Virtual reality, goggles and all, attempts return

FILE - In this March 25, 2009 file photo, Video game enthusiasts attend the Game Developers Conference, in San Francisco. The schedule for the 2013 GDC held March 25-29, illustrates the dramatic changes that have reshaped the gaming industry in recent years, an evolution that's as much about business models as it is about pixels. GDC organizers have added a summit on free-to-play games, planned talks on topics like crowd funding and micro-transactions and coordinated panels with such titles as "Making Money with Mobile Gaming" and "Why Won't FarmVille Go Away?" (AP Photo/Ben Margo, Filet)

FILE - In this March 25, 2009 file photo, Video game enthusiasts attend the Game Developers Conference, in San Francisco. The schedule for the 2013 GDC held March 25-29, illustrates the dramatic changes that have reshaped the gaming industry in recent years, an evolution that's as much about business models as it is about pixels. GDC organizers have added a summit on free-to-play games, planned talks on topics like crowd funding and micro-transactions and coordinated panels with such titles as "Making Money with Mobile Gaming" and "Why Won't FarmVille Go Away?" (AP Photo/Ben Margo, Filet)

FILE - In this March 25, 2009 file photo, Video game enthusiasts attend the Game Developers Conference, in San Francisco. The schedule for the 2013 GDC held March 25-29, illustrates the dramatic changes that have reshaped the gaming industry in recent years, an evolution that's as much about business models as it is about pixels. GDC organizers have added a summit on free-to-play games, planned talks on topics like crowd funding and micro-transactions and coordinated panels with such titles as "Making Money with Mobile Gaming" and "Why Won't FarmVille Go Away?" (AP Photo/Ben Margot, File)

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) ? It's back.

The virtual reality headset, the gizmo that was supposed to seamlessly transport wearers to three-dimensional virtual worlds, has made a remarkable return at this year's Game Developers Conference, an annual gathering of video game makers in San Francisco.

After drumming up hype over the past year and banking $2.4 million from crowdfunding, the Irvine, Calif.-based company Oculus VR captured the conference's attention this week with the Oculus Rift, its VR headset that's more like a pair of ski goggles than those bulky gaming helmets of the 1990s that usually left users with headaches.

"Developers who start working on VR games now are going to be able to do cool things," said Oculus VR founder Palmer Luckey. "This is the first time when the technology, software, community and rendering power is all really there."

While VR technology has successfully been employed in recent years for military and medical training purposes, it's been too expensive, clunky or just plain bad for most at-home gamers. Oculus VR's headset is armed with stereoscopic 3-D, low-latency head tracking and a 110-degree field of view, and the company expects it to cost just a few hundred bucks.

A line at the conference snaked around the expo floor with attendees waiting for a chance to plop the glasses on their head and play a few minutes of "Hawken," an upcoming first-person shooter that puts players inside levitating war machines.

Attendance was also at capacity for a Thursday talk called "Virtual Reality: The Holy Grail of Gaming" led by Luckey. When he asked the crowd who'd ordered development prototypes of the technology, dozens of hands shot into the air.

"There's been a lot of promise over several decades with the VR helmet idea, but I think a lot of us feel like Oculus and other devices like it are starting to get it right," said Simon Carless, executive vice president at UBM Tech Game Network, which organizes the Game Developers Conference. "We may have a competitive and interesting-to-use device, which you could strap to your head and have really immersive gaming as a result."

Sony and Microsoft are reportedly working on similar peripherals, as are other companies. Luckey contends that the innovations Nintendo made with its Wii U, Sony is planning with its upcoming PlayStation 4 and Microsoft is likely tinkering with for its successor to the Xbox 360 don't seem like enough.

"We're seeing better graphics and social networks, but those aren't things that are going to fundamentally change the kind of experiences that gamers can have," said Luckey.

A growing list of high-profile game makers have sung the device's praises, including Atari founder Nolan Bushnell, "Minecraft" mastermind Markus Peterson, id Software's John Carmack, "Gears of War" chief Cliff Bleszinski and Valve boss Gabe Newell.

Valve is planning to release a VR version of its first-person shooter "Team Fortress 2" for the Rift, but Luckey is hoping that designers in attendance at this week's conference begin creating games especially for the doodad.

"The doors are already open," noted Luckey. "People are already telling us things they want to do with the Rift that they can't do with traditional games."

Luckey said prototype versions of the technology are being distributed to developers now, and he anticipates releasing a version for consumers by next year.

___

Online:

http://www.oculusvr.com

___

Follow AP Entertainment Writer Derrik J. Lang on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/derrikjlang.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/495d344a0d10421e9baa8ee77029cfbd/Article_2013-03-29-Games-Virtual%20Reality-Oculus/id-a74d4edea71b4a3abda0ca6c1d7055fe

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Children with sleep apnea have higher risk of behavioral, adaptive and learning problems

Mar. 29, 2013 ? A new study found that obstructive sleep apnea, a common form of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), is associated with increased rates of ADHD-like behavioral problems in children as well as other adaptive and learning problems.

"This study provides some helpful information for medical professionals consulting with parents about treatment options for children with SDB that, although it may remit, there are considerable behavioral risks associated with continued SDB," said Michelle Perfect, PhD, the study's lead author and assistant professor in the school psychology program in the department of disability and psychoeducational studies at the University of Arizona in Tucson. "School personnel should also consider the possibility that SDB contributes to difficulties with hyperactivity, learning and behavioral and emotional dysregulation in the classroom."

The five-year study, which appears in the April issue of the journal SLEEP, utilized data from a longitudinal cohort, the Tucson Children's Assessment of Sleep Apnea Study (TuCASA). The TuCASA study prospectively examined Hispanic and Caucasian children between 6 and 11 years of age to determine the prevalence and incidence of SDB and its effects on neurobehavioral functioning. The study involved 263 children who completed an overnight sleep study and a neurobehavioral battery of assessments that included parent and youth reported rating scales.

Results show that 23 children had incident sleep apnea that developed during the study period, and 21 children had persistent sleep apnea throughout the entire study. Another 41 children who initially had sleep apnea no longer had breathing problems during sleep at the five-year follow-up.

The odds of having behavioral problems were four to five times higher in children with incident sleep apnea and six times higher in children who had persistent sleep apnea. Compared to youth who never had SDB, children with sleep apnea were more likely to have parent-reported problems in the areas of hyperactivity, attention, disruptive behaviors, communication, social competency and self-care. Children with persistent sleep apnea also were seven times more likely to have parent-reported learning problems and three times more likely to have school grades of C or lower.

The authors report that this is the first sleep-related study to use a standardized questionnaire to assess adaptive functioning in typically developing youth with and without SDB.

"Even though SDB appears to decline into adolescence, taking a wait and see approach is risky and families and clinicians alike should identify potential treatments," said Perfect.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

---

Journal Reference:

1. Michelle M. Perfect, Kristen Archbold, James L. Goodwin, Deborah Levine-Donnerstein, Stuart F. Quan. Risk of Behavioral and Adaptive Functioning Difficulties in Youth with Previous and Current Sleep Disordered Breathing. SLEEP, 2013; DOI: 10.5665/sleep.2536

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/mind_brain/child_development/~3/ixobQhrv17k/130329161243.htm

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S&P 500 moves above its record high, keeps going

NEW YORK (AP) ? There goes another stock market record.

The Standard & Poor's 500 crossed into record territory Thursday morning, beating the closing high it set in pre-financial crisis days. Three weeks earlier, the Dow Jones industrial average beat its own 2007 record.

The S&P 500, a barometer that investors use to gauge how the market is performing, edged above the Oct. 9, 2007, record close of 1,565 about an hour into trading. At midday it was still holding on to the record, trading at 1,567. That was up four points from the day before, a small increase but notable for the milestone it obliterated.

Investors will be waiting until the end of trading, at 4 p.m. EDT, to see if the index can hold on to the record. Their reactions were more guarded than celebratory. Even as the S&P touched new milestones, investors noted that the U.S. economy's footing is still uncertain, and the European debt crisis still far from resolved. Some also are concerned that the gains are being artificially fueled by the Federal Reserve's easy money policy.

"Getting back to where we were is an important step," said Howard Silverblatt, senior index analyst at S&P Dow Jones Indices. But, he cautioned in a note to investors: "Markets are volatile, and if you are a long-term investor you should expect declines."

For most of this year, the stock market has zoomed ahead. A mixed performance over the last two weeks, thanks to the bailout of cash-strapped Cyprus, has been more the exception than the rule. Thursday marks the end of first-quarter trading, as markets will be closed for the Good Friday holiday. The Dow is up 11 percent for the three-month period, the best performance in more than a year. Last year, it lost ground in two quarters and was up 4 percent and 8 percent in the other two.

On Thursday, though, news about the U.S. economy and the European debt crisis was far from decisive. For every sign that things were improving, another said it wasn't.

The government reported that the U.S. economy grew faster than first estimated in the fourth quarter. But the growth, an annual rate of 0.4 percent, was still anemic. The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits jumped for the second straight week. On a longer time frame, though, jobless claims have been declining since November.

Investors are also uncertain of what to make of the continuing debt crisis in Europe. Portugal reported that its budget deficit widened. In Cyprus, banks reopened for the first time in nearly two weeks, after closing because the government was worried that depositors would make panicked withdrawals. The country reached a deal late Sunday for bailout loans from other European countries.

Like the Dow record three weeks ago, the S&P record reminded investors of a headier time. The last time the S&P closed above 1,565, in the fall of 2007, was back before the financial crisis imploded. October 2007 was pre-bailouts, pre-Great Recession, back when jobs were much easier to come by. Bear Stearns still existed. So did Lehman Brothers, Wachovia and Washington Mutual.

But by March 2009, long after the subprime mortgage market had been revealed as an unsustainable bubble and rumors were buzzing that the government might nationalize U.S. banks, the S&P had cratered from its lofty heights. It fell to its Great Recession low, 676.53, on March 9, 2009 ? down 57 percent from its October 2007 pinnacle. Now, with Thursday's gains, it has more than doubled since reaching that bottom. Including dividends, it is up 152 percent.

With the quarter ending, investors noted the records it had brought for the Dow. The Dow climbed for the first 10 trading days of March, a record not matched in more than 16 years. Its record since then hasn't been as impressive. The index fell on five of the last nine trading days.

Like other major market indicators, the S&P darted between small gains and losses shortly after trading opened Thursday. By midday the indexes were all slightly higher. The Dow was up 30 points, or 0.2 percent, at 14,557. The Nasdaq composite rose a point, 0.03 percent, to 3,257.

Among stocks making big moves:

?Research In Motion, the maker of BlackBerry phones, rose after surprising analysts with a profitable quarter and better-than-expected sales of its new touch-screen BlackBerry 10s. The company hopes to take back some of the market share it has lost to Apple's iPhone and other competitors. The stock rose 36 cents, more than 2 percent, to $14.93.

?Repros Therapeutics, a drug developer, shot higher on news that its potential treatment for low testosterone moved closer to regulatory approval. The stock rose $6.27, or 69 percent, to $15.40.

?Signet Jewelers, which runs Kay and Jared stores, and Mosaic, the fertilizer maker, were both up after reporting higher quarterly profits and revenue. Signet rose more than 6 percent, $3.97, to $67.24. Mosaic was up nearly 2 percent, rising $1.03 to $59.71.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/p-500-moves-above-record-high-keeps-going-152842263--finance.html

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Czech court throws out treason charges against ex-president Klaus

By Jan Lopatka

PRAGUE (Reuters) - A Czech court threw out treason charges against former President Vaclav Klaus on Wednesday, clearing the euroskeptic politician of accusations that marred his final days in office and underlined the deep divisions he left in society.

Klaus was impeached by the upper house of parliament, the Senate, on March 4, in a dramatic but mostly symbolic vote. It accused him of violating the constitution by refusing to sign European treaties and by granting an amnesty that freed thousands of prisoners and halted dozens of fraud prosecutions.

The biggest punishment he faced was losing office. But given that his second consecutive five-year term expired on March 7, he was threatened only by a milder punishment of losing a pension and not being able to run for the presidency again.

The Constitutional Court rejected the charges on procedural grounds, namely that the 71-year-old could not be tried because he was no longer in office.

"The Constitutional Court did not find room to continue the proceedings after the end of the president's term, and therefore halted the case," the court said on its website.

A 'guilty' verdict would have been a blow to the legacy of the right-wing economist who has proved self-conscious about his image, especially compared with the reverence enjoyed by his late predecessor Vaclav Havel.

Even some opponents of Klaus, who polarized opinion with his euroskeptic views and his siding with Russia in international diplomacy, said a treason charge was going too far.

A spokesman for the conservative ex-president welcomed the court decision. "This case was a warning example of how low the level and means of politics can drop in our country," he said.

Klaus was credited for successful macroeconomic reforms in the early 1990s, and for the peaceful division of Czechoslovakia at the end of 1992 at a time when the break-up of Yugoslavia led to a series of bloody wars.

But his refusal to privatize banks and regulate the capital market led to widespread asset-stripping and an economic crisis in 1997, which brought him down as prime minister.

A year later he struck a power-sharing deal with the biggest leftist party, which critics say brought a period of corruption in the public sphere.

The amnesty Klaus granted in January this year angered most in the nation of 10.5 million and knocked his approval ratings to all-time lows below 30 percent. More than 6,000 prisoners jailed for minor offences were released.

He has made clear he will retain public presence and has not ruled out running for a seat next year in his great enemy's lair - the European Parliament.

(Editing by Pravin Char)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/czech-court-throws-treason-charges-against-ex-president-185758715.html

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Ky. lawmakers override religious freedom veto

Mar 26 (Reuters) - Leading money winners on the 2013 PGATour on Monday (U.S. unless stated): 1. Tiger Woods $3,787,600 2. Brandt Snedeker $2,859,920 3. Matt Kuchar $2,154,500 4. Steve Stricker $1,820,000 5. Phil Mickelson $1,650,260 6. Hunter Mahan $1,553,965 7. John Merrick $1,343,514 8. Dustin Johnson $1,330,507 9. Russell Henley $1,313,280 10. Kevin Streelman $1,310,343 11. Keegan Bradley $1,274,593 12. Charles Howell III $1,256,373 13. Michael Thompson $1,254,669 14. Brian Gay $1,171,721 15. Justin Rose $1,155,550 16. Jason Day $1,115,565 17. Chris Kirk $1,097,053 18. ...

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/ky-lawmakers-override-religious-freedom-131607876.html

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Genetic 'spelling mistakes' that increase risk of common cancers determined

Mar. 27, 2013 ? More than 80 genetic 'spelling mistakes' that can increase the risk of breast, prostate and ovarian cancer have been found in a large, international research study within the framework of the EU network COGS. For the first time, the researchers also have a relatively clear picture of the total number of genetic alterations that can be linked to these cancers. Ultimately the researchers hope to be able to calculate the individual risk of cancer, to better understand how these cancers develop and to be able to generate new treatments.

The main findings are published in five articles in a special issue on genetic risk factors for cancer in the scientific journal Nature Genetics. The articles originate from COGS (Collaborative Oncological Gene-environment Study), an EU-based consortium where more than 160 research groups from all over the world are included. In the five COGS studies 100,000 patients with breast, ovarian or prostate cancer and 100,000 healthy individuals from the general population were included.

The scientists performed genetic analyses on all study participants. The composition of the nitrogen bases A, G, C and T was studied on 200,000 selected sections of the DNA strand. When cancer patients had significantly different compositions compared to healthy control subjects, the differences were considered to be relevant to risk of disease. The alterations can be described as a genetic 'spelling mistake', where A, G, C or T have been replaced with another letter. This spelling mistake is called Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) -- pronounced 'snip'.

For breast cancer the researchers found 49 genetic typos or SNPs, which is more than double the number previously found. In the case of prostate cancer, researchers have discovered another 26 deviations, which means that a total number of 78 SNPs may be linked to the disease. For ovarian cancer 8 new relevant SNPs were found.

"An equally important finding is that we identified how many additional SNPs that could influence the risk of breast cancer and prostate cancer, respectively. For breast cancer the number is 1,000 and for prostate cancer 2,000," says Per Hall, Professor at Karolinska Institutet and the coordinator of the COGS consortium. "We also have a picture of where in the genome we should look in future studies.

SNPs are part of our natural heritage, we all have them. How it affects the individual depends on where on the DNA strand the genetic deviation is found. The researchers now hope to be able to evaluate the importance of the identified deviations, so that it will be possible to more clearly predict which individuals are at high risk of developing one of these cancers.

"We're now on the verge of being able to use our knowledge to develop tests that could complement breast cancer screening and take us a step closer to having an effective prostate cancer screening programme," says Professor Doug Easton of the University of Cambridge, UK, who has led several of the presented studies.

At the same time as these five articles are published in Nature Genetics, the Nature Publishing Group publishes another two articles on studies emanating from the COGS collaboration in Nature Communications. An additional number of COGS articles will be published simultaneously in other journals. The studies are financed by partly different funders; however the COGS project is mainly funded by the European Commission 7th Framework Programme. Other financial contributors to the COGS project are the M?rit and Hans Rausing Initiative against Breast Cancer, the Swedish Research Council, Cancer Research UK and the Cancer Risk Prediction Center (CRisP).

"COGS is the largest genotyping project in the world targeting identification of genetic alterations that influence the risk of common cancers. The collaborative efforts have been tremendous and key to success," says COGS coordinator Per Hall.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Karolinska Institutet.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

---

Journal References:

1. Rosalind A Eeles et al. Identification of 23 new prostate cancer susceptibility loci using the iCOGS custom genotyping array. Nature Genetics, 2013; 45 (4): 385 DOI: 10.1038/ng.2560
2. Paul D P Pharoah et al. GWAS meta-analysis and replication identifies three new susceptibility loci for ovarian cancer. Nature Genetics, 2013; 45 (4): 362 DOI: 10.1038/ng.2564
3. Stig E Bojesen et al. Multiple independent variants at the TERT locus are associated with telomere length and risks of breast and ovarian cancer. Nature Genetics, 2013; 45 (4): 371 DOI: 10.1038/ng.2566
4. Montserrat Garcia-Closas et al. Genome-wide association studies identify four ER negative?specific breast cancer risk loci. Nature Genetics, 2013; 45 (4): 392 DOI: 10.1038/ng.2561
5. Kyriaki Michailidou et al. Large-scale genotyping identifies 41 new loci associated with breast cancer risk. Nature Genetics, 2013; 45 (4): 353 DOI: 10.1038/ng.2563

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_health/~3/SMKCHbFWyCs/130327132552.htm

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Kenyan shilling firms on tea exports, shares rise

Mar 26 (Reuters) - Leading money winners on the 2013 PGATour on Monday (U.S. unless stated): 1. Tiger Woods $3,787,600 2. Brandt Snedeker $2,859,920 3. Matt Kuchar $2,154,500 4. Steve Stricker $1,820,000 5. Phil Mickelson $1,650,260 6. Hunter Mahan $1,553,965 7. John Merrick $1,343,514 8. Dustin Johnson $1,330,507 9. Russell Henley $1,313,280 10. Kevin Streelman $1,310,343 11. Keegan Bradley $1,274,593 12. Charles Howell III $1,256,373 13. Michael Thompson $1,254,669 14. Brian Gay $1,171,721 15. Justin Rose $1,155,550 16. Jason Day $1,115,565 17. Chris Kirk $1,097,053 18. ...

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/kenyan-shilling-firms-tea-exports-shares-rise-150014380--business.html

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Jeb Bush on brother's paintings (CNN)

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As Supreme Court reviews gay marriage, Illinois battle heats up

By Mary Wisniewski

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Like many gay couples in the United States, Theresa Volpe and Mercedes Santos of Chicago will be keeping a close eye on the U.S. Supreme Court this week as it hears arguments on two same-sex marriage cases.

The high court review coincides with a crucial moment at home in the couple's fight to make Illinois the tenth state in the nation to legalize same-sex marriage. Volpe and Santos, who have personally lobbied Illinois lawmakers on this issue, worry about delays in drumming up enough votes for passage of a bill in their state and a growing campaign from opponents.

Supporters had hoped the bill would sail through the Democratic-majority legislature in President Barack Obama's home state in January. But it took until Valentine's Day to go through the Senate and was still several votes short in the House by late March.

"What's going on in Illinois is a little disturbing - we're worried and anxious, but I know they're working hard to make things happen," said Santos, who is bringing up two children with Volpe.

The delay underscores the difficulty of securing approval for gay marriage, even in a state with strong Democratic majorities in the legislature and a Democratic governor who supports it.

During a two-week legislative spring break that began on Monday, both sides were intensifying their efforts.

Opponents of the bill are focusing mainly on the more conservative and rural areas of the state south of Chicago, and some African-American districts in Chicago.

More than 425,000 robo-calls have been placed to constituents in more than 20 districts, according to Paul Caprio, director of Family-Pac, an Illinois-based family values political action group opposed to gay marriage.

Calls to six African-American districts have featured the voice of former state Senator James Meeks, a prominent Chicago black minister opposed to same-sex nuptials.

"We've had tremendous response from the minority community on this issue," Caprio said.

In one call to people in southwestern Illinois, Caprio's voice asks voters whether their state lawmaker stands for "the Chicago homosexuals, or your family?"

'LIKE ANY OTHER FAMILY'

Bernard Cherkasov, executive director of Equality Illinois, a Chicago-based gay rights organization, said proponents were focusing more on personal appeals to legislators from constituents, including ministers and rabbis and gay couples themselves.

"I do feel really optimistic. We're really close, we're in striking distance to passing the bill," he said.

Volpe, 42, and Santos, 47, are among the gay couples who taken their appeal to lawmakers in the Illinois state capital of Springfield.

They have been together for 21 years and have two children, Ava, 8, and Jaidon, 4, conceived through an anonymous donor. The couple became outspoken advocates for gay marriage after Jaidon suffered kidney failure two years ago and was in danger of dying.

While Theresa filled out the paperwork at the hospital, Mercedes sat with him in his room. But then Theresa was told she could not see Jaidon, as there was no hospital policy for two mothers.

They believe marriage will be easier to explain to people at hospitals and other facilities than the civil union they formed after Illinois approved that option in 2011. And they want the federal rights heterosexual couples have, including Social Security benefits and tax exemptions for a surviving spouse's inheritance.

"We want people to realize that we're just like any other family - we love our kids - we don't do anything special but be parents," Santos said.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court will hear arguments in a challenge against California's voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage known as Proposition 8. On Wednesday, the justices will hear arguments on the Defense of Marriage Act, which excludes gay couples from federal benefits.

It is difficult to predict how the court might rule on Proposition 8, and how that would affect other states. One option could affect Illinois and other states that are like California in allowing civil unions but forbidding actual marriage. The Obama administration wants the Supreme Court to strike down Proposition 8 because it relegates such same-sex civil unions to a lower legal status.

Public opinion nationally has been turning in favor of gay marriage and civil unions. A Reuters/Ipsos poll in mid-March found 63 percent of Americans in favor of gay marriage or civil unions.

(Additional reporting by Joan Biskupic; Editing by Greg McCune, Mary Milliken and David Brunnstrom)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/supreme-court-reviews-gay-marriage-illinois-battle-heats-005958594.html

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C. African Republic president flees rebel attack

BANGUI, Central African Republic (AP) ? Central African Republic's President Francois Bozize fled the capital early Sunday, hours after hundreds of armed rebels threatening to overthrow him invaded the city, an adviser said.

The rebel alliance, known as Seleka, reached the outskirts of Bangui late Saturday. Heavy gunfire echoed through the city Sunday as the fighters made their way into the heart of downtown and seized the presidential palace, though the country's leader of a decade was not there at the time.

"Bozize left the city this morning," said Maximin Olouamat, a member of Bozize's presidential majority. The adviser declined to say where the president had gone.

Coverseas Worldwide Assistance, a Swiss-based crisis management firm that has contacts on the ground, said it believed Bozize was headed toward neighboring Congo.

Bangui is located along the Oubangui River that separates the two countries.

Congolese government spokesman Lambert Mende, however, said he had no knowledge of Bozize crossing into Congo.

Rebels from several armed groups that have long opposed Bozize joined forces in December and began seizing towns across the country's sparsely populated north. They threatened at the time to march on Bangui, but ultimately halted their advance and agreed to go to peace negotiations in Libreville, the capital of Gabon.

A peace deal was signed Jan. 11 that allowed Bozize to finish his term that expires in 2016, but the rebels soon began accusing the president of failing to fulfill the promises that were made.

They demanded that Bozize send home South African forces who were helping bolster the country's military. And they sought to integrate some 2,000 rebel fighters into Central African Republic's armed forces.

The deal unraveled more than a week ago, with the rebels again taking control of two towns and threatening to advance on the capital.

Late Saturday, Bangui was plunged into darkness after fighters cut power to much of the city. State radio went dead, and fearful residents cowered in their homes.

An unspecified number of French citizens have taken refuge in the French Embassy, a diplomat said on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to be publicly named according to Foreign Ministry policy.

"For us, there is no other solution than the departure of Francois Bozize," Eric Massi, a rebel spokesman, said from Paris by telephone late Saturday.

Massi said the rebels were securing the city, and he called on residents to remain calm and avoid looting amid the chaos.

South African Brig. Gen. Xolani Mabanga, the country's military spokesman, said there had been "intense" fighting this weekend between the rebels and South African forces.

"Our base was attacked by the rebels as they were advancing toward the capital," he said. Mabanga said South African authorities were assessing the situation and had no reports of casualties.

The growing unrest is the latest threat to the stability of Central African Republic, a nation of 4.5 million that has long been wracked by rebellions and power grabs.

The president himself took power in 2003 following a rebellion, and his tenure has been marked by conflict with myriad armed groups.

___

Larson reported from Dakar, Senegal. Associated Press writers Christopher Torchia in Johannesburg and Angela Charlton in Paris contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/c-african-republic-president-flees-rebel-attack-095132455.html

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C. African Republic president flees rebel attack

BANGUI, Central African Republic (AP) ? Central African Republic's President Francois Bozize fled the capital early Sunday, hours after hundreds of armed rebels threatening to overthrow him invaded the city, an adviser said.

The rebel alliance, known as Seleka, issued a statement referring to Bozize as the country's "former president."

"Central African Republic has just opened a new page in its history," said the communique, which was signed by Justin Kombo Moustapha, secretary-general of Seleka.

"The political committee of the Seleka coalition, made up of Central Africans of all kinds, calls on the population to remain calm and to prepare to welcome the revolutionary forces of Seleka," it said.

The rebels had reached the outskirts of Bangui late Saturday. Heavy gunfire echoed through the city Sunday as the fighters made their way into the heart of downtown and seized the presidential palace, though the country's leader of a decade was not there at the time.

"Bozize left the city this morning," said Maximin Olouamat, a member of Bozize's presidential majority. The adviser declined to say where the president had gone.

Coverseas Worldwide Assistance, a Swiss-based crisis management firm that has contacts on the ground, said it believed Bozize was headed toward neighboring Congo.

Bangui is located along the Oubangui River that separates the two countries.

Congolese government spokesman Lambert Mende, however, said he had no knowledge of Bozize crossing into Congo.

Rebels from several armed groups that have long opposed Bozize joined forces in December and began seizing towns across the country's sparsely populated north. They threatened at the time to march on Bangui, but ultimately halted their advance and agreed to go to peace negotiations in Libreville, the capital of Gabon.

A peace deal was signed Jan. 11 that allowed Bozize to finish his term that expires in 2016, but the rebels soon began accusing the president of failing to fulfill the promises that were made.

They demanded that Bozize send home South African forces who were helping bolster the country's military. And they sought to integrate some 2,000 rebel fighters into Central African Republic's armed forces.

The deal unraveled more than a week ago, with the rebels again taking control of two towns and threatening to advance on the capital.

Late Saturday, Bangui was plunged into darkness after fighters cut power to much of the city. State radio went dead, and fearful residents cowered in their homes.

An unspecified number of French citizens have taken refuge in the French Embassy, a diplomat said on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to be publicly named according to Foreign Ministry policy.

"For us, there is no other solution than the departure of Francois Bozize," Eric Massi, a rebel spokesman, said from Paris by telephone late Saturday.

Massi said the rebels were securing the city, and he called on residents to remain calm and avoid looting amid the chaos.

South African Brig. Gen. Xolani Mabanga, the country's military spokesman, said there had been "intense" fighting this weekend between the rebels and South African forces.

"Our base was attacked by the rebels as they were advancing toward the capital," he said. South African forces suffered casualties from the fighting Saturday night, he said.

"We have suffered some casualties," he said. He declined to provide the number of casualties, pending the outcome of an investigation.

He said the situation for South African forces was "relatively calm" on Sunday afternoon.

"There are no threats at this moment," he said.

The growing unrest is the latest threat to the stability of Central African Republic, a nation of 4.5 million that has long been wracked by rebellions and power grabs.

The president himself took power in 2003 following a rebellion, and his tenure has been marked by conflict with myriad armed groups.

___

Larson reported from Dakar, Senegal. Associated Press writers Christopher Torchia in Johannesburg and Angela Charlton in Paris contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/c-african-republic-president-flees-rebel-attack-095132455.html

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Feds Probe Hack of First Lady, Biden, Celebs

Police in Los Angeles have teamed with the FBI to investigate Russian hackers suspected of stealing and posting sensitive information about Michelle Obama, Joe Biden, law enforcement officials and Hollywood celebrities. The material in question was posted on a website using .su as a suffix -- reportedly a tip-off that the perpetrators have a Russian connection.

Source: http://ectnews.com.feedsportal.com/c/34520/f/632000/s/298797bb/l/0L0Stechnewsworld0N0Crsstory0C775180Bhtml/story01.htm

giants

Stringer leaving Sony in June, hands over to Hirai

FILE - In this Nov. 19, 2009 file photo, Sony Corp. Chief Executive Howard Stringer speaks during a press conference, in Tokyo, Japan. Stringer, who fought to bring a divided and struggling Sony Corp. together as the Japanese electronics and entertainment company's first foreign president, announced Friday, March 8, 2013, he is retiring as chairman in June. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi, File)

FILE - In this Nov. 19, 2009 file photo, Sony Corp. Chief Executive Howard Stringer speaks during a press conference, in Tokyo, Japan. Stringer, who fought to bring a divided and struggling Sony Corp. together as the Japanese electronics and entertainment company's first foreign president, announced Friday, March 8, 2013, he is retiring as chairman in June. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi, File)

TOKYO (AP) ? Howard Stringer, who fought to bring a divided and struggling Sony Corp. together as the Japanese electronics and entertainment company's first foreign president, is retiring as chairman in June.

He announced his departure in New York in a speech at the Japan Society on Friday, which was confirmed by Tokyo-based Sony on Sunday. His retirement will come at an annual general shareholders' meeting in June.

Stringer, a Welsh-born American and 15-year employee at Sony, became president in 2005, when the once glorious maker behind the Walkman portable player was first starting to get slammed by the flashier Apple Inc. and the nimbler Samsung Electronics Co.

The company, which makes the PlayStation 3 game console as well as "Spider-Man" movies, is still struggling. It has lost money for the last four years, and racked up its biggest loss in its 67-year history for the fiscal year through March 2012.

Stringer said he was ready to retire after handing over the helm last year to Kazuo Hirai. Stringer groomed Hirai, longtime head of Sony's video-game unit, who led its relative success as a brand in the U.S. market, to be his successor.

"I was pleased to hand the reins to Kazuo Hirai last year because I saw in him the right mix of skills to lead Sony, and I knew it was the right time to bring about generational change," Stringer said in the speech.

"Over the course of the past year, he has come into his own and is leading Sony with vision and authority."

Stringer said he will remain busy with charity work in education and medicine, and will continue as chair of the American Film Institute.

Hirai credited Stringer in the next-generation video-format battle by leading the Blu-ray camp, which included Sony, to victory; for pursuing efficiency and cost reductions, and expanding the film and music businesses to become "key profit drivers."

"Howard's unwavering dedication and leadership throughout his tenure as CEO enabled us to form the foundation to overcome huge challenges and the path to future growth," Hirai said in a statement.

"I was able to learn so much from him as a business leader and person, particularly his incomparable ability to inspire and invigorate all of those around him."

Before joining Sony in 1997, Stringer had a 30-year career as a journalist, producer and executive at CBS Inc. His pivotal role was seen as developing strategic links between the entertainment and electronics business ? a plan Sony has pursued for years but is still not fully realized.

While president, Stringer pinpointed as the major problem the divisions within Sony's sprawling empire he disparagingly named "silos." He reorganized the company, ended unprofitable businesses like the robot project and slashed thousands of jobs. He also encouraged collaborations.

Hirai has followed with the same effort under the slogan "One Sony." Sony has recently come out with smartphones and other products that have gotten good reviews. But it is still losing money in its core TV division.

Some critics say playing catch-up with Apple and Samsung isn't enough, and Sony needs to pioneer an entire consumer electronics sector, as it once did with the Walkman.

But Stringer said he was ready to move on.

"A new world is opening up for me, too," he said.

___

Follow Yuri Kageyama on Twitter at twitter.com/yurikageyama

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2013-03-09-Japan-Sony/id-ab721374121a40a78a890f69b5db8082

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VatorNews - What women want: The Internet for and by women

The global freakout over Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer continues to be epic. Being the first pregnant CEO of a Fortune 500 company?and one of the youngest female CEOs of a Fortune 500 company in history?is going to ignite a lot of drama. Last month, sparks flew when Mayer cracked down on telecommuting workers, ordering all Yahoo employees to start working in-house permanently. Some see it as an act of sabotage against other working parents (particularly mothers, who tend to be the primary caregiver), while others see it as a savvy business move that shows that Mayer is more interested in running a company than being the figurehead of a gender equality movement.

But you can?t separate the two. Studies have shown that gender diversity has positive impacts on group processes in companies, and U.S. companies with boards that are more than 33% women consistently outperform market trends. Globally, businesses with boards that are more than 33% women have been found to generate significant positive financial returns.

The thing is, you can always make a business case for greater diversity in the workplace, but that?s not why we should be encouraging companies to diversify their teams. Diversity isn?t just better for business, it?s better for the consumer, which is better for communities and the economy as a whole.

The scene in 2000

For example: 13 years ago, there was no Care.com. If you were a parent looking for a nanny or babysitter, your options consisted of Craigslist or the career center at your local high school. There are a number of reasons for this, starting with the fact that a pretty sizable chunk of the population still didn?t even have email in 2000. And, of course, a number of companies were floundering in 2000. But CEO Sheila Marcelo started the company because she needed a caregiver and the resources offered by the Web were limited.

There was a clear need for an online listing of caregivers, and it took another mother to address that need and create a platform where parents and caregivers could connect.

Having a diverse workplace has a positive impact on a company?s bottom line because it brings different perspectives to the table, which, in turn, allows the company to appeal to a diverse consumer population.

The need for more women leaders

?If you?re a woman in a male dominated culture, you definitely notice it. You?re a fish out of water,? said Deborah Jackson, in an interview. Jackson is an angel investor and the founder and CEO of PlumAlley.co, an e-commerce site for women-founded companies. She?s also a former investment banker for Goldman Sachs.

She gave me an example: when she was pregnant with her first daughter, she was working on Wall Street and one of her male colleagues was also expecting a baby with his wife. When Jackson returned from maternity leave, she told her colleague all about the great daycares and nursery schools she had found, to which he responded: ?I don?t know anything about that. That?s my wife?s department.?

Indeed, the hunt for childcare typically falls on a mother?s shoulders. Mothers also do the vast majority of spending for their families. Women account for 85% of all consumer spending in the U.S. Of those who shop online, 21% do so every day and 51% are moms. But only 3% of advertising agency creative directors are women. So it?s no wonder that some 91% of women surveyed have said that advertisers don?t understand them.

The need for female leadership is critical to the health of the U.S. economy, but women face a host of invisible hurdles to get to those positions of leadership. While women tend to out-earn men in their single years, they take a huge financial and career hit when they have children.

The challenge

In one study that appeared in the American Journal of Sociology in 2007, participants in the study rated fictitious job applicants based on their resumes. Some of the resumes listed Parent-Teacher Association coordinator as an activity?indicating they were parents, while others listed Fundraiser for Neighborhood Association as an activity. The applicants who were mothers were deemed to be ?significantly less competent and committed than women without children??

The study also found that, ?Mothers were also held to harsher performance and punctuality standards. Mothers were allowed significantly fewer times of being late to work, and they needed a significantly higher score on the management exam than non-mothers before being considered hirable.?

Those are just the social perceptions of mothers. Not only are mothers viewed as less committed and competent, they are, in fact, struggling under tighter time constraints than their male counterparts. In a typical American, nuclear family, a father enjoys approximately one month of more leisure time in a year than a mother.

And women are just as susceptible to entrenched social mores and gender constructs as well. One survey found that women tend to feel more responsible for housework and childcare than men do. Another paper found that in families in which the wife earned more money than her husband, she tended to spend even more time on housework and childcare than women who learn less than their husbands.

Should we be surprised to learn that few women ascend to the upper echelons of the biggest U.S. companies? Today, of all the Fortune 500 CEOs in the U.S., only 21 are women?which is actually a record high.

Why we need more women entrepreneurs

More women than ever before are rejecting corporate prestige and the seemingly futile climb to the top in favor of starting their own businesses. While women tend to create home-based micro-businesses consisting of less than five people, women-led businesses are expected to create over half of the new small business jobs in the U.S. by 2018. To put that into perspective, women-led businesses accounted for only 16% of total U.S. jobs as of 2010.

?When I see women starting companies, they?re starting companies with their own culture, their own imprint. They might be more female-friendly workplaces. Women understand those issues and those challenges,? said Deborah Jackson.

They also understand what kinds of products and services women need. Looking at some of the companies that failed during the dot-com bust, there was a clear lack of understanding of what female consumers needed. There was Webvan, a grocery delivery service. There was Pets.com. There was Boo.com, an online fashion store. There was Kibu.com, a social network for teen girls.

These sites flopped partly because the technology at the time just wasn?t where it needed to be, and partly because they missed the mark. Women don?t need help shopping for groceries. What they do need help with is childcare (Care.com), getting someone to pick up the dry cleaning (Taskrabbit), and finding good, affordable healthcare for their family (PokitDok).

Over the next few weeks, we?ll be exploring the women-led businesses that are upending long-held beliefs on what female consumers want. Some of the categories we?ll be covering include health tech, social media, mobile, online marketplaces, e-commerce, fianance, and more.

If you have a company that you think should be featured, feel free to reach out at faith.merino@vator.tv.

?

Source: http://vator.tv/news/2013-03-11-what-women-want-the-internet-for-and-by-women

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6 teens killed, 2 hurt in northeast Ohio SUV crash

Mindy Morgan reads a note at the memorial where six teens were killed in a car crash on Park Ave. in Warren, Ohio on Sunday, March 10, 2013. (AP Photo/Scott R. Galvin)

Mindy Morgan reads a note at the memorial where six teens were killed in a car crash on Park Ave. in Warren, Ohio on Sunday, March 10, 2013. (AP Photo/Scott R. Galvin)

Leaman Joe, left, hugs Michael Parker, at the crash site that killed their friends on Park Ave. in Warren, Ohio on Sunday, March 10, 2013. (AP Photo/Scott R. Galvin)

An unidentified woman and her children visit the crash site that claimed the lives of six teens early in the morning on Park Ave. in Warren, Ohio on Sunday, March 10, 2013. (AP Photo/Scott R. Galvin)

Dominique Ellison, left, and Rickie Bowling, of Warren, bring stuffed animals to a memorial in honor of their friends who died in a car crash on Park Ave. in Warren, Ohio on Sunday, March 10, 2013. (AP Photo/Scott R. Galvin)

Map locates Warren, Ohio, near the location of a fatal SUV crash

WARREN, Ohio (AP) ? A speeding sport utility vehicle taken without permission and carrying eight teenagers crashed into a guardrail Sunday morning and flipped over into a swampy pond in northeast Ohio, killing five boys and the young woman driving, the state highway patrol said.

The Honda Passport veered off the left side of a road and overturned just south of the city of Warren, about 60 miles east of Cleveland, Lt. Anne Ralston said. Investigators say it came to rest upside down in the swamp and sank with five of the victims trapped inside. A sixth, who was thrown from the SUV during the crash, was found under it when the vehicle was taken out of the water.

The two boys who survived escaped from the submerged vehicle and ran a quarter-mile to a home to call 911, the highway patrol said.

State Highway Patrol Lt. Brian Holt said at an evening news conference that speed was a factor, although investigators were still trying to determine the speed at the time of the accident.

"We will not be speculating on alcohol and-or drug usage pending toxicology reports," Holt said.

No one in the vehicle had permission to take it, but there were no theft reports, Holt said. The vehicle was licensed to a resident of Youngstown, about 20 miles away, he said.

After the news conference, the gates of an impound lot were opened to show the wreck, with windows smashed and extensive damage to the front end, hood and roof.

Ralston didn't know where the teens were headed when the crash happened at about 7 a.m. and Holt said later it wasn't clear how long they had been out.

"All I know is my baby is gone," said Derrick Ray, who came to the crash site after viewing his 15-year-old son Daylan's body at the county morgue. He said he knew that his son, a talented football player who was looking forward to playing in high school, was out with friends, but didn't know their plans.

A pile of blue, green and copper-red stuffed bears grew at a makeshift memorial at the crash site along a two-lane road tightly bordered with guardrails on either side in an industrial area. The sport utility vehicle had sheared off tall cattails along the guardrail.

There were also notes at the memorial, including a letter from Daylan Ray's 12-year-old half-sister, Mariah Bryant, who said she had learned they were related only in the past year.

"It hurts, it really does, because they are so young and, like, they could have had so much more to life," she said. "We just really started getting close, and it's hard to believe he's gone."

Warren Fire Department Capt. Bill Monrean said a cold water rescue team was deployed to the scene and got five teens out of the submerged vehicle.

"Being a cold water rescue situation, cold water extends life," Monrean told AP Radio. "We knew we had a chance; even being in there a while."

Two of the teens, both 15, were brought to a hospital in full cardiac arrest, St. Joseph Health Center nursing supervisor Julie Gill said, and were pronounced dead there. She said they were treated for hypothermic drowning trauma, indicating they had been submerged in cold water.

The two who survived, 18-year-old Brian Henry and 15-year-old Asher Lewis, both of Warren, were treated for bruising and other injuries and released, she said.

All those killed were ages 14 to 19, authorities said. State police identified them as the 19-year-old driver Alexis Cayson; Andrique Bennett, 14; Brandon Murray, 17; and Kirklan Behner, Ramone White and Ray, all 15. The Highway Patrol said Cayson was the only female in the vehicle.

Rickie Bowling, 18, a friend of Behner, sobbed at the crash scene as she recalled his playfulness and reputation as a cut-up.

"He was one of a kind," she said. "Everyone knew him in the neighborhood. In school, he always made everyone laugh."

Bowling said the tragedy highlighted the importance of savoring life. "Basically, enjoy every second in life," she said. "Enjoy life while you've got it and while you're here and enjoy people that you love."

She said she would rely on her faith in the difficult days ahead. "The only way to look at it is on the bright side: he's in a better place," she said.

Jasmine McClintock, 22, a friend of a victim, visited the crash scene and said it should serve as a warning for parents to be aware of their children's activities.

"I hope it's an eye-opener for parents," she said while watching the slow ripple of the pond water littered with debris, some apparently from the crash.

McClintock said she was troubled by the question of what the victims were doing out at that hour, not knowing if they had been out all night or left home early.

"That's the part that boggles my mind. It's like on a Sunday if you're not going to church, what are you doing at 7 a.m. out driving," she asked.

Officials opened a school where several of the victims attended to provide counseling for families Sunday night. Superintendent Michael Notar called the crowded closed-door session heartbreaking and said counselors would be available Monday in schools.

Cheryl Moore, 54, whose nephew is a classmate of some of the victims, emerged from the counseling session and said it was helpful. "I just feel we have to come to grips with what happened today," she said.

All eight were from Warren. It's not believed that any of them were closely related, the highway patrol said.

Near the Pennsylvania state line, Warren is a mostly blue-collar city that was hit by the decline of U.S. steel mills; it has more than 41,000 residents in the industrial Mahoning Valley region.

___

Associated Press writer Dan Sewell in Cincinnati contributed this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2013-03-11-Ohio%20Crash-Teens%20Killed/id-d6fa37704d1e40f192e5e0a7bf0cb356

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sales teleselling: Making Use Of IT Telemarketing For Generation ...

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AppId is over the quota

Accidents still happen, regardless of how cautious we are when it comes to protecting our important and sensitive business data; computer and server shut downs can still take place either due to natural causes or man-made mishandling. And to prevent these accidents, most organizations are prudent regarding data security and employ business continuity solutions to maintain their transactions and dealings in full gear even in adverse situations. Securing and backing up business information are vital and numerous firms and corporations are conducting disaster recovery programs in order to get ready and be equipped for any likely computer or server shutdown as the effect of any untoward incident.

Nevertheless, faced with tougher competition globally in the technology industry, plenty of Information Technology-based businesses and service providers are experiencing the challenges of creating sales leads for disaster recovery solutions provider.

Selecting and conducting the appropriate marketing strategy to acquire sales leads can actually be time-consuming and resources not only in the IT industry, but as well as the other sectors. In addition, many technology-based companies fail to see marketing as an essential factor in their business operations. Because common technology firms are discovered by engineers, technologists and other related occupations, there is very little knowledge from the head honchos and executives when it comes to competently marketing technological solutions such as disaster recovery. What's more, just by the mere mention of "sales" and "marketing" normally puts off most IT authorities. Luckily, IT business managers and executives who have little or no preference to attempt significant marketing plans can now be relieved. IT sales lead generation and appointment setting campaigns could be started easier with the aid of IT telemarketing companies. Trusted IT telemarketing service providers make use of technology sales lead specialists who are well-trained and experienced in calling and talking with the chief decision-makers in the technology sector. These IT-specialized phone lead generators have the marketing knowledge and familiarity of the IT business. They can facilitate your organization to drive IT sales opportunities worldwide and fill your sales pipeline with high quality disaster recovery sales leads.

When you entrust the lead generation job to the pros, it is not only a wise thing to do, but is also an efficient alternative. Getting the services of an IT lead generation service provider could be a great benefit to almost all technology businesses, regardless of size, particularly for start-up technology vendors which most likely have imperfect marketing capital to perform a comprehensive lead generation campaign. Rather than training your IT employees to promote and advertise your solutions, you can have immediate access to the telemarketing firm's resources like a well-targeted database and their group of tech-savvy lead generation staff. Moreover, IT telemarketing is scalable that IT telemarketing companies can assist you in building up a cold calling program which ideally fits the solution you're providing.

With plenty of technology and managed services telemarketing firms emerging anywhere, it is very significant to carefully consider your options. Research about your choices because you will invest time, money and effort in this endeavor.

Phillip Mckenzie is a successful lead generation and appointment setting consultant specializing in IT Telemarketing. To know more about IT Telemarketing, Phillip recommends you to visit http://www.it-sales-leads.com/

Source: http://bestsalesteleselling.blogspot.com/2013/03/making-use-of-it-telemarketing-for.html

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Source: http://caverlynell8.typepad.com/blog/2013/03/sales-teleselling-making-use-of-it-telemarketing-for-generation.html

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Tips for managing student loan debt

One of the big issues baby boomers face, along with delayed retirement due to the Great Recession, is how to finance college education for their children. Or, it?s possible that boomers themselves are going back to school if they?ve been laid off.

Americans owe more than a trillion dollars in student loan debt. That?s more than they owe on credit cards and car loans ? and it?s still growing.

If your family is going to invest in a college degree, you want to be able to choose the best deal for your situation.

Students and their parents are overwhelmed with options and aren?t sure how to compare them. With the difficulty of comparing options, they?re left to their own devices when making a choice that will have significant consequences for their financial futures.

During National Consumer Protection Week, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau offers these tools to help families in their decision making:

Paying for College

From start to finish, the bureau can help you make informed financial decisions about paying for college.

Repay student debt

While the agency can?t give you advice for your exact situation, it can point you in the right direction.

Choose a loan

Three steps that can help you get the right loan for you.

Submit a complaint about a student loan or a bank account or service

The agency will forward your issue to the company, give you a tracking number, and keep you updated on the status of your complaint. Even if you have federal loans, the agency can help make sure you get to the right place to submit a complaint.

Managing your college money

Choosing your first bank or credit union account is an important decision. Making a smart decision now will mean fewer surprise fees that can add up later.

Compare financial aid and college cost

The agency is building a tool that will let you compare financial aid offers so you can see how all those numbers impact your payments down the road.

For more information for boomer consumers, see my blog The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide.

Source: http://blog.seattlepi.com/boomerconsumer/2013/03/06/tips-for-managing-student-loan-debt/

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Sports shrink boosts Ogilvy's Masters bid

AAP

After largely ignoring sports psychologists for his entire career, Australian golfer Geoff Ogilvy has revealed one is part of his resurgence.

Ogilvy recently hired Julie Elion on the recommendation of neighbour Jim "Bones" Mackay, the long-time caddy of Phil Mickelson, who has also used her services.

And he says the intellectual stimulation of psychology is working wonders.

The 2006 US Open champion turned around a tough start to 2013 with a second-place finish in last week's Honda Classic, catapulting him from an eight-year low world ranking of 79th to 47th, into this week's World Golf Championships tournament and within reach of a Masters berth next month.

Advertisement

But Ogilvy says it's not the normal golf-related sports psychology he's gained benefit from, rather a more holistic approach from Elion that has helped calm his non-tournament world.

"We had a chat and have had a few more since then and it's been really good actually," said Ogilvy.

"I was brought up on quite a lot of sports psychology at the Victorian Institute of Sport but, really, the basic sports psychology isn't for me.

"This is really more general psychology that's helping me, I would say. It's less golf-specific and more sensible life thinking.

"I wasn't sure the standard golf issues were for me, but this is broader than that and more interesting to me and therefore better for me."

Ogilvy explained his issues related to "Monday to Wednesday" rather than the Thursday to Sunday of tournaments themselves. With a more settled approach to family and to practising golf, he's feeling much healthier overall.

World Golf Championship events are limited fields, with just 65 in the mix this week, meaning no cut and a great chance for Ogilvy to score more valuable world ranking points as the Masters invitation cut-off date to be inside the world top 50 looms on April 1.

Ogilvy has played every Masters since 2006, making each cut, with a highest finish of tied 4th in 2011 and finishing no worse than a tie for 39th, making him as good a chance as any to be the first Australian to win a green jacket.

First, he has to get there.

"It's been on my mind really all year," he said.

"This is probably the most points I'll play for between now and the Masters so it would be obviously great to win the golf tournament but a consolation prize would be to have a strong finish and lock up the Masters - that would be pretty good.

"I'm thinking about it, and I'll use it as a motivation."

Source: http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-sport/sports-shrink-boosts-ogilvys-masters-bid-20130307-2fnrz.html

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Apple seeds build 12D76 of OS X 10.8.3 beta, still no sign of Gold Master

By AppleInsider Staff

Apple on Tuesday seeded a new version of the OS X 10.8.3 beta to developers with no known issues, with the release coming just five days after the last build was pushed out.


People familiar with the beta noted that the new software's build number is 12D76, with the designation representing a two increment increase since build 12D74 was seeded last week. The seed notes did not indicate that the software is a Golden Master ready for public consumption.

As with the last few builds, Apple is asking developers to focus on AirPlay, AirPort, Game Center, Graphics Drivers and Safari.

The latest beta version comes more than three months after developers first began testing the OS X 10.8.3 update. It was reported in early February that AppleInsider traffic logs were already showing the presence of Macs running an OS X 10.9, hinting that an unveiling of the next OS X could occur soon. Apple first announced OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion over a year ago on Feb. 16, 2012.

Source: http://appleinsider.com/articles/13/03/05/apple-seeds-build-12d76-of-os-x-1083-beta-still-no-sign-of-gold-master

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Video: Pope Benedict?s farewell alludes to Church?s troubles

>>> and now to rome. there continues to be an emotional time in the catholic church , and there is no road map for what's happening right now. pope benedict is abdicating. he said his farewell today. he flies off tomorrow, and then the gathering starts to pick his replacement. nbc's anne thompson was at the vatican for all of it today. anne, good evening.

>> reporter: good evening, brian. you know, in his final days, pope benedict has shown the world he has the ability to surprise. first in his decision to abdicate. and then today in his last public speech, revealing the personal toll leading the catholic church has taken on him. they came to witness history.

>> i think this is something we're going to be able to look back at and tell our grandkids we were there.

>> reporter: to say thank you.

>> for all of us, he has been a really amazing teacher.

>> reporter: and applaud the first pope in 700 years to voluntarily step down.

>> i'm sure that he's really a very intelligent man, that he cares more about the church than about his role in the church.

>> reporter: respect and affection is benedict 's trouble pontifficate comes to an end.

>> i ask each of you to pray for me.

>> reporter: in his unusually personal sermon, benedict called the papacy a great weight, filled with joy and difficulty. speaking of the rough cease he encountered, he conceded there were times when the lord seemed to sleep. for a moment, the burden seemed to lift. but not for long. today the cardinal who will announce the new pope said the cardinal electors should be told more about the secret report into vatican corruption. monday, benedict said it would be read only by him and his successor.

>> i think they want to know the nature of the problem. they want to know the extent of it. and they want to be able to measure candidates for the papacy against the depth of those problems.

>> reporter: corruption is just one issue facing the next pope. he will have to deal with clergy sex abuse and a younger generation that is drifting away.

>> the one thing that changes with every pontifficate is the style, face, manner. the one thing that doesn't change is the message. and so we have to find ways of packaging the message so that it actually gets to this generation.

>> reporter: a challenge that the 85-year-old benedict has made clear needs the energy of a younger man. tomorrow, benedict will meet with the 100 cardinals who have come to say goodbye, and then he will get in a helicopter and fly off to castel gandolfo to begin his life as pope emeritus. brian?

>> anne thompson , thanks.

Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/nightly-news/50980636/

mayan calendar end of the world end of the world december 21 2012 norad 12/21/12 winter solstice