Islamists smash Sufi saint's tomb in northern Mali

BAMAKO (Reuters) - Heavily armed Islamist fighters in Mali destroyed the tomb of a local Sufi saint near Timbuktu on Saturday, witnesses said, the latest attack on traditional shrines in the rebel-occupied north.

The destruction of the tomb of Almirou Mahamane Assidiki in Goundam came just months after a number of other shrines in the UNESCO-listed city of Timbuktu, 90 km (55 miles) to the south, were reduced to rubble, underscoring the threat to the region's ancient heritage from the rebels' extremist ideology.

"Last night they arrived in several vehicles and told the elders that the tomb of Saint Almirou would be destroyed," Aliou Ahmadou Toure, a resident in Goundam, told Reuters.

Local people tried to protest but were powerless to protect the shrine from men wielding shovels and pick-axes, Toure said.

"Some armed men surrounded the cemetery while a second group, chanting "God is Great", destroyed the tomb inside."

A local politician who was also in the town on Saturday confirmed the incident.

It was not immediately clear which of the Islamist groups controlling Mali's north was involved in the incident but they have previously said they are protecting Islam from idol worship.

Sufi Islam, which reveres saints and sages with shrines, is popular across much of northern Mali.

The rebellion - launched first by Tuareg separatists in January but since hijacked by Islamists - has forced more than 400,000 people from their homes and split the nation in two, with the Bamako government controlling just southern zones and mix of Islamist groups in the north.

Historians say cultural losses are also great, with attacks on tombs and shrines pulverizing part of the history of Islam in Africa, which includes a centuries-old message of tolerance.

(Reporting by Adama Diarra; Writing by David Lewis; editing by Jason Webb)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/islamists-smash-sufi-saints-tomb-northern-mali-150709470.html

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Women's Swimming and Diving Class of 2016 Announced - Yale ...

September 29, 2012

NEW HAVEN, Conn. ? The Yale women's swimming and diving team will turn it up to 11 this season as they welcome 11 new Bulldogs to the squad.?

Eight swimmers and three divers have been added to the roster, meaning the team is bringing in nearly three times the number of athletes that graduated last spring.? Last season the Bulldogs said goodbye to three swimmers and one diver, the latter being captain Rachel Rosenberg '12.? With one diver leaving and three more being added in this group of incoming freshmen, Chris Berg?re's diving squad will double this year.? The role of captain, meanwhile, is back on the swimming side as senior Joan Weaver will look to lead the team to a successful season.

In addition to this new group of freshman athletes, the Bulldogs also have a new coaching staff this season.? Jim Henry was brought on to replace Cristina Teuscher as Yale's Robert J.H. Kiphuth Director of Swimming and Diving after coaching for six years at the University of Texas.? Joining him is Danielle Korman, who will serve as assistant coach at Yale following a four-year stint at Johns Hopkins.

"It is an honor to have been chosen as the women's swimming coach at Yale," said Robert J.H. Kiphuth Head Women's?Coach Henry.? "August and September have been months of discovery and hospitality at Yale for the new coaching staff.? Coach Korman and I look to build upon the strong history and tradition of success in swimming and diving at Yale. We are excited about this team's positive energy and commitment to the program.? Coach Berg?re and the divers will be a tremendous asset to the team throughout the year.? Our seniors have demonstrated in the month of September that they will lead, and the incoming freshmen bring a focus and work ethic that benefits the entire group. We are all fired up for the first official day of practice."

Of the eight swimmers in the Class of 2016, three competed at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Omaha, Neb., this past June.? Five of the 11 are high school All-Americans.? Here is a closer look at this year's freshman class:

??

Danielle DeNunzio

Diving

Hometown: Darien, Conn.

High School: Deerfield Academy

Before Yale: Dove on the varsity team all four years of high school? Team captain senior year? Holds the Deerfield record, Exeter 6-dive pool record, and the Suffield 6-dive and 11-dive records? Second at the 2012 NEPSSA Championships.

Personal: Member of Morse College.

Why I Chose Yale: "I loved the Yale community and the closeness of the swimming and diving team."

?

?

Eva Fabian

Distance Freestyle

Hometown: Keene, N.H.

High School: Oak Meadow High School

Before Yale: Won the 10K at the 2011 USA Swimming Open Water National Championships... 2010 5k Open Water World Champion... Earned a silver medal in the 10k open water event at the 2010 MOO Pan Pacific Championships... Placed 10th in the 25K at the 2009 FINA World Championships? Placed second in the 10K at the 2009 Open Water National Championships? Won the 5K at the 2009 Open Water National Championships? Finished fourth in the 10K at the 2009 Junior Pan Pacific Championships.

Personal: Member of Pierson College.

?

?

Callie Fosburgh

Mid-Distance Freestyle/IM

Hometown: Washington, D.C.

High School: Woodrow Wilson Senior High School

Before Yale: High School All-American in 200 free, 500 free, 200 IM? Captain of the team senior year? Swam for Machine Aquatics? Fourth place in 200 free, seventh place in 500 free at NCSA Junior Nationals.

Personal: Member of Timothy Dwight College.

Why I Chose Yale: "At Yale, I feel that there is a fantastic sense of community, without sacrificing any level of individualism. Every person is allowed to grow, and is encouraged to become the best that they can be, both in academics and life."

?

?

Samantha Garcia

Sprint Freestyle

Hometown: West Haven, Conn.

High School: West Haven High School

Before Yale: Southern Connecticut Conference All-Conference swimmer in the 100 freestyle in 2009 and 2010? Helped the team capture the 2010 Division II Southern Connecticut Conference Championship? Holds four school records in the 200 medley relay, 50 freestyle, the 200 freestyle relay and the 400 freestyle relay? Team captain during the 2011 season.

Personal: Member of Berkeley College... Plans to major in economics.

Why I Chose Yale: "Everyone on campus was welcoming, open, and friendly.? I felt like strangers were transformed into good friends within minutes.? That kind of excitement and happiness from the entire community was unbeatable, and so I fell in love with Yale."

?

?

Olivia Grinker

Diving

Hometown: Washington, D.C.

High School: Sidwell Friends

Before Yale: Four-time Independent School League (ISL) and Washington Metropolitan Private School Swim and Dive League (WMPSSDL) Champion? Four-time ISL All-League and WMPSSDL Diver of the Year? Placed third, fourth and fifth at METROS Swimming and Diving Championships? Honorable Mention, Washington Post Winter All-Met (2011)? Three-time SFS Award (MVP) and Coach's Award (2011) for Sidwell Friends Swim and Dive Team? Dove with Montgomery and Dominion Dive Clubs? Four-time Junior National and Age Group qualifier? Six-time Junior East Nationals qualifier? 10th place in 16-18 platform at U.S. Junior Nationals in 2011.

Personal: Member of Calhoun College? Daughter of Joyce Chung (psychiatrist at NIH) and Roy Richard Grinker (anthropology professor at George Washington)? Has one sister, Isabel.

Why I Chose Yale: "I chose Yale because I know that it will inspire me to grow and develop intellectually. I am excited to learn from my classmates and professors, and look forward to making lifelong friendships."

?

?

Emily Gudbranson

Sprint Freestyle/Breaststroke

Hometown: Cleveland Heights, Ohio

High School: Hathaway Brown School

Before Yale: Swam all four years of varsity high school swimming? Made it to top eight at states each year? Varsity captain junior and senior year? Holds two pool records and one varsity record? Two-time scholastic All-American? Member of the 2011-2012 All-American Interscholastic Academic Team.

Personal: Member of Trumbull College.

Why I Chose Yale: "For how well the team manages a great balance between swimming, academics, and just having fun."

?

?

Casey Lincoln

Distance Freestyle

Hometown: Palo Alto, Calif.

High School: Henry M. Gunn High School

Before Yale: Lettered four years in both swimming and water polo... All-American in the 500 free, 200 free relay, and 400 free relay... Scholastic All-American... School record holder in the 500 free... National Merit finalist... Swam for Palo Alto Stanford Aquatics.

Personal: Member of Saybrook College... Daughter of Todd and Suzie Lincoln... Older sister, Alex, swims at Pomona College... Younger brother, Michael, swims for Palo Alto Stanford Aquatics.

Why I Chose Yale: "Right away I knew I wanted to come to Yale. In addition to an unparalleled education, Yale offers the chance to compete at a high athletic level while surrounded by a team of brilliant, inquisitive student-athletes."

?

?

Kasey Mann

Butterfly

Hometown: Lancaster, Pa.

High School: Manheim Township High School

Before Yale: Swam all four years of high school and was a state finalist in the butterfly each year? High school All-American in 100 fly and 200 medley relay? Swam at junior nationals... Swam for the Lancaster Aquatic Club? USA Swimming Scholar-Athlete.

Personal: Member of Branford College? Plans to major in economics.

Why I Chose Yale: "At Yale the students seem genuinely happy and passionate about their school. The swim team could not have been more welcoming and Yale is the place where I decided I wanted to spend the next four years of my life."

?

?

Kelly Sherman

Diving

Hometown: Littleton, Mass.

High School: Littleton High School

Before Yale: Competed for Boston Area Dive Team, coached by Joe Chirico and Jim Brainerd? Competed in USA and AAU Nationals, placing second on one meter at AAU Nationals in 2012? Holds the Littleton team record for 6 and 11 dives? High school All-American in 2009? Voted MVP of the Littleton Swimming and Diving Team in 2009, 2010 and 2011? Named league MVP in 2012.

Personal: Member of Trumbull College? Plans on majoring in environmental studies.

Why I Chose Yale: "I chose Yale because of the strong academics and strong dive program and the welcoming feel Yale exuded."

?

?

Emma Smith

IM

Hometown: Saint Charles, Ill.

High School: Saint Charles East H.S.

Before Yale: Sixth place in the 200 IM and 400 IM and sixth place as part of 800 free relay at 2012 NCSA Junior Nationals? 2012 Olympic Trials qualifier? 2012 IHSA State Champion in 200 IM? High School ? Scholastic All-American? Valedictorian of high school graduating class.

Personal: Member of Ezra Stiles College? Interested in studying the life sciences and medicine? Enjoys traveling, sailing, music and cool art projects.

Why I Chose Yale: "I loved the balance of academics, swimming, and social life and the team was really nice and welcoming when I came on my recruiting trip."

?

?

Ali Stephens-Pickeral

Breaststroke/IM

Hometown: Danville, Va.

High School: George Washington High School

Before Yale: Swam competitively for 12 years... Swam all four years of high school... Placed first at the Northwest Regional Championships and second at State finals... Holds four school records... All-American Swimmer in the 100 breaststroke... Won the Southeastern Zone Championships in the 100 and 200 Breaststroke... Qualified for Junior Nationals and Nationals for the last three years... Competed at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials.

Personal: Member of the Timothy Dwight College... Plans to major in Global Affairs... Daughter of Anne Stephens and Andy Pickeral.

Why I Chose Yale: "I just knew the moment I stepped on campus that this was where I wanted to spend the next four years. Everything about Yale is incredible, the residential colleges, the wide array of classes offered, the amazing food, the likeness to Hogwarts, the closeness of the students...Plus the amazing opportunities and support system I will be offered both athletically and academically cannot be matched at any other university!"

Report filed by Tom Lynam '13, Yale Sports Publicity

Source: http://www.yalebulldogs.com/sports/w-swim/2012-13/releases/20120929pvwvtt

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Source: http://solarpower-homes.com/alternative-energy-companies-chicago

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Calif. man behind anti-Muslim film ordered jailed

LOS ANGELES (AP) ? The surrounding mystery of the man behind the crudely produced anti-Islamic video that sparked violence in the Middle East took a strange turn after he appeared in court and gave yet another name in a string of aliases.

Arrested on Thursday after authorities said he violated his probation from a 2010 check fraud conviction, Nakoula Basseley Nakoula told a judge his real name was Mark Basseley Youseff. He said he'd been using that name since 2002, even though he went by Nakoula in his fraud case.

The full story about Nakoula and the video "Innocence of Muslims" still isn't known more than two weeks after violence erupted in Egypt and Libya, where Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three others were killed in Benghazi. Violence related to the film has since spread, killing dozens more.

Citing a lengthy pattern of deception and the potential to flee, U.S. Central District Chief Magistrate Judge Suzanne Segal ordered Nakoula to remain in prison without bond until another judge can hold a hearing to determine if he broke the terms of his probation.

"The court has a lack of trust in this defendant at this time," Segal said.

Prosecutors noted Nakoula had eight probation violations, including lying to his probation officers and using aliases. He could face new charges that carry a maximum two-year prison term.

After his 2010 conviction, Nakoula was sentenced to 21 months in prison and was barred from using computers or the Internet for five years without approval from his probation officer, though prosecutors said none of the violations involved the Internet. He also wasn't supposed to use any name other than his true legal name without the prior written approval of his probation officer.

Three names, however, have been associated with Nakoula this month alone.

The movie was made last year by a man who called himself Sam Bacile. After the violence erupted, a man who identified himself as Bacile spoke to media outlets including The Associated Press, took credit for the film and said it was meant to portray the truth about Muhammad and Islam, which he called a cancer.

The next day, the AP determined there was no Bacile and linked the identity to Nakoula, a former gas station owner with a drug conviction and a history of using aliases. Federal authorities later confirmed there was no Bacile and that Nakoula was behind the movie.

Some of the false statements in Nakoula's alleged probation violations had to do with the film, Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Dugdale said. Nakoula told probation officials his role was just writing the script, and denied going by the name Sam Bacile in connection with the film, Dugdale said.

Before going into hiding, Nakoula acknowledged to the AP that he was involved with the film, but said he only worked on logistics and management.

Nakoula, a Christian originally from Egypt, then went into hiding after he was identified as the man behind the trailer, which depicts Muhammad as a womanizer, religious fraud and child molester. He met with federal probation officials two weeks ago, led out of his home in suburban Cerritos in the middle of the night, flanked by Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies and cloaked in heavy clothing to protect his identity.

The public got their first good look at Nakoula on Thursday, although the news media was banned from the courtroom and reporters had to watch the proceedings on a TV in a nearby courthouse.

Nakoula wore beige pants and a collared shirt when he was led into the courtroom handcuffed and shackled. He appeared relaxed, smiling at one point before the hearing and conferring with his attorney.

Nakoula's attorney Steven Seiden sought to have the hearing closed and his client released on $10,000 bail. He argued Nakoula has checked in with his probation officer frequently and made no attempts to leave Southern California.

Seiden was concerned that Nakoula would be in danger in federal prison because of Muslim inmates, but prosecutors said he likely would be placed in protective custody.

Lawrence Rosenthal, a constitutional and criminal law professor at Chapman University School of Law in Orange, said it was "highly unusual" for a judge to order immediate detention on a probation violation for a nonviolent crime, but if there were questions about Nakoula's identity it was more likely.

"When the prosecution doesn't really know who they're dealing with, it's much easier to talk about flight," Rosenthal said. "I've prosecuted individuals who'd never given a real address. You don't know who you're dealing with, and you're just going to have very limited confidence about their ability to show up in court."

Enraged Muslims have demanded punishment for Nakoula, and a Pakistani cabinet minister has offered a $100,000 bounty to anyone who kills him.

First Amendment advocates have defended Nakoula's right to make the film while condemning its content. And federal officials likely will face criticism from those who say Nakoula's free speech rights were trampled by his arrest on a probation violation.

In arguing that Nakoula is a possible flight risk, Dugdale said Nakoula couldn't even reveal something as fundamental as his real name.

"He's a person who simply can't be trusted," he said.

___

Associated Press writer Gillian Flaccus contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/calif-man-behind-anti-muslim-film-ordered-jailed-012117266.html

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Republicans Fire Their Voter-Registration Firm

Republicans have fired the firm they had employed to register voters in battleground states.

After Florida election officials said they received faulty voter-registration forms, the Republican National Committee said it had severed ties with Strategic Allied Consulting, a voter-registration firm that was handling GOP registration efforts in Colorado, Florida, Nevada, North Carolina, and Virginia - all key swing states in the presidential election.

"We have zero tolerance for any threat to the integrity of elections," said RNC communications director Sean Spicer. "When we were informed of an alleged incident, we immediately cut all ties to the company."

Voter fraud has long been a charge conservatives have lodged against Democrats. During the 2008 election cycle, Republicans accused the since-disbanded group ACORN of falsifying forms.

An RNC official downplayed the notion that parting ways with Strategic Allied Consulting will damage the RNC's registration push, saying the Republican registration effort "was wrapping up anyway" by the time faulty registrations were discovered.

The five states where the dismissed firm was working were the only ones in which the RNC had organized voter-registration efforts, the official said. He described Republicans' registration push as far more limited than Democrats'.

The firm, recommended by the RNC to state parties, was contracted both by the RNC and by the five state parties, which also have severed ties, according to the RNC. The RNC had been funding the registration efforts.

Election officials in at least seven Florida counties told the Associated Press - and prosecutors and state officials - that they had received faulty forms, including some that listed dead people. The Republican Party of Florida had already fired the firm, according to the Associated Press, which reported that Strategic Allied Consulting said it suspected the forms were submitted by one person, who has been fired.

Competitive Senate races are unfolding in two of the states: ABC News rates Senate contests in Nevada and Virginia as toss-ups. ABC News rates Florida's Senate race as "leans Democrat," with Sen. Bill Nelson expected to win re-election.

Also Read

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/republicans-fire-voter-registration-firm-officials-forms-215203746--abc-news-politics.html

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Nickelblock: An element's love-hate relationship with battery electrodes

Friday, September 28, 2012

Anyone who owns an electronic device knows that lithium ion batteries could work better and last longer. Now, scientists examining battery materials on the nano-scale reveal how nickel forms a physical barrier that impedes the shuttling of lithium ions in the electrode, reducing how fast the materials charge and discharge. Published last week in Nano Letters, the research also suggests a way to improve the materials.

The researchers, led by the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory's Chongmin Wang, created high-resolution 3D images of electrode materials made from lithium-nickel-manganese oxide layered nanoparticles, mapping the individual elements. These maps showed that nickel formed clumps at certain spots in the nanoparticles. A higher magnification view showed the nickel blocking the channels through which lithium ions normally travel when batteries are charged and discharged.

"We were surprised to see the nickel selectively segregate like it did. When the moving lithium ions hit the segregated nickel rich layer, they essentially encounter a barrier that appears to slow them down," said Wang, a materials scientist based at EMSL, the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, a DOE user facility on PNNL's campus. "The block forms in the manufacturing process, and we'd like to find a way to prevent it."

Lithium ions are positively charged atoms that move between negative and positive electrodes when a battery is being charged or is in use. They essentially catch or release the negatively charged electrons, whose movement through a device such as a laptop forms the electric current.

In lithium-manganese oxide electrodes, the manganese and oxygen atoms form rows like a field of cornstalks. In the channels between the stalks, lithium ions zip towards the electrodes on either end, the direction depending on whether the battery is being used or being charged.

Researchers have known for a long time that adding nickel improves how much energy the electrode can hold, battery qualities known as capacity and voltage. But scientists haven't understood why the capacity falls after repeated usage -- a situation consumers experience when a dying battery holds its charge for less and less time.

To find out, Wang, materials scientist Meng Gu and their collaborators used electron microscopy at EMSL and the National Center for Electron Microscopy at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory to view how the different atoms are arranged in the electrode materials produced by Argonne National Laboratory researchers. The electrodes were based on nanoparticles made with lithium, nickel, and manganese oxides.

First, the team took high-resolution images that clearly showed rows of atoms separated by channels filled with lithium ions. On the surface, they saw the accumulation of nickel at the ends of the rows, essentially blocking lithium from moving in and out.

To find out how the surface layer is distributed on and within the whole nanoparticle, the team used a technique called three-dimensional composition mapping. Using a nanoparticle about 200 nanometers in size, they took 50 images of the individual elements as they tilted the nanoparticle at various angles. The team reconstructed a three-dimensional map from the individual elemental maps, revealing spots of nickel on a background of lithium-manganese oxide.

The three-dimensional distribution of manganese, oxygen and lithium atoms along the surface and within the particle was relatively even. The nickel, however, parked itself in small areas on the surface. Internally, the nickel clumped on the edges of smaller regions called grains.

To explore why nickel aggregates on certain surfaces, the team calculated how easily nickel and lithium traveled through the channels. Nickel moved more easily up and down the channels than lithium. While nickel normally resides within the manganese oxide cornrows, sometimes it slips out into the channels. And when it does, this analysis showed that it flows much easier through the channels to the end of the field, where it accumulates and forms a block.

The researchers used a variety of methods to make the nanoparticles. Wang said that the longer the nanoparticles stayed at high temperature during fabrication, the more nickel segregated and the poorer the particles performed in charging and discharging tests. They plan on doing more closely controlled experiments to determine if a particular manufacturing method produces a better electrode.

This work was supported by PNNL's Chemical Imaging Initiative.

###

DOE/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory: http://www.pnnl.gov/news

Thanks to DOE/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory for this article.

This press release was posted to serve as a topic for discussion. Please comment below. We try our best to only post press releases that are associated with peer reviewed scientific literature. Critical discussions of the research are appreciated. If you need help finding a link to the original article, please contact us on twitter or via e-mail.

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Source: http://www.labspaces.net/123961/Nickelblock__An_element_s_love_hate_relationship_with_battery_electrodes

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Dell Inspiron 17R-5720

The Dell Inspiron 17R (model 5720) is a desktop replacement laptop that delivers impressive performance at a budget-friendly ($699 list) price point. It offers the very latest Intel (Ivy Bridge) technology, a bright (albeit reflective) 17-inch screen, and a generous amount of hard drive storage. As with its smaller sibling, the 15R, you can change the lid color to suit your mood, and it's outfitted with your basic Wi-Fi and Bluetooth radio options. However, it is hampered by short battery life and narrow viewing angles, and its integrated GPU can't handle graphics-intensive games.

Design and Features
The 17R's chassis looks exactly the same as the15R, only bigger. It has a dark gray plastic lid (dubbed Moon Silver), rounded corners, and silver trim around the top and base. The lid is easily removed and can be replaced with a Lotus Pink or Peacock Blue colored lid, which Dell sells for $29.99 each. The chassis is fairly bulky; it weighs 7.2 pounds and is 1.5 inches thick. By way of comparison, the Toshiba Satellite P775D-S7144 weighs only 6.6 pounds and the HP Pavilion DV7-6b55dx weighs 6.9 pounds.

Beneath the lid is a brightly lit 17.3 inch display with a resolution of 1,600 by 900, which is standard issue for a big screen notebook in this price range. You can't get full 1080p on this panel like you can with the more expensive Dell Inspiron 17R Special Edition (7720), but it does a very good job of displaying HD content at 720p nonetheless. Image detail is sharp and colors have pop, but the panel's shiny coating tends to be too reflective when the background is dark. Off angle viewing is a narrow as well. There's a 720p webcam embedded in the screen's upper bezel and a chrome Inspiron logo on the lower bezel.

The full size island-style keyboard features a numeric pad on the right but lacks the backlighting feature that you get with the Sony VAIO E15 (SVE15116FXS). The action is firm but not at all stiff, and the keys provide a comfortable typing experience. The touchpad has the same smooth brushed metal finish used on the keyboard deck, as do the mouse buttons. One of the three Dashboard keys at the top of the deck is user programmable, one launches the Windows Mobility control panel, and the third launches Dell's Audio control panel.

The left side of the notebook holds VGA and HDMI video inputs, two USB 3.0 ports, two audio jacks (headphone and microphone), and the power jack. On the right is a tray loading DVD multi-drive, two more USB 3.0 ports, and a LAN port. A 7-in-1 card reader slot is mounted along the front edge of the chassis. Like the 15R, the 17R comes with Wi-Fi N and Bluetooth wireless capabilities, but it has a bigger (750 GB) hard drive than the smaller Inspiron (500 GB). It also has a small subwoofer built in to the base that provides a much needed shot of bass to the WavesMaxx Audio3 powered audio system, which puts out better than average sound for a budget laptop.

You'll have to contend with a smattering of bloatware but many of the Dell-branded apps are quite useful. Dell Stage makes it easy to view and share multimedia files (photos, music, video) and Dell DataSafe provides an online backup service that safeguards your data from hard drive failures, theft, and software corruption. The drive also comes with Windows 7 Home Premium, Skype, and a webcam utility.

Performance
The Inspiron 17R uses the same third-generation Intel Core i5-3210M (2.5 GHz) processor as the Dell Inspiron 15R, and both are equipped with 6 GB of RAM, so it's not surprising that their PCMark 7 scores (2,676 for the 17R; 2,645 for the 15R) were nearly identical. The fact that it blew the 1.6 GHz AMD-based Toshiba P775D (1,564) out of the water also came as no surprise.

Results were similar on our Cinebench R11.5 CPU benchmark; the 17R's score of 2.84 was just a heartbeat shy of the 15R (2.85) and the VAIO E15 (2.86) but trounced the Toshiba P775D (2.10). The 17R made short work of our Photoshop (3:53) and Handbrake (1:41) multimedia tests, beating the Sony E15 by two seconds and trailing it by two seconds on the Handbrake test.

Armed with Intel's HD Graphics 4000 integrated graphics solution, the 17R gave us a barely playable 22 fps on our medium quality Lost Planet 2 DX9 test while running at a relatively low resolution (1,024-by-768). That dropped to an unplayable 9 fps when we set effects to high quality and used the notebook's native (1,600-by-900) resolution. It performed similarly on our Crysis DX10 tests; it managed 25.1 fps in medium mode and 6.1 fps in high quality mode. The Sony VAIO E15's scores were higher, but not by much. The Toshiba P775D, on the other hand, outperformed them all, thanks to its discrete AMD Radeon HD 6620G graphics solution.

As was the case with the 15R, the 17R was unable to complete the MobileMark 2007 battery test. Instead, we ran our comparable 10-hour DVD rundown test, which yielded a mere 2 hours and 55 minutes of battery life. That's significantly shorter than the 15R (4 hours and 29 minutes) and light-years shy of the 9 hour 33 minutes of MobileMark battery life we got from the HP Pavilion DV7-6b55dx.

The Dell Inspiron 17R (model 5720) won't wow you with blazing graphics performance, and its battery life is woefully short, but it is more than capable of handling your everyday home and small office computing tasks. The 17.3-inch display delivers bright, crisp image quality, despite the reflective coating, and the 17R's audio output is impressive for a budget notebook. That said, the Sony VAIO E15 offers slightly better graphics performance, longer battery life, and an illuminated keyboard, and as such remains our Editors' Choice for budget laptop.

BENCHMARK TEST RESULTS:

COMPARISON TABLE
Compare the Dell Inspiron 17R-5720 with several other laptops side by side.

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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ziffdavis/pcmag/~3/MnTQBtSXWLA/0,2817,2410287,00.asp

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Digitimes says ASUS says Digitimes doesn't know what the hell it's talking about

Because if you can't trust the source of yesterday's anonymously sourced $99 Nexus rumor to accurately report the denial of a $99 Nexus 7, who can you trust in this crazy world?

Never mind that the actual quote Digitimes has today doesn't actually refute anything. Here 'tis:

With Nexus 7's strong sales, rumor have circulated that Google is looking to push forward and will cooperate with Asustek to release a US$99 entry-level model and a US$199 ultra-thin upgraded model to counter Amazon and Apple's new tablet devices.

So, yeah. There's that. Ain't nothing official till it's official, folks.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/rQjAMEqpeeo/story01.htm

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Cisco CEO's pay package dipped 9 pct in past year

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Source: http://news.yahoo.com/cisco-ceos-pay-package-dipped-9-pct-past-001138021--finance.html

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Should Utah kids stay off home trampolines? | The Salt Lake Tribune

Emergency room doctor Charles Pruitt estimates that during each of his shifts in the summer, he treats one or two children who have been hurt while jumping on a trampoline.

The injuries range from fractures below the knee from what doctors at Primary Children?s Medical Center call the "double bounce" ? when the child comes down as the trampoline recoils ? to head injuries from jumpers colliding.

?

Safety tips: If your kids keep jumping

The American Academy of Pediatrics offers this advice to parents who let their children jump on home trampolines:

Restrict use to a single jumper.

Ensure protective padding is in good condition and properly placed.

Set trampoline at ground level and clear of hazards.

Don?t allow somersaults or flips.

Require supervision by an adult familiar with the recommendations.

Verify that homeowner insurance policies cover trampoline claims.

It?s enough for Pruitt to agree with the American Academy of Pediatrics? recommendation this week that home trampoline use be avoided.

"I don?t think trampolines have any place in backyards in unsupervised settings. I agree with the American Academy of Pediatrics; they?re just too dangerous," said Pruitt, child advocacy chairman of the Utah chapter of the AAP.

The AAP?s policy statement "Trampoline Safety in Childhood and Adolescence" says about 98,000 injuries occurred nationwide in 2009, resulting in 3,100 hospitalizations. It says adding netting and padding doesn?t appear to reduce the risk of injuries.

It recommends that pediatricians advise patients and their parents against recreational trampoline use.

However, using trampolines in a structured training program, with coaching and supervision, may be OK, the policy says. It notes that such settings are vastly different than a backyard trampoline: The trampolines are larger, there is more padding and the athletes are protected with a bungee or harness.

Trampoline has been an Olympic sport since 2000, and they are used to train gymnasts, divers, freestyle skiers and figure skaters. When professionals require the use of such safety measures, including spotters, Pruitt said, "it seems surprising we would send the child out to the backyard to jump unsupervised."

The AAP policy notes that children ages 5 or younger are at greater risk for significant injury. Nearly half the injuries among that age group were broken bones or dislocations. And up to half the injuries occur while adults are supervising.

Injuries most often occur when several children are jumping at once. The most commonly harmed body part is the ankle, but nearly 1 in 5 trampoline-related injuries is to the head or neck, either from falling off the device or landing wrong during somersaults or flips.

story continues below

"The appeal of a trampoline is also part of the problem," Pruitt said. "They make you bounce higher in the air than you could normally jump."

While some may extol the virtues of trampolines for getting kids active, Pruitt said, there?s plenty of other ways to get exercise.

The academy?s warnings resonated with two Utah trampoline dealers.

Richard Cowley, the owner of Trampoline World Sales & Repair in Sandy, said he thinks many of the risks associated with allowing children to jump on trampolines can be addressed through good parental supervision.

"It is all about responsibility," he said. "You don?t want to let your kids jump unsupervised, nor do you want to let more than one jump at a time."

Cowley said he believes that when proper safety procedures are followed on trampolines, the health benefits of continuous use for all ages far outweigh the risk of injury.

He doesn?t anticipate much impact on his sales, he said, because many of his customers are repeat business.

Next Page >

Copyright 2012 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/54966401-78/trampoline-trampolines-injuries-kids.html.csp

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PFT: Even Carroll wants regular referees back

Getty Images

The standard for determining whether a call should be overturned by replay review, as once explained by former Packers and Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren, is whether 50 drunks in a bar would agree that it was a bad call.

As to the final play from last night?s Packers-Seahawks game, millions of sober people believe that the ruling on the field should have been overturned.? Those millions don?t include the league office ? and they definitely don?t include Seahawks coach Pete Carroll.

?They said that the call was correct, and after review [it] was correct . . . because it was a simultaneous catch,? Carroll said Tuesday, on ESPN 710?s Brock & Salk.? ?So that?s it.? And that?s the NFL who?s in charge of the whole thing.? That?s not the officials on the field, that?s the league office said that.? And so, you know, it?s hard for everybody to accept, but that?s what it is and I don?t care.?

Regardless of whether there was indisputable visual evidence to reverse the touchdown, Carroll seems to think that the call as made on the field was the correct call.

?They were right on the point, looking right at it,? Carroll said of the officials.?? ?Standing right over the thing.? And they reviewed it.? Whether they missed the push or not, obviously they missed the push in there, in the battle for the ball.? But that stuff goes on all time.? They see it, they don?t see it.? That happens with the official officials.? And so the result is they called it, the league backed it up, game over, we win.?

Carroll may feel that way, some of his players may feel that way, and some of the team?s fans may feel that way.? But most objective observers believe it was a bad call, that it should have been overturned, and that the NFL?s stubborn insistence on winning the negotiation with the locked-out officials has created one of the most dubious moments in league history.

Congratulations, NFL.? We can only wonder what the encore will be.

Source: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/09/25/even-pete-carroll-is-ready-for-ref-lockout-to-end/related/

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Video: MS Wealth Management Could Make a Pile Off Deposits

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Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/cnbc/49169780/

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CAW chief says Chrysler contract deal possible today

TORONTO (Reuters) - Canada's autoworkers could seal a new labor agreement with Chrysler Group LLC on Wednesday night, union president Ken Lewenza said, in a huge shift in the tone of drawn-out, challenging negotiations.

Fiat SpA's Chrysler, the last of the Detroit Three automakers without a new contract, submitted a written proposal on Tuesday night that reignited the difficult talks, said Lewenza, who is the national president of the Canadian Autoworkers union (CAW).

"I absolutely think it's possible," to reach a deal on Wednesday, Lewenza told Reuters after a morning meeting with the CAW's Chrysler negotiating team. "There's still some very, very minor issues around the pattern that have to be dealt with. We're going to keep working at it over the course of the day."

Ford Motor Co workers ratified their deal at the weekend, while General Motors Co employees vote on Wednesday and Thursday.

Chrysler, which has more than 8,000 unionized workers in Canada, declined to comment on the negotiations.

Lewenza declined to say how the two sides would resolve a Chrysler demand to eliminate a cost of living increase and adjust lump sum payments that form key elements in the deals with Ford and GM.

"It's too sensitive right now," Lewenza said. "The fact of the matter is one little miscommunication could stop the momentum and I'm not prepared to do that."

Lewenza will be in Oshawa, Ontario, as CAW workers vote on their deal with GM, but he said he will stay in touch with Chrysler throughout the day and meet with the company in Toronto at 6:30 p.m. (2230 GMT) on Wednesday.

The CAW reached an agreement with Ford on September 17, and used that deal to set the pattern for deals with GM and Chrysler in an effort to ensure that no company has a labor cost advantage over its rivals.

Chrysler argued that, as the smallest and most vulnerable of the Detroit Three, it could not afford Ford's framework deal and needed to eliminate any increase in fixed costs, Lewenza has said. It also wanted flexibility on the timing and structure of lump sum bonus payments that total C$9,000 ($9,100), including a C$3,000 ratification bonus.

The CAW, which represents more than 20,000 workers at the Canadian plants of the three automakers, has a deal with Ford and GM that freezes wages until June 2016, when a cost of living increase will be introduced.

The agreement also starts new workers at 60 percent of the highest hourly rate of C$33.85, down from 70 percent in the last contract. It will take 10 years to reach the top of the pay scale, up from six years.

The CAW insisted that new employees eventually reach the top pay scale, in contrast to their U.S. counterparts at the United Auto Workers, who have a permanent two-tier wage structure.

New employees will also contribute more money to a pension plan that mixes elements of a defined benefit and defined contribution plan. A defined contribution plan for current employees is unchanged.

($1=0.98 Canadian)

(Reporting By Susan Taylor; Editing by Peter Galloway and Janet Guttsman)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/caw-president-says-possible-reach-deal-chrysler-today-132330719--finance.html

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Is it Tax Deductible? | Leader Accountancy

Everyone wants to pay less tax right?

To do that you need to know what you can claim? and what you can?t.??

It?s not about cheating the system, or creative accounting.??

It?s all about claiming what you?re entitled to.?

That?s why we?ve developed the Is it Deductible checklist.

Click on here to download a PDF version.

?

Item	?
Admission Fees For lawyers and other professionals. Disallowed as capital cost.	O
Airport Lounge Membership Deductions to the extent used for work-related purposes.	P
Annual Practicing Certificate: Applies to professional persons and other contractors who must pay an annual fee to practice in their chosen field.?	P
Bank Charges: Deductions are allowed if account earns interest. Not private transaction fees.	P
Briefcase: If used for work and/or business purposes the cost is fully deductible if $300 or less. If more than $300, it must be depreciated.	P
Calculators and Electronic Organisers: If used for work and/or business purposes the cost is fully deductible if $300 or less. If more than $300, it must be depreciated.	P
Child Care Fees	O
Clothing, Uniforms and Footwear: ??????? Compulsory uniform: Uniform must be unique and particular to an organization (e.g. Corporate uniform) ??????? Non-Compulsory uniform: If on a register kept by the Department of Industry, Science and Tourism. ??????? Occupational specific: The clothing identifies a particular trade, vocation or profession (e.g. Chefs and nurses) ??????? Protective: Must be used to protect the person or their conventional clothing. May include sunscreen.	P
Club Membership Fees	O
Coaching Classes: Allowed to performing artists to maintain existing skills or obtain related skills	P
Computer and Software: Software is deductible if it costs less than $300, otherwise deductible over 2.5 years. Except in-house developed software which is over 4 years from 1 July 2008.	P
Conferences, Seminars and Training Courses: Allowed if designed to maintain or increase employee?s knowledge, skills or ability.	P

Item	?
Conventional Clothing	O
Depreciation: Tools, equipment, and plant used for work purposes for each item costing more than $300. Items costing $300 or less are deductible outright in the year of acquisition.	P
Driver?s Licence: Cost of acquiring and renewing.	O
Dry Cleaning: Allowed if the cost of the clothing is also deductible. See also ?Laundry?.	P
Entertainment Expenses	O
Fines: Imposed by court, or under law of Commonwealth, State, Territory of foreign country (s26-5).	O
First Aid Course: Provided it is directly related to employment or business activities.	P
Gaming Licence: Hospitality industry.	P
Gifts / Donations of $2 or more If made to approved ?deductible gift recipient? body or fund. See ato.gov.au for a full list. Gifts to clients are deductible if employees can demonstrate a direct connection with earning assessable income.	P
Glasses and contact lenses (prescribed): These would qualify as medical expenses. Deductible if ?protective clothing?.	O
Glasses and Goggles: Protective only.	P
Grooming	O
HELP/HECS Repayments	O
Home Office Expenses: If you perform some of your work from your home office, you may be able to claim a deduction for the costs you incur in running your home office. ? Running? Expenses:? For? example,? electricity,? gas? and? depreciation? of office? furniture? (e.g. desk,? tables,? chairs,? cabinets,? shelves, professional library). ? Occupancy Expenses: For example, rent, insurance, rates and land tax. Deductible only to the extent that home or study is used as a place of business.	P
Income Protection Insurance: Allowed only if the proceeds are assessable.	P
Insurance ? sickness or accident: When benefits would be assessable income.	P
Interest: Allowed if money borrowed for work-related purposes or to finance income earning assets. Interest paid on underpayment of tax (e.g. General interest charge) is deductible. Fines and administrative penalties are not deductible. Interest on capital protection loans deductible except for non-deductible capital protection component.	P

Item	?
Internet and Computer Equipment: Expenses allowed to the extent incurred in deriving individual?s work-related income, carrying on a business or earning investment income (e.g. share investing).	P
Laundry and Maintenance: Allowed if the cost of clothing is allowable (see ?work related clothing?). Reasonable claims of up to $150 do not need to be substantiated.	P
Legal Expenses: Renewal of existing employment contract.	P
Meals:	?
? Eaten during normal working day	O
? Meals acquired when travelling overnight for work-related purpose	P
? Meals when travelling (not overnight).	O
? Overtime Meals: If allowance received under award	P
Medical Examination: Only if from the referral of a work-related business licence	P
Newspapers: Claims may be allowed in limited cases if the publication is directly related to income-producing activities.	O
Overtime Meal Expenses: Only if award overtime meal allowance received.	P
Parking Fees and Tolls: Includes bridge and road tolls (but not fines) paid while travelling for work-related purposes.	P
Photographs (performing arts):	?
? Cost of maintaining portfolio	P
? Cost of preparing portfolio	O
Practising Certificate: Applies to professional employees.	P
Prepaid Expenses: Non-business individuals and SBE taxpayers claim is fully deductible if services are to be performed in period not exceeding 12 months. All other taxpayers must apportion claim over the period of service	P
Professional Association Fees	P
Professional Library (books, CDs, videos etc): Establishedlibrary(depreciationallowed)	?
? New books: Full claim if cost $300 or less (includes a set if total cost is $300 or less).	P
? New books: Depreciation if cost over $300 (includes a set if total cost is more than $300).	P
Protective Equipment: Includes harnesses, goggles, safety glasses, breathing masks, helmets, boots. Claims for sunscreens, sunglasses and wet weather gear allowed if used to provide protection from natural environment.	P

Item	?
Removal and Relocation Costs: If paid by the employer, may be exempt from FBT, but deductible.	O
Repairs: Income producing property / or work-related equipment.	P
Self-education costs: Claims for fees, books, travel (see below) and equipment etc. only if allowed if there is a direct connection between the course and the person?s income earning activities. No claim for the first $250 if course is undertaken at school or other educational institution and the course confers a qualification. However, that first $250 can be offset against private expenses, eg. travel, child minding fees, etc	P
Seminars: Including conference and training courses if sufficiently connected to work activities.	P
Social Functions	O
Stationery: Diaries, log books etc.	P
Subscriptions:	?
? Publications if a direct connection between publication end income earned by taxpayer.	P
? Professional associations: Maximum of $42 if no longer gaining assessable income from that profession.	P
? Sports clubs	O
Sun Protection: Claims for sunglasses, hats and sunscreen allowed for taxpayers who work outside (see 12.147).	P
Superannuation Contributions: Claims allowed in respect of employees. Substantially self-employed persons if their assessable income, reportable fringe benefits plus reportable employer superannuation? contributions is less than 10% of their total assessable income from all sources, reportable fringe benefits plus reportable employer superannuation contributions total. No deduction is available for interest on borrowed monies used to finance deductible personal superannuation contributions.	P
Tax Agent Fees: (deduction can be claimed in the income year the expense is incurred). ? Travel and accommodation expenses if for travel to a tax agent or other recognised tax adviser to obtain tax advice, have returns prepared, be present at audit or object against an assessment. ? Cost of other incidentals if incurred in having tax return prepared, lodging an objection or appeal or defending an audit.	P
Technical And Professional Publications	P
Telephones and Other Telecommunications Equipment: (Including mobiles, pagers and beepers.) Cost of telephone calls (related to work purposes).	P
? Installation or connection	O
? Rental charges (if ?on call? or required to use on regular basis).	P
? Silent telephone number.	O

Tools: (work related only) If cost is $300 or less. ? If cost more than $300, the amount would be depreciable, and the amount deductible equals to the decline in value.	P
Trauma Insurance: If benefits capital in nature.	O
Travel Expenses: Including public transport, motor vehicles and motor cycles, fares, accommodation, meals and incidentals. Travel between home and work.	O
? Where employee has no usual place of employment (e.g. travelling salesperson).	P
? If ?on call?.	O
? If actually working before leaving home (e.g. doctor giving instructions over phone from home. Note that this applies in limited circumstances only).	P
? Must transport bulky equipment (e.g. builder with bulky tools)	P
? Travel from home (which is a place of business) to usual place of employment	O
? Travel from home to alternate work place (for work-related purposes) and return to normal work place (or directly home)	P
? Travel between normal work place and alternate place of employment (or place of business) and return (of directly home)	P
? Travel between two work places	P
? Travel in course of employment: See Substantiation rules at 12.210	P
? Travel accompanied by relative (may be allowed if relative is also performing work-related duties)	O
Union and Professional Association Fees	P
Vaccinations	O
Watch: Unless job specific such as a nurse?s job watch.	O

?

For more information on any of the

above items, please contact your accountant at

Leader Accountancy
Office: Suite 207, 250 McCullough St, sunny bank, QLD 4109
T: 07 3727 8822 | F: 07 3727 8899 | E: jerry@leaderaccountancy.com.au

Source: http://leaderaccountancy.com.au/2012/09/is-it-tax-deductible/

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