The world's top billionaires 2012 - global wealth - MSN Money

The world's top billionaires 2012 - global wealth - MSN Money: "2012: New records, new trends
Forbes's first annual list of the world's billionaires, published a quarter-century ago, had 140 names. This year, a record 1,226 billionaires made the list, with a combined net worth of $4.6 trillion, also a record and up from $4.5 trillion in 2011.

Innovation, strong consumer brands and a rebounding U.S. stock market helped produce 128 newcomers to this year's list and brought 17 former members back into the billionaire ranks. Falling stock markets, particularly in China and Russia, were mainly responsible for knocking out 117 individuals."

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A Mother’s Prayer

A Mother’s Prayer: "Denpasar, 8 Maret 2012

A Mother’s Prayer, Please Dream With Me
Standing in the end of the cliff,
Mesmerizing deep in my heart,
Wanting to feel your love,
Needing your lovely smile…

I pray you’ll be our eyes
And watch us where we go
And help us to be wise
In times when we don’t know…"

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Pergeseran dan Credit Union... - KOMPAS.com

Pergeseran dan Credit Union... - KOMPAS.com: " Tidak selalu mudah menuju Agats, ibu kota Kabupaten Asmat, Provinsi Papua. Jadwal pesawat dari Merauke dan Timika kerap berubah, entah karena cuaca, atau memang tak terjadwal. Apalagi saat ini, ketika pasokan avtur di Bandara Moses Kilangin, Timika, terhenti menyusul penutupan jalur distribusi bahan bakar ke pelabuhan oleh pekerja PT Freeport Indonesia.

    Sempat muncul ingatan tentang Agats beberapa tahun silam, dari foto-foto yang seorang kerabat kirimkan. Tentang rumah-rumah panggung dan jalan-jalan di kota itu yang seperti jembatan tanpa ujung. Tentang perahu-perahu dari batang kayu yang digunakan warganya menyusuri sungai-sungai kecil di antara belantara bakau dan hutan sagu."

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Way Kambas, Cinta, dan Elegi Gajah Sumatera - KOMPAS.com

Way Kambas, Cinta, dan Elegi Gajah Sumatera - KOMPAS.com: "Hubungan batin manusia dan gajah di Way Kambas melintasi batas rasional. Masyarakat setempat mengultuskan gajah dengan menyebutnya ”si mbah”. Mereka juga meyakini, berkat dan musibah yang menghampiri kehidupan manusia bergantung pada relasi tersebut.

Suyuti (56), sekretaris forum rembuk desa penyangga Taman Nasional Way Kambas, Lampung Timur, Provinsi Lampung, merasakan kedekatan hubungan warga setempat dengan gajah sumatera (Elephas maximus sumatranus). Ia pernah melihat seorang warga melaporkan kehadiran gajah di sekitar desa, ”Pak Lurah, Si Mbah keluar dari hutan.”"

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Teh Rakyat, Secercah Harapan Petani Kecil - KOMPAS.com

Teh Rakyat, Secercah Harapan Petani Kecil - KOMPAS.com: " Tumpukan 2.000 bibit teh di tepi kebun Rahmat Mufaroz (59) di Desa Babakan, Kecamatan Wanayasa, Kabupaten Purwakarta, Jawa Barat, Selasa (20/12) pagi, bisa jadi pertanda baik. Setelah bertahun-tahun terpuruk, petani teh seolah mendapat kesempatan untuk bangkit. Inilah harapan di ujung senja.
    Kenaikan harga pucuk daun teh basah—rata-rata kurang dari Rp 1.200 per kilogram (kg) sebelum tahun 2010 menjadi Rp 1.700-2.500 per kg tahun ini—menjadi kabar gembira bagi Rahmat dan petani teh lainnya. Situasi yang jarang terjadi sejak tahun 2001.
"

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10 Kuda Lebih Berharga daripada 100 Sapi - KOMPAS.com

10 Kuda Lebih Berharga daripada 100 Sapi - KOMPAS.com: "  Kuda adalah simbol Sumba. Selain peran lazimnya, kuda terkait kepercayaan tua, Marapu. Di Sumba Timur, satu dari empat kabupaten di Pulau Sumba, Nusa Tenggara Timur, gambar kuda menjadi lambang kabupaten itu. Di luar itu, beternak kuda kini menjadi peluang usaha yang menjanjikan karena turunan kuda pacunya berharga puluhan hingga ratusan juta rupiah!

    Rata-rata masyarakatnya masih berkeyakinan kuat bahwa kuda adalah hewan tunggangan arwah menuju alam baka, atau ketika kembali secara mistis menemui lingkungan keluarganya yang masih di bumi. Itulah alasan kenapa ketika maramba atau bangsawan meninggal, kuda kesayangannya pasti dibunuh. Ada pula kuda yang pada saat yang sama mati sendiri tanpa dibunuh, semata-mata karena ikatan batin dengan tuannya. "

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Electric Cars: The Very Latest Thing For Sci-Fi Shows On TV

Electric Cars: The Very Latest Thing For Sci-Fi Shows On TV: "Science fiction used to be all about the flying car, but nowadays that idea has fallen out of favor.

In its place, we've recently seen an influx of electric cars on our screens. Below we look at four examples of ongoing sci-fi shows that feature electric cars.

If you want some evening viewing that features plug-in cars, you could do worse than one of the following.
"

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Nissan Leaf batteries could be recycled for power grid backup | The Tennessean | tennessean.com

Nissan Leaf batteries could be recycled for power grid backup | The Tennessean | tennessean.com: "Nissan has joined forces with three energy-technology companies to develop a way to use retired lithium-ion battery packs from electric vehicles to store electricity from the public power grid during off-peak hours, and then make it available for use when electricity use is heavy, such as hot summer afternoons.

Franklin-based Nissan North America Inc. said Wednesday that the technology it will explore with the energy companies would allow batteries from its Leaf electric cars to be converted to backup power sources for residential and commercial use after they are removed from the cars."

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The First Nissan LEAF Arrives at Porreco Nissan in Erie, PA

The First Nissan LEAF Arrives at Porreco Nissan in Erie, PA: "Erie, PA -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/24/2012 -- The 2012 Nissan LEAF electric car has finally arrived at Porreco Nissan, and the Erie, PA dealership could not be more excited. The 2012 LEAF is offering their customers the first 100% electric car that offers owners great comfort, safety, and fuel economy.

Drivers will enjoy the exceptional fuel economy of the 2012 Nissan LEAF and zero trips to the gas station. In the city, this all-electric car can achieve up to 106 MPG. On the highway, it can achieve up to 92 MPG. Powering the 2012 LEAF is an 80-kilowatt electric motor and a 24kWh Lithium-Ion battery. Increasing the car’s fuel economy is its aerodynamic LED headlights, underbody and rear diffuser. The LEAF offers owners a great fuel efficient vehicle with zero emissions."

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Stepping stone to the future | The Manila Bulletin Newspaper Online

Stepping stone to the future | The Manila Bulletin Newspaper Online: "MANILA, Philippines — Though the Nissan Leaf isn’t sold in the Philippines, it is quickly gaining popularity in First World countries. Over 15,000 units of the Leaf have found their way to satisfied owners in Japan, the US and a number of European countries. Not bad for an all-electric vehicle designed and built for the mass market. Here are a few things that every car enthusiast should know about the Leaf, and why Nissan believes that all-electric cars are the way of the future.

Battery range anxiety"

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Meet the five worst-selling vehicles of 2011

Meet the five worst-selling vehicles of 2011: "Here's an interesting exercise: the five worst-selling cars of the year.

Autoblog undertook the task and actually made it the 10 biggest sales dogs, but we pared it down into more of a Chihuahua size by taking the pithy five worst. Still, it's worth taking a look at the whole list."

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Buyers reject Chevrolet Volt's cost; Nissan Leaf's looks

Buyers reject Chevrolet Volt's cost; Nissan Leaf's looks: "Despite their small share of total vehicle sales, the Chevrolet Volt, Nissan Leaf and Toyota Prius garner a lot of attention from new-car shoppers, according to J.D. Power and Associates' 2012 Avoider Study, which loloked at the reason that people didn't buy a particular model.

The study finds that gas mileage is the most important attribute shoppers are looking at now, surpassing older key reasons such as exterior styling, reliability and price.

That puts the Volt, Prius and Leaf in a good position as each are among the most fuel-efficient cars in the country."

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Newsvine - Grover Norquist: impeach President Obama if he doesn't extend tax cuts for the rich

Newsvine - Grover Norquist: impeach President Obama if he doesn't extend tax cuts for the rich: "As screwed up as things are in Congress right now, it’s natural that nobody much wants to contemplate how much more screwed up things might be after the November elections unless one party or the other emerges with united control and something of a mandate. So it was interesting to read an interview Nancy Cook of National Journal conducted with everybody’s favorite right-wing commissar, power-broker and demagogue, Grover Norquist of Americans for Tax Reform, about post-election scenarios:"

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Rebels in Sudan capture 29 Chinese workers after militant attack – USATODAY.com

Rebels in Sudan capture 29 Chinese workers after militant attack – USATODAY.com: "BEIJING (AP) – Militants apparently captured 29 Chinese workers after attacking a remote worksite in a volatile region of Sudan, and Sudanese forces were increasing security for Chinese projects and personnel there, China said Sunday."

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Syria: Arab monitor pullout aims to influe... JPost - Middle East

Syria: Arab monitor pullout aims to influe... JPost - Middle East: "BEIRUT - Syria said the Arab League's suspension of its monitoring mission in the country was an attempt to influence the United Nations Security Council and increase pressure for foreign intervention, state television said on Saturday.

"This will have a negative impact and put pressure on (Security Council) deliberations with the aim of calling for foreign intervention and encouraging armed groups to increase violence," a news flash on Syria Television said."

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In Battle for Autonomy, Kachin Come Under Siege in Myanmar - Photographs - NYTimes.com

In Battle for Autonomy, Kachin Come Under Siege in Myanmar - Photographs - NYTimes.com: "At least 10,000 displaced people live in camps in areas controlled by the Burmese government. An ethnic civil war has intensified in northern Myanmar. Thousands have been displaced by the fighting between Kachin fighters and the Burmese military. "

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Failed Mutiny Highlights the Schism in Papua New Guinea - NYTimes.com

Failed Mutiny Highlights the Schism in Papua New Guinea - NYTimes.com: "SYDNEY — A mutiny in Papua New Guinea by a group of soldiers loyal to the country’s ousted leader has failed, Prime Minister Peter O’Neill declared less than a day after the uprising began."

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Chinese Crack Down to Curb Spread of Tibetan Unrest - NYTimes.com

Chinese Crack Down to Curb Spread of Tibetan Unrest - NYTimes.com: "CHENGDU, China — This regional metropolis is roughly 200 miles from the wave of protest by ethnic Tibetans that is sweeping the towering mountains of western Sichuan Province. But take a stroll through Chengdu’s Tibetan quarter, and the tensions generated by the distant unrest become palpable."

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Iran Says It Could Terminate European Oil Sales Next Week - NYTimes.com

Iran Says It Could Terminate European Oil Sales Next Week - NYTimes.com: "Escalating retaliatory threats over the West’s nuclear sanctions, Iran warned on Friday that it could terminate oil sales to Europe as early as next week, and it bluntly advised Arab oil producers that any attempt by them to replace Iranian exports would be considered unfriendly."

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Intel Science Talent Search Names Top 40 Finalists - Science News

Intel Science Talent Search Names Top 40 Finalists - Science News: "Forty science-minded teens have made it to the final round of the nation’s longest-running precollege science competition. As finalists in this year’s Intel Science Talent Search, a program of Society for Science & the Public, the students are now vying for $630,000 in awards, including a top award of $100,000 from the Intel Foundation.

In March, the young researchers will travel to Washington, D.C., to meet with respected scientists and present their research projects to the public and a group of judges. One finalist developed a needle-free diabetes monitoring system. Others created flame retardants made of biodegradable plastic, studied how children with Down syndrome perceive themselves and worked on new ways to protect satellite communications."

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(Fiksiono) Code Rahasia ala Indonesia

(Fiksiono) Code Rahasia ala Indonesia: "Di Bawah Naungan Langit Yang Indah, 25 Januari 2012

One love….that one is you…..
She said so passionately….
So lovely indeed,
mesmerized and hypnotized….

She used the secret code,
Code that meaning the opposite,
It’s meant despise
It’s meant don’t mean it."

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Bukan Airmata, Tetapi Kail yang Akan Ku Wariskan

Bukan Airmata, Tetapi Kail yang Akan Ku Wariskan: "(FIKSIONO)

Di Bawah Naungan Langit Yang Mendung, 25 Januari 2012

Bukan Airmata, anak ku
Bukan segunung kehacuran bangsa,
Bukan segentong janji palsu,
Bukan juga sesamudera hutang.
Kekecewaan melanda negeri,
Kelaliman menjadi tingkah laku yang wajar,
Kebejatan membuat hari semakin sulit,
Sulit untuk menahan airmata."

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I Knew It Was Love

I Knew It Was Love: "(FIKSIONO)

Di Tepi Pantai Amurang, 25 Januari 2012

Malam telah tiba,
Perlahan Menerawang,
Membuat musim hujan semakin syahdu,
Membawa Kerinduan.

Tangisan anak anak yang terbuang,
Yang menempel di hati pikiran,
Yang menikam telinga insan
Kasih itu yang telah tiada

Tidak akan kembali,
Tidak akan berputar lagi,
Semua telah sirna,
Demikian juga samar wajah nya."

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The Associated Press: US redefines rape to count more people as victims

The Associated Press: US redefines rape to count more people as victims: "WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration says it is expanding the FBI's more than eight-decade-old definition of rape to reflect a better understanding of the crime and to broaden protections.
The new definition counts men as victims for the first time and drops the requirement that victims must have physically resisted their attackers.
Vice President Joe Biden, author of the Violence Against Women Act when he was in the Senate, said the new definition announced Friday is a victory for women and men "whose suffering has gone unaccounted for over 80 years." Calling rape a "devastating crime," the vice president said, "We can't solve it unless we know the full extent of it."
The change will increase the number of people counted as rape victims in FBI statistics but will not will not change federal or state laws or alter charges or prosecutions. It's an important shift because lawmakers and policymakers use crime statistics to allocate money and other resources for prevention and victim assistance."

The White House said the expanded definition has been long awaited as many states and research groups made similar changes in their definitions of rape over recent decades.

Since 1929, the FBI has defined rape as the carnal knowledge of a female, forcibly and against her will. The revised definition covers any gender of victim or attacker and includes instances in which the victim is incapable of giving consent because of the influence of drugs or alcohol or because of age. Physical resistance is not required. The Justice Department said the new definition mirrors the majority of state rape statutes now on the books.

Congress approved $592 million this year to address violence against women, including sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking, under the Violence Against Women Act and Family Violence Prevention and Services Act. Of that amount, $23 million goes to a sexual assault services program and $39 million to a rape prevention and education program administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Obama administration had sought $777 million to combat violence against women.

The change likely will result in big increases in the number of reported rapes, but it was not immediately clear how big. To take just one example of how the FBI totals will change, Chicago didn't report any rapes to the FBI for 2010 because its broad definition of the crime didn't match the FBI's narrow definition.

The change has been sought by women's groups for more than a decade.

The Women's Law Project, on behalf of more than 80 sexual assault coalitions and national organizations concerned about violence against women, wrote FBI Director Robert Mueller in 2001 that the narrow definition reflected gender-based stereotypes and requested it be changed.

Using the old definition, a total of 84,767 rapes were reported nationwide in 2010, according to the FBI's uniform crime report based on data from 18,000 law enforcement agencies.

Nearly 1 in 5 women and 1 in 71 men in the U.S. have been raped at some time in their lives, according to a 2010 survey by the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which used a broader definition.

The revised FBI definition says that rape is "the penetration, no matter how slight, of the vagina or anus with any body part or object," without the consent of the victim. Also constituting rape under the new definition is "oral penetration by a sex organ of another person" without consent.

Copyright © 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

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Cuan Di Xia‏, Desa Kuno Dinasti Ming di Pinggiran Beijing

Cuan Di Xia‏, Desa Kuno Dinasti Ming di Pinggiran Beijing: "Setiap bulan pihak pengelola gedung apartemen di mana kami sementara tinggal selalu mengadakan kegiatan bersama. Aktifitas kali ini adalah mengunjungi desa kuno yang letaknya sekitar 90 km dari Beijing. Hari Sabtu, tepat pukul 9 pagi kami memulai perjalanan dengan menggunakan mini bus yang memuat sekitar 20 orang penumpang. Waktu tempuh hingga tiba di tempat tujuan sekitar 3 jam, cukup lama juga. Mulanya aku pikir pak supir salah mengambil rute jalan, tapi memang keadaan jalan yang tidak memungkinkan lebih cepat dari itu."

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Burma approves Suu Kyi's party for election - CBS News

Burma approves Suu Kyi's party for election - CBS News: "(AP) YANGON, Myanmar - Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi said Burma's government on Thursday approved her National League for Democracy to run in upcoming by-elections.
Suu Kyi declined to say yet if she herself will stand in the election when pressed on the issue, but party spokesman Nyan Win said Suu Kyi intends to run.

The highly anticipated by-election set for April 1 will return Suu Kyi's party to mainstream politics after two decades. In 1991 elections, the then-ruling junta refused to accept a NLD victory, and the party boycotted general elections in 2010 because of restrictions that among other things would have prevented Suu Kyi from running.

That vote lead to a nominally civilian government being installed in March 2011 that has eased restrictions on politics and other matters, and leaders have begun engaging Suu Kyi.

She and Nyan Win spoke to The Associated Press in an interview at the Nobel laureate's residence Thursday."

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Somalia News: Ethiopia rejoins the war

Somalia News: Ethiopia rejoins the war: "NAIROBI, Kenya — Ethiopia has (again) joined the fray in Somalia.

Many see Ethiopia's latest fight against Somalia's Al Shabaab as a resumption of a centuries-old struggle.

When I spoke to Somalia's Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohammed Ali in his fortified Mogadishu residence last month he dismissed any chat about "traditional enmity" between Christian Ethiopia and Muslim Somalia, countries which have long fought over the Ogaden region and much else.

Reuters' correspondent Barry Malone (@malonebarry) has a handy backgrounder on the prime minister's historical myopia, including the following:"

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Newsvine - 2011: year of self-immolations | GlobalPost

Newsvine - 2011: year of self-immolations | GlobalPost: "JAKARTA, Indonesia — When news broke here in early December that a young Indonesian student had doused himself in gasoline, lit a match and ran flaming toward the presidential palace, Indonesians reacted with shock and confusion.

An outpouring of supporters set up vigil at the hospital where he clung to life, as speculation swirled about why the man had set himself alight.

Those who knew him say he actively participated in rallies and demonstrations against the government, and they believe his act was one of protest. If so, his would be the first self-immolation in Indonesia, a country where protesters are more often polite and peaceful than rambunctious, even in large numbers.

On Dec. 10 the student, Sondang Hutagalung, died from extensive burn wounds, seemingly the latest victim of an extreme form of protest that has captivated the world in 2011."

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Newsvine - The roots of Egypt's rage

Newsvine - The roots of Egypt's rage: "CAIRO – In the autumn of the Arab Spring, Egyptians fear they’re losing their revolution.

That is, if it ever really was a revolution.

As the country braces for next week’s scheduled election, people from the urban sprawl of Cairo to the rural reaches of Upper Egypt are left wondering if the so-called “January 25 Revolution” wasn’t actually a popularly supported military coup.

The events of the last four days have proven how difficult it will be for the ruling military council to relinquish its power and permit what Egyptians hope will be the first free and fair elections in Egypt in more than 60 years of military-backed autocratic rule."

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Newsvine - Against all odds: 'Virginity test' victim awaits her verdict

Newsvine - Against all odds: 'Virginity test' victim awaits her verdict: "CAIRO — Samira Ibrahim, who pursued legal action against the Egyptian military for allegedly forcing her to undergo a ‘virginity test,’ anxiously awaits the verdict of the State Council on November 29.

Five human rights organizations are supporting her case against the military and the case garnered interest in the international media. Her case could break new ground for women’s rights, but Ibrahim has been warned by her own lawyers that it is an uphill battle and that there is little in the way of physical evidence.

Still, Ibrahim remains persistent in her fight to make sure no Egyptian woman will be coerced by the army to go through ‘virginity testing,‘ which her lawyers argue constitutes an unlawful sexual assault under both Egyptian and International law.

“I know the odds are against me,” Ibrahim admits."

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Consumers use do-not-track software – USATODAY.com

Consumers use do-not-track software – USATODAY.com: " the goal of newcomer Abine, supplier of Do Not Track Plus, is to make anti-tracking as common as anti-virus for personal computing devices, says CEO Bill Kerrigan, who formerly headed anti-virus giant McAfee's global consumer business.
Abine projects the number of Internet users in North America using anti-tracking tools and services will be 28.1 million by the end of 2012, up from 17.2 million today. "We want to drive the next level of adoption," Kerrigan says. "No one is suggesting don't use Facebook or Google. At the same time, we are suggesting there is a better way for consumers to experience those type of products without necessarily being tracked at every step they take in their digital life.""

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Travel destinations to watch in 2012 - USATODAY.com

Travel destinations to watch in 2012 - USATODAY.com: "The world is big and the travel possibilities nearly endless. So each December, we look ahead and highlight destinations that will shine in the coming year. From a country that's looking to host the world in 2012 to a region celebrating the end of the world as we know it, these hot spots are worth a look when planning your travel adventures in the new year."

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Ask the Captain: Why cargo loading is so important for safety - USATODAY.com

Ask the Captain: Why cargo loading is so important for safety - USATODAY.com: "Question: In the 1970s I worked for an airline which had a staff specially trained for making the trim sheet (loading measurements and instructions). They would then direct how passengers and cargo were to be loaded for balance. Is that practice followed today?"

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2012 has first meteor shower – USATODAY.com

2012 has first meteor shower – USATODAY.com: "The Quadrantids, named for a now-extinct constellation, will be visible for two hours early Wednesday, from about 3 to 5 a.m. local times.
The shower is likely to produce up to 100 falling stars an hour, making for a good show. People across North America who stay up late enough, and who have a clear sky, should get a nice view, says Conrad Jung, an astronomer at Chabot Space and Science Center in Oakland."

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LG will show off 84-inch 4k LCD 3D HDTV at CES 2012 | ZDNet

LG will show off 84-inch 4k LCD 3D HDTV at CES 2012 | ZDNet: "LG sure has a big show in store for CES next month. First, the company announced that it will exhibit its long-awaited 55-inch OLED TV, and next it has disclosed that it will also display an 84-inch 3D LCD that features 4k resolution.

Granted, some will quibble that 3,840×2,160 HDTV isn’t technically “4k,” though that might be the least of the issues with the short-term commercial viability of such a set. There’s little compatible content, though LG is hyping its 3D functionality — “the most convincing 3D viewing experience currently available outside of a movie theater” — since no TV channels in the U.S. show anywhere close to 4k resolution with their programming. As for the cost: if analysts are estimating $8,000 for the 55-inch OLED, you can probably assume a price in the same ballpark for a huge 4k set."

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Fars News Agency :: Leader Confident About Iran's Future Victories against Enemy

Fars News Agency :: Leader Confident About Iran's Future Victories against Enemy: "TEHRAN (FNA)- Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei expressed confidence about the Iranian nation's victory over enemies' plots and pressures."

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BBC News - Why the White House is not on the war path over Iran

BBC News - Why the White House is not on the war path over Iran: "The US is going to press for new economic sanctions against Iran, this time after the latest UN report on Iran's nuclear plans.

Senior officials say they will try to "ratchet up the pressure" on Iran, making it more expensive to do business in that country, with the aim of hurting its economy.

But what they are not doing is more important. The White House is not dusting off any military plans.

When I asked an official about the military option, he said that nothing was off the table but there was "plenty of space" to build more pressure through sanctions. Iran had to demonstrate to the world that its nuclear programme was peaceful, he said."

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BBC News - Q&A: Iran sanctions

BBC News - Q&A: Iran sanctions: "Fresh sanctions have been agreed against Iran at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels, as international pressure on Iran over its nuclear programme intensifies.

What international sanctions are already in place on Iran?

The UN ratified four rounds of sanctions against Iran between 2006 and 2010 in reaction to its failure to halt uranium enrichment and co-operate with the International Atomic Energy Association (IAEA) over its nuclear programme. These sanctions include a ban on the supply of heavy weaponry and nuclear-related technology to Iran, a block on Iranian arms exports, and an asset freeze on key individuals and companies. Resolution 1929, passed in 2010, mandates cargo inspections to detect and stop Iran's acquisition of illicit materials."

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BBC News - Iran nuclear crisis: France wants 'stricter' sanctions

BBC News - Iran nuclear crisis: France wants 'stricter' sanctions: ""We want the Europeans to take a similar step by January 30 to show our determination," he said.

The UN Security Council has already passed four rounds of sanctions against Iran for refusing to halt uranium enrichment.

Highly enriched uranium can be processed into nuclear weapons."

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New Super-speed Train - KOMPAS.com

New Super-speed Train - KOMPAS.com: "KOMPAS.com - China has produced a super-rapid test train capable of travelling at speeds of up to 300 miles per hour - 100mph faster than the current record-holder.

The train, made from plastic materials reinforced with carbon fibre, is designed to resemble an ancient Chinese sword and 'will provide useful reference for current high-speed railway operations', according to train expert Shen Zhiyun.

Earlier this year, the Communist regime unveiled its fastest operational locomotive which was able to cover the 824-mile trip between Beijing and Shanghai in five hours - reaching record-breaking top speed of 200mph and maintaining an average speed of 165mph. "

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