High genetic diversity in an ancient Hawaiian clone

[ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 22-Dec-2011
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Contact: Anna Farneski
Afarnesk@ramapo.edu
201-684-6844
Wiley-Blackwell

The entire Hawaiian population of the peat moss Sphagnum palustre appears to be a clone that has been in existence for some 50,000 years researchers have discovered. The study is published in New Phytologist.

Among the most long-lived of organisms, every plant of the Hawaiian population appears to have been produced by vegetative rather than sexual propagation and can be traced back to a single parent.

Surprisingly, the genetic diversity of the Hawaiian clone is comparable to that detected in populations of S. palustre that do propagate sexually and occur across vaster regions.

"The genetic diversity of populations occurring on small remote islands is typically much lower than that detected in populations of the same species found on continents and on larger, less isolated islands," said Eric Karlin, a professor at Ramapo College in Mahwah, New Jersey, USA.

As the Hawaiian Islands are the most remote high volcanic island system in the world, the comparatively high genetic diversity detected in the Hawaiian population of S. palustre is unusual.

The occurrence of high genetic diversity in a clone was also "quite unexpected" said Professor Karlin.

This study indicates that significant genetic diversity can develop in a clonal population. It also suggests that vegetative propagation does not necessarily preclude long-term evolutionary success in a plant.

###

Headed by Professor Karlin, the research team also included colleagues at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (Sara Hotchkiss) in Madison, Wisconsin, USA, Duke University (Sandra Boles, Jonathan Shaw) in Durham, North Carolina, USA, and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (Hans Stenien, Kristian Hassel, Kjell Flatberg), in Trondheim, Norway.

Genetic lab work was done at the Duke University Bryology Lab headed by Professor Jonathan Shaw.

Data on the population of S. palustre in eastern North America was provided by a prior study led by Professor Karlin and published in The Bryologist; Ramapo College students Melissa Giusti and Rebecca Lake were among the secondary authors of this prior study. In addition, a grant from the Ramapo College Foundation, which partly funded the Hawaiian project, enabled a third Ramapo College student, Falon Cartwright, to visit the Duke Bryology Lab where she gained experience with genetic analysis.

The study is available at: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1469-8137.2011.03999.x/abstract



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[ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 22-Dec-2011
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Anna Farneski
Afarnesk@ramapo.edu
201-684-6844
Wiley-Blackwell

The entire Hawaiian population of the peat moss Sphagnum palustre appears to be a clone that has been in existence for some 50,000 years researchers have discovered. The study is published in New Phytologist.

Among the most long-lived of organisms, every plant of the Hawaiian population appears to have been produced by vegetative rather than sexual propagation and can be traced back to a single parent.

Surprisingly, the genetic diversity of the Hawaiian clone is comparable to that detected in populations of S. palustre that do propagate sexually and occur across vaster regions.

"The genetic diversity of populations occurring on small remote islands is typically much lower than that detected in populations of the same species found on continents and on larger, less isolated islands," said Eric Karlin, a professor at Ramapo College in Mahwah, New Jersey, USA.

As the Hawaiian Islands are the most remote high volcanic island system in the world, the comparatively high genetic diversity detected in the Hawaiian population of S. palustre is unusual.

The occurrence of high genetic diversity in a clone was also "quite unexpected" said Professor Karlin.

This study indicates that significant genetic diversity can develop in a clonal population. It also suggests that vegetative propagation does not necessarily preclude long-term evolutionary success in a plant.

###

Headed by Professor Karlin, the research team also included colleagues at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (Sara Hotchkiss) in Madison, Wisconsin, USA, Duke University (Sandra Boles, Jonathan Shaw) in Durham, North Carolina, USA, and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (Hans Stenien, Kristian Hassel, Kjell Flatberg), in Trondheim, Norway.

Genetic lab work was done at the Duke University Bryology Lab headed by Professor Jonathan Shaw.

Data on the population of S. palustre in eastern North America was provided by a prior study led by Professor Karlin and published in The Bryologist; Ramapo College students Melissa Giusti and Rebecca Lake were among the secondary authors of this prior study. In addition, a grant from the Ramapo College Foundation, which partly funded the Hawaiian project, enabled a third Ramapo College student, Falon Cartwright, to visit the Duke Bryology Lab where she gained experience with genetic analysis.

The study is available at: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1469-8137.2011.03999.x/abstract



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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.


Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-12/w-hgd122211.php

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TheDataManager releases Raghavan's Indian Flavors 1.0 for iPad

TheDataManager releases Raghavan's Indian Flavors 1.0 for iPad

Kennewick, WA????Dec 22, 2011

Kennewick, Washington - Spices are the spine that props the Indian body of curries, stir-fries, chutneys, breads, legumes, vegetables, and grains. Raghavan's Indian Flavors is the latest in the series of TheInformedChef cookbook Apps for the iPad. This new App features acclaimed Indian cooking educator and award winning cookbook author Raghavan Iyer and features 25 exclusive brand new recipes and over 75 how-to videos.

Raghavan's Indian Flavors provides an innovative, no-nonsense, expedient approach to execute and savor amazing flavors from one of the world's most ancient cuisines. The 25 recipes capture the essence of authentic and inspired Indian cooking for the busy 21st century cook that can be assembled with fresh, local, and easy-to-procure ingredients in mere minutes.

Helpful hints, quick-tips, and convenience products, where applicable, without compromising on the integrity of the flavors pepper the app that include; starters, mains, sides, and desserts. The cream that tops these easy-to-replicate dishes: more than 75 videos of Raghavan hand-holding you through what ingredients like asafetida, chappati flour, and skinned black lentils are all about, techniques that show you how to fold the perfect cone-shaped samosas or roll out dough the right way for making fluffy-thin rotis.

Device Requirements:
* Compatible with iPad
* Requires iOS 5.0 or later
* 476 MB

Pricing and Availability:
Raghavan's Indian Flavors 1.0 is $9.99 USD (or equivalent amount in other currencies) and available worldwide exclusively through the App Store in the Lifestyle category.
Raghavan's Indian Flavors 1.0
Purchase and Download
YouTube Video
Screenshot 1
Screenshot 2
App Icon

TheInformedChef is produced by TheDataManager Inc, a company formed in 2002 with the express goal of creating high quality, low cost consumer and small business applications. The aim was to take price off the table as an issue, then over-deliver from there on. Other applications created by TheDataManager included TheRecipeManager, which is available for Desktop and iPad. Copyright (C) 2011 TheDataManager Inc. All Rights Reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, iPhone, iPod and iPad are registered trademarks of Apple Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries.

Source: http://www.iphonelife.com/promotions/thedatamanager-releases-raghavans-indian-flavors-10-ipad?utm_source=facebook

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Exclusive: An inside look at David Einhorn's "big short" (Reuters)

(Reuters) ? Hedge fund manager David Einhorn is taking an even harder line against Green Mountain Coffee Roasters (GMCR.O), his big short trade, claiming a recent audit committee review of the accounting issues he flagged is nothing more than a "whitewash."

In an exclusive interview with Reuters, Einhorn said he still doubts sales figures and spending plans at the company, which saw its stock soar to $110 in August on the rapid growth of its individual coffee servings or K-cups. When Einhorn revealed in October that he had been building a short position in shares of the company for weeks, the stock tanked and it effectively turned things around for his $8 billion Greenlight Capital fund this year.

"I think everything we said in the presentation is right now as it was then -- and in many cases even more so," said the 43-year-old manager, who runs one of $2 trillion hedge fund industry's better-known long/short funds and also is an accomplished poker player.

In the interview with Reuters, Einhorn blasted the company's audit committee for conducting a "whitewash" review of the concerns he raised in an October 17 presentation entitled, "GAAP-uccino." That presentation hit Green Mountain like a tidal wave, and has sliced the stock's value in half to around $46 as of Tuesday trading.

Einhorn's presentation seemed prescient and awoke traders to potential problems with Green Mountain's growth story. Green Mountain reported a massive earnings disappointment in November in another blow to investor confidence. The stock, which had been a favorite of many in the hedge fund set -- most notably John Thaler's JAT Capital -- now ranks as a popular short for managers.

Green Mountain spokeswoman Suzanne DuLong rejected the suggestion the company has given short-shrift to complaints about its accounting practices.

"The audit committee, with the assistance of counsel and a forensic accounting firm, completed its investigation of accounting practices at the company in December 2010," she said. "Most recently, as our CEO and president, Larry Blanford reported in the November 2011 earnings call: 'We are confident there is no misconduct, there is no wrongdoing.'"

In recent years, Greenlight Capital has emerged as one of the more influential hedge fund firms, and Einhorn is one of a handful of savvy traders who can move markets with his "short' calls. Einhorn made his name by warning about Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc's (LEHMQ.PK) financial health before the investment bank's bankruptcy, and from a long-running battle with the management of Allied Capital Corp (AFC.N), an investment company. A high-profile bid Einhorn made this year to buy a significant minority stake in the New York Mets fell apart this summer -- something of a personal disappointment to the manager who calls himself a lifelong fan of the professional baseball team.

Einhorn would not say how big of a short position in shares of Green Mountain his Greenlight fund still is. But his bet has been something of a life saver for his fund in a difficult climate for many hedge funds. This summer, Greenlight was posting middling returns. In August, for instance, his fund was down 5 percent for the year. Now the fund is up about 5 percent, significantly better than other hedge funds, many of which were down roughly 4.37 percent through November, according to Hedge Fund Research's broadest industry index.

Einhorn hasn't disclosed just how profitable his Green Mountain trade was to his fund. But his talk with Reuters about the trade reveals the manager is clearly sticking to his convictions.

REUTERS: Which of the issues you raised in your presentation do you believe Green Mountain has answered so that you would change them?

EINHORN: "Actually, I think everything we said in the presentation is as right now as it was then -- and in many cases even more so. Some of the things we pointed out, like the inexplicable sales of K-Cups in the June quarter, have now been revealed to have been very valid concerns and the rest remain unanswered. And some of them are things will have to sort of play out in the future like the competition."

REUTERS: Management says that fourth-quarter sales were hurt by wholesale orders, and do not indicate any accounting issues. In other words, you were right, but for the wrong reasons. Were you surprised by the earnings miss?

EINHORN: "The thing about an investment like this is that there are really a lot of ways for us to come out well because the risk-reward for the stock is so poor. And there are so many problems that they don't all have to hit at the same time in order for us to get a good result. In terms of what actually did cause them to miss the quarter? It was largely a sales miss, which seemed to follow from the unexplained sales spike that we highlighted in the presentation."

REUTERS: Management stated, "Though disappointing, we take the recent allegations of misconduct seriously. Our Audit Committee has reviewed the allegations and we are confident there is no misconduct. There is no wrongdoing." What is your response to this?

EINHORN: "Simply saying that you take allegations with misconduct seriously does not mean that you actually take the allegations of misconduct seriously. In other words, their response came only about three weeks after the presentation and there was an enormous amount of material that if somebody was going to take the material comment seriously, they would have to review. It doesn't seem to make a lot of sense to me -- or even be possible -- to think that somebody who took our concerns seriously would even be able to review it in three weeks. As a result, it kind of feels like a whitewash to me. The question at this point, since the company wasn't able to give any substantive answers to the most serious of the questions that were raised -- they instead deferred to a general statement from the audit committee -- the question now becomes whether the audit committee itself is part of the problem as opposed to being a part of the solution."

REUTERS: One of your concerns was that Green Mountain couldn't explain its capital spending. When the company announced earnings, it detailed its capital spending for 2011 and 2012 by category. What did you take away from that?

EINHORN: "I actually think the extra information led further support to our view that the capital spending is unlikely to be going for the purposes that Green Mountain says that they are. In the sense that when you break out the spending, they broke it into various categories.

"For example, they say they are spending $225 million this coming year on portion packs. By our calculation, that would be enough to add approximately 15 billion K-cups of annual capacity. And yet the company only needs to add about 4 billion cups of capacity. So there is a rather large delta there. But the clearest one of all (involving Green Mountain's capital spending) actually is the manufacturing facilities where they said that they are going to spend $175 million. They said the big pieces of this are at their expansion in Virginia and in Ethics, Vermont. We went into the various property records and the building permits relating to these kinds of expansion and we were only able to total in those properties -- and actually including another property in Waterbury, Vermont -- we were only able to find about $50-60 million of capital spending on the pieces that they say are the biggest pieces of the $175 million facilities and infrastructure spent.

"All of this adds together to leave us with the view that it is very unlikely that they have an adequate explanation for where approximately $665 million of capital spending can reasonably go to support the growth of this business."

REUTERS: After Green Mountain announced earnings, there were a raft of insider purchases. Is this a bullish signal for the stock?

EINHORN: "This is something that we see in a number of these types of positions, where when there is an effort by a management team to promote the stock they go and get a large number of insiders to make what we call nominal purchases or to use a term of art to 'paint the tape.' But what's interesting here is that you have a team where they've literally sold stock in the hundreds of millions of dollars -- and are buying back stock in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

"In the more clear example of this, Michael Mardy (Director) sold 20,000 shares for $97.48 on August 5, 2011. He purchased 1,000 shares for $43.36 on November 14, 2011. David Moran (Director) sold 10,000 shares for $98.50 on August 5, 2011. He purchased 1,180 shares for $42.17 on November 14, 2011." (A Green Mountain spokeswoman said the August insider sales were part of a previously arranged share selling program.)

REUTERS: What's fair value on Green Mountain stock?

EINHORN: "I don't think there's any way to know for sure what the fair value is. When I think about this company, I think about the cash flow that it generates. And right now, the company should be in a fantastic position because it still has the monopoly on the ability to make K-cups. And despite that, the company has no cash flow from operations and has substantial capital spending. So it seems to me that a business that doesn't generate any cash -- and this is before the monopoly position on the K-cups disappears next September -- if you don't generate very much cash, it's hard to understand why there is a large value."

(Reporting By Jennifer Ablan; editing by Matthew Goldstein and Edward Tobin)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/business/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111220/bs_nm/us_greenmountain_einhorn

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Child endangerment: TV's hottest new trend?

The biggest trend in finales this year is ? ulp! ? child endangerment.

Shows from "Dexter" to "The Walking Dead" have made kids in danger the dramatic thrust of their finale storylines. "The Walking Dead" even killed a child ? not once but twice ? and had another suffer a ghastly, near-fatal shotgun wound to the gut.

FX's new "American Horror Story" didn't even wait for its finale to start dispatching kids, violently offing a pair of young twins in its first minutes.

Viewers will find out on Sunday's "Dexter" season finale whether Dexter's son, Harrison, will also perish at the altar of TV drama. Previews of the episode show bad guy Colin Hanks threatening to stab the toddler in the neck with a wooden sword.

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Will it be 'Dexter' vs. Deb in season finale?

No harm, of course, came to any actual children in the making of the shows. But whether harm could come to kids who watch them is an open question. (Assuming any parents are clueless enough to let their kids watch surefire nightmare-inducers.)

Many studies have linked violence on TV to actual aggression in children. But violence against children ? or at least so much of it at once ? is new territory.

Thou Shalt Not Kill a Child has long been one of the unspoken commandments of horror movies, to say nothing of TV shows. (Teenagers, especially sexually active ones, are fair game, as Wes Craven spelled out in 1996's "Scream.") Putting young people in danger is one of the cheapest ways to shock an audience ? but can also be a legitimate way to explore serious ethical questions.

Child deaths also play heavily into the plot of Showtime's "Homeland," which concludes its first season after the "Dexter" finale Sunday.

More from TheWrap: Where's the terror in 'American Horror Story'?

Freshman ethics classes love to pose questions about children in danger to explore the concept of utilitarianism ? the idea that the the right course of action is the one that brings about the most overall happiness and the least overall pain. Students are asked to ponder (and sometimes do, for the rest of their lives) whether they would let one child die to save a train full of people, or kill the infant Hitler if it would prevent the Holocaust.

Walt's "Breaking Bad" dilemma fits in cozily alongside those questions: Would you risk a child's life to save yourself and your family?

Shane's decision to kill the hunter in "The Walking Dead" is another utilitarian calculation brought on by child endangerment: He decides the hunter's life is worth less than his own, and that of the boy the hunter shot. The entire search for Sophia also comes down to a cold calculation: Should all the survivors risk their lives to look for one little girl?

Her discovery as a zombie in a barn leads to another ethical debate about who deserves our empathy. The survivors take a fairly strict us vs. them approach to zombies ? until the most vulnerable of "us" becomes one of "them."

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Horror aficionado Eli Roth cleverly riffed on the no-killing-kids rule in his 2005 "Hostel," the extreme 2005 film that helped inspire the phrase "torture porn." The climax of the film includes a moment when a villain seems prepared to run over a pack of children. It seems like the most grueling possible coup de grace to a film filled with grotesqueries.

But ultimately Roth lets the kids win, by swarming their would-be killer. That's right: This is the year basic cable dramas crossed a line that "Hostel" wouldn't.

FX's "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia," which also toys with audiences' boundaries, played with the no-harm to children rule this season in an episode in which a character pretended, for tax purposes, that her baby had died.

More from TheWrap: FX's 'Always Sunny' model: Low costs, total freedom

"I will say this," show creator Rob McElhenney told TheWrap in a recent interview. "That there has never been, nor will there ever be, a sitcom on television where they have a baby funeral. We're the only one."

The only sitcom, sure. But not the only show, the way things are going.

Do you feel the deaths of kids on TV shows this season has been more for shock value or to engage people in ethical discussions? Which death(s) didn't help the storyline? Share your thoughts on the Facebook page for our TV blog, The Clicker.

Source: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/45702131/ns/today-entertainment/

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Officer testifies on soldier's access to secrets

Lt. Dan Choi, gay veteran and activist, center left, and retired US Army Colonel and diplomat Ann Wright, right, march with others in support of Army Pfc. Bradley Manning, present on base at a military court hearing, at Ft. Meade, Md., Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011. Prosecutors began presenting their case that Manning was the source of the WikiLeaks website's collection of U.S. military and diplomatic secrets. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Lt. Dan Choi, gay veteran and activist, center left, and retired US Army Colonel and diplomat Ann Wright, right, march with others in support of Army Pfc. Bradley Manning, present on base at a military court hearing, at Ft. Meade, Md., Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011. Prosecutors began presenting their case that Manning was the source of the WikiLeaks website's collection of U.S. military and diplomatic secrets. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Army Pfc. Bradley Manning, is escorted out of a courthouse in handcuffs, Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011 in Fort Meade, Md. Manning, an Army intelligence specialist accused of passing government secrets spent his 24th birthday in court Saturday as his lawyers argued his status as a gay soldier before the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell" played an important role in his actions. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)

Army Pfc. Bradley Manning, left, is escorted to a security vehicle Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011 in Fort Meade, Md. Manning, an Army intelligence specialist accused of passing government secrets spent his 24th birthday in court Saturday as his lawyers argued his status as a gay soldier before the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell" played an important role in his actions. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)

In this courtroom sketch, an Army attorney Capt. Joe Morrow, left, questions Treasury Department Special Agent Troy Bettencourt, right, about Wikileaks as Investigating Officer Lt. Col. Paul Almanza, center, listens, Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011 in Fort Meade, Md. Manning, an Army intelligence specialist accused of passing government secrets spent his 24th birthday in court Saturday as his lawyers argued his status as a gay soldier before the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell" played an important role in his actions. (AP Photo/William Hennessy) TV OUT, NO ARCHIVE, NO SALES, LOCALS OUT

Army Pfc. Bradley Manning, second from left, is escorted out of a courthouse in handcuffs, Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011 in Fort Meade, Md. Manning, an Army intelligence specialist accused of passing government secrets spent his 24th birthday in court Saturday as his lawyers argued his status as a gay soldier before the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell" played an important role in his actions. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)

(AP) ? An intelligence officer who worked with the Army intelligence analyst accused of giving U.S. secrets to the WikiLeaks website said Sunday that the soldier was considered to have an especially high understanding of enemy threats in Iraq and had to be trusted to keep the material he saw private.

The description of Pfc. Bradley Manning from one of his officers came at the beginning of the third day of a military hearing to determine whether he should be court martialed. He is accused of giving WikiLeaks a trove of government material while working as an intelligence analyst in Iraq in 2009 and 2010, including Iraq and Afghanistan war logs, State Department cables and a military video of a 2007 American helicopter attack in Iraq that killed 11 men.

Capt. Casey Fulton testified for the prosecution that Manning had a "top secret" security clearance, enabling him to view a wide range of classified material. None of the material posted on WikiLeaks was classified higher than "secret."

Fulton said Manning was regarded as having a better understanding than other analysts of enemy threats in Iraq. She said analysts such as Manning, known as all-source analysts, were trained to synthesize intelligence from a wide array of intelligence sources.

Fulton said analysts are trained not to disclose classified information and are not allowed to burn classified information onto CDs for personal use. But she said it was impossible to supervise them 100 percent of the time.

"You have to trust that they'll safeguard the material the way that they've been taught," she said.

Fulton also said that sometime before April 2010 when WikiLeaks released a video featuring an Apache helicopter attack, she saw a similar clip on a workstation computer in Baghdad. She said Manning later showed her that the WikiLeaks clip and the one Fulton had seen were the same. Manning is suspected of leaking the video.

The hearing began Friday at Fort Meade outside Washington and could run several more days. The Army says it may take several more weeks for the commander of the Military District off Washington to decide whether Manning will be court-martialed.

Maj. Gen. Michael Linnington may choose other courses, including administrative punishment or dismissal of the 22 counts against him, including aiding the enemy. He also could add more charges based on evidence produced at the hearing.

Manning, who turned 24 Saturday, could face life in prison if convicted.

The Obama administration says the released information has threatened valuable military and diplomatic sources and strained America's relations with other governments. Manning's lawyers counter that much of the information that was classified by the Pentagon posed no risk.

Among the first issues to arise during weekend testimony was whether Manning's sexual orientation is relevant to the case against him. His attorneys maintained that his status as a homosexual in the military before the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell" contributed to mental and emotional problems that should have barred him from having access to sensitive material.

The defense revealed that Manning had written to one of his supervisors in Baghdad before his arrest, saying he was suffering from gender-identity disorder. He included a picture of himself dressed as a woman and talked about how it was affecting his ability to do his job and even think clearly.

Maj. Matthew Kemkes, one of Manning's lawyers, asked Special Agent Toni Graham, an Army criminal investigator, whether she had talked to people who believed Manning was gay or found evidence among his belongings relating to gender-identity disorder. The condition often is described as a mental diagnosis in which people believe they were born the wrong sex.

Graham said such questions were irrelevant to the investigation.

"We already knew before we arrived that Pfc. Manning was a homosexual," Graham said.

Prosecutors objected several times to the questions. Kemkes responded that if the government can argue that Manning intended to leak secrets, "what is going on in my client's mind is very important."

One of Manning's commanders in Baghdad, Capt. Steven Lim, said Manning should have had his security clearance suspended because of his problems. Lim said the outbursts occurred before he arrived, and that when he learned of them after Manning's arrest, he was shocked. Lim said he was also unaware that Manning believed he was suffering from gender-identity disorder.

Manning's appearances over the last two days in the Fort Meade courtroom marked the first time he has been seen in public after 19 months in detention. The Oklahoma native comes to court in Army camouflage fatigues and wearing dark-rimmed glasses. Manning sat calmly in the courtroom Saturday without appearing to react to the testimony, even when centered on his troubled mental state and homosexuality. Manning listened intently and regularly took notes.

The case has spawned an international support network of people who believe the U.S. government has gone too far in seeking to punish Manning.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2011-12-18-Manning-WikiLeaks/id-97b9c282303c4609a0e786d4303c5dc1

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iPhone 4 Owners Will Be Legally Able to Get Siri (The Atlantic Wire)

Apple rolled out its 5.0.1 version of iOS, and one well-known iPhone hacker has noticed that the update allows Siri to be installed onto older Apple phones legally. Rejoice! "MuscleNerd,?a prominent figure in the jailbreaking and hacking community, recently according to Cult of Mac. Those newly?decrypted?files mean that hackers can legally get Siri up and running on older iPhones?(and PC, according to SlashGear) without breaking copyright law. We've known that illegal Siri hacks were out there before today's announcement, but Siri engineers have indicated in the past that they have "no plans to support older devices." Though it's unclear why Apple would leave such a legal loophole open, SlashGear wonders if we should be excited at all in the first place. "Now one must once again address the idea that since Siri was available BEFORE the iPhone 4S came out, Apple has some sort of magic effect on the public: you didn?t want it until Apple said you couldn?t have it."

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/applecomputer/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/atlantic/20111216/tc_atlantic/iphone4ownerswillbelegallyablegetsiri46317

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The Wintercheck Utility Shower Curtain Stores Your Bath Products In the Curtain for Easy Access [Stuff We Like]

The Wintercheck Utility Shower Curtain Stores Your Bath Products In the Curtain for Easy AccessIf you're tired of cheap shower curtains that get mildewy and shampoos that fall of the ledge of your bathtub all the time, the Wintercheck Utility Shower Curtain solves both problems by storing your bath products in a fast-drying curtain.

Even a traditional shower caddy, while it keeps your stuff off the floor, can feel disorganized when you're sharing your shower with another person (or three). The Utility Shower Curtain has four pockets that keep everything organized, from shampoos and soaps to smaller items like toothbrushes or razors. The pockets drain water out easily to avoid mildew, and the whole curtain is made of fast-dry material to keep your bathroom a bit cleaner than cheap, nylon shower curtains. It's a bit more expensive at $40, of course, but you won't need to buy another one a few months down the line. It comes in a number of colors and is machine washable. Hit the link to check it out.

Utility Shower Curtain | via Cool Tools

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/LN9V_L7qJMI/the-wintercheck-utility-shower-curtain-stores-your-bath-products-in-the-curtain-for-easy-access

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Olympus fixes crooked accounts; takeover talk (Reuters)

TOKYO (Reuters) ? Japan's disgraced Olympus Corp ironed out its crooked accounts on Wednesday, unwinding a 13-year fraud to reveal a $655 million dent in its balance sheet and igniting speculation it would need to merge or sell assets to repair its finances.

The maker of cameras and medical equipment filed five years' worth of corrected statements, plus its overdue first-half results, just hours before a deadline set by the Tokyo Stock Exchange, which would have delisted the firm if it had failed.

The most recent restatement, for end-March 2011, showed a 51 billion yen ($655 million) reduction in Olympus' net assets, and Olympus added that at of end-September, net assets stood at just 46 billion yen, down from a restated 225 billion in March 2007.

It also revealed a net loss of 32.33 billion yen for the six months ended September 30, further fuelling talk that the once-venerable firm would need to take quick steps to shore up its balance sheet or risk becoming prey to a takeover.

"Most probably Olympus has to increase capital. It's best for the company to merge with others rather than rebuild by itself," said Ryosuke Okazaki, chief investment officer at ITC Investment Partners.

Olympus has been dogged by rumors of bid interest from rivals, such as fellow endoscope makers Fujifilm and Hoya, or from private equity since it sacked its British chief executive and the scandal broke in October.

The stock, which has lost about half its value to about $4.7 billion since then, finished the day down 4 percent.

RELIEVED, BUT NOT OUT OF THE WOODS

Some investors were at least relieved on Wednesday that Olympus had met the deadline for fix its accounts, without having slid into technical insolvency at any stage. Olympus also assured investors that it was able to secure continued funding.

"This is extremely positive for Olympus as it can avoid getting delisted after meeting the deadline to submit its earnings," Okazaki said.

Other investors, though, remained wary, noting that the exchange could still delist Olympus if it deemed the past misrepresentations of its financial health were large enough.

"Although liabilities had not exceeded assets, it does not change the fact that they were window-dressing and since the amount involved is so big and the period of time this was going on was so long, it is difficult to say what the Tokyo Stock Exchange will do," said Fujio Ando, senior managing director at Chibagin Asset Management.

"I would not say that fear of delisting has disappeared because they filed their revised earnings."

The Tokyo exchange said after the announcements that it was keeping Olympus in its watchlist for possible delisting.

Some of the restated accounts also came with qualified opinions from auditors, with KPMG AZSA LLC noting that it had been unable to confirm all the money flows involved in the fraud. "We were unable to get sufficient and appropriate proofs for auditing on specific assets and amounts," the auditor wrote.

BOARDROOM BATTLE LOOMS

Olympus triggered the crisis on October 14 when it sacked its British CEO, Michael Woodford, who immediately blew the whistle on the firm's accounting problems. Woodford is now waging a campaign to be reinstated, appealing to shareholders to support his comeback as part of a complete renewal of the board.

The board has committed to resigning over the scandal, but wants to choose its own successors before quitting, setting up the prospect of a proxy war between its own candidates and those being assembled by Woodford as part of his campaign.

"The shareholding balance is such that there is a realistic chance we could win a proxy fight," Woodford said. But he added that such a battle would cause a split between foreign and Japanese shareholders and that he hoped it could be avoided.

Some big foreign shareholders back Woodford's bid but Japanese institutional investors, although reticent, appear worried about whether he can win over the company's employees as well as his plans to turn around the once-proud firm.

"I think it would be harmful because it would show potentially Japan institutional investors are a club," Woodford said about a possible proxy battle.

He said he was willing to meet Olympus President Shuichi Takayama at any time but added incumbent directors were too discredited to be in a position to choose their successors.

Woodford, who was a rare foreign CEO in Japan, also sought to soothe concerns about his plans to restore trust in Olympus.

"I want no part in selling Olympus or breaking it up," he said, adding he would not close down the firm's struggling camera business.

"People say the 'gaijin' president would shut it," Woodford said, using the Japanese word for foreigner. "I wouldn't."

($1 = 77.8450 Japanese yen)

(Additional reporting by Mari Saito, Chikafumi Hodo, Linda Sieg, Tim Kelly and Yoko Kubota; Editing by Mark Bendeich)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/earnings/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111214/bs_nm/us_olympus

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Romney on Newt-slicing media blitz (Politico)

Mitt Romney?s aiming to topple Newt Gingrich with a media blitz that goes deeper with every cut.

Already this week, Romney sat with POLITICO, the Washington Post, the New York Times, CBS, Sean Hannity?s radio show and Fox News twice. In each, he?s taken a swipe that?s lit up the news for the few hours until his next appearance, when he?s expanded just a little more.

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Romney began Monday morning, telling Fox News that Gingrich should return the $1.6 million he was paid by Freddie Mac. Then he told POLITICO that Gingrich is the front-runner, but he?s in for the long haul of an extended primary season, which he believes his campaign will be able to sustain.

Then Tuesday, on a day otherwise devoted to fundraising, Romney told the Post that Gingrich is an ?extremely unreliable leader in the conservative world.?

A sharper knife came out Wednesday, with Romney expanding his personal attacks on Gingrich. He started with the New York Times, saying of Gingrich, ?zany is not what we need in a president.?

He taped an interview Wednesday morning for the CBS Evening News accusing Gingrich of becoming rich because of his prominence in Washington while hitting him for the $500,000 line of credit from Tiffany?s.

?Newt Gingrich has wealth from having worked in government,? Romney said. ?He?s a wealthy man, a very wealthy man. If you have a half a million dollar purchase from Tiffany?s, you?re not a middle class American.?

Two hours before the CBS interview aired, but after he recorded it, Romney laid the groundwork with a reference to the Tiffany?s credit line on Sean Hannity?s radio show, saying Gingrich shouldn?t call him out of touch for offering a $10,000 bet to Rick Perry during Saturday night?s debate ?given a $500,000 bill at Tiffany?s.?

Romney also built up the attack on Gingrich?s conservative credentials during the CBS interview. When Gingrich responded to his calls to return his Freddie Mac earnings by calling for Romney to return his profits from running Bain capital, he said, ?frankly, [I?m] very surprised that he would attack conservatism, he would attack free enterprise, he would attack capitalism,? Romney said. ?This is a party that believes in free enterprise.?

Asked by Jan Crawford if Gingrich is ?in the wrong party,? Romney replied: ?Well, it depends on the day. I just think he?s been unreliable in his support of conservative principles.?

Falling in the polls again Gingrich, Romney?s reverted a policy of inaccessibility ? a low-profile strategy of avoiding reporters, rarely taking questions from crowds and 21 months without doing a Sunday morning talk show.

On the offensive, Romney?s avoided interviews like his much-panned Nov. 29 sit-down with Fox?s Bret Baier, when he appeared brittle and uneasy while answering questions.

Gingrich and Romney are set to be face-to-face and side-by-side at the debate in Sioux City Thursday night, but as of Wednesday, Gingrich?s spokesman declined to respond to the new Romney attacks.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/politics/*http%3A//us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/external/politico_rss/rss_politico_mostpop/http___www_politico_com_news_stories1211_70465_html/43910015/SIG=11mc5rnoe/*http%3A//www.politico.com/news/stories/1211/70465.html

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Royals go globetrotting for Diamond Jubilee (AP)

LONDON ? Buckingham Palace says the royal family will tour the globe to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's 60-year reign.

The palace said Wednesday one of the biggest trips will be the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's visit to Malaysia, Singapore, the Solomon Islands and Tuvalu.

When the queen and her husband the Duke of Edinburgh toured Tuvalu in 1982, they were carried shoulder-high by islanders into the capital. The royal couple then climbed into canoes.

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall will go to Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea. Prince Harry will tour Belize, Jamaica and the Bahamas.

The queen turns 86 in April and the duke 91 in June. Both will be traveling in the UK for the Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/britain/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111214/ap_on_re_eu/eu_britain_royals

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