphone-sales-q2-rivalry-reaches-180042935.html

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Video: MJD may boycott training camp

Sorry, Readability was unable to parse this page for content.

Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/21134540/vp/48304660#48304660

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Sally Ride: Why aren't there any openly gay astronauts? (+video)

Most people didn't know that the first American woman in space, astronaut Sally Ride, was a lesbian until her obituaries were published on Monday. Is being openly gay a career-wrecker for astronauts?

By Natalie Wolchover,?Space.com / July 25, 2012

Floating freely on the flight deck, Sally Ride communicates with ground controllers in Houston during her STS-7 mission in June 1983.

NASA

Enlarge

Three hundred and thirty American men and women have served as astronauts since the start of NASA's human spaceflight program. Only one is publicly known to have been gay or bisexual ? Sally Ride ? and she kept it private until her death, Monday, when her obituary on the Sally Ride Science organization's website stated that Ride was survived by Tam O'Shaughnessy, her "partner of 27 years."

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Sally Ride, the first American female astronaut in space, died at the age of 61 of cancer in her home in California. Seth Doane takes a look back at her remarkable life and legacy.

As the first American woman in space and a scientist, Ride served as a role model for generations of young girls. Now, she'll serve as a role model for LGBT youth as well, said her sister, Bear Ride. "I hope it makes it easier for kids growing up gay that they know that another one of their heroes was like them," Bear Ride, who identifies as gay, told?Buzzfeed?yesterday.

Gay rights advocates say Sally Ride's addition to the ranks of LGBT role models will make a tremendous impact. "Role models are incredibly valuable for everyone, but I think especially for LGBT youth, who may be born into a family where they don't have an LGBT role model. It is so important for them to look out into the world and see they could be welcome in that world," Stuart Gaffney, media director at Marriage Equality USA, told SPACE.com. "Sally Ride will be that for them now."

Human Rights Campaign president Chad Griffin concurred, telling Buzzfeed, "The fact that Sally Ride was a lesbian will further help round out Americans' understanding of the contributions of LGBT Americans to our country." [Astronaut Sally Ride: In Her Own Words]

Ride's decision to keep her sexual orientation private reflects her very private nature, sources said. But the lack of even one openly gay or lesbian astronaut in the history of American spaceflight may reflect the culture at the NASA astronaut office. Although NASA does not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation, Michael Cassutt, author of five books and hundreds of articles about human spaceflight, said coming out would until recently have been "a career-wrecker" for an astronaut. "Not for any formal reason, but in the same way that any medical issue or even some kind of notoriety has been an astronaut career-wrecker," Cassutt told SPACE.com.

"Any issue that detracts from the mission is or has been the kind of thing an astronaut wants to avoid. It isn't NASA politics; it is NASA politics as practiced at the astronaut office," Cassutt said, adding that the office has often resembled a "military squadron."

A NASA spokesman told SPACE.com that astronauts decide for themselves what to reveal about their private lives.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/science/~3/zn4nvixnOA0/Sally-Ride-Why-aren-t-there-any-openly-gay-astronauts-video

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Garcelle Beauvais?s Blog: How I Got over My Husband?s Betrayal

This month, the actress opens up about finding herself again - and learning to parent - after a difficult divorce.

Source: http://feeds.celebritybabies.com/~r/celebrity-babies/~3/U5Eczukp38U/

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The Nexus 7: A Threat To Apple's Current Business Model?

As any investor or electronics enthusiast should know by now, Google's (GOOG) Nexus 7 has officially arrived. The tablet went on sale weeks ago and started shipping last week to customers that have pre-ordered.

Much of the initial analysis surrounding the Nexus 7 was whether or not it was a real competitor to the iPad. Most reviewers have mentioned pros and cons of the device, but the overall opinion seems to be quite favorable; MG Siegler at Techcrunch, who's (perceived) Apple (AAPL) favoritism is famous, wrote a very positive Nexus 7 review titled "An iPad Lover's Take on the Nexus 7." His overall thoughts can be summed up with his quote:

Normally when I get a review unit of a non-Apple product, I have to force myself to use it to get a sense of how I might use it in the real world. But with the Nexus 7, I actually find myself wanting to use it. That point can't be overstated. I actually want to use an Android device. It's a brave new world.

So it seems to be clear that Apple's iPad is no longer the hands-down tablet choice for an average consumer. (I'd argue that there have been other suitable options for a long time, but the Nexus 7 may be the first tablet with mass-market appeal that many consumers are familiar with and may directly compare to an iPad.) That, alone should be a scary thought for Apple investors.

For years, Apple longs have benefited from Apple's devices being market leaders, first in terms of technology and eventually market share. When the iPhone debuted, BlackBerrys (RIMM) dominated the smartphone market, but iPhone's unique touchscreen interface and associated platform quickly displaced the increasingly-old fashioned BlackBerry. However, today, over half of American smartphones run Google's Android operating system and the iPhone's market share growth has decelerated; it is through the expansion of the smartphone market (domestically and internationally) that iPhone sales have continued to grow.

The iPad's share of the tablet market has not eroded as significantly, yet. Though the iPad was once pretty much the entire tablet market, it is still estimated to make up about 60-70% of all tablet sales. That figure would have been much higher just six months ago, before the low-priced Kindle Fire began to lure bargain-seekers. Additionally, higher-quality Android tablets from many manufacturers have continued to flood the market. Google's Nexus 7 now seems like it was almost inevitable; there was no reason why Apple should enjoy a higher share of the tablet market than it does in the smartphone market.

However, this competition is not the main concern for Apple shareholders. As was the case with the iPhone, Apple could still produce outstanding profits for shareholders even if Google (or Microsoft's (MSFT) Surface, or other devices) erode share; the size of the tablet market is still increasing rapidly enough that sales can increase while share stagnates.

The real reason why this should be a point for Apple shareholders to reevaluate investment strategy is that margin compression seems inevitable for Apple in the next few quarters.

As MG Siegler (and many others) have pointed out, a 7" iPad seems all but guaranteed at this point. The Kindle Fire and Nexus 7 (and even BlackBerry Playbook) have made consumers realize that 7" is a great size; in his Nexus 7 review, Siegler says that:

...a 7-inch tablet is different. The iPad is clunky to read in bed, for example. The Nexus 7 is perfect for that. More broadly, the 7-inch tablet further opens the door to true mobile computing. I find myself constantly using it while walking around the house (as opposed to sitting on the couch). And I don't think twice about shoving it in my bag when I take off for the day.

In the world of one month ago, a 7" iPad would have been something Apple shareholders could have gotten excited about. Apple would have probably introduced it at pricepoints about halfway between the iPod and iPad (meaning about $350 for a base model and maybe $600 for a top model) and still have been able to enjoy its usual gross margin of 40-50%. But I don't think that this is possible anymore, thanks to the Nexus 7.

Google has now directly shown consumers that they are overpaying for Apple devices. Sure, everyone has "known" that for a long time; often times, in comments sections of electronics websites, people even brag about liking to pay the premium that Apple devices command. But Google has now directly demonstrated that premium electronics don't have to cost that much, and it's going to become much more painful for the marginal tablet consumer to justify paying a large premium for an iDevice.

I anticipate that Apple will end up releasing its smaller iPad at a price more similar to the Nexus 7 - a base model may retail for $200-250. Assuming that Apple's estimated cost is the same as Google's ($175 for the base model) and a $250 price tag, Apple's gross margin on a mini-Pad would be just 30% - great for most companies, but not for Apple, especially because that sale would have been at a higher margin and for a higher dollar value in the past.

And such a trend will only continue affecting the rest of Apple's product lines. While carriers still heavily subsidize the iPhone, they will be less likely to do so in the future as Android (and potentially Windows Mobile) phones draw the attention of more consumers. (Samsung's Galaxy S3 just claimed the title of highest launch sales for any smartphone - iPhones inclueded.) Also, now that the iPhone is carried by three of the big-4 carriers, there is less incentive for carriers to try to use the iPhone as bait for consumers. While Apple's computers are still adored by fans and respected as best-in-class examples of product design, ultrabooks (INTC) and all-in-ones are now encroaching on the space. Once again, some consumers on the margin will be won over with the PC's lower pricepoints (driven by the manufacturers' lower margins).

I think that Apple's margins will hit a high-water mark this year. As growth of the smartphone and tablet markets slow and eventually peak, so will Apple's sales and profits.

Apple is so inexpensive right now that shorting it probably doesn't make sense. However, entertaining the idea of trimming one's long position sometime in the near future may make sense for multiple reasons. If margins decline, profits will eventually follow, and Apple's 15 P/E may creep higher without much appreciation in shares. Additionally, (and this is also one of the reasons why Apple shares do not trade at a higher P/E right now) ownership of Apple (by both individuals and institutions) is already so widespread that there are not many marginal buyers, but there will be marginal sellers. Mutual funds that have held Apple shares forever (and now are holding a very high percentage of funds in Apple) will eventually have to pare positions when performance stagnates or declines.

While I think that this margin compression and decline is inevitable, it's understandable if one is a bit more skeptical. If that's the case, just keep an eye on gross margins in the first quarter after the smaller iPad comes out; it should be evident whether or not it is indeed a threat to Apple's current high-margin business model. At that point, if shares are more richly valued than they are today, it may be worth considering a short (via puts) position in Apple.

Disclosure: I have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and no plans to initiate any positions within the next 72 hours.

Source: http://seekingalpha.com/article/739211-the-nexus-7-a-threat-to-apple-s-current-business-model?source=feed

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Dos de Banksy en Londres 2012

Posted by Tongue Magazine on Monday, July 23, 2012 ? Deja tu Comentario?

Todo listo para los Juegos Ol?mpicos de Londres 2012, la villa ol?mpica, instalaciones, estadios, gente euf?rica y los ?nimos a todo lo que dan; las delegaciones de deportistas llegando poco a poco. Pero no s?lo es eso, galer?as y artistas tambi?n est?n listos y lo muestran hace unos d?as les presentamos el trabajo de Andy Warhol en Londres y ahora Bansky deja dos obras: en una muestra a un lanzador de jabalina, un poco m?s armado de lo normal y en la segunda se ve a un saltador de garrocha tratando de escapar.

Source: http://www.tonguemag.com/dos-de-banksy-en-londres-2012/

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Juggernaut Alpha with Windows Phone 8 appears in benchmarks, shows how sharp it might be

A while back, we spotted the Juggernaut Alpha's unique and hard-to-forget moniker in a document listing a number of alleged upcoming Windows Phone 8 handsets, and now the device has managed to land itself in a purported set of early benchmarks. According to WMPoweruser, the Juggernaut Alpha results are from a Windows Phone app called WP Bench, where it clearly shows how much faster it is than its closest challenger -- nearly doubling its speeds when compared to those of the HTC Titan. Needless to say, if true, this kind of outcome is to be expected given all the improvements Microsoft announced last month, but this only gives us more to look forward to come that eventual WP8 fall release.

Filed under: Cellphones, Software

Juggernaut Alpha with Windows Phone 8 appears in benchmarks, shows how sharp it might be originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Jul 2012 17:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink MobileSyrup  |  WMPoweruser  | Email this | Comments

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/9VI8gA9XG7o/

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Treasure Coast Real Estate | ATLANTIC VIEW Homes For Sale July ...

by starfish on July 22, 2012

Find ATLANTIC VIEW Homes For Sale and ATLANTIC VIEW Home Values. We also have information on mortgages, insurance, movers and other Treasure Coast Real Estate Services for anyone looking to sell or buy a home in beautiful Saint Lucie COUNTY Florida.

Paul Kitchen and Starfish Team provide clients, family and close friends with professional, honest and dependable service. A resident of Treasure Coast, Paul is extremely familiar with the local neighborhoods including ATLANTIC VIEW, school districts and the Treasure Coast Real Estate market in this beautiful Florida town.

Paul Kitchen
Broker-Owner
Starfish Real Estate
8985 SE Bridge Road Hobe Sound, Florida 33455
(772) 539-8380
(800) 793-7304 toll free
Treasure Coast Real Estate
Treasure Coast Real Estate Blog

Tagged as: ATLANTIC VIEW, Treasure Coast Real Estate

Source: http://www.treasure-coast-living.com/2012/07/22/treasure-coast-real-estate-atlantic-view-homes-for-sale-july-2012-2/

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Finding The Right Property Management ... - Geoff Brand Real Estate

Property Management

One of the best investments that any individual would definitely like is property investment. It is a lifetime investment as well as giving many benefits in in the long run. As you can see, the value of real estate does not depreciate but instead it keeps on increasing especially if it is situated within the metropolitan area. In addition, they could become a great source of income if the property management is properly handled.

There are several individuals who do not actually know the best ways and means to apply when managing their properties. In most cases, our properties could be located outside the city or miles away from where you reside in and because of this there may be a difficulty with the management of the said place. But do not be too concerned about these issues since you can find a reliable service for this particular subject. Without a doubt, you will be able to reap the benefits out of your investment.

At the start, you must find a reliable property management company to do business with. Basically, they are going to manage your property by means of maintaining and handling all the daily pursuits that are based around your real estate. It is also imperative to carefully choose the company that will suit our preferences since we do not want to shell out money carelessly. There are certain individuals that may find this as a difficult task due to the fact there are so many companies to opt from. If we do a little bit of research, then we can avoid inconveniences as well as save lots of money in the long run. To give you an idea, these tips below will assist you on finding the most suitable company to hire.

First and foremost is to look into the company?s reputation. Trustworthiness or reliability as well as excellence in service already speak it all. Interview past customers and ask for feedbacks. You can also get more facts and details about the company by setting up a meeting on one of their staffs. If ever these guidelines appear then it is a positive signal for you to take.

The second thing to consider is performance. You need to comprehensively read the contract and find out how detailed their works are. This is very important to look at because it is where your investment lies. Know the standards of performance and you will have a healthy investment in the long run.

Last but not least is the monthly fee. There are many companies that differ from 5% to 12% when it comes to monthly rates. These rates could sometimes be misleading. Basically, lower percentage rate would mean lesser work and likewise for higher percentage rate would indicate more work. However, this does not necessary mean that you will not obtain what you need. You also need to look into your price range and then choose what you really need. There are other companies that have lesser percentage but cover a much detailed work.

As a conclusion, simply adhere to these recommendations and surely you will find the right property management company at your preference.

Tagged: investment, property, Property Management, Queensland

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Source: http://www.geoffbrandrealestate.com.au/finding-the-right-property-management-company/

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Evidence shows months of plotting ahead of Colorado shooting: police

AURORA, Colo. (Reuters) - Deliveries received by the man accused of committing a movie house massacre at a Denver-area premiere of the new "Batman" film suggest months of "calculation and deliberation" leading up to the shooting rampage that killed 12 people, police said on Saturday.

Aurora Police Chief Dan Oates discussed the shipments as local and federal authorities completed the painstaking process of disarming suspect James Holmes' apartment, which was found booby-trapped with explosive devices after the shooting at a multiplex theater several miles away.

On Saturday, the local coroner's officer released the names of the 12 people killed. As evening fell, residents gathered at a local high school to mourn the passing of a classmate who graduated in May.

"We've become aware that the suspect over the last four months received a high volume of deliveries to both his work and home addresses," Oates said. "This begins to explain how he got his hands on all the magazines and ammunition.

"We also think it begins to explain some of the materials he had in his apartment," Oates said. "What we're seeing here is evidence of some calculation and deliberation."

A gunman wearing a full suit of tactical body armor, helmet and gas mask opened fire at a packed midnight showing of "The Dark Knight Rises" early on Friday morning, killing 12 people and wounding 58. Holmes, 24, was arrested minutes later in a parking lot behind the cinema.

Among the dead were a 6-year-old girl who had just learned to swim, a young man celebrating his 27th birthday and an aspiring sportscaster who missed by minutes being on the scene of a Toronto mall shooting earlier this summer.

The mass shooting stunned the nation, evoking memories of the 1999 massacre at Columbine High School in Littleton, 17 miles from Aurora, where two students opened fire and killed 12 students and a teacher.

It also reverberated in the U.S. presidential race. Both President Barack Obama and his Republican rival, Mitt Romney, toned down their campaigns on Friday, pulled ads from Colorado and dedicated scheduled events to the victims.

Obama was scheduled to travel to Colorado on Sunday to honor the shooting victims, an administration official said.

'THE JOKER'

Those who witnessed the shooting told of a horrific scene, with dazed victims bleeding from bullet wounds, spitting up blood and crying for help.

"I slipped on some blood and landed on a lady. I shook her and said, 'We need to go; get up,' and there was no response, so I presumed she was dead," said Tanner Coon, 17.

When police arrested Holmes, he was armed with an AR-15 assault rifle, a 12-gauge shotgun and a Glock .40-caliber handgun, Oates said. Police found an additional Glock .40-caliber handgun in his car, parked just outside the theater's rear emergency exit, he said.

Police said Holmes had purchased the weapons legally at three area gun stores in the last 60 days and bought 6,000 rounds of ammunition online, including a 100-round drum magazine for an assault rifle.

Arapahoe County Sheriff Grayson Robinson said the suspect was being held in solitary confinement to protect him from other prisoners, a routine move in high-profile cases.

Holmes, who authorities said had dyed his hair red and called himself "the Joker" in a reference to Batman's comic-book nemesis, was due to make an initial court appearance on Monday.

Little has surfaced from Holmes's past to suggest he was capable of such violence.

Until last month, he was studying for a doctoral degree in neuroscience at the University of Colorado's Anschutz Medical School, a few blocks from his apartment.

A top student, he had earned a prestigious federal grant from the National Institutes for Health to support his studies. The grants are intended for "outstanding neuroscientists and academicians who will make significant contributions to neurobiology," university spokeswoman Jacque Montgomery said.

Holmes had spent a year in the doctoral program, where a fellow student described him as quiet and studious, before he abruptly withdrew from the university last month. He gave no reason for his departure.

Holmes kept a low profile off campus as well. He was not active under his own name on social media sites like Facebook and both the landlord and fellow tenants of his red-brick apartment building said they knew little about him.

SLAIN STUDENT REMEMBERED

Neighbors who met him in the local bar described him as relaxed and friendly, though a few recalled him displaying brief flashes of anger over seemingly trivial exchanges.

The University of Colorado Hospital, which treated some of the shooting victims, said 10 people had been released and five remained in critical condition. The Medical Center of Aurora said four of its seven patients remained in the intensive care unit, while three others were on the main trauma floor.

A memorial of flowers, candles and stuffed animals quickly sprung up where the shooting rampage took place. A handwritten sign read: "7/20 gone not forgotten."

At the Saturday evening memorial service at Gateway High School, shooting victim and recent graduate A.J. Boik was remembered as beloved former student and talented artist who was bound for college in the fall.

"He was a very big part of this community," said Tami Avery, whose son played sports with Boik. "He will be dearly missed."

After the shooting rampage, police went to Holmes' apartment, where they found booby traps that prevented investigators from entering for two days and forced officials to evacuate the apartment complex and five nearby buildings.

Sources familiar with the investigation said that some 30 shells filled with gunpowder were spread through the 800-square-foot apartment and wired to a control box in the kitchen.

There were also at least two containers filled with "incendiary liquids" intended to fuel a fire from the initial explosions, and an undetermined amount of bullets meant to ricochet around the apartment.

"Given the amount of explosives that were there, if they detonated ideally, you would have had a very ample explosion with an ensuing thermal effect from the incendiary liquids that would have destroyed that apartment complex," a law enforcement official said.

Local and federal bomb experts used a remote-controlled robot to disable two trip wires, then detonated a tube known as a "water shot" to disable the control box. By Saturday afternoon, police had removed the last of the devices, packed them in sand in a dump truck and drove them away.

Authorities said they were working carefully to preserve any evidence in the apartment, which could shed light on the motives for a crime that stunned Aurora and much of the nation

"This apartment was designed to kill whoever entered it," Oates said.

(Additional reporting by Stephanie Simon, Keith Coffman, Edith Honan and Dan Whitcomb; Writing by Dan Whitcomb; Editing by Eric Beech and Stacey Joyce)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/evidence-shows-months-calculation-ahead-colorado-shooting-police-011346115.html

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Myanmar president visits Thailand

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Source: http://news.yahoo.com/myanmar-president-visits-thailand-134648105.html

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