In 1993, I went to Israel for the first time. To decompress after the long flight, we went to a resort town outside Tel Aviv.
What was the first thing I saw in Israel? We drove by a golf course.
Holy Land, indeed.
Unfortunately, my wife quashed any notion of playing on the course, one of the two in Israel at the time. She didn?t come all the way to Israel to watch me hit wicked slices into the Mediterranean.
Turns out it was a different story for Hunter Mahan. The latest edition of In Play with Jimmy Roberts (Tuesday, 10:30 p.m. ET, Golf Channel) features a Tim Rosaforte report on a trip Mahan, Amy Alcott and other golfers made to Israel last fall. During the goodwill mission, the golfers found themselves close to the violence that plagues the region.
Today?s best Android, iOS and Windows Phone app deals. Prices change without warning, so be quick or miss out!
This is a hand-picked list of apps that we think are worth checking out, but we do not endorse them in any way, nor have we reviewed them.
Productivity and lifestyle apps are listed first. Games are stacked towards the bottom of each list. Otherwise, the apps are not listed in any particular order. Some apps may require in-app purchases for extra features or levels.
Android
? Satellite Safari for $2.99 (new) ? ProCapture ? camera + panorama for $2.99 (normally $4.30) ? Robird for $1.08 (normally $1.99) ? TinyCam Monitor Pro reduced to $1.99 (normally $3.99)
? Quell Momennto now $2.14 (normally $3.99 ? Adventure Bar Story for $1.52 (normally $4.54) ? Sound of heart dodol theme for free (normally $1.59)
iOS
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iPad Only
? Health through Breath ? Pranayama HD for free (normally $4.49) ? Easy Calender for iPad for free (normally $2.99) ? Splashtop Personal ? Remote Desktop for iPad for $0.99 (normally $7.99)
? Reiner Knizia?s Medici HD for $0.99 (normally $2.99) ? Tikal HD for $0.99 (normally $4.49)
Windows Phone
? Wead for free (normally $3.49) ? Bears, Beets, BSG for free (normally $0.99)
? Hipstamatic Oggl for free (new) ? TetrisGo for free (new) ? AngryBots for free (new) ? Star for free (new)
App Deals is a daily roundup of notable new, updated and discounted apps. Know of any other awesome deals? Are you a developer and want your app listed here? Leave a comment or contact us.
Contact: Dr. Andreas Villwock avillwock@geomar.de 49-431-600-2802 Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel (GEOMAR)
Marine scientists are decoding the mechanism for long-term climate fluctuations in the Atlantic
25 July 2013 / Kiel / Moscow. Why does hurricane activity vary from decade to decade? Or rainfall in the Sahel region? And why are the trans-Atlantic changes frequently in sync? A German-Russian research team has investigated the role of heat exchange between ocean and atmosphere in long-term climate variability in the Atlantic. The scientists analyzed meteorological measurements and sea surface temperatures over the past 130 years. It was found that the ocean significantly affects long term climate fluctuations, while the seemingly chaotic atmosphere is mainly responsible for the shorter-term, year-to-year changes. The study appears in the current issue of the prestigious journal Nature, and provides important information on the predictability of long-term climate fluctuations.
How do the ocean and atmosphere communicate? What information do they exchange, and what are the results? These are questions that climate scientists must ask, especially if they want to understand the cause of natural climate fluctuations of varying duration. These fluctuations superimpose the general global warming trend since the beginning of industrialization and thus complicate the accurate determination of human influence on the climate. The causes and mechanisms of natural climate variability, however, are poorly understood. A study led by scientists at the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel shows that the ocean currents influence the heat exchange between ocean and atmosphere and thus can explain climate variability on decadal time scales. The study, which appears in the current issue of the renowned journal Nature, also references the potential for predicting such phenomena.
The presumption of such predictability potential has been around for more than half a century. In 1964, the Norwegian climate researcher Jacob Bjerknes postulated different causes of climate variability on different time scales. While the atmosphere is mainly causing climate variations on shorter time scales, from months to years, the longer-term fluctuations, such as those on decadal time scales, are primarily determined by the ocean. The first part of this hypothesis has been well studied by now, but the second part still required some verification. "In the current study, we can utilize a new analysis of shipboard measurements, taken since the end of the 19th century, to verify the second part of the Bjerknes hypothesis," says Prof. Mojib Latif of GEOMAR, co-author of the study. "In particular, for the long-term climate variability in the Atlantic sector, the Gulf Stream circulation is of vital importance," said Latif.
Ocean currents affect the surface temperature of the oceans and thus the heat exchange with the atmosphere - eventually causing climate variations on the adjacent continents. The most evident is an oscillation with a period of 60 years. "Such decadal climate fluctuations are superimposed on the general warming trend, so that at times it seems as if the warming trend slowed or even stopped. After a few decades, it accelerates once again," explains Prof. Latif.
"It is important for us to understand these natural cycles, so that we can finally provide better climate predictions as well." One of the major problems, as Latif explained, is that there are just very few long-term oceanic measurements, thereby complicating the analysis and interpretation of climate change signals. Therefore, scientists are using increasingly refined statistical methods to extract more and more information from the available data sets.
"We need both, realistic model simulations and long-term data records, and really sophisticated analysis methods to produce reliable climate predictions. Our work is an additional piece in the giant puzzle of global climate variability, but I am confident that we will be able to extract the secrets underlying the natural climate fluctuations," says Prof. Latif.
###
Additional information:
The paper is the result of a joint co-operative work between GEOMAR and P.P.Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, Russian Academy of Science.
This study was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) under KE 1471/2-1 and by the Russian Ministry of Education and Science through the Special Grant for establishing excellence at Russian Universities, No. 11.G34.31.0007. We also benefited from the contracts 2011-16-420-1-001 and 11.519.11.6034 with the Russian Ministry of Education and Science.
The original publication:
Gulev, S.K., M. Latif, N.S. Keenlyside, W. Park, K.P. Koltermann, 2013: North Atlantic Ocean Con-trol on Surface Heat Flux at Multidecadal Timescales. Nature, 499, 464-467, doi: 10.1038/nature12268
Links:
http://www.geomar.de GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel
http://www.sail.msk.ru P.P.Shirshov Institute of Oceanology
Images:
Images are available for download at http://www.geomar.de/n1417
Contact:
Prof. Dr. Mojib Latif, Phone: +49-431 600 4050, mlatif@geomar.de
Dr. Andreas Villwock (GEOMAR, Communication & Media), Phone: +49-431 600 2802, avill-wock@geomar.de
[ | E-mail | Share ]
?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Contact: Dr. Andreas Villwock avillwock@geomar.de 49-431-600-2802 Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel (GEOMAR)
Marine scientists are decoding the mechanism for long-term climate fluctuations in the Atlantic
25 July 2013 / Kiel / Moscow. Why does hurricane activity vary from decade to decade? Or rainfall in the Sahel region? And why are the trans-Atlantic changes frequently in sync? A German-Russian research team has investigated the role of heat exchange between ocean and atmosphere in long-term climate variability in the Atlantic. The scientists analyzed meteorological measurements and sea surface temperatures over the past 130 years. It was found that the ocean significantly affects long term climate fluctuations, while the seemingly chaotic atmosphere is mainly responsible for the shorter-term, year-to-year changes. The study appears in the current issue of the prestigious journal Nature, and provides important information on the predictability of long-term climate fluctuations.
How do the ocean and atmosphere communicate? What information do they exchange, and what are the results? These are questions that climate scientists must ask, especially if they want to understand the cause of natural climate fluctuations of varying duration. These fluctuations superimpose the general global warming trend since the beginning of industrialization and thus complicate the accurate determination of human influence on the climate. The causes and mechanisms of natural climate variability, however, are poorly understood. A study led by scientists at the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel shows that the ocean currents influence the heat exchange between ocean and atmosphere and thus can explain climate variability on decadal time scales. The study, which appears in the current issue of the renowned journal Nature, also references the potential for predicting such phenomena.
The presumption of such predictability potential has been around for more than half a century. In 1964, the Norwegian climate researcher Jacob Bjerknes postulated different causes of climate variability on different time scales. While the atmosphere is mainly causing climate variations on shorter time scales, from months to years, the longer-term fluctuations, such as those on decadal time scales, are primarily determined by the ocean. The first part of this hypothesis has been well studied by now, but the second part still required some verification. "In the current study, we can utilize a new analysis of shipboard measurements, taken since the end of the 19th century, to verify the second part of the Bjerknes hypothesis," says Prof. Mojib Latif of GEOMAR, co-author of the study. "In particular, for the long-term climate variability in the Atlantic sector, the Gulf Stream circulation is of vital importance," said Latif.
Ocean currents affect the surface temperature of the oceans and thus the heat exchange with the atmosphere - eventually causing climate variations on the adjacent continents. The most evident is an oscillation with a period of 60 years. "Such decadal climate fluctuations are superimposed on the general warming trend, so that at times it seems as if the warming trend slowed or even stopped. After a few decades, it accelerates once again," explains Prof. Latif.
"It is important for us to understand these natural cycles, so that we can finally provide better climate predictions as well." One of the major problems, as Latif explained, is that there are just very few long-term oceanic measurements, thereby complicating the analysis and interpretation of climate change signals. Therefore, scientists are using increasingly refined statistical methods to extract more and more information from the available data sets.
"We need both, realistic model simulations and long-term data records, and really sophisticated analysis methods to produce reliable climate predictions. Our work is an additional piece in the giant puzzle of global climate variability, but I am confident that we will be able to extract the secrets underlying the natural climate fluctuations," says Prof. Latif.
###
Additional information:
The paper is the result of a joint co-operative work between GEOMAR and P.P.Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, Russian Academy of Science.
This study was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) under KE 1471/2-1 and by the Russian Ministry of Education and Science through the Special Grant for establishing excellence at Russian Universities, No. 11.G34.31.0007. We also benefited from the contracts 2011-16-420-1-001 and 11.519.11.6034 with the Russian Ministry of Education and Science.
The original publication:
Gulev, S.K., M. Latif, N.S. Keenlyside, W. Park, K.P. Koltermann, 2013: North Atlantic Ocean Con-trol on Surface Heat Flux at Multidecadal Timescales. Nature, 499, 464-467, doi: 10.1038/nature12268
Links:
http://www.geomar.de GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel
http://www.sail.msk.ru P.P.Shirshov Institute of Oceanology
Images:
Images are available for download at http://www.geomar.de/n1417
Contact:
Prof. Dr. Mojib Latif, Phone: +49-431 600 4050, mlatif@geomar.de
Dr. Andreas Villwock (GEOMAR, Communication & Media), Phone: +49-431 600 2802, avill-wock@geomar.de
[ | E-mail | Share ]
?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Caldwell Mayor Garret Nancolas has been released from a Boise hospital.
?Many of you are aware that I have recently undergone a scheduled surgery and had follow-up medical care at West Valley Medical Center in Caldwell and St. Alphonsus Medical Center in Boise. Although an unexpected complication prolonged my treatment, I have been released to go home and expect a complete recovery in the next several weeks,? Nancolas said Tuesday in a press release.
Nancolas had scheduled surgery on July 9 in Caldwell at West Valley Medical Center. He was then transferred to Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise.
The city is not releasing details about Nancolas? surgery or medical condition.
?I would like to thank the medical staff at both facilities for their professionalism, care and attention during my recovery. A special thanks goes to the Julie Taylor, CEO at West Valley Medical Center, for the kind and compassionate expressions she provided to my family. Last but not least, I would like to convey my sincere appreciation to the many individuals who have expressed their love and concern for my recovery. Such acts of kindness reaffirm to me how great a community Caldwell truly is,? said Nancolas in his statement.
??Please test your servants for 10 days. Let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink??At the end of the 10 days they looked better and healthier than all the young men who were eating the king?s food.? ? Daniel 1:12, 15
In recent months, steroid use in sports has drawn national attention from President Bush, Congress, league presidents and players? unions. Major League Baseball has been on the hot seat with allegations of steroid abuse by former player Jose Canseco and by testimonies from current superstars admitting the same.
The mantra in today?s sports world is ?bigger, stronger, faster!? And many athletes are willing to try just about anything to improve their performance on the field. But steroid use isn?t limited to the pros. According to a survey by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), over 6% of high school students have used steroids.
After listening for months to all of the sports talk shows and commentaries, it?s time to get the straight story on steroids.
What are steroids?
Anabolic steroids are the synthetic derivatives of the naturally occurring male hormone testosterone, which promotes muscle and bone growth. Athletes take them primarily to increase muscle mass and strength.
Can steroids improve sports performance?
While it is true that using steroids cannot improve your agility, skill or cardiovascular endurance, they can dramatically improve your strength, power and ability to recover from injuries. They may not help you hit a baseball, but they may help you hit it farther. However, the health risks associated with steroid use are profound.
What are the behavioral health risks of illegal steroid use?
Abuse of anabolic steroids can cause severe mood swings?from extreme irritability and aggression (?Roid Rage?) to feelings of invincibility to bouts of depression. Depression is common when steroid use is stopped and can lead to withdrawal and even suicide. Research also indicates that steroid use can be a gateway to other drug use.
What are the physical health risks of illegal steroid use?
In both men and women, anabolic steroid use can lead to elevated cholesterol levels, liver tumors and cancer, high blood pressure, heart attacks, strokes and weakened tendons. The enemy wants you to believe that the only way that you can be strong enough to compete is by using artificial substances and drugs like steroids, even if they may ultimately destroy you. But God blessed Daniel and his friends with exceptional health because they chose to obey Him. Ultimately, steroid use is rooted in selfishness, pride and fear. Choosing God?s way will lead to life and health!
Health Risks
Men
Women
Infertility
Growth of facial and body hair
Baldness
Baldness
Severe acne
Severe acne
Impotence
Menstrual cycle changes
Development of breasts
Breast reduction
Difficult or painful urination
Deepened voice
Adolescents
Stunted Growth ? Teens who abuse steroids before or during the typical growth spurt may never reach their full height. The artificially high hormone levels close the growth plates in the bones signaling the body to stop growing prematurely.
?
From Jimmy Page?s column, ?Fit4Ever? in the June, 2009 issue of FCA Magazine.
In this photo provided by Jared Rosenstein, a Southwest Airlines plane whose nose gear collapsed as it touched down on the runway is surrounded by emergency vehicles at LaGuardia Airport in New York on Monday, July 22, 2013. The plane was carrying 149 passengers and crew. (AP Photo/Jared Rosenstein) MANDATORY CREDIT
In this photo provided by Jared Rosenstein, a Southwest Airlines plane whose nose gear collapsed as it touched down on the runway is surrounded by emergency vehicles at LaGuardia Airport in New York on Monday, July 22, 2013. The plane was carrying 149 passengers and crew. (AP Photo/Jared Rosenstein) MANDATORY CREDIT
In this photo provided by Jared Rosenstein, a Southwest Airlines plane whose nose gear collapsed as it touched down on the runway is surrounded by emergency vehicles at LaGuardia Airport in New York on Monday, July 22, 2013. The plane was carrying 149 passengers and crew. (AP Photo/Jared Rosenstein) MANDATORY CREDIT
A southwest airlines plane rests on the tarmac after what officials say was a nose gear collapse during a landing at LaGuardia Airport, Monday, July 22, 2013, in New York. The Federal Aviation Administration says the plane landed safely. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
This photo provided by Bobby Abtahi, shows what officials say was a plane where the nose gear collapsed during landing at New York?s LaGuardia Airport, Monday, July 22, 2013. The Federal Aviation Administration says the plane landed safely. (AP Photo/Bobby Abtahi)
A southwest airlines plane rests on the tarmac after what officials say was a nose gear collapse during a landing at LaGuardia Airport, Monday, July 22, 2013, in New York. The Federal Aviation Administration says the plane landed safely. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
NEW YORK (AP) ? The Southwest Airlines jet whose nose gear collapsed after landing at a New York airport is being removed from the runway.
A spokesman for the agency that runs LaGuardia Airport says a crane has loaded the plane onto a flatbed. The plane will be taken to a hangar and then both the airport's runways will be back in service Tuesday morning.
The nose gear on the plane collapsed when the flight coming from Nashville, Ten.., landed at 5:40 p.m. Monday. Officials say 10 passengers were treated at the scene, and six were taken to the hospital with minor injuries.
Dallas-based Southwest says there were 150 people on board.
The airport was closed for more than an hour.
The FAA is investigating, as is the National Transportation Safety Board.
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - California's third-largest city, San Jose, and its employee unions faced off in court on Monday over public pension reforms in a case that has major implications for other local governments across the state trying to rein in the costs of retirement benefits.
RolePlayGateway is proudly powered by obscene amounts of caffeine, duct tape, and support from people like you. It operates under a "don't like it, suggest an improvement" platform, and we gladly take suggestions for improvements or changes.
The custom-built "roleplay" system was designed and implemented by Eric Martindale as of July 2009. All attempts to replicate or otherwise emulate this system and its method of organizing roleplay are strictly prohibited without his express written and contractual permission; violators will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
? RolePlayGateway, LLC | with the support of LocalSense
The Securities Exchange Board of India has been given legal permission to regulate any scheme involving the pooling of funds, similar to Ponzi schemes. The SEC India has been given search and seizure powers which will allow agents to seek any information in relation to suspect securities transactions. It will also be able to seize call data records and will be able to retain assets in ...
Indian-origin Lorgat named CSA chief following BCCI approval
Zimbabwe News.Net - Sunday 21st July, 2013
Cricket South Africa (CSA) has reportedly named Indian-origin businessman Haroon Lorgat as its new chief executive officer (CEO), after getting a positive nod from the powerful Indian cricket authorities. According to Sport24, the position had not been filled on a permanent basis, since former CEO Gerald Majola was suspended and eventually sacked in 2010 for his part in the long-running bonus ...
Case against Toyota to begin
Star Tribune - Sunday 21st July, 2013
LOS ANGELES - Noriko Uno was afraid of driving fast, often avoiding the freeway and taking the same route every day from her Upland home to and from her family's sushi restaurant. She had put only 10,000 miles on her 2006 Camry in about four years. So when her car unexpectedly accelerated to speeds up to 100 mph on a street with a posted limit of 30, the 66-year-old bookkeeper did ...
Obama in a return to Ill. college to begin new series of speeches focused on the economy
Star Tribune - Sunday 21st July, 2013
WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama will return this week to an Illinois college where he once spelled out a vision for an expanded and strengthened middle class as a freshman U.S. senator, long before the Great Recession would test his presidency. The address Wednesday at Knox College in Galesburg, Ill., will be the first in a new series of economic speeches that White House aides say Obama ...
SEC voted unanimously to pursue charges against SACs Cohen sources
Reuters - Sunday 21st July, 2013
Hedge fund manager Steven A. Cohen, founder and chairman of SAC Capital Advisors, responds to a question during a one-on-one interview session at the SkyBridge Alternatives (SALT) Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada May 11, ...
Cost of weeding out criminals and tax cheats hits private banks
Reuters - Sunday 21st July, 2013
LONDON (Reuters) - Private banks managing the financial affairs of the world's wealthy face spending millions of dollars every year on vetting new clients, as regulators get tough on banks that harbor tax cheats and money ...
British company dividends hit record total in second quarter
West Australian - Sunday 21st July, 2013
LONDON (Reuters) - British corporate dividends hit a record total in the second quarter of 2013, although underlying growth is slowing compared to previous predictions, a study showed on Monday.Second quarter payouts by UK firms hit 25.3 billion pounds, the largest ever quarterly total, with media, financial services and food producers all exhibiting double-digit dividend growth, research by ...
House prices and rent in England to surge by 2020 warns report
Guardian - Sunday 21st July, 2013
National Housing Federation which warns of the "colossal strain" facing the generation born in the 1990s.Many will remain trapped in their parents' homes ...
Al Khodari posts 43 drop in quarterly earnings
AME Info - Sunday 21st July, 2013
Kuwait Country Guide The Emirate of Kuwait is situated a the head of the Persian Gulf, and is bordered to the South by the Al Hasa desert region of Saudi Arabia, and Iraq which has a narrow exit to the port of Umm Qasr before the territory of ...
Deutsche Bank set to trim balance sheet by 20 percent FT
Reuters - Sunday 21st July, 2013
DBKGn.DE ), is expected to announce during its second-quarter results its plans to reach a minimum 3 percent overall equity to loans ratio in the next two and a half years, the Financial Times reported on Sunday, citing people briefed on the ...
Chinas rate reform points to eventual banking shake-up
Reuters - Sunday 21st July, 2013
SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Beijing's move to scrap the floor on lending rates is not yet a game-changer for Chinese banks, but it may have just started the countdown to an eventual industry overhaul which will deprive the banks of virtually risk-free ...
Volatile markets generate little cheer for Asias trading desks
Reuters - Sunday 21st July, 2013
HONG KONG (Reuters) - Trading desks normally love volatility but Asian operations have found little joy in recent wild swings, undercut by investors' brutal reassessment of the region's prospects as they prepare for the end of unlimited cheap cash from the United ...
Microsoft helped NSA access user info Guardian
SINA - Sunday 21st July, 2013
The Microsoft logo is seen at their offices in Bucharest March 20, 2013.(Photo:Agencies) Microsoft Corp worked closely with U.S. intelligence services to help them intercept users' communications, including letting the National Security Agency circumvent email encryption, the Guardian reported on Thursday. Citing top-secret documents provided by former U.S. spy contractor Edward Snowden, ...
Portugals president opts for deal keeping coalition government in power
Star Tribune - Sunday 21st July, 2013
LISBON, Portugal -- Portugal's president has accepted a compromise reached by the coalition government that allows it to stay in power, defusing a crisis that had roiled financial markets. In an address to the nation, President Anibal Cavaco Silva ruled out early elections, opting for "the best alternative" which is "the continuation in office of the current ...
Tory strategist Lynton Crosby in new lobbying row
Guardian - Sunday 21st July, 2013
a leaked document obtained by the Guardian .The existence of the presentation by Crosby Textor to the H5 Private Healthcare Alliance will add to pressure ...
Advice to H5 from Lynton Crosbys company on heathcare in the UK ? extracts from the presentation
Guardian - Sunday 21st July, 2013
Four slides from a 12-slide presentation dating from late 2010 by CTF Partners, the former name of Crosby Textor, which show how the Tories' chief election strategist's firm advised private healthcare organisations to promote themselves in ...
Metals warehouses warned of probe
CNBC - Sunday 21st July, 2013
The U.S. commodities market regulator has put Wall Street banks and other big traders on notice for a possible investigation of their metals warehousing businesses following years of complaints about inflated prices. The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) last week sent a letter to firms ordering them to preserve emails, documents and instant messages from the past three years, two ...
A Look Ahead This Weeks ETFs to Watch
Fox Business - Sunday 21st July, 2013
the S&P 500's largest sector weight that is causing the problems, there might be reasons to be concerned. Stocks deserve some credit for another weekly advance, especially after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke made clear that Fed tapering will commence sometime this year with an eye toward ending quantitative easing sometime next year. With no major scheduled events out of the Fed ...
Credit card ruling could lead to merchants charging additional fee to use ?premium? cards that offer incentives
Financial Post - Sunday 21st July, 2013
A ruling expected this week on a complaint against Visa and MasterCard could significantly change how consumers use credit cards in Canada. The federal Competition Tribunal is set to issue a decision Tuesday on whether rules imposed on merchants by the credit card giants are too restrictive. Striking down the rules could allow merchants to either reject certain cards that offer incentive ...
6 injured when oil pipeline explodes in central Mexico Pemex blames illegal tapping
Star Tribune - Sunday 21st July, 2013
TOLUCA, Mexico -- A pipeline explosion Sunday that injured six people and sent flames and smoke shooting hundreds of feet into the air in central Mexico was caused by illegal tapping, Mexico's state-owned oil company said. The pre-dawn explosion in a farm field injured four police officers and two firefighters among those called to the scene, civil protection officials said. Petroleos ...
The China disconnect analysts lose plot on financial stocks
Reuters - Sunday 21st July, 2013
Sun Jul 21, 2013 4:59pm EDT * Majority of analysts rate China financials a buy * Yet China financials worst performing among top 10 markets * None of the 37 financials in MSCI China Index rated a consensus sell * Analysts pressured, wary of links firms have to China government By Nishant Kumar HONG KONG, July 22 (Reuters) - Seventy percent of analysts covering Chinese financial stocks rate them ...
Detroit cant wait for federal cavalry Orr says
CNBC - Sunday 21st July, 2013
Detroit must dig itself out of the hole it created and cannot wait to see if the federal government will come to its rescue, the city's emergency manager said on Sunday. Kevyn Orr, charged with guiding the collapsed Motor City out of the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history, said any outside assistance would be "great" but he is not banking on it. "Hope is not a ...
There was a game at Bradford on a Tuesday night (February 11, 1992). We won 2-1. It won?t be a game that supporters remember so much but it certainly sticks in my mind.
It was a cold night and I was in my second spell at the club, this time more as a coach. But that night we had injuries so I got played in that game.
It was great because I was still desperate to play.
We had hit a sticky little spell on our way to promotion from Division Three with Terry Cooper. I played about another four games on the trot and we didn?t lose any of them. I was about 35-36 then.
My experience just steadied the ship a little bit.
Ian Atkins ?
And your biggest disappointment?
It had to be joining Blues for my first spell. It was a great honour and something that I always wanted to do ? to play for my home-town club.
But the way things went when I joined was horrible. The owners had pulled everything, we had nowhere to train, all our best players were sold and we were terrible.
What should have been a very proud time turned out to be so disappointing.
So your second spell was better then?
It was, because we actually achieved something.
With Terry we got promoted, which was great. I didn?t play in that last game against Shrewsbury but it sure was a great day.
The club was on a sounder and better footing.
The first time as a player was soul-destroying. The crowd was down to five or six thousand. They had no hope, they knew it was bad.
We didn?t believe we could even get a point half the time because we were not good enough.
Garry Pendrey was great as a boss, he tried to get everyone bubbling as best as he could, but he didn?t have a chance.
And do you have any funny stories?
There are lots of funny stories but at the time it wasn?t funny because it was so serious.
The punters were going mad during my first time at the club.
I remember a game against Barnsley at home and we got beat 5-3. I actually scored a cracking goal.
In the corner area, there were all sorts of objects flying around. Tony Godden, the goalkeeper, did his usual trick and ran down the centre tunnel.
After the game the punters were angry.
John Trewick, a local lad, didn?t get on well with the punters, that?s no secret. The lads were all in the bath when all of a sudden a brick came through the dressing room window.
The brick had a sticker on with John Trewick?s name on it. The only problem was, it hit Vince Overson.
We were all sitting in the bath and this brick came flying through the window, we were all ducking and scarpering. It was crazy.
What do you make of the current Blues team?
It?s similar to when I was there because a lot of the young lads are getting a chance.
They?ve lost some experienced players, but the young kids have done great. I think. (Mitch) Hancox and (Callum) Reilly have performed better than many expected.
There?s a few new players so it will be interesting to see how they get on this year. I think they?ll be all right.?
Who is your best friend in football?
A lad I played with at Sunderland called Gordon Chisholm. We both played centre-half.
He moved to Scotland and was manager of Queen of the South. Now he?s back at Sunderland doing a lot of the overseas work in Africa for them.
Ally McCoist is another very close friend. I lived with him for 18 months when I was at Sunderland.
I?ve kept in close contact with those two.
What was the last match you watched live?
It was France versus Uruguay in the Under-20 World Cup final in Turkey.
I was over there for a fair few of the games. It was a good tournament with a few surprise packages.
What are you up to now?
I am head of recruitment at Everton. I?m enjoying it, I?m kept busy. I do some of the local scouting and a fair bit abroad.
With the old manager (David Moyes) leaving for Manchester Utd and a lot of backroom staff joining him, I feel a bit like the last man standing. There?s a few of us still here, though.?
? ? ? ? ? When I finished the milestone series I asked that those of you who have hit milestone 14 in your career to email me. Eric Zimmerman was the first brave soul to do so and was willing to be interviewed for the blog on his career, his forensic interests and his views. I think he brought some great answers back and I hope you enjoy his insights. If you have reached milestone 14 and are hesitating until this point to email me at dcowen@g-cpartners.com for an interview, then read this to see what I'm interested in. I don't want to put your investigations, case or research at risk, I want to help others see how you got started and how you got to milestone 14 so they can do the same!
? ? If you are reading this before noon central on friday 7/19/13 then please come join us for our first forensic lunch where we will talk about the tri-force, our usn research, shadowkit and your questions: https://plus.google.com/u/0/events/cedl2na1nqhvomfful00sad9teo
With that said, here is the interview with Special Agent Eric Zimmerman.
EZ: First of all i would like to thank you for the interview opportunity.?I like the way you defined the milestones and it serves as a great?barometer for people to use in their careers. My progression thru the?milestones and optional achievements wasn't linear, but i suspect that's?the case with most people.
DC: ?How did you get started in computer forensics?
EZ: I got started in forensics years ago as a byproduct of being a computer?geek, but i didn't get serious about it until i became an agent and?started needing digital forensics in my day to day work. I've been using?hex editors for years for a variety of things and started using WinHex?about 4 years ago for some case work. I got my EnCE about two years ago?using Encase 6. Soon after i fully transitioned to X-Ways Forensics. i?have been fortunate enough to work violations where essentially?everything involves a computer, so there was ample opportunity to learn?and gain experience.
DC: What event in your career propelled you forward the most?
EZ:?I would say the biggest benefit to my career was being the case agent?and primary forensic examiner in a very technical case involving p2p?networks and encryption. In addition to the trial itself, I went through?a Daubert hearing and was qualified as an expert in federal court. I?wrote hundreds of pages of reports for a wide variety of audiences.?Being able to articulate information to people in a way they can relate?to is a critical skill. it is not enough to be an expert in digital?forensics. you have to be able to convey your findings in a meaningful?way to the consumer of that information. Events like a big trial or?similar is where you get to finally use all the skills and knowledge?you've built up and practiced over the years. Another major event was winning the 2011 NCMEC award for my work in?combating the online sexual exploitation of children. In 2011, my?software led to the rescue of at least 45 children, the execution of 330?search warrants, and 222 arrests. To date my software is in use by at?least 4000 people in 52 countries.
DC: ?Do you remember what lighted your passion for computer forensics, what pushed you forward to Milestone 14?
EZ: My passion began with wanting to understand the underlying technology?behind computers. Once you start peeling back the layers you begin to?get an understanding of how deep the rabbit hole goes. I tend to get?bored easily so having such a wide variety of things to learn keeps it?interesting. There is always something new to learn and even more to?discover for the first time. As for what pushed me toward milestone 14, necessity was the biggest?thing. After you see the fruits of solving a new problem or reversing a?previously unknown artifact you start to see the potential in looking?into the unknown. I do not have the ability to do pure research as much?as i would like to, so most of my milestone 14 stuff revolves around?either my own or my colleagues cases. as new problems come up i work to?solve them. Beyond necessity was wanting to figure out something that was previously?unknown. It was a challenge to solve a "puzzle" from scratch with?nothing more than some network captures, binary files, a hex editor and?some programming skill. A lot of my work involved reverse engineering?proprietary, closed source protocols (sorry i cant be more specific than?that) and when i started looking into it very little was understood?about the protocols and other artifacts. I wrote some cool custom?software to assist with things as needed. Passion for the work is really critical, almost more so than one's?technical ability, because without it you may not have the stamina to?follow through to the end. Frustration is inevitable but you just have?to keep your head down and move the ball forward. Working with a team of?people is also very helpful.
DC: What is your favorite forensic artifact?
EZ:?In general, the registry, but as to a specific artifact it would be?ShellBags by far. It is amazing how much detail is maintained in?ShellBags. i have used them to show what was inside encrypted TrueCrypt?containers in order to prove intent as well as corroborate other?artifacts. in the case of encryption, it basically serves as a means to?see the file names, time stamps and file sizes of things inside a?container. If you can then tie that information to more concrete?artifacts involving file hashes (and therefore the file size) you can?peer inside the encryption and say with certainty what is in there.
DC: What are you researching now?
EZ:?When i get a break from my cases, my primary focus is continuing to?expand the abilities of my live response software, osTriage. Version 1?is for law enforcement/government only but with version 2 i want it to?be available to a wider audience. My approach for version 2 is to use?plugins to provide functionality vs. a monolithic executable as I did?with version 1. By making the programming interfaces available to anyone, people can?write plugins that are meaningful to them in case their particular issue?isn't included out of the box. plugin authors can choose to share their?work or keep it in-house. I've written the main program in such a way?that it works with the interfaces to automatically generate reports,bookmark items of interest, copy files from computers, etc. This lets?plugin authors focus on new features and not basic plumbing. In version 2, I have spent a lot of time focusing on performance and?have seen some fantastic gains in speed. For example, my new code can?iterate every file and directory on a 256GB hard drive (with over?276,000 files and 59,000 directories) in about 22 seconds whereas the?version 1 took over 8 minutes to do the same search. that 22 seconds?includes finding pictures, hashing them, and generating thumbnails,exploring archive files, parsing .lnk files, and pulling dozens of pieces?of live response data. I demonstrated this at the 2013 Boston Cyber?Conference earlier this year in my talk on the need for improved triage?techniques.
DC: What inspired you to write a book?
EZ: The inspiration for the book was to be able to unpack the X-Ways?manual into a format that more people would be able to relate to based?on their existing knowledge in forensics. Our goal wasn't to teach?forensics, but rather to explain X-Ways. The X-Ways manual is a fine piece of technical writing, but few people?have the patience or time to penetrate its depths. I really think X-Ways?is at the top of the pyramid when it comes to forensic suites but in?some circles it has the reputation of being hard to use. Where people?can run into trouble is there are a lot of ways to accomplish a goal in?X-Ways rather than one linear path as found in other tools. X-Ways puts incredible power in the hands of the forensic examiner and?lets them wield that power in a way that makes sense to them and the?case at hand. Once people try X-Ways and get comfortable with it they?rarely go back to other tools. I found the best way to jump in was to?work a case in X-Ways Forensics solo or in parallel with an existing tool. With the book in hand you can begin the transition from other tools to?X-Ways in a straightforward manner. The book is written in such a way to?walk people through its use from initial installation, hard drive?imaging, reporting and everything in between.
DC: Where can we buy the book?
EZ: The book is titled "X-Ways Forensics Practitioner's Guide" and is?currently available for pre-order at Amazon (http://goo.gl/vWmqa) as well?as Barnes and Noble (http://goo.gl/DIJO6). We recently sent our final?proofs back to the publisher well ahead of schedule and hope to see the?book shipping in August. we have more information as well as software?programs I wrote for the book at?http://xwaysforensics.wordpress.com/.
DC: What is next for your career? What is beyond Milestone 14 for you?
EZ:??I would like to continue to expand the capabilities of firstresponders and raise the bar when it comes to triage as it relates to?what we can cull from computers. I have been focusing on trying to?define what the needs of the majority of people are when it comes to?digital evidence (at least as it relates to law enforcement). My?ultimate goal is to be able to deliver 90% of the relevant information?for a case in 10 minutes or so. For me, moving beyond milestone 14 involves thinking at a more strategic?level vs. the day to day existence in the trenches. This involves?defining and polishing best practices for colleagues and peers and?automating common tasks to act as a force multiplier for understaffed or?smaller departments.
DC: What are your favorite tools?
EZ:?My favorite tools include X-Ways Forensics (of course) and WinHex,?CommView, Wireshark, Edit Pad Pro, RegRipper, F-Response, Directory Opus(Explorer replacement), Visual Studio, Sysinternals stuff, Volatility,?and who can forget the Tri-force! The amount of high quality software?out there amazes me. there are many gifted developers and digital?forensics people out there who put a ton of time into great tools. Some?even choose to give their work away. Thanks to all the devs out there!?Much of what we can do in digital forensics would not be possible?without your contributions.
DC: What do you believe is the greatest challenge facing forensic examiners?
EZ:?The ability to separate the wheat from the chaff when it comes to?digital evidence. related to this is a continued reliance on outdated?workflows when it comes to processing data. I wont mention any names but?there are a lot of solutions out there that require a massive amount of?up front processing before an exam can start. Combine this with a lack?of checkpointing and you have a recipe for pain when things crash. Storage capacities continue to increase exponentially while our ability?to examine that data is only increasing mathematically. it doesn't take?long to realize we have to get smarter in how we look at data or the?lead times for a full forensics review will continue to get longer and?longer. In my estimation, the answer (or at least a partial answer) to?this problem is better triage techniques. If we can identify the?computers and digital devices that are relevant to us we can focus our?efforts on those devices vs the "examine everything" approach most often?employed now. We have to find the balance between thoroughness and?timeliness in our examinations. Its a tough problem for sure, but one i?think the community can solve.
Thanks Eric for the interview, I hope everyone gets something out of it. Tomorrow is Saturday reading and I have some interesting links to share. The big event though is this coming Sunday Funday where we have a prize provided by Magnet Forensics that I think you will want to win!?
LONDON (Reuters) - Teens in a deprived area of east London are sparing no expense when it comes to impressing their friends for a few hours by hiring exotic cars with a price tag that can sometimes rival the cost of the flats where they live.
Lamborghinis, Ferraris and even Bentleys that once were the preferred wheels of the wealthy are showing up on the gritty streets of Tower Hamlets, rented by 16-year-olds to celebrate their National Record of Achievement (NRA) ceremony, a prom-like celebration at the end of compulsory schooling.
"It's showing off, basically. Playing music, going from area to area to area," said Foyzur Rahman, a pupil at Swanlea School, who attended the ceremony this year and split a 400-pound fee with a friend to rent an Audi S4 for four days.
"Showing off your car, just everyone looking at you. It's like your spotlight," Rahman said.
"When every NRA comes you just feel excited for the kids," said Ibrahim Hussain who went through the rite of passage last year and works part-time at his brother's car-hire business, which rents out vehicles for the ceremonies.
"Certain people obviously don't want to spend the money, you can understand that, their parents might be not working. But certain kids, obviously, they're crazy, they'll save up from young and they just want to hire it," Hussain said.
Tower Hamlets is home to the largest Bangladeshi community in Britain, and the majority of pupils taking part are of Bangladeshi origin.
Abdul Hasnath, a senior youth worker with the Osmani Trust youth and community organisation, said the prom-like celebrations probably caught on 14 or 15 years ago, with pupils hiring limousines, but have gotten more lavish - and expensive - since.
"It was quite small at that time, but obviously now it's probably the biggest date on their diaries, including Eid (the Muslim holiday) and everything else." he said.
BIG DAY
The students, who at 16 are too young to drive, are chauffeured through the neighbourhood either by drivers connected with car hire companies or by friends or relatives.
Clad in evening wear, they pose for pictures before attending the NRA ceremony at school, during which awards and certificates are distributed, and then head out for the night.
Many of those in the more expensive rides switch later to 'after-cars' - saloons or larger vehicles - which they can travel in together, often getting involved in road races. Videos of the day, set to pounding hip-hop and R&B soundtracks, are posted on YouTube.
For some teens, the substantial sums are hard to get together. Stephan Bolompa, a student at Swanlea, said that when he first approached his mother with the price of booking a car, it was too much to take from the family budget.
In the end, he was only able to go to the ceremony in a showy ride thanks to a friend's mother, who borrowed a Range Rover Sport for free with the help of a company connection.
Getting the vehicle meant a lot to him: "Just the feeling that you're actually taking part in the ceremony by having a car, it's a good feeling," he said.
(Reporting By Hannah Vinter; Editing by Michael Roddy)
We are yet to get a glance of Kim Kardashian?s daughter with Kanye West but the reality star has finally opened up about motherhood on her site.
Kim Kardashian and nephew Mason
?These past couple of weeks have been filled with the most exciting experiences of my life? I?m enjoying this time to fully embrace motherhood and spend time at home with my family. I?ve been reading all of your messages and want to thank you all for your sweet thoughts and best wishes. It truly means everything to me. I am so blessed to have the support of my family and fans in this beautiful moment.?
We can?t wait to see pictures of little North West!
Source: www.nytimes.com --- Wednesday, July 17, 2013 A wave of violence aimed at immigrants in poor black communities outside Cape Town has raised fears among residents, shopkeepers and advocates. ? ? ? ? ...
Prime Minister Netanyahu shaking hands with PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas as President Obama looks on.
Jerusalem Post ? Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu denied on Tuesday an official?s remarks that Israel had agreed to resume peace talks based on the borders of a Palestinian state being drawn along lines from before a 1967 Middle East war, and agreed land swaps. Mark Regev, a spokesman for Netanyahu, said ?the report is untrue,? calling Reuters with the statement after initially declining to comment on what the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The official had said that, were the Palestinians to accept the formula, it would be announced by US Secretary of State John Kerry now in Jordan, who would also describe the future Palestine as existing alongside a ?Jewish state? of Israel. Speculation has been rife that Kerry, now in the region for his sixth time since March in an effort to revive peace talks that deadlocked in 2010, may be close to a breakthrough.
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Public release date: 25-Jul-2013
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