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Grieving mum says drivers need to change thinking - Stuff

INCENTIVE TO IMPROVE: Emma Woods says even after what her family has been through she still makes mistakes when driving, but is working hard to limit them.

KIRK HARGREAVES/Fairfax NZ

A PAINFUL MEMORY: This photo of Nayan Woods was placed on a tree near the scene of the crash where he was killed in Christchurch in 2010.

Has a crash affected your family?

Share your stories, photos and videos.

I have noticed a lot of road safety messages in the media recently, many of them relating to pedestrian safety.

Maybe it's because of the time of year, and I'm just more aware of messages that are always there in the background, like when you're pregnant and you notice all the other pregnant people.

Today is the anniversary of when our sons and I were hit by a car. The driver lost control, crashing into the three of us as we walked home along the footpath - injuring myself and our oldest son and killing Nayan, our youngest.

Two weeks ago New Zealand organisation, Brake, promoted the UN's Global Road Safety Week, focusing on the message of pedestrian and cyclist safety. The campaign encouraged people to think about everyone who uses the road and promoted the World Health Organisation's recommendation of a 30kmh speed limit within residential areas and around schools.

The argument is that a car travelling at 50kmh will take 24 metres to stop but only 11 metres when travelling at 30kmh. The slower speed not only allows for a better chance of avoidance, it also improves the survival rate if you are hit. A pedestrian hit by a car travelling at 30kmh will be much more likely to survive the impact than if the car was travelling at 50kmh.

In February NZ Transport Agency released a campaign called Drive Social. The aim of the campaign is to get people to start thinking about the other people using the roads instead of just the other cars. A lot of crashes occur when we, as drivers, prioritise our own needs ahead of those around us. Rushing to work, running late for an appointment, feeling stressed as we do the school run or answering a text that we feel is imperative to do immediately, are all times we leave ourselves open to making mistakes.

Whether consciously or not, we are essentially justifying our actions in a self-centred way - we believe that what we are doing is more important than what others around us need to do. The Drive Social campaign encourages us to think more about the people we share the road with.

Human nature means mistakes are made. If we are lucky, the consequences of a driving mistake are insignificant but sometimes all the factors line up, turning one careless action into a result that is life-changing.

Often, the only difference between one mistake and another is the severity of the consequence.

After Nayan was killed there was a line from a song I would think of whenever I saw poor driving: "Every tool is a weapon if you hold it right."

It's so easy to turn our mode of transport into a weapon in a moment of carelessness.

Even after what we've been through I still make mistakes when driving, but viewing each mistake as having the potential to kill gives me incentive to work at limiting the amount I make.

I am more aware of how I drive now. I explain a lot more to our eldest son about what I'm doing and why. I tell him why I have to change my speed because of rain or road works and how I can't look at what he's trying to show me, because I have to keep my attention on the road.

During their early years our children are not only our passengers, they are also witnesses to our driving, absorbing our behaviours and attitudes. If we model impatience, carelessness and lack of respect when our children are buckled in as our captive audiences, how can we expect them to make safer choices when it's their turn to get in the driver's seat?

Last year my husband and I were privileged to be a part of the team that brought the Right Track driving programme to Christchurch. Although this programme has been running in the North Island for several years, this was the first time it was offered in Christchurch.

The Right Track is a highly successful driver re-education programme that works with young recidivist driving offenders, greatly improving their safety on the road.

It doesn't achieve this by teaching hands-on driving skills. It does it by changing how the participants view their rights and responsibilities on the road.

It increases their empathy for other people and shows them the consequences their actions could cause.

It shows them how one mistake can ripple out and cause damage in ways they'd never previously cared about.

It introduces them to the people and agencies involved with caring for road crash victims, they hear the realities in a stark way that is hard to ignore.

It teaches them to be better at identifying and managing risks and shows them their role in keeping their family and friends safe.

From the two Christchurch intakes last year, 78 per cent of the graduates haven't re-offended - a fantastic result.

In the next few months we'll hear whether funding has been approved for future Christchurch programmes.

It's with dread I see May approach each year. The changing leaves and lengthening shadows bring sadness and regret of another year passing without Nayan beside us.

This May marks the third year since Nayan was killed and each day is still a struggle for many in our whanau.

Like the butterflies Nayan loved, many of us who loved him have undergone a type of transformation.

Grief's transformation is strange though, it leaves you unchanged in appearance but markedly different inside.

Three years on and there is no closure, no moving on and no letting go.

The death of a child is a lifelong adjustment, a new "normal" that never feels right.

I spoke to a friend from Canada a few weeks ago who told me that after hearing about Nayan her boss had spent some time reflecting on his driving and drives differently now. It was heartening to hear that someone 15,000km away, who had never met Nayan, felt impacted enough by his death to change how he drives.

It's impossible to know the far-reaching implications that driving with more care and awareness has. How can you put a number on how many lives have been saved by a shift in thinking?

Just because you can't quantify them, it doesn't mean they don't exist and you have no way of knowing whether one of the lives saved will be yours or someone you love.

- Comments on this article have been disabled at the request of the author

- ? Fairfax NZ News

Source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/8695897/Grieving-mum-says-drivers-need-to-change-thinking

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How bilinguals switch between languages

May 20, 2013 ? Individuals who learn two languages at an early age seem to switch back and forth between separate "sound systems" for each language, according to new research conducted at the University of Arizona.

The research, to be published in a forthcoming issue of Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, addresses enduring questions in bilingual studies about how bilingual speakers hear and process sound in two different languages.

"A lot of research has shown that bilinguals are pretty good at accommodating speech variation across languages, but there's been a debate as to how," said lead author Kalim Gonzales, a psychology doctoral student at the University of Arizona. "There are two views: One is that bilinguals have different processing modes for their two languages -- they have a mode for processing speech in one language and then a mode for processing speech in the other language. Another view is that bilinguals just adjust to speech variation by recalibrating to the unique acoustic properties of each language."

Gonzales's research supports the first view -- that bilinguals who learn two languages early in life learn two separate processing modes, or "sound systems."

The study looked at 32 Spanish-English early bilinguals, who had learned their second language before age 8. Participants were presented with a series of pseudo-words beginning with a 'pa' or a 'ba' sound and asked to identify which of the two sounds they heard.

While 'pa' and 'ba' sounds exist in both English and Spanish, how those sounds are produced and perceived in the two languages varies subtly. In the case of 'ba,' for example, English speakers typically begin to vibrate their vocal chords the moment they open their lips, while Spanish speakers begin vocal chord vibration slightly before they open their lips and produce 'pa' in a manner similar to English 'ba.' As a result of those subtle differences, English-only speakers might, in some cases, confuse the 'ba' and 'pa' sounds they hear in Spanish, explains co-author Andrew Lotto, associate professor of speech, language and hearing sciences at the University of Arizona.

"When most people think about differences between languages, they think they use different words and they have different grammars, but at their base languages use different sounds," Lotto said.

"One of the reasons it sounds different when you hear someone speaking a different language is because the actual sounds they use are different; they have a sound code that's specific to that language," he said. "One of the reasons someone might sound like they have an accent if they learn Spanish first is because their 'pa' is like an English 'ba,' so when they say a word with 'pa,' it will sound like a 'ba' to an English monolingual."

For the study, the bilingual participants were divided into two groups. One group was told they would be hearing rare words in Spanish, while the other was told they would be hearing rare words in English. Both groups heard audio recordings of variations of the same two words -- bafri and pafri -- which are not real words in either language.

Participants were then asked to identify whether the words they heard began with a 'ba' or a 'pa' sound.

Each group heard the same series of words, but for the group told they were hearing Spanish, the ends of the words were pronounced slightly differently, with the 'r' getting a Spanish pronunciation.

The findings: Participants perceived 'ba' and 'pa' sounds differently depending on whether they were told they were hearing Spanish words, with the Spanish pronunciation of 'r,' or whether they were told they were hearing English words, with the English pronunciation of 'r.'

"What this showed is that when you put people in English mode, they actually would act like English speakers, and then if you put them in Spanish mode, they would switch to acting like Spanish speakers," Lotto said. "These bilinguals, hearing the exact same 'ba's and 'pa's would label them differently depending on the context."

When the study was repeated with 32 English monolinguals, participants did not show the same shift in perception; they labeled 'ba' and 'pa' sounds the same way regardless of which language they were told they were hearing. It was that lack of an effect for monolinguals that provided the strongest evidence for two sound systems in bilinguals.

"Up until this point we haven't had a good answer to whether bilinguals actually learn two different codes -- so a 'ba-pa' English code and a 'ba-pa' Spanish code -- or whether they learn something that's sort of in the middle," Lotto said. "This is one of the first clear demonstrations that bilinguals really do have two different sounds systems and that they can switch between one language and the other and then use that sound system."

This is true primarily for those who learn two languages very young, Lotto said.

"If you learn a second language later in life, you usually have a dominant language and then you try to use that sounds system for the other language, which is why you end up having an accent," he said.

Research on bilingualism has increased in recent years as the global climate has become more intermixed, Lotto noted. These new findings challenge the idea that bilinguals always have one dominant language.

"This raises the possibility that bilinguals can perceive speech like a native speaker in both languages," said Gonzales, whose own son is growing up learning English and Chinese simultaneously.

"The predominant view of late has been that bilinguals will never be able to perceive a second language beyond what a late learner is capable of, or someone who learns a second language late in life. So even if you learn two languages simultaneously from birth, you're always going to perceive one of them like a late learner," Gonzales said. "Our findings cast doubt on that prominent view in the bilingual literature."

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/mind_brain/child_development/~3/qJC6_Bau0vE/130520163859.htm

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Oregon Dressage Society News and Announcements ? The ...

Four young riders have been selected for the 2013 International Dream Program that annually sends young riders to Europe for an intensive 10-day dressage experience. The program is administered and funded annually by The Dressage Foundation (TDF).? An independent selection committee, after reviewing dozens of applications, chose the following young riders to make the twelfth annual TDF trip to Europe: Katie Foster (MI), Molly Eastridge (WA), Hannah Pierucci (VA) and Molly Maloney (NY). The following two young riders were chosen as first and second alternates: Katrina Hiller (WI) and Genay Vaughn (CA). The selection committee based their decision on candidates? essays, competition scores, recommendations, videos of their riding and signs of commitment to the sport of dressage.

Jenny Johnson, Administrative Director of TDF said, ?The Board of Directors and staff of The Dressage Foundation congratulates the four candidates chosen for this year?s International Dream Program!? We received many high quality applications, so the selection committee had quite a task.?

The program, conceived by Olympic medalist and TDF board member, Michael Poulin (FL), will be led this year by chaperones Jennifer Baumert (NC) and Jontelle Forbus (VA). Beth Baumert (CT) is serving as administrator as she has since the program?s inception. Poulin believes TDF?s International Dream program helps American young riders reach their potential. He aims to fuel ?the power of the dream? for young people, and help them ?develop a sense of proportion, a sense of themselves and of being proud of who they are and what they?re doing.?

On August 5, the tentative plan is for the group to travel to England where they will visit Laura Bechtolsheimer, Carl Hester, Charlotte DuJardin and possibly Kyra Kyrklund. The group will attend the Verden CDI and the World Young Horse Championships from August 9-11. Subject to the schedules of German trainers, the young riders may also visit former U.S. team coach, Klaus Balkenhol and Spanish team coach, Jan Bemelmans.? They may visit German Olympians, Ingrid Klimke, Helen Langehanenberg or Hubertus Schmidt. Finally the group has tentative plans to visit Klaus Martin Rath and his son, Matthias Rath, rider of the great Totilas, at the Ann Kathrin Linsenhoff stable, Schafhof. The group will return to their home towns on August 15th.

While traveling, the young riders will record their observations in daily journals and chronicle the events with photos and video to share with their home dressage organizations.

Primary chaperone, Jennifer Baumert, is a USDF Certified Instructor through Fourth Level. She has trained extensively in Germany, most recently with Olympian Klaus Balkenhol when she was riding the stallion, Don Principe.? Jontelle Forbus is USDF Certified through Second Level and lived in Holland while training with Olympian, Coby van Baalen.

?This annual trip is made possible by very generous donors,? said Jenny Johnson. ?We?re very grateful to those who provided funding support for this program.? Further information on the Young Rider International Dream Program will be kept current on the TDF website:http://www.dressagefoundation.org/International_Dream_Program.htm

###

Source: http://www.oregondressage.com/news/2013/the-dressage-foundation-chooses-four-young-riders-for-international-dream-european-tour-including-molly-eastridge-of-longview-wa/

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$590M-plus Powerball: 1 winning ticket sold in Fla.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) ? It's all about the odds, and one lone ticket in Florida has beaten them all by matching each of the numbers drawn for the highest Powerball jackpot in history at an estimated $590.5 million, lottery officials said Sunday.

The single winner was sold at a supermarket in Zephyrhills, Fla., according to Florida Lottery executive Cindy O'Connell. She told The Associated Press by telephone that more details would be released later.

"This would be the sixth Florida Powerball winner and right now, it's the sole winner of the largest ever Powerball jackpot," O'Connell told AP. "We're delighted right now that we have the sole winner."

She said Florida has had more Powerball winners than any other state.

The winner was not immediately identified publicly and O'Connell did not give any indication just hours after Saturday's drawing whether anyone had already stepped forward with that winning ticket.

With four out of every five possible combinations of Powerball numbers in play, lottery executives said earlier that someone was almost certain to win the game's highest jackpot, a windfall of hundreds of millions of dollars ? and that's after taxes.

Saturday night's winning numbers were 10, 13, 14, 22 and 52, with a Powerball of 11.

Estimates had earlier put the jackpot at around $600 million. But Powerball's online site said Sunday that the jackpot had reached an estimated $590.5 million.

Terry Rich, CEO of the Iowa Lottery, initially confirmed that one Florida winning ticket had been sold. He told AP that following the Florida winner, the Powerball grand prize was being reset at an estimated jackpot of $40 million, or about $25.1 million cash value.

The chances of winning the prize were astronomically low: 1 in 175.2 million. That's how many different ways you can combine the numbers when you play. But lottery officials estimated that about 80 percent of those possible combinations had been purchased recently.

While the odds are low for any one individual or individuals, O'Connell said, the chance that one hits paydirt is what makes Powerball an "exciting game to play."

"There is just the chance that you will have the opportunity and Florida is a huge Powerball state. We have had more winners than any other state that participates in Powerball."

Such longshot odds didn't deter people across Powerball-playing states ? 43 plus Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands ? from lining up at gas stations and convenience stores Saturday for their chance at striking it filthy rich.

Calls by AP to the Publix supermarket outlet in Florida where the winning ticket was sold were not answered Sunday.

Elsewhere, Rich said, lottery officials reported 33 winning tickets for a $1,000,000 prize each were sold around 17 states, led by six tickets in New York. He said lotteries reported 2 winning tickets each for the $2,000,000 PowerPlay, one in New York and the other in South Carolina.

Before the drawing, there was a rush for tickets around the country.

At a mini market in the heart of Los Angeles' Chinatown, employees broke the steady stream of customers into two lines: One for Powerball ticket buyers and one for everybody else. Some people appeared to be looking for a little karma.

"We've had two winners over $10 million here over the years, so people in the neighborhood think this is the lucky store," employee Gordon Chan said as he replenished a stack of lottery tickets on a counter.

The world's largest jackpot was a $656 million Mega Millions jackpot in March 2012. If $600 million, the jackpot would currently include a $376.9 million cash option.

Clyde Barrow, a public policy professor at the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth, specializes in the gaming industry. He said one of the key factors behind the ticket-buying frenzy is the size of the jackpot ? people are interested in the easy investment.

"Even though the odds are very low, the investment is very small," he said. "Two dollars gets you a chance."

That may be why Ed McCuen has a Powerball habit that's as regular as clockwork. The 57-year-old electrical contractor from Savannah, Ga., buys one ticket a week, regardless of the possible loot. It's a habit he didn't alter Saturday.

"You've got one shot in a gazillion or whatever," McCuen said, tucking his ticket in his pocket as he left a local convenience store. "You can't win unless you buy a ticket. But whether you buy one or 10 or 20, it's insignificant."

Seema Sharma doesn't seem to think so. The newsstand employee in Manhattan's Penn Station purchased $80 worth of tickets for herself. She also was selling tickets all morning at a steady pace, instructing buyers where to stand if they wanted machine-picked tickets or to choose their own numbers.

"I work very hard ? too hard ? and I want to get the money so I can finally relax," she said. "You never know."

___

Associated Press Radio Correspondent Julie Walker and AP writers Jeffrey Collins in Columbia, S.C., Betsy Blaney in Lubbock, Texas, Russ Bynum in Savannah, Ga., John Rogers in Los Angeles and Verena Dobnick in New York contributed to this report.

___

Follow Barbara Rodriguez at http://twitter.com/bcrodriguez .

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/590m-plus-powerball-1-winning-ticket-sold-fla-061647844.html

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Arduino Robot launches at Maker Faire, we go hands-on (video)

There's a new kid on the Arduino block, and it's called the Arduino Robot. Launched yesterday at Maker Faire Bay Area, it's the company's first product that extends beyond single microcontroller boards. The Roomba-like design, which we first saw in November 2011, is the result of a collaboration with Complubot. It consists of two circular boards, each equipped with Atmel's ubiquitous ATmega32u4 and connected via ribbon cable.

The bottom board is home to four AA batteries (NiMH), a pair of motors and wheels, a power connector and switch plus some infrared sensors. By default it's programmed to drive the motors and manage power. The top board faetures a color LCD, a microSD card slot, an EEPROM, a speaker, a compass, a knob plus some buttons and LEDs. It's programmed to control the display and handle I/O. Everything fits inside a space that's about 10cm high and 19cm in diameter.

Pre-soldered connectors and prototyping areas on each board make it easier to customize the robot platform with additional sensors and electronics. It even comes with eleven step-by-step projects and a helpful GUI right out of the box. The Arduino Robot is now on sale at the Maker Faire for $275 and will be available online in July. Take a look at our gallery below and watch our video interview with Arduino founder Massimo Banzi after the break.

Gallery: Arduino Robot at Maker Faire 2013

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Do Men's and Women's Hearts Burn Fuel Differently?

May 20, 2013 ? Researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine will study gender differences in how the heart uses and stores fat -- its main energy source -- and how changes in fat metabolism play a role in heart disease, under a new $2 million, 4-year grant from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.

When stressed, the heart changes how it uses fuel for energy. These changes may play a major role in the development of heart disease and are different in men and women, says E. Douglas Lewandowski, director of the UIC Center for Cardiovascular Research. The changes occur long before any symptoms, he said, and may be key to early diagnosis and treatment.

Lewandowski, who is principal investigator on the grant, uses imaging techniques he developed to see fat molecules and the rate at which they are being burned in beating hearts. In healthy hearts, the balance between using fat for energy and storing it in tiny droplets within the cells is in a dynamic equilibrium.

When a female heart is stressed, such as through chronic disease like hypertension, it becomes much less efficient at metabolizing fat, Lewandowski says. When a male heart is stressed, it starts using more sugar as fuel. These changes in the heart can also affect how fat is stored and used in other parts of the body.

"Because the heart is the body's number-one consumer of fat, when it starts using fat differently, there are consequences throughout the entire body," Lewandowski said. He thinks that changes in fat metabolism in the heart may send out signals to fat cells in other parts of the body to store more fat, and to insulin-producing cells in the pancreas that may trigger the onset of diabetes, which is often present along with heart disease.

Lewandowski will further investigate how gender differences in fat metabolism are related to the development of heart disease in men and women. He will also look at how higher levels of fat accumulation in heart cells may cause stiffness and lower the efficiency of heart muscle contraction. Understanding these changes may help identify targets for therapies, or lead to better diagnostic tests for heart disease.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/health_medicine/heart_disease/~3/LtZSknSnI2w/130520133552.htm

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Jed Kleckner: Local Businesses Growing With Gen D (Generation Delivery)

Today's get it now society wants more than just a cool phone with instant access to news, friends and family - they want dinner served up too.

Mealtime planning has shifted with the generations. In the 1950s, TV dinners became the convenient meal while takeout gained traction in the 70s. In the 1990s, speedy delivery became popular at pizza joints while in the Internet era, online ordering started gaining traction with techies and early adopters. Today, on-demand delivery is common for busy professionals and urbanites with a couple of clicks on a web site or through the tap of an app. Delivery helps drive revenue for local businesses, such as restaurants, across the U.S. by reaching more customers in the neighborhood. This new delivery focused mindset makes up Gen D -- the delivery generation.

Industry analysts see one of the key growth drivers for the restaurant industry and other retail or service-oriented businesses is through offering delivery. According to NPD Group, food delivery is a $75 billion business and a survey from The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) found that already nearly 10 percent of online shoppers want same day delivery in their online shopping experience. BCG also found that affluent millennials are willing to pay up to $10 for same day delivery.

While larger chains are struggling with the shift from next day to same day, local businesses are already profiting from Gen D.

Hoboken, New Jersey's Biggie's Clam Bar has been family-run for four generations. Today, delivery is a substantial 35 percent of their business mix and they have regulars who order delivery as often as others come into the restaurant. "We get online orders from business pros leaving their Manhattan office asking for dinner to be delivered when they arrive home," said Steve Ranuro, great-grandson of founder Joseph "Biggie" Yaccarino. "We have a personal connection with the folks who order online and find that they will order a wider selection of entrees off the menu while many of our in-store regulars stick with the burger or clams they always eat."

Ranuro noted that delivery helps keep Biggie's sales consistent, solving a real yield management problem for restaurant or store owners. "In the past, we might have a slow night when it rains or is less than ideal to travel. Now, our deliveries balance out the slower in-house periods of the day or week to keep our neighborhood customers engaged with Biggie's even when they're not in the restaurants."

Good quality food runs in the family also at De Pasada, a Mexican restaurant in Chicago serving up tortas, tacos, tostados and more. While the restaurant has a small web presence, the owners consider online delivery "free marketing for the business". Greg Espinoza convinced his father to add online delivery. He finds it more convenient for processing orders than fielding phone calls and the overall restaurant revenue is up approximately 30 percent.

In the restaurant business, it's essential to manage against expenses. With high real estate costs for New York City-based restaurants delivery has become an essential component of managing the bottom line. 3 Star Diner, which is open 24-hours, gets half of their revenue from delivery. Nicholas Kirakakis, who runs the diner with his father, found online delivery a natural extension of their core business. He's seen a generational shift of online orders coming primarily from younger customers, which also include emoticons like smiley faces in the special instructions. And he's smiling from the higher average online order.

Gen D also shops their neighborhood whenever possible. In a recent delivery.com customer survey of 5,400 people across the USA, more than 65 percent said they shop from local stores and neighborhood restaurants. These locavores also order dinner for delivery at least once a week.

The local delivery landscape is ever changing as Gen D wants everything delivered. delivery.com offers instant ordering from spirits/wine and grocery stores, which are also seeing an increase in sales through new customers in their respective neighborhoods. "Delivery brings us closer to our neighbors who are a few blocks away in Gramercy," said Michael Buckley, president, Gramercy Wine Cellars. "While many Manhattanites will pick up a bottle of wine from the shop closest to them, our customers are drawn to the convenience of online delivery, ordering a special scotch or robust red wine on their way out work of so it arrives when they get home."

From spirits to split pea soup delivery, Gen D empowers the local economy by driving incremental sales for small businesses. These entrepreneurs are the job creators, creating two thirds of all new jobs and accounting for half the sales in the U.S. according to BCG. With small businesses looking for new ways to thrive in today's economy, accessing Gen D with online delivery is the way to go.

?

Follow Jed Kleckner on Twitter: www.twitter.com/deliverydotcom

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jed-kleckner/local-businesses-growing-_b_3294944.html

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Spurs rout Grizzlies 105-83 in West finals opener

SAN ANTONIO (AP) ? Tony Parker had 20 points and nine assists, Kawhi Leonard scored 18 points and the San Antonio Spurs struck first in the Western Conference finals by beating the Memphis Grizzlies 105-83 on Sunday.

The Spurs avoided a repeat of their Game 1 loss from when the teams met two years ago in the first round. The Grizzlies went on to knock San Antonio out of the playoffs as the top seed that time.

San Antonio raced out to a 17-point lead in the first quarter, then came up with a response when Memphis rallied to get within six in the second half. Both teams pulled their starters with over 5 minutes left and the Spurs leading by 21.

Quincy Pondexter led Memphis with 17 points. Grizzlies All-Star Zach Randolph missed his first seven shots and scored his only points on a tip-in with 9:26 left in the game.

Game 2 is Tuesday night in San Antonio.

The NBA's stingiest defense wasn't up to its usual standards, allowing the Spurs to hit 53 percent of their shots and a franchise postseason record 14 3-pointers while Randolph struggled. Randolph was a non-factor after going for a playoff-best 28 points and 14 rebounds as Memphis eliminated defending West champ Oklahoma City in Game 5 on Wednesday night.

The Grizzlies started to rally as soon as Randolph came out of the game for the first time in the second half.

Pondexter made a baseline cut for a layup off of a Darrell Arthur pass, then hit back-to-back 3-pointers during a 10-0 burst. Jerryd Bayless' two-handed, fast-break dunk off of a steal got the Grizzlies within 62-56 with 3:43 left in the third quarter.

The comeback was short-lived, though.

Bayless missed a 3-pointer on the next trip, and Manu Ginobili was able to make one at the opposite end to spark an 11-1 response that immediately restored the Spurs' lead to 16 by end of the quarter. Leonard hit a pair of 3-pointers and Gary Neal had one as San Antonio kept pouring it on in the fourth.

The four regular-season meetings were all won by the team with more points in the paint, but perimeter shooting proved to be a bigger factor in the playoff opener. Memphis, which was second in the NBA by holding opponents to 33.8 shooting on 3-pointers, let San Antonio make 13 of its first 24 from behind the arc and finish 14 of 29.

Danny Green connected three times and scored 16, and Matt Bonner hit four of his five attempts for 12 points.

Marc Gasol provided 15 points for Memphis, and Mike Conley had 14 points and eight assists.

The Spurs asserted themselves early, scoring on their first seven possessions and also getting a couple head-to-head defensive stops from their veterans while claiming a quick 23-8 lead. Parker swiped the ball from Conley on Memphis' second possession, running out for a layup, and Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins burned a timeout in the first 2 minutes.

Tim Duncan snuffed out the ensuing play by blocking Randolph's shot, and the Spurs' strong start continued. Bonner hit back-to-back 3-pointers for a 17-point edge late in the first quarter, and San Antonio pushed out to a 43-23 advantage following consecutive baskets by Parker with 6:06 left before halftime.

It was the largest first-half deficit for the Grizzlies during the playoffs.

Gasol hit three baskets as Memphis made a push to get back in the game before halftime, trimming the deficit to 51-37 at the break.

Notes: Memphis' only larger deficit this postseason came in the first-round opener against the Los Angeles Clippers. L.A. didn't lead by 20 until the final minute of a 112-91 victory. ... Tracy McGrady got a standing ovation when he checked in with the Spurs up by 20 midway through the fourth quarter. ... The Spurs had 13 3-pointers in a game against the Los Angeles Clippers in last year's playoffs, on May 15.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/spurs-rout-grizzlies-105-83-west-finals-opener-220429094.html

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Setting Up A Blogging Network: Alternative To Rising Web Page ...

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Source: http://www.portalrumahsewa.com/setting-up-a-blogging-network-alternative-to-rising-web-page-website-traffic-due-to-a-dependable-online-host/

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Obama delivers historic Morehouse commencement

Obama speaks in Baltimore, May 17, 2013. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP)

President Barack Obama took a break from the trifecta of controversies?IRS, Benghazi, Department of Justice?swirling around the White House on Sunday to deliver the commencement address at Morehouse College, the historically black, all-male institution in Atlanta.

"What I ask of you today is the same thing I ask of every graduating class I address," Obama told 500 graduates and an estimated 10,000 onlookers, most of them in ponchos, on the school's stormy, rain-soaked campus. "Use that power for something larger than yourself."

While the message may have been unremarkable, the occasion was historic: Obama became the first sitting president to address Morehouse, the alma mater of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., whose spirit was evoked throughout the speech.

"Many of you know what it?s like to be an outsider, to be marginalized, to feel the sting of discrimination," Obama said. "That?s an experience that so many other Americans share. Hispanic Americans know that feeling when someone asks where they come from or tells them to go back. Gay and lesbian Americans feel it when a stranger passes judgment on their parenting skills or the love they share. Muslim Americans feel it when they?re stared at with suspicion because of their faith. Any woman who knows the injustice of earning less pay for doing the same work?she sure feels it."

The president said that while it might be tempting for graduates to use their degrees for personal wealth, they should aim for more. "I know some of you came to Morehouse from communities where life was about keeping your head down and looking out for yourself," Obama said. "Maybe you feel like you escaped, and you can take your degree, get a fancy job and never look back. And don?t get me wrong?with the heavy weight of student loans, with doors open to you that your parents and grandparents could scarcely imagine, no one expects you to take a vow of poverty.

"It is not just the African-American community that needs you," Obama said. "The country needs you. The world needs you."

According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, attendees arrived as early 3:30 a.m. to reserve a spot at the open-air ceremony.

The president said that growing up, he used to chalk up some of his own "bad choices" to being black.

"We know that too many young men in our community continue to make bad choices," Obama said. "Growing up, I made a few myself. And I have to confess, sometimes I wrote off my own failings as just another example of the world trying to keep a black man down. But one of the things you?ve learned over the last four years is that there?s no longer any room for excuses."

First-year Morehouse College president John Wilson introduced President Obama. Prior to taking the Morehouse job, Wilson ran the White House's historically black colleges and universities (HBCU) initiative.

After the ceremony, the president was scheduled to later attend a fundraiser for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee at the home of Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank.

It was Obama's second graduation speech in as many weeks. Last week, the president delivered the commencement address at Ohio State. His third and final speech of graduation season, at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., is slated for Friday.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/obama-morehouse-commencement-speech-172854207.html

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Denmark favorite to win Eurovision Song Contest

Emmelie de Forest of Denmark performs her song "Only Teardrops" during a rehearsal for the final of the Eurovision Song Contest at the Malmo Arena in Malmo, Sweden, Friday, May 17, 2013. The contest is run by European television broadcasters with the event being held in Sweden as they won the competition in 2012, the final will be held in Malmo on May 18. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Emmelie de Forest of Denmark performs her song "Only Teardrops" during a rehearsal for the final of the Eurovision Song Contest at the Malmo Arena in Malmo, Sweden, Friday, May 17, 2013. The contest is run by European television broadcasters with the event being held in Sweden as they won the competition in 2012, the final will be held in Malmo on May 18. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Bonnie Tyler of Britain performs her song "Believe in Me" during a rehearsal for the final of the Eurovision Song Contest at the Malmo Arena in Malmo, Sweden, Friday, May 17, 2013. The contest is run by European television broadcasters with the event being held in Sweden as they won the competition in 2012, the final will be held in Malmo on May 18. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Cezar of Romania performs the song "It's My Life" during a rehearsal for the final of the Eurovision Song Contest at the Malmo Arena in Malmo, Sweden, Friday, May 17, 2013. The contest is run by European television broadcasters with the event being held in Sweden as they won the competition in 2012, the final will be held in Malmo on May 18. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Cezar of Romania performs the song "It's My Life" during a rehearsal for the final of the Eurovision Song Contest at the Malmo Arena in Malmo, Sweden, Friday, May 17, 2013. The contest is run by European television broadcasters with the event being held in Sweden as they won the competition in 2012, the final will be held in Malmo on May 18. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Anouk of the Netherlands performs her song "Birds" during a rehearsal for the final of the Eurovision Song Contest at the Malmo Arena in Malmo, Sweden, Friday, May 17, 2013. The contest is run by European television broadcasters with the event being held in Sweden as they won the competition in 2012, the final will be held in Malmo on May 18. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

MALMO, Sweden (AP) ? An ethno-inspired flute and drum tune from Denmark is the bookmakers' favorite to win this year's Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday, which also features a bizarre opera pop number from Romania and an Armenian rock song written by the guitarist of Black Sabbath.

Yes, it's that time of the year again.

The televised pan-European extravaganza, known for its kitschy shows, bad taste and bizarre offerings, is still expected to be seen by about 125 million television viewers worldwide.

This year's contest is being hosted in Malmo, southern Sweden, following the victory of the Nordic country's contestant Loreen with "Euphoria" last year.

According to bookmakers, the hippie-chic Emmelie De Forest of Denmark is the favorite to win, driving the song "Only Teardrops" with her deep, Shakira-like voice. Her main challenge comes from the clean-cut techno pop tune "I Feed You My Love" by Norway's Margaret Berger, who rose to fame at home after becoming the runner-up in Norway's version of Pop Idol in 2004.

"I will be nervous before going on stage," De Forest said Friday. "I think we have a really good song that can take us far, but let's see, anything can happen."

Finland's Krista Siegfrid provided this year's controversy, ending her bouncy bubble-gum pop number "Marry Me" with a girl-on-girl kiss that some have interpreted as a stance promoting gay marriage. While the show will not raise eyebrows in most parts of Western Europe ? where Eurovision has long been a bastion of gay culture ? the act may jar sensitivities in parts of eastern and southern Europe.

"The fact is that Finland is the only country in the Nordic countries where gay marriage is not allowed, and I think that's wrong," Siegfrid told The Associated Press. "It's 2013 now and ... I can kiss anyone I want to. It shouldn't be a problem."

Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, who arrived in Malmo to watch the competition Saturday, said it is a unique event that unites Europe.

"We see the old Yugoslavia, now independent states, after a decade of war they always vote for each other in Eurovision, " Bildt said. "That I think is fun."

This year's competition also sees the return to the international stage of two seasoned European stars. "Total Eclipse of the Heart" singer Bonnie Tyler is representing Britain with "Believe In Me" while Anouk, whose song "Nobody's Wife" was a big hit in Europe in the 1990s, is singing the song "Birds" for The Netherlands.

Among the more notable performances is the Ukraine's Zlata Ognevich with her song "Gravity." Ognevich is carried onstage by the tallest man in the U.S. ? Ukrainian-born Igor Vovkovinskiy. Vovkovinskiy ? who stands 7 feet, 8 inches (234 centimeters) ?wobbles onstage in a fur and feathers, placing the fairy-like Ognevich on a rock where she stands for the rest of the performance.

There is also Armenian rock group Dorians, whose gloomy song "Lonely Planet" has been written by Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi.

Romania's Cezar, who resembles a Dracula reborn as a high-pitched vocalist, is apparently a reputable opera singer, but is attempting a crossover opera pop number with techno beats and pyrotechnics. Three muscular male dancers in red body paint are delivered out of a large red cape.

Two semifinals this week have whittled down the contestants from 40 to 26. The winner is picked by juries and television viewers across the continent, and the winning nation will stage next year's event.

Having won five times, most famously with ABBA's Waterloo in 1974, Sweden is a veteran of Eurovision. This weekend it is taking the opportunity to showcase some of its big music acts. The opening of the competition is set to feature a song especially composed by Swedish super DJ Aviici, together with ABBA members Bjorn Ulveaus and Benny Andersson.

Yet the event ? with a price tag of around 153.5 million Swedish kronor ($23 million) ? won't measure up to last year's lavish competition hosted by oil-rich Azerbaijan in its capital, Baku.

"We have attempted to host Eurovision with less money to show that it is possible to do this without it being too painful for the host country," said Jan-Erik Westman, a spokesman of host broadcaster SVT.

The festive atmosphere was visible throughout the city of Malmo on Saturday, where residents and visitors blended on the streets waving the flags of their favorite countries.

___

Associated Press television producer David MacDougall and Associated Press reporter Jan Olsen contributed to this report.

___

Follow Malin Rising on Twitter: https://twitter.com/malinrising

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/4e67281c3f754d0696fbfdee0f3f1469/Article_2013-05-18-Sweden-Eurovision/id-aed078ab5e0842c0b2a20ac8f87267d2

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Investigators seek cause of commuter train crash

By Karen Brooks

(Reuters) - Federal investigators on Saturday searched for the cause of a rush-hour train crash in Connecticut that injured dozens of people commuting home from New York City, three of them critically.

More than 60 people were hospitalized Friday night after an eastbound commuter train derailed and collided with a westbound passenger train on an adjacent track near the Connecticut suburb of Fairfield.

Eight people remained hospitalized on Saturday, three in critical condition, Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy said.

The collision of the Metro-North trains forced Amtrak to shut down service indefinitely between New York and Boston.

The governor is encouraging commuters who normally use the line to find alternative ways to get to work on Monday.

National Transportation Safety Board investigators arrived at the scene on Saturday to determine the cause. There had been construction and repair work going on in the area and one question was whether debris was on the track.

"They can't rule anything out," said Malloy, adding that he wanted investigators to complete their work as quickly as possible so the busy commuter rail line could be reopened.

The eastbound train was headed to New Haven, Connecticut, when it collided with the train bound for New York's Grand Central Station.

NTSB officials said several cars had derailed, not an entire train.

Malloy said the train cars were new and "designed to the latest standards" for safety and protection of passengers.

"To the best of our knowledge, it is the first time that a car like this has been involved in this kind of incident and by all appearances they responded well," Malloy said. "One of the things you look at, for instance - did the seats become removed and that sort of stuff. It is going to take some more investigation. That is why they are here."

Metro-North is a commuter railroad serving the northern suburbs of New York City. It is operated by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, a New York state agency. Fairfield is about 50 miles north of New York City.

The rail line serves a major corridor between Boston and New York. The New Haven line operated by Metro-North is the busiest rail line in America and serves 125,000 commuters a day, said Judd Everhart of the Connecticut Department of Transportation.

Malloy said the state Department of Transportation already has ordered the large equipment needed to remove the cars, which will be picked up and put on flatbeds to be taken to another location for further investigation.

(Reporting by Karen Brooks in Austin, Texas, and David Bailey in Minneapolis; Editing by Doina Chiacu, Greg McCune and Eric Beech)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/least-20-hurt-two-trains-collide-connecticut-000707516.html

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'Star Trek Into Darkness': Reverential but too derivative (+video)

'Star Trek Into Darkness' is visually top notch. But 'Into Darkness' ends up zigzagging fitfully through the Enterprise's greatest hits.

By David Germain,?Associated Press / May 18, 2013

"Star?Trek Into Darkness" is like fan-boy fiction on a $185 million budget. It's reverential, it's faithful, it's steeped in "Trek" mythology.

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It's also an excessively derivative what-if rehash of themes and interactions that came before, most of the characters lesser copies and even caricatures of the originals. The scenario's been hijacked and rejiggered from better "Trek" plots of decades ago, the best verbal exchanges lifted nearly verbatim from past adventures.

In short, the new chiefs of Starfleet aren't coming up with much to call their own.

They pile on the spectacle in a way that's never been seen before in "Star?Trek," whose old big-screen incarnations were so notoriously underfunded they had to go back and borrow props, miniatures and visual effects from previous installments. The action in "Into Darkness" is top-notch, the visuals grand, though the movie's needless conversion to 3-D muddies the images.

But the heart is, well, halfhearted, as though the people of the 23rd century are there to mouth the standard logic-vs.-emotion, needs-of-the-many-vs.-needs-of-the-few patter of "Star?Trek" to count time before the next space battle or ray-gun shootout.

Director J.J. Abrams was most definitely not a fan-boy for this franchise when he made 2009's "Star?Trek," which reintroduced Kirk, Spock and the rest of the starship Enterprise gang with a time-travel twist that allowed the William Shatner-Leonard Nimoy original to coexist with an entirely different destiny for the new players.

Abrams grew up a fan of "Star Wars," the next space saga he'll be reviving with the launch of a third trilogy. But his key collaborators, screenwriters Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman and Damon Lindelof, are "Trek" fan-boys to their marrow. They know this world, they love this world, and like many fans, they have a particular fixation on 1982's "Star?Trek II: The Wrath of Khan," the best that the franchise has ever had to offer, on the big-screen or TV.

The 2009 reboot replayed and tweaked elements connected to "Wrath of Khan," and "Into Darkness" mines that vein further. Some of that revisitation is cool in an alternate-history way, but the filmmakers remain so closely in orbit around yesteryear's "Star?Trek" that they wind up zigzagging fitfully through the Enterprise's greatest hits.

"Into Darkness" opens with a splashy action sequence to again show the cockiness of Capt. James Kirk (Chris Pine) ? with his willingness to flaunt the rules ? and the icy intellect of half-Vulcan First Officer Spock (Zachary Quinto), who's willing to sacrifice his life to stick to the Starfleet playbook.

It's clear these two young'uns don't play well together, but just as the space brass is about to split them up, Starfleet is hit by savage terrorist attacks by mysterious desperado John Harrison (Benedict Cumberbatch). Kirk, Spock and their Enterprise crew are dispatched to take Harrison out with weapons that could prove the mother of all drone strikes, maintaining the usual see-how-relevant-we-are conceit of the "Trek" cosmos.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/2z0iu6eCXic/Star-Trek-Into-Darkness-Reverential-but-too-derivative-video

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Displaced Haldimand eagles move into replacement nests ...

Friday, May 17 2013 @ 03:53 PM EDT

Contributed by: MaryF

By Monte Sonnenberg
Simcoe Reformer
Friday, May 10, 2013; 4:58:13 EDT

?

JARVIS?-?The wind energy company Nextera suffered a public relations setback last fall when it dismantled a tree containing an eagle?s nest near Fisherville.

With the permission of the Ministry of Natural Resources, Nextera did the deed at dawn on a November morning. The nest was a recent addition to the neighbourhood and was located where three wind turbines were ready to go.

By time the tree was down, a large, angry crowd had gathered. The OPP attended to keep an eye on things. The mating pair that had been displaced also watched from some nearby trees. Over the next 48 hours, outrage spread across Ontario and beyond.

Read the rest of the story HERE

Source: http://www.hancockwildlife.org/article.php/HaldimandEaglesMoveIntoReplacementNests

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10 things you need to know today: May 18, 2013

An ousted IRS official testifies before Congress, Iraq experiences its deadliest day in eight months, and more

1. CONGRESS GRILLS IRS OFFICIAL
Congress heard testimony from Steven Miller, the acting IRS commissioner who was forced to resign by President Obama after it was revealed that the agency flagged Tea Party groups for extra scrutiny. Miller told the House Ways and Means Committee that while the agency's actions were "obnoxious," they weren't motivated by partisanship. [New York Times]
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2. BOMBS KILL 76 IN BAGHDAD
At least 76 people were killed by bombs in Sunni areas of Baghdad on Friday, a result of continuing tensions between the country's majority Shiites and minority Sunnis. It was the deadliest day in Iraq in eight months; the worst attack killed at least 41 and injured 56 outside a Sunni mosque. [Associated Press]
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SEE MORE: How Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. can be a success

3. CONSUMER SENTIMENT AT HIGHEST LEVEL IN NEARLY SIX YEARS
A new report showed that more consumers have a favorable view of their personal finances now than at any time since 2007. The index on consumer sentiment rose to 83.7, from 76.4 in April, beating expectations. Households in the upper third of income levels were the most optimistic about their financial situation. [Reuters]
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4. ARGENTINE DICTATOR JORGE RAFAEL VIDELA DIES
Jorge Rafael Videla, the military junta leader who presided over Argentina's "Dirty War" in the mid-1970s, died in a Buenos Aires prison on Friday. He was 87. Anywhere from 15,000 to 30,000 people were killed or "disappeared" by his regime. [New York Times]
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SEE MORE: Will Russia's advanced missiles prevent U.S. intervention in Syria?

5. TORONTO MAYOR ROB FORD DENIES SMOKING CRACK
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford told reporters that allegations that he was videotaped smoking crack cocaine were "absolutely not true" and "ridiculous." Reporters for The Toronto Star and Gawker both say they viewed the video. Owners of the video are trying to sell it to the media for $200,000. [Reuters]
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6. BILL GATES ONCE AGAIN WORLD'S RICHEST MAN
Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates reclaimed his position as the world's richest man, with a fortune valued at $72.7 billion. He beat out Mexican investor Carlos Slim, who lost $3 billion after Mexico's government passed a bill that hurt the market share of his telecom company America Movil. [Bloomberg]
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SEE MORE: Why the GOP dropped its boycott of Obama's Labor and EPA picks

7. THIEVES PULL OFF $1 MILLION JEWELRY HEIST IN CANNES
Around $1 million worth of jewelry was stolen when thieves ripped a safe from the wall of a Novotel hotel room located near the Cannes Film Festival. The room was being rented by an employee of Swiss watch and jewelry maker Chopard. French investigators say that the crime was probably well-planned and carried out by more than one person. [Associated Press]
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8. IDAHO MAN ARRESTED ON TERRORISM-RELATED CHARGES
Fazliddin Kurbanov, 30, pleaded not guilty in Boise, Idaho, to charges that he allegedly taught other Uzbek refugees how to build bombs meant to attack public transportation. It is unknown whether the alleged bombs were for domestic use or intended to aid militants in his native Uzbekistan. [Washington Post]
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SEE MORE: Party foul: Is PBR making cheap beers more expensive?

9. NEW YORK JETS RUNNING BACK ARRESTED
New York Jets running back Mike Goodson was arrested on drug possession and weapon charges by New Jersey state police. Goodson, 25, was found in the passenger seat of a GMC Yukon SUV carrying a small amount of marijuana. More marijuana and a loaded handgun were also found in the car. [ESPN]
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10. POWERBALL JACKPOT REACHES $600 MILLION
The jackpot for the 43-state Powerball lottery climbed to $600 million on Friday, its highest total ever. If nobody wins after the drawing on Saturday night, it could eclipse the $656 million Mega Millions jackpot from March 2012. [Los Angeles Times]

SEE MORE: WATCH: The grim full-length trailer for Dexter's final season

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Source: http://news.yahoo.com/10-things-know-today-may-18-2013-081400872.html

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Nadine Nohr Appointed Shine International CEO - The Hollywood ...

Shine Group has confirmed Nadine Nohr?as the CEO of Shine International on a permanent basis.

Nohr originally accepted the role on a yearlong basis in September 2012 and has been a consultant to Shine International since 2010, overseeing the relocation and restructure of Shine Group's global distribution company in 2011.

STORY: Nadine Nohr Named Interim CEO of Shine International as Camilla Hammer Leaves

Prior to joining Shine, Nohr had held a variety of roles within international distribution, including that of managing director of Granada International for 12 years.

Alex Mahon, CEO of Shine Group said: ?Nadine has been exceptional in her leadership of Shine International, and I am delighted that she has accepted our request to become the permanent CEO. She has been instrumental in the company?s recent successes, rapid growth and good health. I am tremendously excited for the times that lie ahead for Shine International with Nadine at the helm. She is a true master of the international sales business, and we are fortunate to have her experience.?

Nadine Nohr said: ?With such a dynamic team throughout Shine, brilliant third-party clients and a varied and quality catalog to bring to broadcasters I am thrilled about the many opportunities the future holds here.?

Source: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/nadine-nohr-appointed-shine-international-524556

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Syrian troops flush out rebels from prison

BEIRUT (AP) ? Syrian government troops on Thursday flushed out rebels who had stormed a prison compound in the northern city of Aleppo in a bid to free hundreds of political prisoners inside.

The forced retreat was the latest setback for fighters seeking to topple President Bashar Assad, whose forces have been gaining ground in the country's civil war.

In Washington, President Barack Obama and the Turkish prime minister projected a united front on Syria, despite sharp differences about how much the U.S. should intervene.

"There's no magic formula for dealing with an extraordinarily violent and difficult situation like Syria," Obama said at a joint news conference with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in which he pledged that the U.S. and Turkey would ramp up pressure to oust Assad from power.

Forces loyal to Assad have recently made advances in strategically important locations across the country, including in areas around the capital, Damascus, and in the country's south, near the border with Jordan.

The troops have been bolstered by the world's reluctance to take forceful action to intervene in the fighting, as well as the continued support from key allies, including Russia, Iran and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

Assad has also benefited from the rapid rise of al-Qaida-linked extremists among the rebels, which has raised alarm in the West. Militant groups, including Jabhat al-Nusra, which is designated a terrorist group by the United States, have emerged as one of the most potent fighting forces in the uprising against Assad.

A video emerged Thursday showing a Nusra Front commander killing 11 regime soldiers execution-style for alleged crimes they committed against the Syrian people.

Rami Abdul-Rahman, director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, whose group distributed the video, confirmed the killings took place late last year in eastern Deir el-Zour province and identified the Nusra commander as a Saudi known by the name Qusoura al-Jazrawi. He said the man was killed in March in battles with local gunmen in the tribal area.

The video shows the soldiers, blindfolded and kneeling in a row, as the masked commander shoots each one in the back of the head with what appears to be a pistol as other fighters shout "Allahu Akbar," or "''God is great."

"The Shariah court of Jabhat al-Nusra ... has sentenced to death these apostate soldiers that committed massacres against our brothers and families in Syria," the executioner says before firing at the men.

The video appeared authentic and consistent with AP reporting on the incident.

Thaer al-Deiri, an activist working with the Sham News Network in Deir el-Zour, said the execution-style killings occurred five months ago in a remote area in the western part of the province. It was not clear why the video only appeared Thursday, but al-Deiri said the Nusra Front apparently had released it.

Videos of executions and torture have become increasingly common in Syria's conflict, in which more than 70,000 people have been killed. Thursday's video follows a number of others purporting to show execution-style killings by rebels that have emerged in recent days in a war that largely plays out online due to the restrictions placed on journalists in Syria.

International rights groups have accused the rebels of routinely capturing and sometimes killing soldiers and suspected regime informers

Rebel abuses have increased in frequency and scale in recent months, according to a report by Amnesty International in March, which said the most common abuses on the rebel side are summary executions of those rebels suspected of being government soldiers.

The abuses by the Assad regime remain far more deadly, systematic and widespread, particularly attacks on civilians with imprecise battlefield weapons, including widely banned cluster bombs, rights group say.

On Thursday, the Obama administration added Jabhat al-Nusra leader Muhammad al-Jawlani to the U.S. terrorist backlist, along with four Syrian government ministers. Assets they have in the U.S. are blocked and Americans are prohibited from doing business with them.

Meanwhile, activists said the rebels were forced to retreat from the prison in Aleppo a day after they broke into the sprawling facility by setting off two simultaneous car bombs before dawn. By nightfall, the rebels had not dislodged regime forces or freed some 4,000 prisoners held inside.

The Observatory said Syrian warplanes bombarded areas around the prison causing casualties among rebels. State news agency SANA denied opposition fighters entered the prison compound, saying regime troops had repelled the attack.

But activists said fighting near the prison continued with rebels firing locally-made rockets at regime forces inside the facility late Thursday.

Also Thursday, four people were killed and 25 others wounded by mortar shells that struck residential areas in the town of Jaramana near Damascus, the state-run news agency said.

In Washington, Erdogan was looking for stepped-up action on Syria as he met with Obama just days after a twin car bombing killed 51 people on the Turkish side of the two countries' common border. Turkey blamed Syrian intelligence for the attacks.

The bombings Sunday in the border town of Reyhanli were the biggest incident of cross-border violence since the start of Syria's bloody civil war, raising fears of Turkey being pulled deeper into a conflict that threatens to destabilize the region.

But the Obama administration remains reluctant to take the kind of action Turkey would like to see, including establishing a no-fly zone in Syria.

The only way to resolve the crisis is for Assad to hand over power to a transitional government, Obama said.

"We both agree that Assad needs to go," the U.S. president said.

____

Associated Press writer Desmond Butler in Washington contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/syrian-troops-flush-rebels-prison-222354801.html

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Google Glass 'prescription edition' makes a cameo at Google I/O

Google I/O is always full of surprises, and we came across yet another elusive bit of hardware on the show floor today: Google Glass "prescription edition". No, it's not actually called that (we made up the name), but what you're looking at is definitely Glass that's been neatly integrated with a pair of prescription glasses -- in fact, it looks a lot like the version of Glass that Google recently mentioned on its blog. We don't really know anything else about this device, but we've reached out to Google for comment. Is this a custom design built by combining Google Glass Explorer Edition with off-the shelf eyewear? Is this a Glass prototype that's designed specifically for people who wear prescription spectacles? Share your thoughts in the comments and don't forget to check out the gallery below.

Update: Google's confirmed it's a prototype the company's experimented with that uses the same software as the Explorer Edition but slightly different hardware on the outside.

Gallery: Google Glass 'prescription edition' at Google I/O

Brad Molen contributed to this report.

Filed under: Wearables, Mobile, Google

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