amy schumer amy schumer ascii art ascii art andrew mason once in a blue moon gwar guitarist
Friday, December 30, 2011
The Time I Planted a Pipe Bomb Under Someone's Truck [Video]
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
In GOP race, Iowa and New Hampshire aren't what they used to be
Iowa still goes first in the presidential nominating contests, followed by New Hampshire. But voters there have lost their outsized influence in personally sizing up nominees, as televised debates and social media take precedence.?
The 2012 caucuses and primaries are finally upon us, and now it can be said: Iowa and New Hampshire may be a thing of the past.
Skip to next paragraphWhat's fading is not their place in the celestial order as hosts of the first nominating contests, but rather their outsize role in personally sizing up Republican nominees.
An obscure Democratic governor named Jimmy Carter set the paradigm in 1975, when he essentially took up residence in Iowa and shook countless hands on his way to becoming the top named vote-getter in the 1976 caucuses. The Georgia governor's upset victory set him on a path to the presidency.
When Iowa Republicans caucus on Jan. 3, chances are the voters will know more about the candidates from nationally televised debates and interviews than from personal interaction. Ditto the New Hampshire primary on Jan. 10.
"If the protester is Time's person of the year, then the debate is the primaries' theme of the year," says Republican strategist Ford O'Connell.
Contrary to popular belief, there have not been more Republican debates than there were four years ago. In 2007, GOP contenders took part in 15 debates; this year, they had 13. But the 2011 debates have been more memorable, in part because the field has been so fluid. Over time, Iowa has had a succession of six front-runners. And when a new one rises up ? say, Texas Gov. Rick Perry ? he or she becomes the focus of attention in debates, both by the other candidates and the moderators.
That means more questions and attacks, which increase the possibility of a stumble. Governor Perry's stunning brain freeze in the Nov. 9 debate, where he could not remember the third government agency he would close, sealed his fate as yesterday's news.
Herman Cain benefited from the debates, as they gave him a platform to show off his charisma and "9-9-9"-infused sound bites. When allegations of sexual impropriety emerged, viewers tuned in to the debates to see what he would say.
Ron Paul's quirky authenticity shines through in debates, helping the libertarian-leaning Texas congressman build a devoted following that is unparalleled in this cycle.
Debates have also been central to a candidate's revival. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich appeared mortally wounded in June when most of his staff resigned over his unorthodox campaign strategy. He was ridiculed for taking a Mediterranean cruise, rather than the Holiday Inn circuit around Iowa. And he appeared woefully out of touch in tough economic times when he defended his $500,000 line of credit at Tiffany's.
concord billy the kid safe and sound botticelli x factor winner footlocker julia gillard
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Moldovan separatist region elects new president (AP)
CHISINAU, Moldova ? Yevgheny Shevchuk, a 43-year-old businessman and politician, has been elected the new president of the breakaway Moldovan region of Trans-Dniester, the separatists' official news agency reported Monday.
Olvia-Pres quotes election officials Monday as announcing that Shevchuk won 73.9 percent of votes to defeat Anatoly Kaminski, the candidate preferred by Russia, in Sunday's runoff.
Trans-Dniester broke away from Moldova in 1990 and fought a war with Moldovan forces in 1992 that left 1,500 people dead. The region, which is populated mainly by Ukrainians and Russians, is not recognized internationally, but has its own legal and administrative system.
Moscow has traditionally wielded significant influence there, and Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin sent Kaminski a letter of support prior to the runoff. Analysts have said it is too early to predict whether Russia would lose influence in the region.
However, Shevchuk is thought to have a more conciliatory stance toward Moldova and the government in Chisinau than his predecessor Igor Smirnov, who led Trans-Dniester for 20 years. Smirnov came in third in the first round vote Dec. 11.
Shevchuk has shares in Sheriff, a company which has interests in the food, medicine, construction and petrol sectors.
(This version CORRECTS Corrects spelling of leader's name, adds background, byline.)
verdict in michael jackson trial brian urlacher matt forte dr conrad murray verdict take care childish gambino camp drake take care tracklist
Monday, December 26, 2011
Japan to enter dollar swap agreement with India (Reuters)
TOKYO (Reuters) ? The Japanese government is considering a dollar swap arrangement with India to provide emergency liquidity in case the European debt crisis reaches emerging economies, the Nikkei business newspaper said on Sunday.
The agreement would set the total swap arrangement at $10 billion, or 780 billion yen, the Nikkei said.
Both countries are looking to sign off on the arrangement next Wednesday, when leaders meet at a bilateral summit, the paper said.
The currency swaps are expected to support the Indian rupee as it continues to weaken against the greenback and Europe's sovereign debt crisis hits India's exports.
The dollar-swap arrangement with India would follow a similar agreement with South Korea in October.
(Reporting by Mari Saito; Editing by Paul Tait)
panasonic lumix dmc lx5 ucla football taylor momsen deliverance muhammad ali unemployment rate unemployment rate
Russian billionaire completes Monaco takeover
Associated Press Sports
updated 4:25 p.m. ET Dec. 23, 2011
MONACO (AP) -Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev completed his takeover of Monaco on Friday and promised to invest a minimum of ?100 million ($130 million) in the struggling club over the next four years.
Monaco announced on its website that Rybolovlev's company Monaco Sport Invest (MSI) had become majority shareholder with 66.67 percent.
"I think this club has enormous potential," Rybolovlev said of the seven-time French champion which is currently bottom of the second tier with one win in 18 games.
"I hope that it will be able to realize that potential fully and completely, at both national and European level."
Rybolovlev is among the world's 100 richest people with a net worth estimated at $9.5 billion. He made his money in fertilizer products.
Rybolovlev bought U.S. businessman Donald Trump's Palm Beach mansion for $100 million in 2008, and his 22-year-old daughter recently purchased a New York apartment that was listed at $88 million.
The new owner has a huge task to revive Monaco's fortunes. The club won the last of its French league titles in 2000 and was Champions League runner-up in 2004, losing to Jose Mourinho's Porto.
An 18th-place finish last season saw the club lose its place in the top flight and Rybolovlev may have to start spending straight away with Monaco now in danger of a second straight relegation.
"I am a fervent football fan," Rybolovlev said. "Having lived long enough in Monaco, I realize that AS Monaco isn't just one of the principality's sporting teams, but also represents one of the principal symbols of the principality, its pride and its traditions."
Rybolovlev has been elected president of the board of directors. He is joined on the board by five representatives of MSI and three members of l'Association Sportive de Monaco Football Club, which has kept 33 percent of the shares.
Prince Albert of Monaco, who takes a keen interest in the running of the club and regularly attends games at Stade Louis II, said he was hopeful Rybolovlev was the right man to turn Monaco around.
"The agreement that has been reached opens a new page in the history of a football team that is so dear to the principality, and that I hope will progressively regain the position which in the past made it one of the jewels of sporting life in Monaco."
? 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
advertisement
More newsMan United won't overspend
Despite the threat posed by Manchester City, Alex Ferguson insists he will resist calls for Manchester United to go on a spending spree in the January transfer window.
FANatics
Chandler: What demons possess men to rush the playing field and attack athletes? And lately athlete-fan field interaction has taken a darker turn.
Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/45666028/ns/sports-soccer/
kellie pickler alfa romeo giulietta alfa romeo giulietta xbox update xbox update nba schedule nhl realignment
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Ways to Help Your Community This Holiday Season
'Tis the season of giving, and while many people have the desire to help others during the holiday season, people sometimes don't know where to begin.
?
"Anderson" is here to help, with a list of how you can help your community and family this holiday season. Click through to see how you can bring the holiday cheer to those around you, no matter how big or small your budget.
?
"Anderson" is here to help, with a list of how you can help your community and family this holiday season. Click through to see how you can bring the holiday cheer to those around you, no matter how big or small your budget.
Source: http://www.andersoncooper.com/2011/12/19/ways-to-help-your-community-this-holiday-season-anderson/
giuliana rancic the cabin in the woods the cabin in the woods trace adkins jim jones the darkest hour the darkest hour
NFL Week 16: Idaho connections
How some players with Idaho ties fared Saturday:
- Vikings defensive end Jared Allen (Idaho State) had one sack, and three assisted tackles. That gives him 18 1?2 sacks for the season, four shy of the NFL record.
- Ravens defensive back Chris Carr (Boise State) had one tackle and one assist.
- Jets punter T.J. Conley (Idaho) punted nine times with an average of 39.1 yards per punt. He punted four times inside the 20-yard line, and his longest punt of the day was 49 yards.
- Rams safety Quintin Mikell (Boise State) had four tackles and two assists.
- Panthers receiver Legedu Naanee (Boise State) had two receptions for 12 yards. His teammate, tight end/fullback Richie Brockel (Boise State) had two carries for 5 yards and one catch for 4 yards.
- Lions receiver Titus Young (Boise State) had four catches for 39 yards. His longest reception resulted in 24 yards.
martina mcbride terry jones andy reid elf on the shelf elf on the shelf barney frank barney frank
Saturday, December 24, 2011
NBA Notebook: Knicks, Baron Davis come to agreement
Baron Davis' desire to play in New York outweighed the chance to play with Kobe Bryant or LeBron James.
The veteran point guard signed with the Knicks Monday, passing up a chance to join stronger teams because he said he always saw himself playing at Madison Square Garden.
"I always kind of rise to the occasion when I'm playing against the Knicks and playing in the Garden," Davis said at the Knicks' training facility. "It's just an unbelievable opportunity, and I'm ready to accept the challenge."
Not yet, however. A herniated disc in his back has sidelined Davis all preseason, an injury he's heard could keep him out eight to 10 weeks. But Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni hopes it will be much sooner, and the team is willing to wait for the chance to add a veteran to an inexperienced starting backcourt.
"The first order of business is just get him healthy and make sure that when he is able to play, he's ready to go," D'Antoni said. "If we get to that point, which hopefully we will, we've got one of the better point guards in the league, just adds another weapon to already a pretty good group."
Kings
The Sacramento Kings voided Chuck Hayes' $21.3 million, four-year contract, saying the forward-center failed a team physical that forced his release. Kings general manager Geoff Petrie said in a statement that informing Hayes his deal had been voided was "one of the most heartbreaking moments of my professional or personal life." He said Hayes asked the team to refrain from any further comment. The team announced last week that a heart exam on the new Kings big man showed an abnormality that would require further testing. That came days after the former Houston Rockets forward-center signed a contract with Sacramento.
Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets have agreed to a five-year deal with restricted free agent Arron Afflalo. The Denver Post first reported Monday night the guard had agreed to a contract that could be worth up to $43 million. Nuggets coach George Karl was preaching the importance of bringing back Afflalo, the player he considered the "glue guy" of the team. Afflalo averaged 12.6 points last season and took on a bigger leadership role once Denver dealt Carmelo Anthony to New York.
Copyright Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
First published on December 20, 2011 at 12:00 am
Source: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11354/1198047-275.stm?cmpid=sportsother.xml
the rum diary addams family in time statue of liberty gold rush alaska gold rush alaska the addams family
Friday, December 23, 2011
Autism Speaks awards 47 new research grants funding
![[ Back to EurekAlert! ]](http://www.eurekalert.org/images/back2e.gif){kind=small}
Public release date: 21-Dec-2011[ | E-mail |
Share ] Contact: Adam Pockriss
apockriss@rubenstein.com
212-843-8286
Autism Speaks
Global autism science and advocacy organization advances research in epigenetic and gene-environment influences, neurobiology, and studies concerning adolescents and adults with autism
New York, N.Y. (December 21, 2011) Autism Speaks, the world's largest autism science and advocacy organization, today announced the awarding of 47 new research grants totaling $13,242,279 in funding over the next three years. Grants awarded this year not only respond to Autism Speaks funding priorities, but collectively move autism research forward toward improving diagnosis and treatment and quality of life for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). New this year is the Autism Speaks Translational Postdoctoral Fellowship Program, which encourages new investigators to enter into the field of ASD translational research translating laboratory findings to clinical practice. These fellowships are critical in developing their careers so that their work can make a lasting impact on the field of autism research.
"Suzanne and I are extraordinarily proud that this is the largest set of grant awards in Autism Speaks history," said Autism Speaks Co-founder Bob Wright. "These novel research projects have tremendous potential to open new avenues to understanding autism."
"The Autism Speaks research portfolio is the core of our support for individuals impacted with ASD and their families," added Autism Speaks President Mark Roithmayr. "We know that as families seek the best possible diagnosis, treatments and therapies for their loved ones, validated research is critical in giving families confidence and hope for improving the lives of individuals with ASD," he continued. "Without the incredible generosity of our community and corporate partners, and the funds raised at hundreds of Walk Now for Autism Speaks events throughout the year, this research and this level of funding would not be possible."
Studies will be funded to increase our understanding of environmental influences that may increase the risk of ASD among those who are genetically predisposed to the disorder; on biomarkers that may be useful for identifying infants at risk for developing ASD; and to improve early diagnosis in ways that can lead to earlier intervention and improved outcomes. The first U.S. autism prevalence study using total population sampling methods will be conducted, as current prevalence rates are based on reviews of records and may miss undiagnosed children and adults in the community. Funding this year will help create of the world's largest whole-genome library of individuals with autismthrough a historic collaboration with the Beijing Genome Institute. Animal models designed to identify brain pathways involved in autism will be used to test five compounds that may help restore healthier functioning to these brain pathways. Autism Speaks is funding studies on adult development, including research into sleep disorders, quality of life assessments and predictors of positive long-term outcomes in adults with ASD, and will update the economic cost of autism, including assessment of how particular services and supports may reduce lifetime costs. New methods will be developed to increase access to diagnosis and early intervention services in underserved, low resource communities in North America and around the world.
"These projects will make a real impact on the lives of people with autism and their families," states Autism Speaks Chief Science Officer Geraldine Dawson, Ph.D. "The wide range of outstanding projects we are funding will provide new and more accurate estimates of the prevalence and costs of autism, test new medicines that have the potential for alleviating core symptoms of autism, and innovative strategies for lowering the age of early detection and improving access to treatments in underserved communities."
Basic & Clinical Grants
Cell-based models have increasingly become centerpieces in translational research aimed at understanding basic mechanisms impacted by the growing number of autism risk genes. An innovative project featuring a stem cell model of 15q duplication syndrome from Eric Levine, Ph.D., from the University of Connecticut will receive a two-year pilot grant to study the functional and structural properties of synapses in patient-derived neurons. Cortical interneurons derived from genetically modified animals will feature in another two-year pilot grant awarded to John Rubenstein, M.D., Ph.D., from the University of California San Francisco studying the impact of transplanting these cells on a variety of behavioral endpoints. Klaus Hahn, Ph.D., from the University of North Carolina will utilize a mouse model of Angeleman syndrome to study the involvement of signaling pathways in specific molecular, cellular, and circuit deficits that may lie at the heart of ASD pathogenesis in another two-year pilot grant.
The importance of animal models as platforms for evaluating the therapeutic potential of experimental drug candidates will be studied in several three-year "full" grants. Two examples of projects focused on mutant mouse models of Rett syndrome include David Katz, Ph.D., from Case Western Reserve, who will investigate the effects of a novel small molecule TrkB agonist (LM22A-4) on sensorimotor gating and behavioral endpoints. Mustafa Sahin, M.D., Ph.D., at Children's Hospital Boston will use a different mouse model of Rett syndrome to examine neuronal connectivity in an effort to nail down the critical period for emergence of ASD-like phenotypes and sensitivity to treatment with rapamycin in a three-year grant. In an innovative project utilizing voles, Larry Young, Ph.D., of Emory University will study the mechanisms of action for oxytocin in social behaviors and seek to validate MC4R as a new drug target for social deficits in autism. Two-year pilot funding has been granted to Craig Powell, M.D., Ph.D., of the University of Texas Southwestern to collect preliminary data to establish the feasibility of reversing Shank3 mutant mice back to normal Shank3 after brain development is complete and identify which synaptic function differences and which behavioral differences are rescued.
Two projects will focus on epigenetic modification of gene function. The potential of epigenetics as a mechanism to explain gene and environment interactions in ASD will be addressed by Dani Fallin, Ph.D., of Johns Hopkins University, who received a full grant for three years to measure genome-wide DNA methylation in 600 individuals from the Study to Explore Early Development. The genome-wide distribution of a newly described type of epigenetic modification to DNA will be profiled in ASD in a project by Xuekun Li, Ph.D., from Emory University, in a two-year Pilot grant. Dr. Li has developed an innovative method for studying this potentially important form of epigenetic regulation.
Several studies focus on aspects of early behavioral risk for ASD. Judith Gardner, Ph.D., at the New York State Institute for Basic Research will receive a full grant with three years' funding to prospectively follow high-medical-risk NICU infants from birth to two years to characterize early neurobehavioral markers as risk factors for ASD. Also focusing on high risk infants, Martha Kaiser, Ph.D., at the Yale Child Study Center will receive a full three-year grant to examine very early development of the social brain utilizing functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) in a prospective, longitudinal study of infants at high risk for developing autism. Patrick Bolton, Ph.D., of Kings College London will be funded for three years with a full grant in which he aims to better describe a genetic disorder (tuberous sclerosis) and determine whether those affected also have an ASD, either in terms of the broader autism phenotype or significant autistic traits. In conjunction with the Baby Siblings Research Consortium and the Autism Genetic Resource Exchange, Lonnie Zwaigenbaum, Ph.D. from the University of Alberta will take a genetic approach to assess the relationship between ASD-related gene copy number variation and symptom trajectories of at-risk infants between ages 6 and 36 months in a full grant funded for three years. Finally, a treatment study by Rebecca Landa, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, from the Kennedy Krieger Institute will be funded by a three-year full grant to examine the efficacy of a social enhancement intervention on social processing in toddlers with ASD.
To identify risk factors on a population basis, Brian Lee, Ph.D., at Drexel University will study a large, well characterized birth cohort in Sweden to examine whether early immune abnormalities may be associated with risk of ASD through a full, three-year grant. Paul Patterson, Ph.D., from California Institute of Technology will also receive a full, three-year grant to examine putative immune system involvement during fetal development in risk of developing autism by expanding his pioneering work in mouse models of maternal viral infection. A potential role for genetic defects in carnitine biosynthesis in risk for autism will be further explored in a two-year Pilot project awarded to Arthur Beaudet, M.D., at Baylor College of Medicine.
Four studies focus on the underserved population of adolescents and adults with ASD. Suzanne Goldman, Ph.D., FNP, BC, of Vanderbilt University is awarded a full three-year grant to investigate sleep behaviors in adolescents and young adults with autism and determine how sleep affects daytime behavior. Emily Simonoff, M.D., FRCPsych, of the Institute of Psychiatry, UK, and Marsha Seltzer, Ph.D., of the Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin, both receive full three-year grants to improve our understanding of the quality of life and outcomes for individuals of adults with ASD by tracking and characterizing different cohorts of adults who had previously been diagnosed during adolescence. A two-year pilot project is funded for J. Paul Leigh, Ph.D., CHPR, at the University of California Davis to focus on the economic burden created by ASD in current and future adult populations.
Basic & Clinical grants include both full grants which support researcher projects over three years based on the specific project scope and budget, and pilot grants which fund researchers for two years at a set funding rate of $60,000 per year. Grants were selected which focused on innovation, research strategy, and relevance of the topic to Autism Speaks research priority areas.
Postdoctoral Fellowships in Translational Autism Research
2011 is the inaugural year of the Autism Speaks Translational Postdoctoral Fellowship Program funding a total of $1,266,289 over two-years. The Translational Postdoctoral Fellowship seeks encourage new investigators to enter into the field of ASD translational research by providing funding for multidisciplinary training with at least two mentors. The fellows receive a stipend that varies according the years of experience of experience after their doctoral degree (based on the NIH scale) and a modest research expense allowance.
This first class of Translational Postdoctoral fellows will investigate a variety of innovative human neuroimaging approaches. Nicolaas Puts, Ph.D., at Johns Hopkins will focus on adapting magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) to non-invasively characterize changes in brain neurochemistry associated with autism in pediatric populations. Isabelle Buard, Ph.D., from the University of Colorado Denver will also utilize MRS, but in combination with magnetoencephalography to define motor-specific features that are impaired in autism. In another integrative approach, Adam Naples, Ph.D., from Yale will concurrently measure eye movement and electrical brain activity (EEG) to study responses during simulated reciprocal social interactions. Using Diffusion Tensor Imaging, Rebecca Jones, M.Phil., from Weill Cornell Medical College seeks to examine behavioral and neural underpinnings of learning as predictors of response to intervention in young children. Daniel Campbell, Ph.D., from Yale addresses the critical need for solid statistical methods to ensure the success of imaging approaches. His project expands the development of novel techniques for predicting diagnostic outcome from a variety of different imaging and clinical data sources.
Translation works in both directions from the proverbial bench to beside and back to the laboratories. Additional grants fund the work of Post Doctoral Translational Fellows who will focus on characterizing animal models that were informed by human genetic risk factors identified for autism. Olga Penagarikano, Ph.D., from the University of California Los Angeles will expand the characterization of the CNTNAP2 knock-out mice, including evaluation of novel drug candidates. A novel electophysiological approach will be employed by Dr. Joao Peca from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to study the neural circuitry underlying ASD phenotypes in the Shank3 mouse, a model of Phelan McDermid Syndrome. Portia McCoy, Ph.D., of the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill will examine the effects of a novel drug candidate, UNCilencer1, in reversing synaptic plasticity deficits in the UB3EA mouse model of Angelman syndrome. These projects have the potential to interpret the biological underpinnings of autism, which can be translated back to the bedside.
A variety of other fellowship projects were recommended for consideration. These include a project from Allison Knoll, Ph.D., of the University of Southern California, who has proposed studies in both mice and humans aimed at understanding the role oxytocin, vasopressin, and mu opioids in shaping early social learning and brain development. Haim Belinson, Ph.D., at University of California San Francisco will work to expand work identifying genomic factors that participate in the putative cortical abnormalities ("patches") recently reported by Eric Courchesne's lab. Melis Inan, Ph.D., at Weill Cornell Medical College will look at the role of candidate autism related genes on mitochondrial dynamics and functioning of PV+ cortical interneurons. Brandon Keehn, Ph.D., at Children's Hospital Boston will be studying how measures of novelty processing, arousal, and joint attention correlate with the development of disengagement abilities to determine the impact of early attentional function on the development these processes.
###
About Autism
Autism is a general term used to describe a group of complex developmental brain disorders autism spectrum disorders caused by a combination of genes and environmental influences. These disorders are characterized, in varying degrees, by social and behavioral challenges, as well as repetitive behaviors. An estimated 1 in 110 children in the U.S. is on the autism spectrum a 600 percent increase in the past two decades that is only partly explained by improved diagnosis.
About Autism Speaks
Autism Speaks is the world's largest autism science and advocacy organization. Since its inception in 2005, Autism Speaks has made enormous strides, committing over $160 million to research and developing innovative resources for families. The organization is dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism; increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders; and advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families. In addition to funding research, Autism Speaks has created resources and programs including the Autism Speaks Autism Treatment Network, Autism Speaks' Autism Genetic Resource Exchange and several other scientific and clinical programs. Notable awareness initiatives include the establishment of the annual United Nations-sanctioned World Autism Awareness Day on April 2, which Autism Speaks celebrates through its Light it Up Blue initiative. Also, Autism Speaks award-winning "Learn the Signs" campaign with the Ad Council has received over $300 million in donated media. Autism Speaks' family resources include the Autism Video Glossary, a 100 Day Kit for newly-diagnosed families, a School Community Tool Kit, a Grandparent's Guide to Autism, and a community grant program. Autism Speaks has played a critical role in securing federal legislation to advance the government's response to autism, and has successfully advocated for insurance reform to cover behavioral treatments in 29 states thus far, with bills pending in an additional 10 states. Each year Walk Now for Autism Speaks events are held in more than 80 cities across North America. To learn more about Autism Speaks, please visit www.autismspeaks.org.
About the Co-Founders
Autism Speaks was founded in February 2005 by Suzanne and Bob Wright, the grandparents of a child with autism. Bob Wright is Senior Advisor at Lee Equity Partners and Chairman and CEO of the Palm Beach Civic Association. He served as Vice Chairman of General Electric; and as the Chief Executive Officer of NBC and NBC Universal for more than twenty years. He also serves on the board of directors of the Polo Ralph Lauren Corporation, Mission Product, EMI Group Global Ltd., and AMC Networks Inc., and is a Trustee of the New York Presbyterian hospital. Suzanne Wright is a Trustee Emeritus of Sarah Lawrence College, her alma mater. Suzanne has received numerous awards, the Women of Distinction Award from Palm Beach Atlantic University, the CHILD Magazine Children's Champions Award, Luella Bennack Volunteer Award, Spirit of Achievement award by the Albert Einstein College of Medicine's National Women's Division and The Women of Vision Award from the Weizmann Institute of Science. In 2008, the Wrights were named to the Time 100 Heroes and Pioneers category, a list of the most influential people in the world, for their commitment to global autism advocacy. They have also received the first ever Double Helix Award for Corporate Leadership from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, the NYU Child Advocacy Award, the Castle Connolly National Health Leadership Award and the American Ireland Fund Humanitarian Award. In the past couple of years the Wrights have received honorary doctorate degrees from St. John's University, St. Joseph's University and UMass Medical School.
[ | 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.
Public release date: 21-Dec-2011[ | E-mail |
Share ] Contact: Adam Pockriss
apockriss@rubenstein.com
212-843-8286
Autism Speaks
Global autism science and advocacy organization advances research in epigenetic and gene-environment influences, neurobiology, and studies concerning adolescents and adults with autism
New York, N.Y. (December 21, 2011) Autism Speaks, the world's largest autism science and advocacy organization, today announced the awarding of 47 new research grants totaling $13,242,279 in funding over the next three years. Grants awarded this year not only respond to Autism Speaks funding priorities, but collectively move autism research forward toward improving diagnosis and treatment and quality of life for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). New this year is the Autism Speaks Translational Postdoctoral Fellowship Program, which encourages new investigators to enter into the field of ASD translational research translating laboratory findings to clinical practice. These fellowships are critical in developing their careers so that their work can make a lasting impact on the field of autism research.
"Suzanne and I are extraordinarily proud that this is the largest set of grant awards in Autism Speaks history," said Autism Speaks Co-founder Bob Wright. "These novel research projects have tremendous potential to open new avenues to understanding autism."
"The Autism Speaks research portfolio is the core of our support for individuals impacted with ASD and their families," added Autism Speaks President Mark Roithmayr. "We know that as families seek the best possible diagnosis, treatments and therapies for their loved ones, validated research is critical in giving families confidence and hope for improving the lives of individuals with ASD," he continued. "Without the incredible generosity of our community and corporate partners, and the funds raised at hundreds of Walk Now for Autism Speaks events throughout the year, this research and this level of funding would not be possible."
Studies will be funded to increase our understanding of environmental influences that may increase the risk of ASD among those who are genetically predisposed to the disorder; on biomarkers that may be useful for identifying infants at risk for developing ASD; and to improve early diagnosis in ways that can lead to earlier intervention and improved outcomes. The first U.S. autism prevalence study using total population sampling methods will be conducted, as current prevalence rates are based on reviews of records and may miss undiagnosed children and adults in the community. Funding this year will help create of the world's largest whole-genome library of individuals with autismthrough a historic collaboration with the Beijing Genome Institute. Animal models designed to identify brain pathways involved in autism will be used to test five compounds that may help restore healthier functioning to these brain pathways. Autism Speaks is funding studies on adult development, including research into sleep disorders, quality of life assessments and predictors of positive long-term outcomes in adults with ASD, and will update the economic cost of autism, including assessment of how particular services and supports may reduce lifetime costs. New methods will be developed to increase access to diagnosis and early intervention services in underserved, low resource communities in North America and around the world.
"These projects will make a real impact on the lives of people with autism and their families," states Autism Speaks Chief Science Officer Geraldine Dawson, Ph.D. "The wide range of outstanding projects we are funding will provide new and more accurate estimates of the prevalence and costs of autism, test new medicines that have the potential for alleviating core symptoms of autism, and innovative strategies for lowering the age of early detection and improving access to treatments in underserved communities."
Basic & Clinical Grants
Cell-based models have increasingly become centerpieces in translational research aimed at understanding basic mechanisms impacted by the growing number of autism risk genes. An innovative project featuring a stem cell model of 15q duplication syndrome from Eric Levine, Ph.D., from the University of Connecticut will receive a two-year pilot grant to study the functional and structural properties of synapses in patient-derived neurons. Cortical interneurons derived from genetically modified animals will feature in another two-year pilot grant awarded to John Rubenstein, M.D., Ph.D., from the University of California San Francisco studying the impact of transplanting these cells on a variety of behavioral endpoints. Klaus Hahn, Ph.D., from the University of North Carolina will utilize a mouse model of Angeleman syndrome to study the involvement of signaling pathways in specific molecular, cellular, and circuit deficits that may lie at the heart of ASD pathogenesis in another two-year pilot grant.
The importance of animal models as platforms for evaluating the therapeutic potential of experimental drug candidates will be studied in several three-year "full" grants. Two examples of projects focused on mutant mouse models of Rett syndrome include David Katz, Ph.D., from Case Western Reserve, who will investigate the effects of a novel small molecule TrkB agonist (LM22A-4) on sensorimotor gating and behavioral endpoints. Mustafa Sahin, M.D., Ph.D., at Children's Hospital Boston will use a different mouse model of Rett syndrome to examine neuronal connectivity in an effort to nail down the critical period for emergence of ASD-like phenotypes and sensitivity to treatment with rapamycin in a three-year grant. In an innovative project utilizing voles, Larry Young, Ph.D., of Emory University will study the mechanisms of action for oxytocin in social behaviors and seek to validate MC4R as a new drug target for social deficits in autism. Two-year pilot funding has been granted to Craig Powell, M.D., Ph.D., of the University of Texas Southwestern to collect preliminary data to establish the feasibility of reversing Shank3 mutant mice back to normal Shank3 after brain development is complete and identify which synaptic function differences and which behavioral differences are rescued.
Two projects will focus on epigenetic modification of gene function. The potential of epigenetics as a mechanism to explain gene and environment interactions in ASD will be addressed by Dani Fallin, Ph.D., of Johns Hopkins University, who received a full grant for three years to measure genome-wide DNA methylation in 600 individuals from the Study to Explore Early Development. The genome-wide distribution of a newly described type of epigenetic modification to DNA will be profiled in ASD in a project by Xuekun Li, Ph.D., from Emory University, in a two-year Pilot grant. Dr. Li has developed an innovative method for studying this potentially important form of epigenetic regulation.
Several studies focus on aspects of early behavioral risk for ASD. Judith Gardner, Ph.D., at the New York State Institute for Basic Research will receive a full grant with three years' funding to prospectively follow high-medical-risk NICU infants from birth to two years to characterize early neurobehavioral markers as risk factors for ASD. Also focusing on high risk infants, Martha Kaiser, Ph.D., at the Yale Child Study Center will receive a full three-year grant to examine very early development of the social brain utilizing functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) in a prospective, longitudinal study of infants at high risk for developing autism. Patrick Bolton, Ph.D., of Kings College London will be funded for three years with a full grant in which he aims to better describe a genetic disorder (tuberous sclerosis) and determine whether those affected also have an ASD, either in terms of the broader autism phenotype or significant autistic traits. In conjunction with the Baby Siblings Research Consortium and the Autism Genetic Resource Exchange, Lonnie Zwaigenbaum, Ph.D. from the University of Alberta will take a genetic approach to assess the relationship between ASD-related gene copy number variation and symptom trajectories of at-risk infants between ages 6 and 36 months in a full grant funded for three years. Finally, a treatment study by Rebecca Landa, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, from the Kennedy Krieger Institute will be funded by a three-year full grant to examine the efficacy of a social enhancement intervention on social processing in toddlers with ASD.
To identify risk factors on a population basis, Brian Lee, Ph.D., at Drexel University will study a large, well characterized birth cohort in Sweden to examine whether early immune abnormalities may be associated with risk of ASD through a full, three-year grant. Paul Patterson, Ph.D., from California Institute of Technology will also receive a full, three-year grant to examine putative immune system involvement during fetal development in risk of developing autism by expanding his pioneering work in mouse models of maternal viral infection. A potential role for genetic defects in carnitine biosynthesis in risk for autism will be further explored in a two-year Pilot project awarded to Arthur Beaudet, M.D., at Baylor College of Medicine.
Four studies focus on the underserved population of adolescents and adults with ASD. Suzanne Goldman, Ph.D., FNP, BC, of Vanderbilt University is awarded a full three-year grant to investigate sleep behaviors in adolescents and young adults with autism and determine how sleep affects daytime behavior. Emily Simonoff, M.D., FRCPsych, of the Institute of Psychiatry, UK, and Marsha Seltzer, Ph.D., of the Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin, both receive full three-year grants to improve our understanding of the quality of life and outcomes for individuals of adults with ASD by tracking and characterizing different cohorts of adults who had previously been diagnosed during adolescence. A two-year pilot project is funded for J. Paul Leigh, Ph.D., CHPR, at the University of California Davis to focus on the economic burden created by ASD in current and future adult populations.
Basic & Clinical grants include both full grants which support researcher projects over three years based on the specific project scope and budget, and pilot grants which fund researchers for two years at a set funding rate of $60,000 per year. Grants were selected which focused on innovation, research strategy, and relevance of the topic to Autism Speaks research priority areas.
Postdoctoral Fellowships in Translational Autism Research
2011 is the inaugural year of the Autism Speaks Translational Postdoctoral Fellowship Program funding a total of $1,266,289 over two-years. The Translational Postdoctoral Fellowship seeks encourage new investigators to enter into the field of ASD translational research by providing funding for multidisciplinary training with at least two mentors. The fellows receive a stipend that varies according the years of experience of experience after their doctoral degree (based on the NIH scale) and a modest research expense allowance.
This first class of Translational Postdoctoral fellows will investigate a variety of innovative human neuroimaging approaches. Nicolaas Puts, Ph.D., at Johns Hopkins will focus on adapting magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) to non-invasively characterize changes in brain neurochemistry associated with autism in pediatric populations. Isabelle Buard, Ph.D., from the University of Colorado Denver will also utilize MRS, but in combination with magnetoencephalography to define motor-specific features that are impaired in autism. In another integrative approach, Adam Naples, Ph.D., from Yale will concurrently measure eye movement and electrical brain activity (EEG) to study responses during simulated reciprocal social interactions. Using Diffusion Tensor Imaging, Rebecca Jones, M.Phil., from Weill Cornell Medical College seeks to examine behavioral and neural underpinnings of learning as predictors of response to intervention in young children. Daniel Campbell, Ph.D., from Yale addresses the critical need for solid statistical methods to ensure the success of imaging approaches. His project expands the development of novel techniques for predicting diagnostic outcome from a variety of different imaging and clinical data sources.
Translation works in both directions from the proverbial bench to beside and back to the laboratories. Additional grants fund the work of Post Doctoral Translational Fellows who will focus on characterizing animal models that were informed by human genetic risk factors identified for autism. Olga Penagarikano, Ph.D., from the University of California Los Angeles will expand the characterization of the CNTNAP2 knock-out mice, including evaluation of novel drug candidates. A novel electophysiological approach will be employed by Dr. Joao Peca from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to study the neural circuitry underlying ASD phenotypes in the Shank3 mouse, a model of Phelan McDermid Syndrome. Portia McCoy, Ph.D., of the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill will examine the effects of a novel drug candidate, UNCilencer1, in reversing synaptic plasticity deficits in the UB3EA mouse model of Angelman syndrome. These projects have the potential to interpret the biological underpinnings of autism, which can be translated back to the bedside.
A variety of other fellowship projects were recommended for consideration. These include a project from Allison Knoll, Ph.D., of the University of Southern California, who has proposed studies in both mice and humans aimed at understanding the role oxytocin, vasopressin, and mu opioids in shaping early social learning and brain development. Haim Belinson, Ph.D., at University of California San Francisco will work to expand work identifying genomic factors that participate in the putative cortical abnormalities ("patches") recently reported by Eric Courchesne's lab. Melis Inan, Ph.D., at Weill Cornell Medical College will look at the role of candidate autism related genes on mitochondrial dynamics and functioning of PV+ cortical interneurons. Brandon Keehn, Ph.D., at Children's Hospital Boston will be studying how measures of novelty processing, arousal, and joint attention correlate with the development of disengagement abilities to determine the impact of early attentional function on the development these processes.
###
About Autism
Autism is a general term used to describe a group of complex developmental brain disorders autism spectrum disorders caused by a combination of genes and environmental influences. These disorders are characterized, in varying degrees, by social and behavioral challenges, as well as repetitive behaviors. An estimated 1 in 110 children in the U.S. is on the autism spectrum a 600 percent increase in the past two decades that is only partly explained by improved diagnosis.
About Autism Speaks
Autism Speaks is the world's largest autism science and advocacy organization. Since its inception in 2005, Autism Speaks has made enormous strides, committing over $160 million to research and developing innovative resources for families. The organization is dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism; increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders; and advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families. In addition to funding research, Autism Speaks has created resources and programs including the Autism Speaks Autism Treatment Network, Autism Speaks' Autism Genetic Resource Exchange and several other scientific and clinical programs. Notable awareness initiatives include the establishment of the annual United Nations-sanctioned World Autism Awareness Day on April 2, which Autism Speaks celebrates through its Light it Up Blue initiative. Also, Autism Speaks award-winning "Learn the Signs" campaign with the Ad Council has received over $300 million in donated media. Autism Speaks' family resources include the Autism Video Glossary, a 100 Day Kit for newly-diagnosed families, a School Community Tool Kit, a Grandparent's Guide to Autism, and a community grant program. Autism Speaks has played a critical role in securing federal legislation to advance the government's response to autism, and has successfully advocated for insurance reform to cover behavioral treatments in 29 states thus far, with bills pending in an additional 10 states. Each year Walk Now for Autism Speaks events are held in more than 80 cities across North America. To learn more about Autism Speaks, please visit www.autismspeaks.org.
About the Co-Founders
Autism Speaks was founded in February 2005 by Suzanne and Bob Wright, the grandparents of a child with autism. Bob Wright is Senior Advisor at Lee Equity Partners and Chairman and CEO of the Palm Beach Civic Association. He served as Vice Chairman of General Electric; and as the Chief Executive Officer of NBC and NBC Universal for more than twenty years. He also serves on the board of directors of the Polo Ralph Lauren Corporation, Mission Product, EMI Group Global Ltd., and AMC Networks Inc., and is a Trustee of the New York Presbyterian hospital. Suzanne Wright is a Trustee Emeritus of Sarah Lawrence College, her alma mater. Suzanne has received numerous awards, the Women of Distinction Award from Palm Beach Atlantic University, the CHILD Magazine Children's Champions Award, Luella Bennack Volunteer Award, Spirit of Achievement award by the Albert Einstein College of Medicine's National Women's Division and The Women of Vision Award from the Weizmann Institute of Science. In 2008, the Wrights were named to the Time 100 Heroes and Pioneers category, a list of the most influential people in the world, for their commitment to global autism advocacy. They have also received the first ever Double Helix Award for Corporate Leadership from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, the NYU Child Advocacy Award, the Castle Connolly National Health Leadership Award and the American Ireland Fund Humanitarian Award. In the past couple of years the Wrights have received honorary doctorate degrees from St. John's University, St. Joseph's University and UMass Medical School.
[ | 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.
Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-12/as-asa122111.php
straight no chaser straight no chaser bcs standings bcs standings douglas fir jim boeheim jim boeheim
Monday, December 19, 2011
Panetta says Libya faces long, difficult transition (Reuters)
TRIPOLI (Reuters) ? Defense Secretary Leon Panetta told Libya Saturday it faced a "long and difficult" road in moving on from 42 years of one-man rule and uniting the fractious rebel groups that overthrew Muammar Gaddafi.
Panetta became the first U.S. defense secretary to visit Libya when he arrived in the capital Tripoli to meet an interim leadership struggling to assert control two months after Gaddafi was captured and killed.
Addressing a joint news conference with Prime Minister Abdurrahim El-Keib, Panetta said Libya faced tough challenges in uniting the forces that toppled Gaddafi, securing arms caches and building an army, police force and democratic institutions.
"This will be a long and difficult transition, but I am confident that you will succeed," he said.
Asked about the militias that wield the real power on Libya's streets, Panetta said: "I'm confident they (the interim leaders) are taking the right steps to reach out to all of these groups and bring them together so they will be part of one Libya and one defense system."
"I have a good sense that they know how to deal with it."
Keib's government won a welcome boost Friday when the U.N. Security Council lifted sanctions on Libya's central bank and a subsidiary, clearing the way for the release of tens of billions of dollars held overseas to ease an acute cash crisis.
The United States said it had unblocked more than $30 billion in Libyan government assets.
The Libyan leadership sorely needs the overseas funds to pay public sector workers, start the long process of rebuilding and to bolster its authority over the militias.
(Writing by Matt Robinson)
freedom writers lemony snicket lemony snicket jim thome jim thome fun fun fun fest fun fun fun fest
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Gaza paramedics: Man dies from gunfire on border (AP)
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip ? Palestinian paramedics say a man has died from heavy machine gun fire on the tense border between the Gaza Strip and Israel.
The man was rushed to the Al Aksa hospital in central Gaza, where he died late Friday night. Family members identified the victim as Nafez Nabhein, 35, a Bedouin civilian from the Bureij refugee camp.
An Israeli military spokeswoman said soldiers on patrol in the area heard explosions, and a tank responded with gunfire toward "suspicious locations." She said the border is used by Palestinian militants to plant explosives and attack Israel.
The military and a Gaza health official could not confirm if the man was killed by military gunfire.
Last week, Israeli forces carried out airstrikes against suspected militants, retaliating for weeks of rocket fire.
martina mcbride terry jones andy reid elf on the shelf elf on the shelf barney frank barney frank
Apple A5 chip production happening in the great state of Texas
Apple has historically outsourced their A5 chip production to Asian manufacturing plants, however this has recently changed with a move away from offshore production lines and into the great state of Texas. 
The A5 processor – the brain in the iPhone 4S and iPad 2...
 |  |
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheIphoneBlog/~3/_znf66tuqmc/story01.htm
sveum benetton ads cornucopia best buy black friday deals thanksgiving crafts matt cassel snowman
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Film details Jerry Lewis' 'Method to the Madness' (AP)
LOS ANGELES ? Gregg Barson is a documentarian, not a comedian. But when Jerry Lewis let him know that more than a dozen people were waiting in line to tell his story, Barson offered a persuasive punch line.
"Yeah, but they're not me," was Barson's comeback, followed by a momentary quiver of fear that he'd gone too far with the veteran star.
"He said, `I like that. You know why? Because you remind me of me,'" Barson recalled. That chutzpah-fueled exchange led to "Method to the Madness of Jerry Lewis," debuting 8 p.m. EST Saturday on Encore. Other airings include 11:30 a.m. EST Sunday and 8 p.m. EST Tuesday.
The film focuses on what makes the 85-year-old ? and still working ? Lewis tick as a performer and filmmaker. Those looking for dish on his family life or breakup with stage and screen partner Dean Martin or abrupt departure from the Muscular Dystrophy Association telethon he'd nurtured for nearly five decades won't find it here.
Barson, who describes himself as being "in heaven" whenever he caught a Lewis film on TV as a youngster, said his intent was to focus on Lewis' career from vaudeville on and his contributions to comedy and movies.
Younger people without exposure to Lewis' work likely consider him as "that telethon guy. Hopefully, the film will open their eyes as opposed to thinking he did one thing one day a year," Barson said.
During more than three years of filming, Barson had near-complete access as he followed Lewis from his yacht in San Diego to his home in Las Vegas to concert dates and to the Cannes Film Festival in France, the country that idolizes Lewis as a cinematic genius.
He was good company, Barson said. "He's always up, funny and playful. ... The sparkle, he didn't put in on for the camera. He's being real."
"Method to the Madness," which opens with Jerry Seinfeld, Eddie Murphy and other comedians anointing Lewis as comedy royalty, is an unabashed valentine. It is also a reminder that Lewis inspired rock-star levels of fan devotion, and of how impressively "The Bellboy" (1960) and many other films starring and written and directed by Lewis ruled the box office.
Barson, who made the well-received Phyllis Diller documentary "Goodnight, We Love You," sees parallels between Diller and Lewis, including their work ethic.
"She was 84 when she retired, and he's 85 and still working. They never rest on their laurels," Barson said. "They still care. They're not phoning it in."
And that, he said, is part of Lewis' method: Every aspect of his performance is planned.
"As Eddie Murphy says (in the film), slapstick looks simple but the reason it's been around so long is how well thought out it is," Barson said.
Lewis is pleased with the film. And his health is good, according to the filmmaker, who spills one appropriately quirky personal secret on his subject: "He drinks a lot of orange soda. Maybe that's the fountain of youth."
thanksgiving recipes thanksgiving recipes mashed potato recipe mashed potato recipe cranberry sauce oregon usc la auto show
Droid RAZR MAXX appears in Verizon Wireless inventory, details remain mysterious
Droid RAZR MAXX appears in Verizon Wireless inventory, details remain mysterious originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 17 Dec 2011 07:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink |
Droid Life | Email this | Comments
Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/4MfymBJg-Js/
winston churchill winston churchill arkham city conjugated linoleic acid world series schedule apple earnings tampa weather
Friday, December 16, 2011
Scheduled home auctions hit 9-month high in Nov. (AP)
LOS ANGELES ? Fewer U.S. homes entered the foreclosure process or were taken back by banks in November, reflecting a seasonal pullback in foreclosure activity by lenders and mortgage servicers.
But for some homeowners already behind on their mortgage payments, the end-of-year slowdown isn't likely to provide much of a reprieve.
The number of homes in foreclosure and scheduled to be auctioned hit a nine-month high last month, foreclosure listing firm RealtyTrac Inc. said Thursday.
The surge came about because of a spike three months earlier in homes entering the foreclosure process for the first time. And unless those borrowers find a way to get current on their mortgage payments, many of those homes will likely be sold at auction or end up being taken back by the lender.
"Despite a seasonal slowdown similar to what we've seen each of the past four years, November's numbers suggest a new set of incoming foreclosure waves," said RealtyTrac CEO James Saccacio.
All told, foreclosure auctions were scheduled on 96,540 U.S. homes last month, RealtyTrac said. That's up 13 percent from October, but still down 17 percent from November last year.
Some states posted far higher monthly increases in scheduled home auctions last month. In California, they were up 63 percent, while in Washington they climbed 56 percent.
Those homes could end up back on the market as foreclosures or short sales, when a homeowner sells their property for less than what they owe on their mortgage. And that means more pressure on home values, because foreclosures and short sales typically sell for a lot less than other homes.
U.S. foreclosure activity slowed sharply starting in October of last year, after problems surfaced with the way many lenders were handling foreclosures. Specifically, signing off on home foreclosures without first verifying documents ? a practice referred to as "robo-signing."
Many of the nation's largest banks reacted by temporarily ceasing all foreclosures, re-filing previously filed foreclosure cases and revisiting pending cases to prevent errors.
The pace of foreclosure activity continued to slow much of this year as major lenders worked toward a possible settlement of government probes into the industry's mortgage-lending practices.
Those settlement talks, led by a group of state attorneys general, have suffered some setbacks in recent months after officials in California and Massachusetts broke with the rest of the states. There also has been disagreement among the states' prosecutors over what terms to offer the banks.
Still, there have been signals that foreclosure activity will be increasing in coming months.
Banks stepped up action in August against homeowners whose mortgage had gone unpaid. The number of homes receiving an initial notice of default that month jumped 33 percent from July. Default notices also rose between September and October.
That helped set the stage for the sharp increase in scheduled foreclosure auctions last month and will likely contribute to an anticipated bump in home repossessions early next year, Saccacio said.
Home repossessions hit their lowest level since March 2008 last month, according to RealtyTrac. In all, banks took back 56,124 homes last month, down 17 percent from October and from November a year ago.
Banks are now on track to repossess some 810,000 homes this year, down from more than 1 million last year, according to RealtyTrac. The firm had originally anticipated some 1.2 million homes would be repossessed by lenders this year.
High unemployment, a sluggish housing market and falling home values remain a major factor in homeowners falling behind on their mortgage payments. Many borrowers also have simply stopped paying their mortgage because they are underwater ? a term for owing more on a mortgage than the home is worth.
At the end of September, 10.7 million, or 22.1 percent of all U.S. homes with a mortgage, were underwater, according to CoreLogic. And an additional 2.4 million borrowers had less than 5 percent equity in their homes, the firm said.
In all, 224,394 U.S. properties received a foreclosure-related notice last month, down 3 percent from October and down 14 percent from November last year, RealtyTrac said. That amounts to one in every 579 households.
Initial default notices declined 8 percent from October and were down 9 percent from November last year.
At the state level, Nevada had the nation's highest foreclosure rate last month with one in every 175 households receiving a foreclosure notice ? more than three times the national average.
California, which alone accounted for 28 percent of all U.S. homes receiving a foreclosure notice last month, had the second-highest foreclosure rate. Arizona was third.
Rounding out the top 10 states with the highest foreclosure rate in November are Utah, Georgia, Michigan, Florida, Illinois, Ohio and South Carolina.
gilbert arenas das racist das racist ginger white conrad murray sentencing conrad murray sentencing urban meyer
NJ Nets owner wants to buy Russia media holding
FILE - In this Friday, Nov. 27, 2009 file photo, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, right, looks on as Mikhail Prokhorov signs an agreement, during a Franco-Russian meeting in Rambouillet, France. Prokhorov, one of Russia's richest tycoons and the owner of the New Jersey Nets basketball team, said Monday Dec. 12, 2011, he will run against Putin in the March presidential election. (AP Photo/Alexei Druzhinin, Pool)
FILE - In this Friday, Nov. 27, 2009 file photo, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, right, looks on as Mikhail Prokhorov signs an agreement, during a Franco-Russian meeting in Rambouillet, France. Prokhorov, one of Russia's richest tycoons and the owner of the New Jersey Nets basketball team, said Monday Dec. 12, 2011, he will run against Putin in the March presidential election. (AP Photo/Alexei Druzhinin, Pool)
FILE - In this April 1, 2011 file photo, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, right, flanked by Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov, goes to inspect a new Russian-designed hybrid cars called "Yo" at the Gorki residence outside Moscow, Russia. Mikhail Prokhorov, one of Russia's richest tycoons and the owner of the New Jersey Nets basketball team, said Monday, Dec. 12, 2011 he will run against Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in the March presidential election. (AP Photo/RIA Novosti, Alexei Nikolsky, Pool-File)
FILE In this Monday, Sept. 26, 2011 file photo a woman walks past an election billboard for the All-Russian People's Front, headed by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, right, and election poster depicting former leader of the Right Cause party, Russian tycoon and New Jersey Nets basketball team owner Mikhail Prokhorov in St. Petersburg, Russia. Mikhail Prokhorov announced Monday Dec. 12, 2001 he will run against Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in the March presidential election. Prokhorov has been cautious not to cross Putin's path in the past. But the tycoon's candidacy may now pose a serious challenge to Putin, whose authority has been dented by his party's poor showing in Russia's Dec. 4 parliamentary election and allegations of widespread fraud during the balloting. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky, File)
Mikhail Prokhorov, one of Russia's richest tycoons and New Jersey Nets basketball team owner, leaves a press conference in Moscow, Russia, Monday, Dec. 12, 2011, as he announces his candidacy to run against Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in the March 2012 presidential election. Prolhorov has been cautious not to cross Putin's path in the past, but may pose a serious challenge to Putin, whose authority has been dented by the Dec. 4 parliamentary election and recent massive street protests against alleged vote fraud. (AP Photo/Misha Japaridze)
Mikhail Prokhorov, one of Russia's richest tycoons and New Jersey Nets basketball team owner, speaks at a press conference in Moscow, Russia, Monday, Dec. 12, 2011, as he announces his candidacy to run against Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in the March 2012 presidential election. Prolhorov has been cautious not to cross Putin's path in the past, but may pose a serious challenge to Putin, whose authority has been dented by the Dec. 4 parliamentary election and recent massive street protests against alleged vote fraud. (AP Photo/Misha Japaridze)
MOSCOW (AP) ? The billionaire owner of the New Jersey Nets running for the Russian presidency against Vladimir Putin is expected to make a formal offer to buy a leading media holding Wednesday, his representative said.
Mikhail Prokhorov, who is worth about $18 billion, according to Forbes magazine, announced his candidacy earlier this week for the March presidential election.
Prokhorov will be making a formal offer to buy the Kommersant publishing house from Alisher Usmanov, Prokhorov's spokeswoman Olga Stukalova told The Associated Press. Usmanov, however, was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying he doesn't have any plans to sell it.
Usmanov, a metals magnate, bought Kommersant for $200 million in 2006. The holding, which includes Russia's top business daily and other publications, has since expanded into radio and television broadcast.
On Tuesday, Usmanov fired an editor and a senior manager after the Kommersant Vlast weekly published an article about alleged fraud in Russia's Dec. 4 parliamentary election. Among the accompanying photos was a picture of a ballot which contained vulgar words directed at Putin, and the weekly's editor, Maxim Kovalsky, said he was told that it had served as a reason for his ouster.
The election saw a sharp drop in support for Putin's United Russia party, and widespread allegations against ballot-stuffing and other violations in the vote drew tens of thousands to a protest across the river from the Kremlin ? the largest show of discontent since the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union.
Usmanov explained his decision by saying that some recent reports in Vlast "bordered on petty hooliganism."
But Kovalsky's deputy, Veronika Kutsillo, said the photograph with the swear words was just a pretext behind the move by Usmanov, who previously had expressed his dissatisfaction with the magazine's contents.
"This isn't merely a punishment of an obstinate editor, it's a signal that the magazine's course must change," Kutsillo said in an e-mailed message, adding that she decided to resign.
More than 50 Kommersant journalists have signed an open letter to protest Kovalsky's firing. "We view this firing as an intimidation effort aimed at preventing any criticism of Vladimir Putin even if this concerns photographs," the letter said.
Putin has enjoyed blanket positive coverage from state-controlled television networks, and some of the print media, which have remained independent and often been critical of the government, have faced pressure from owners fearing their business interests could be hurt because of the criticism.
Prokhorov's presidential bid follows his botched performance before the parliamentary election when he formed a liberal party with the Kremlin's tacit support but abandoned it under what he described as Kremlin pressure.
Some observers said that Prokhorov may have made amends with the Kremlin and might be running to accommodate voters unhappy with the authorities.
But Prokhorov rejected the accusation in his blog on Wednesday.
"Naturally, my candidacy is good for the Kremlin. Naturally, they want to play democracy and show that people have 'some kind of a choice'," he wrote. "But we must absolutely use the authorities too if we don't want to just make some noise and disappear, but to change our lives for the better."
__
Associated Press writer Sofia Javed contributed to this report.
Associated Pressfiddler on the roof rally squirrel rally squirrel scumbag steve scumbag steve day of the dead rocksmith
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)