Looking to build, Gingrich eyes South Carolina (AP)

WASHINGTON ? Republican presidential contender Newt Gingrich looked to turn an endorsement from New Hampshire's largest newspaper into momentum elsewhere, heading to South Carolina for a three-day campaign swing with tea party members.

His leading rival, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, did not schedule campaign appearances on Monday, but his advisers were working to downplay The New Hampshire Union Leader's backing of Gingrich in Romney's back yard. The newspaper's rejection of Romney, who enjoys solid polling leads in that state and has worked to line up activists, stood to potentially reshape the entire campaign.

"We don't back candidates based on popularity polls or big-shot backers. We look for conservatives of courage and conviction who are independent-minded, grounded in their core beliefs about this nation and its people, and best equipped for the job," the newspaper said in its Sunday front-page editorial.

The Union Leader's editorial is a sign that conservative concerns about Romney's shifts on crucial issues of abortion and gay rights were unlikely to fade. Those worries have led Romney to keep Iowa's Jan. 3 caucuses ? where conservatives hold great sway ? at arm's length.

At the same time, the endorsement boosts Gingrich's conservative credentials. He spent the week defending his immigration policies against accusations they represent a form of amnesty. On Monday, Gingrich was to begin a campaign swing through South Carolina, the South's first primary state. There, he will have a town hall meeting with Rep. Tim Scott and tea party activists in Charleston.

Romney, taking a few days' break for the Thanksgiving holiday, has kept focused on a long-term strategy that doesn't lurch from one development to another. Last week, he picked up the backing of Sen. John Thune, a South Dakota conservative, to add to his roster of supporters.

Romney planned to return to the campaign on Tuesday in Florida.

The Union Leader's rejection of Romney wasn't surprising despite his efforts to woo state leaders. The newspaper rejected Romney four years ago in favor of Arizona Sen. John McCain, using front-page columns and editorials to promote McCain and criticize Romney.

Romney, the former Massachusetts governor who has a vacation home in the state and has been called a "nearly native son of New Hampshire," absorbed the blow heading into the Jan. 10 vote that's vital to his campaign strategy.

Yet with six weeks until the primary, The Union Leader's move could again shuffle the race, further boosting Gingrich and driving a steady stream of criticism against his rivals. In recent weeks, the former House speaker has seen a surge in some polls as Republicans focus more closely on deciding who they consider best positioned to take on President Barack Obama.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/gop/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111128/ap_on_el_pr/us_campaign2012

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Amid Egypt's election, Tahrir Square stays relevant (VIDEO)

Egypt's elections have begun amid high turnout and public optimism. But Tahrir Square's protesters are promising to keep the pressure on the country's military rulers.?

The high turnout in the first round of Egypt's elections showed a public embracing the chance to appoint their own representatives after years of sham elections. But it should not be read as widespread acceptance of the military?s monopoly of power, say those who support ongoing protests against military rule.

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?I think that the more people that came to vote it means the more people want the military gone,? says Amira Mikhail, an activist who participates in Tahrir protests and voted yesterday. ?People are saying we want our own government, we want our own representation, so we're asking you to leave.?

The elections held yesterday and today are the first in a three-round process to elect a new lower house of parliament after this year's uprising ousted former President Hosni Mubarak. They come as frustration has grown with the military leaders who took over from Mubarak, who have mismanaged a difficult transition, continued much of Mubarak?s repression, and delayed the timeline for transferring power to civilian rule.

That frustration boiled over in Cairo's Tahrir Square last week and spread as a broad cross-section of Egyptian society joined protests against military rule, threatening to derail elections. The military has sought to discredit such protesters as a minority in a country of 85 million. In a news conference last week, a member of the ruling military council, Maj. General Mukhtar El Mallah, said, ?People in Tahrir do not represent the Egyptian people.?

But while many Egyptians prioritize stability, those willing to protest ? even in the face of violence by security forces ? say all they need is a critical mass.

?Even during the 18 days [of protest against Mubarak], not all 85 million Egyptians were supporting what was happening in the street,? says Ramy Raoof, online media officer at the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, who goes to Tahrir every day after work. Yet enough came out that Mubarak was forced from power. Since then, displays of strength on the street have forced concessions from the military rulers as well.

?Going for demonstrations and protests and going to the elections ? there is no contradiction between them,? says Mr. Raoof. ?Both are to end the military system and SCAF period and another step toward a stable democratic country. We have two paths ? peaceful protests and elections.?

While many Egyptians may have been frustrated with military rulers, what sparked last week's massive demonstrations was brutality by security forces. Such behavior was also a driving factor behind the uprising against Mubarak, whose police tortured and abused citizens with impunity. Repeated police and military violence against protesters over the summer, culminating on Oct. 9, when security forces killed 27, and last week, when they killed more than 40 people across the country over five days, motivated Egyptians to take to the streets by the tens of thousands once more.

Many Egyptians will likely be willing to give the new parliament a chance, and street protests could die down in the meantime. But it is yet unclear how much power the parliament will have. The military council has the final say in legislation, appointing a cabinet, and made moves recently toward having a larger role in the creation of a committee to write the constitution, which was supposed to be the responsibility of the new parliament. If the legislative body is seen as powerless, another crackdown might easily ignite renewed anger and protests.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/u37zccX8vlg/Amid-Egypt-s-election-Tahrir-Square-stays-relevant-VIDEO

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Regis Philbin on a Replacement: Neil Patrick Harris Does a Great Job!

TV talk show host Regis Philbin stopped by The Grove to speak with “Extra” host Maria Menounos in his first interview since retiring from his hit morning show with Kelly Ripa. Who does Reege think should replace him? “Everybody asks me that. Listen to this — George Clooney!” he laughed. But in all seriousness, Philbin [...]

Source: http://www.celebritymound.com/regis-philbin-on-a-replacement-neil-patrick-harris-does-a-great-job/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=regis-philbin-on-a-replacement-neil-patrick-harris-does-a-great-job

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On The Air (talking-points-memo)

Share With Friends: | | Politics - Top Stories News, RSS and RSS Feed via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/167740748?client_source=feed&format=rss

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Monday videos: slowed down investing | Abnormal Returns

• abnormalreturns
• November 28th, 2011

Another Monday, another set of videos worth a longer look.? Today with a focus on value investing we look at Mark Holowesko talking quality stocks and Seth Klarman talks about the psychology of contrarian investing.? As a bonus a look at the ?ice finger of death.?? We hope enjoy the videos.

Mark Holowesko talks with Consuelo Mack about the opportunities in today?s market. (Wealthtrack)

Seth Klarman talks with Charlie Rose and answers why it is so hard to find a copy of Margin of Safety.? (Vimeo via Fund My Mutual Fund)

Very cool video. The ice finger of death.? (YouTube via kottke)

Abnormal Returns is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. If you click on my Amazon.com links and buy anything, even something other than the product advertised, I earn a small commission, yet you don't pay any extra. Thank you for your support.

The information in this blog post represents my own opinions and does not contain a recommendation for any particular security or investment. I or my affiliates may hold positions or other interests in securities mentioned in the Blog, please see my Disclaimer page for my full disclaimer.

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Source: http://abnormalreturns.com/monday-videos-slowed-down-investing/

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Karzai: Afghan forces to take lead in more areas (AP)

KABUL, Afghanistan ? Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Saturday approved a second list of areas, home to half the nation's population, where Afghan forces will soon start taking the lead from foreign troops.

The handover, expected to begin by early next year, is the second step in a transition that Karzai hopes will leave Afghan forces in control of the entire country by the end of 2014, when the U.S.-led coalition's combat mission is scheduled to end.

Most of the areas are in the north and west, but the list also includes places that have experienced recent attacks, as well as parts of the country near Taliban-controlled areas.

The first seven areas began transition in July. They were four provincial capitals ? Herat, Lashkar Gah, Mehterlam and Mazer-e-Sharif ? as well as all of Bamiyan and Panjshir provinces and all of Kabul province, except the restive Surobi district.

The second slate of transition areas that Karzai approved are:

_Nimroz, Day Kundi, Samangan, Takhar and Balkh provinces.

_Parwan province, except Shinwari and Siahgerd districts.

_Sar-e-Pul province, except Sayyad district.

_Ghazni, the provincial capital of Ghazni province.

_Jalalabad, the provincial capital of Nangarhar, plus Beshud, Kama, Kuzhunar and Surkh Rod districts.

_Maidan Shah, the provincial capital of Wardak province, plus Jalrez district and the Beshud area.

_Badghis districts of Ab Kamari and Qalay-e-Naw, which includes the provincial capital.

_Nadi Ali and Nawa districts of Helmand.

_Qarghayee district of Laghman.

_Surobi district of Kabul.

_Herat province, except for Shindand, Obe and Chishti Sharif districts.

_Eight districts of Badakhshan province ? Shahri, Buzurg, Argo, Yaftal-e-Sufla, Faizabad, Arghanj Khwah, Baharak, Tashkan and Kishim.

_Chaghcharan, the capital of Ghor province.

_Shibirghan, the capital of Jawzjan province.

Separately, NATO said two of its service members have been killed in Afghanistan, one in combat operations in the east and the other by a roadside bomb in the south.

NATO statements issued on Sunday did not include any further details. The main brunt of the fighting between international forces and insurgents is taking place in the east and in the south.

The deaths bring NATO's total deaths to 24 this month and 514 for the year.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111127/ap_on_re_as/as_afghanistan

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Rage grips Pakistan over NATO attack (Reuters)

ISLAMABAD/KABUL (Reuters) ? Fury spread in Pakistan on Sunday over a NATO cross-border air attack that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers and could undermine the U.S. effort to wind up the war in Afghanistan.

On Sunday night in Pakistan, more than 40 hours after the incident, many questions remained.

NATO described the killings as a "tragic unintended incident" and said an investigation was underway. A Western official and an Afghan security official who requested anonymity said NATO troops were responding to fire from across the border.

It's possible both explanations are correct: that a retaliatory attack by NATO troops took a tragic, mistaken turn in harsh terrain where identifying friend and foe can be difficult.

Militants often attack from Pakistani soil or flee after combat across a porous border that NATO-led troops, under their United Nations mandate, cannot cross.

What is clear is the incident could undermine U.S. efforts to improve ties with Pakistan so that the regional power helps stabilize Afghanistan before NATO combat troops go home by the end of 2014.

The attack was the latest perceived provocation by the United States, which infuriated Pakistan's powerful military with a unilateral special forces raid that killed al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in May.

Thousands gathered outside the American consulate in the city of Karachi to protest against the NATO attack.

A Reuters reporter at the scene said the angry crowd shouted "Down with America". One young man climbed on the wall surrounding the heavily fortified compound and attached a Pakistani flag to barbed wire.

"America is attacking our borders. The government should immediately break ties with it," said Naseema Baluch, a housewife attending the demonstration. "America wants to occupy our country but we will not let it do that."

Pakistan buried the troops killed in the attack on Sunday. Television stations showed coffins draped in green and white Pakistani flags in a prayer ceremony at the headquarters of the regional command in Peshawar, attended by army chief General Ashfaq Kayani.

The NATO attack highlights the difficulties faced by the United States as it tries to secure the unruly border area that is home to some of the world's most dangerous militant groups who have mastered the harsh mountainous landscape.

Around 40 troops were stationed at the outposts at the time of the attack, military sources said.

Militants targeting NATO forces have long taken advantage of the fact that the alliance's mandate ends at the border to either attack from within Pakistan or flee to relative safety after an attack.

Three Pakistani soldiers were killed last year by NATO gunships. NATO said then that its forces had mistaken warning shots from Pakistani forces for a militant attack.

In the latest incident, a Western official and a senior Afghan security official said NATO and Afghan forces had come under fire from across the border with Pakistan before NATO aircraft attacked a Pakistani army post, killing the soldiers.

"They came under cross-border fire," the Western official said, without identifying the source of the fire.

The Afghan official said troops had come under fire from inside Pakistan as they were descending from helicopters, which had returned fire.

Both officials asked not to be named because the attack is so sensitive.

Pakistan has said the attack was an unprovoked assault and has said it reserves the right to retaliate.

STRAINED RELATIONS

U.S. and NATO officials are trying to defuse tensions but the soldiers' deaths are testing a bad marriage of convenience between Washington and Islamabad.

Many Pakistanis believe their army is fighting a war against militants that only serves Western interests.

Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar spoke with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton by telephone early on Sunday to convey "the deep sense of rage felt across Pakistan" and warned that the incident could undermine efforts to improve relations, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Pakistan shut down NATO supply routes into Afghanistan in retaliation for the incident, the worst of its kind since Islamabad uneasily allied itself with Washington following the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States.

Pakistan is the route for nearly half of NATO supplies shipped overland to its troops in Afghanistan. Land shipments account for about two thirds of the alliance's cargo.

A similar incident on Sept 30, 2010, which killed two Pakistani service personnel, led to the closure of one of NATO's supply routes through Pakistan for 10 days.

U.S. ties with Pakistan have suffered several big setbacks starting with the unilateral U.S. special forces raid in May that killed bin Laden in a Pakistani town where he had apparently been living for years.

Pakistan condemned the secret operation as a flagrant violation of its sovereignty, while suspicions arose in Washington that members of Pakistan's military intelligence had harbored the al Qaeda leader.

The military came under unprecedented criticism from both Pakistanis who said it failed to protect the country and American officials who said bin Laden's presence was proof the country was an unreliable ally in the war on militancy.

Pakistan's army, one of the world's largest, may see the NATO incursion from Afghanistan as a chance to reassert itself, especially since the deaths of the soldiers are likely to unite generals and politicians, whose ties are normally uneasy.

Pakistan's jailing of a CIA contractor, Raymond Davis, and U.S. accusations that Pakistan backed a militant attack on the U.S. embassy in Kabul have added to the tensions.

"From Raymond Davis and his gun slinging in the streets of Lahore to the Osama bin Laden incident, and now to the firing on Pakistani soldiers on the volatile Pakistan-Afghan border, things hardly seem able to get any worse," said the Daily Times.

Islamabad depends on billions in U.S. aid and Washington believes Pakistan can help it bring about peace in Afghanistan.

But it is constantly battling Anti-American sentiment over everything from U.S. drone aircraft strikes to Washington's calls for economic reforms.

"We should end our friendship with America. It's better to have animosity with America than friendship. It's nobody's friend," said laborer Sameer Baluch.

In Karachi, dozens of truck drivers who should have been transporting supplies to Afghanistan were idle.

Taj Malli braves the threat of Taliban attacks to deliver supplies to Afghanistan so that he can support his children. But he thinks it is time to block the route permanently in protest.

"Pakistan is more important than money. The government must stop all supplies to NATO so that they realize the importance of Pakistan," he said.

But some Pakistanis doubt their leaders have the resolve to challenge the United States.

"This government is cowardly. It will do nothing," said Peshawar shopkeeper Sabir Khan. "Similar attacks happened in the past, but what have they done?"

(Additional reporting by Zeeshan Haider in Islamabad, Izaz Mohmand and Aftab Ahmed in Peshawar, Imtiaz Shah in Karachi, and David Brunnstrom in Brussels; Writing by Michael Georgy; Editing by Peter Graff)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/world/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111127/wl_nm/us_pakistan_nato

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Sony Ericsson to shut down Sync service, recommends Google Sync instead

Like bubbles casually floating on the horizon, Sony Ericsson's Sync service is about to fade into obscurity. Last week, the company formerly known as Sony Ericsson confirmed that Sync will be shut down on December 29th, in favor of similar offerings from Google and other companies. In a statement posted to its site, the manufacturer explained that the service had to be cut, "since it was meant for old generation phones and our aim is to create a more enhanced and integrated smartphone experience for you." Sony Ericsson suggests using Google Sync as an alternative, though Plaxo and UNYK are also viable. Check out the source link below for detailed instructions on how to make the transition.

Sony Ericsson to shut down Sync service, recommends Google Sync instead originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Nov 2011 05:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/28/sony-ericsson-to-shut-down-sync-service-recommends-google-sync/

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Occupy LA, Philly prepare for evictions

David Mcnew/Reuters

A man packs his personal belongings next to his tent Saturday in anticipation of a police raid to evict the Occupy LA encampment outside City Hall in Los Angeles. The deadline to vacate is 12:01 a.m. PST Monday.

By msnbc.com staff and wire reports

Anti-Wall Street protesters appear to be taking few steps to vacate their Occupy encampments in Philadelphia and Los Angeles despite fast-approaching deadlines to move out.

Few broke down tents at the Occupy LA spread Saturday on the City Hall lawn ? and most said they didn't intend to.

Protesters were abuzz with activity, but nearly all of it was aimed at how to deal with authorities come Monday's 12:01 a.m. PST deadline.

Some handed out signs mocked up to look like the city's notices to vacate, advertising a Monday morning "eviction block party."

Dozens attended a teach-in on resistance tactics, including how stay safe in the face of rubber bullets, tear gas canisters and pepper spray.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa announced on Friday that despite his sympathy for the protesters' cause, it was time for the camp of nearly 500 tents to leave for the sake of public health and safety.

The mayor said the movement is at a "crossroads," and it must "move from holding a particular patch of park to spreading the message of economic justice."

Resist or move?
Will Picard, who sat Saturday in a tent amid his artwork with a "notice of eviction" sign posted outside, said the main organizers and most occupiers he knows intend to stay.

"Their plan is to resist the closure of this encampment and if that means getting arrested so be it," Picard said. "I think they just want to make the police tear it down rather than tear it down themselves."

But some agreed with the mayor that the protest had run its course.

"I'm going," said Luke Hagerman, who sat looking sad and resigned in the tent he's stayed in for a month. "I wish we could have got more done."

Police gave few specifics about what tactics they would use for those who had no intention of leaving.

Chief Charlie Beck said at Friday's news conference that officers would definitely not be sweeping through the camp and arresting everyone just after midnight.

But in an interview with the Los Angeles Times on Sunday, Beck said that despite the lack of confrontations in the camp's two-month run, he was realistic about what must happen.

"I have no illusions that everybody is going to leave," Beck told the Times. "We anticipate that we will have to make arrests."

But he added, "We certainly will not be the first ones to apply force."

New focus in Philly
In Philadelphia, The New York Times reported, Saturday looked nothing like a moving day despite Mayor Michael A. Nutter?s notice that protesters must leave the steps of City Hall by 5 p.m. Sunday.

The mayor said they could move across the street to Thomas Paine Plaza, but no more tents or overnight stays, NBC Philadelphia reported.

?I'm not going to try to predict what?s going to happen on Sunday at 5 p.m,? Nutter said at a Friday interview.

Protesters told the Times that the deadline had focused the local movement?s otherwise disorganized energies.

?Having this kind of pressure is a good thing,? Michael Pierce, 50, a member of Occupy Philadelphia?s information working group, said. ?Without some of the struggles that the other cities have had, we?ve been sitting around, drinking coffee,? Mr. Pierce said. ?This is bringing us back together.?

Police have swept tent cities in Portland, Ore., Oakland, Calif., New York City, Denver and Salt Lake City.

In other developments Saturday:

• Occupy Salem, Ore., organizers said they will take their protests to Marion Square Park for daytime demonstrations after being ordered to remove all tents, waste, portable toilets and other structures from Willson Park, near the state Capitol.
• In New York, Occupy Wall Street organizers said they plan to outside the Egyptian Embassy on Tuesday in solidarity with protesters in Cairo?s Tahrir Square.
• An 18-year-old University of South Dakota freshman reported missing earlier this week turned up in New York after authorities traced a credit card purchase for bus tickets to the Big Apple. Protester Aaron Schmidt met up with his father and uncle in New York after spending two nights on a cardboard in Zuccotti Park.

Source: http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/11/26/9042708-occupy-la-philly-prepare-for-evictions

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ASUS Transformer Prime user manual, kernel, drivers now available

You can't buy it just yet, but ASUS has gone ahead and released the user manual, kernel source, drivers and other software related to its upcoming Transformer Prime Android tablet. You're not going to find much you haven't already read in our Transformer Prime preview -- you're looking at a 10.1-inch tablet running the new quad-core Tegra 3 system on-a-chip. The Transformer Prime is still set to launch sometime in early December, with an upgrade to Ice Cream Sandwich to follow soon after.

Source: ASUS; thanks, @tomtsp, for the tip!

Transformer Prime Forums | Transformer Prime Specs | More on NVIDIA's Tegra 3

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/0Q7nuYJrHbc/story01.htm

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Rio Tinto sees customers turning cautious (Reuters)

MELBOURNE/SYDNEY (Reuters) ? Global miner Rio Tinto (RIO.AX) (RIO.L) warned on Monday that further cracks could be emerging in global commodities markets as the economies of Europe and the U.S. waver, with its customers increasingly cautious on the outlook.

Still, the world's second largest miner of iron ore and a large producer of copper, coal, aluminum and other industrial staples, said it was able to sell all the commodities it could produce.

The company's comments matched rival BHP Billiton (BHP.AX)(BLT.L), which earlier this month turned slightly more bearish on commodities demand, warning that some buyers were facing tighter access to credit.

In a statement ahead of an investor briefing, Rio Chief Executive Tom Albanese said continuing stresses in the euro zone and a weaker outlook for the U.S. economy were affecting customer sentiment, which had become more negative in recent months.

"For the near term I am concerned about the general softening of prices when we continue to see cost escalation and strong currencies in Australia and Canada," Albanese said.

"But while there are signs of nervousness, we believe the impact of current economic concerns on our business is manageable, unless financial markets substantially deteriorate," he said.

At the same time, Rio said it had approved $14 billion for projects in 2012 and said that could increase.

It also said it was raising its iron ore expansion target by 20 million tonnes to 353 million tonnes a year by the first half of 2015.

Albanese said prices for copper, coal and other Rio products were "holding up" with the exception of aluminum which is now priced well below the industry's marginal cost of production.

London Metal Exchange-traded three-month aluminum ended at $1,993 a tonne in the last session, close to its lowest since July last year of $1,982.25.

In response to toughening market conditions in aluminum, Rio is already making plans to permanently close its Lynemouth smelter in the UK.

It has also put its Australian and New Zealand smelters up for sale and placed its Sebree plant in the U.S. under review.

(Editing by Lincoln Feast)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/economy/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111127/bs_nm/us_riotinto

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Polaroid Z340 Instant Digital Camera

The Polaroid Z340 Instant Digital Camera ($299.99 direct), isn't Polaroid's first digital iteration of the Polaroid film camera, but it's the first one to let you go beyond wallet-size photos, upping the picture size to 3 by 4 inches. Basically a fully integrated combination of a 14-megapixel camera with a second-generation ZINK printer, it delivers on ease of use, reasonably good quality for the printed photos, and, most of all, the traditional Polaroid promise of letting you snap a picture and have the finished photo in hand in less than minute.

The Z340 is a lot closer in physical design to the consumer-level Polaroid film cameras we remember than the first version was. The Polaroid PoGo Instant Digital Camera ($200 street, 4 stars) that we reviewed a little more than two years ago was basically a 1.4-inch-thick rectangular box, with a slot on the side for the photos to exit through. The photos were only wallet size, at 2 by 3 inches.

The Z340's wedge shape is reminiscent of some of the old film models. The dimensions, not counting the hand strap on the side or the tiltable LCD in its fully up position, are 4.8 inches deep by 5.8 inches wide, with a height of about 2.3 inches in front tapering off to about 1.3 inches in back. If you went back to, say, the 1980s with it, and handed it to someone to take your picture, they'd probably be impressed by the 2.7-inch color LCD for framing the image, but they'd probably not notice anything else special about it. Just snap the picture, and a reasonably good-quality print comes out the front slot.

The Camera
The camera side of the Z340 offers lots of control of features like ISO settings and white balance. Casual photographers will want to ignore these in favor of the Auto setting, but more serious photographers will appreciate having them. It also offers about 30 different scene modes, including Portrait, Sunset, and Backlight.

As with Polaroid's first-generation digital camera, the Z340's fixed focus lens is arguably its defining feature. Polaroid says it left out an optical zoom to help keep the camera size down. However, that puts the Z340 in a category that hardly exists any more except with camera phones.

The Z340 does offer a digital zoom, which for most cameras would be best ignored. In context of an instant camera, however, where you'll be printing the photo immediately, the feature can be useful, since it will effectively let you crop the picture when you take it.

Keep in mind too that although you can treat the Z340 like any digital camera, saving photos as files and then sending them by email, posting them to an online site, or printing them on any printer you like, that isn't how you're most likely to use it. The whole point of the camera is that it lets you print your photos on the spot using the built-in printer. If you plan to use it primarily as a standard camera without a printer, you're better off getting a model that fits that description.

Camera Tests
The Z340 is one of the slower cameras we've tested. It requires a full 4.4 seconds to start up and grab a shot, averages 0.7 second between hitting the shutter button and capturing a photo, and makes you wait 2.8 seconds between photos in continuous drive mode. This won't be a major issue if you're printing photos as you shoot, but if you're selectively printing the best snapshots, the delay can cause you to miss some candid moments.

On the plus side, the image quality for capturing photos, as distinct from the image quality for the final printed photo, is surprisingly good. The 14-megapixel camera recorded 1,948 lines per picture height of resolution according to Imatest. This exceeds the 1,800-line mark that denotes a sharp image. The camera also scored well in low-light performance, keeping its images well under the 1.5 percent noise threshold through its top standard ISO setting of 1600. There's some evidence of in-camera noise reduction, so you can expect to lose some detail as you increase the ISO, but not so much that the small prints that the camera produces will suffer. There are also two extended ISO modes, 3200 and 6400, for extreme low-light shooting. You'll want to use these sparingly, since they limit image resolution to 3 megapixels.

The Printer
The Z340 uses the same print engine as the Polaroid Grey Label GL10 Instant Mobile Printer ($169.99 direct, 4 stars) that we reviewed about a year ago. The printer uses ZINK technology, which means it doesn't need separate ink and paper. The ink?or, more precisely, what serves as ink?is embedded in the paper as clear dye crystals. The printer uses heat to activate the color and create images.

Not having to load ink and paper separately makes printer setup simple. Open the input door, slide in the paper, and close the door. We ran into a little trouble getting the paper fully inserted, but solved it by using a pen point to push the paper in fully. People with small hands might not have the same problem. Note that the camera comes with one 10-sheet pack of photo paper, which is the maximum it can hold at once. Additional paper is $19.99 for three packs of 10 sheets, which works out to 66.6 cents per photo.

You can set the printer to print immediately after taking a picture, but the feature is off by default. The other choice is to navigate to a picture to preview it on the LCD, hit the Print button, optionally crop the image, add a white border or graphic border, or correct red-eye, and then hit the print button again to print. We timed the printer at a reasonably consistent 44 to 48 seconds per photo.

Output quality isn't a match for a typical inkjet. We saw a slight soft focus effect in most photos, and colors in some cases were a bit off. A blue sky in one photo, for example, came out as bluish gray, and the red autumn leaves on one tree came out as purple. There was also a slight loss of subtle shading, so one photo of a landscape, for example, looked more like a photo of a painting that a photo of a real landscape. Even so, the quality was generally suitable for snapshots, and most casual photographers will probably be satisfied with the results.

Battery life was a pleasant surprise. Polaroid claims that a fully charged battery is good for 25 prints plus 75 snapshots with flash. In our tests of printing only, it outlasted the paper we had available for testing, still going strong on a single charge after 40 prints.

The Combination
As anyone who has ever used a Polaroid film camera knows, bringing along a camera that prints is qualitatively different from bringing along a camera plus a printer. It's simply a lot easier, and a lot less cumbersome, to take a picture and print it on the same fully integrated gadget than to carry two gadgets so you can take the picture on one and print it on the other.

On that score alone, the Polaroid Z340 Instant Digital Camera succeeds quite nicely. We'd like it a lot better if the final result?namely, the printed photos?were of a higher quality or the initial price and running cost were lower. But if you don't mind the level of output quality for the price, it's otherwise highly attractive as a fun toy, or, in some cases, a useful tool for work, when you want the convenience of taking pictures and then printing them with minimal effort.?

More Photo Printer Reviews:
??? Epson Stylus Photo R2000
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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ziffdavis/pcmag/~3/C6X590uS8EQ/0,2817,2396778,00.asp

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Speed's death casts pall

/

By STUART CONDIE

updated 5:58 p.m. ET Nov. 27, 2011

LONDON - The death of Wales manager Scott Speed cast a shadow over the English Premier League games on Sunday.

Liverpool and Manchester City observed a moment of silence before their 1-1 draw at Anfield hours after news broke that Speed had been found dead at age 42. Asked to do the same, the fans at Swansea's 0-0 draw with Aston Villa instead opted for an impromptu minute's applause and chanted Speed's name.

Villa goalkeeper Shay Given was in tears thinking of his former Newcastle teammate, while Wales striker Craig Bellamy was so upset he was left off Liverpool's squad.

"It is a devastating loss for football and my heart goes out to Gary Speed's family," Villa manager Alex McLeish said. "We would have understood if Swansea had wanted to cancel the game. We would certainly have agreed with that."

Four members of Speed's Wales squad were involved at Swansea's Liberty Stadium in south Wales. Ashley Williams, Neil Taylor and Joe Allen started for the home side and James Collins lined up for Villa.

"We decided from our end that we wanted to play as a mark of respect for Gary because he was a great man of football," Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers said. "It is just so sad. He had been doing a fantastic job for Wales, and it's a sad day for football."

The game at Anfield was more eventful as Liverpool did old rival Manchester United a favor by becoming only the second team this season to stop unbeaten City from winning in the Premier League.

Vincent Kompany put City ahead in the 31st minute when he glanced a header into the top corner from David Silva's corner kick, but Joleon Lescott's outstretched leg deflected Charlie Adam's shot past goalkeeper Joe Hart for an own goal that tied it just two minutes later.

Mario Balotelli received the third red card of his City career, but Hart made a couple of strong stops to keep the game tied. Silva could have won it for 10-man City but his shot was blocked on the line by one of a trio of covering defenders.

With 11 wins and two draws from 13 games, City leads defending champion United by five points.

___

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) ? Real Sociedad defender Inigo Martinez converted a spectacular last-minute shot from inside his own half on Sunday to give his team a 3-2 win at Real Betis in the Spanish league.

The game looked to be headed for a draw but Martinez pushed forward and caught Betis goalkeeper Casto Espinosa off his line with a perfectly placed left-footed lob from near halfway out on the left.

"The ending to the game was just cruel," said Betis coach Pepe Mel, whose team has lost eight of the last nine matches after a strong start to the season.

Martinez scored a similar goal from the halfway line in a 2-1 loss to Athletic Bilbao earlier this season.

The game in Seville came alive following a scoreless first half. Antoine Griezmann missed a penalty kick for Sociedad before visiting Basque went in front on Imanol Agirretxe's 56th-minute header and Carlos Vela's goal in the 76th.

Substitute forward Jonathan Pereira pulled Betis level with goals in the 81st and 85th before Martinez's dramatic winner.

Sociedad ended an eight-game winless run and provisionally moved out of the relegation zone.

Also Sunday, Levante routed Sporting Gijon 4-0 to end a three-game losing streak in the Spanish league.

Levante stayed in fourth place, one point behind Valencia, with the first victory since its memorable start to the season took it to the top of the league for the first time in its history.

"No one can doubt this team," Levante coach Juan Ignacio Martinez said. "The important thing is that we have already earned 26 points at this stage of the season."

Also, 10-man Mallorca beat Racing Santander 2-1 for its first win since Joaquin Caparros replaced Michael Laudrup as coach, while Osasuna also played a man down for the final 15 minutes and held on for a 2-1 win at Espanyol. Granada beat Athletic Bilbao 1-0, and Sevilla edged Zaragoza 1-0.

___

BERLIN (AP) ? Bayern Munich wasted a chance to go top of the Bundesliga after losing at Mainz 3-2 on Sunday.

Andreas Ivanschitz, Marco Caligiuri and Niko Bungert scored for the home side, with Daniel van Buyten scoring twice for Bayern. The Bayern defender almost completed a hat trick in injury time but fired wide from close range.

Bayern slipped to third after its second straight loss, one point behind defending champion Borussia Dortmund. Dortmund beat Bayern last weekend and leads Borussia Moenchengladbach on goal difference.

Ivanschitz opened the scoring in the 11th minute when Nicolai Mueller split the Bayern defense with a perfect ball for the Austrian, who slotted it in from a narrow angle.

Van Buyten equalized in the 56th with a header shortly before Caligiuri scored from about 30 yards away to put Mainz back ahead.

Defender Bungert thought sealed the win with a header from a corner in the 74th but Van Buyten ensured a tight finish when he scored again five minutes later.

Also Sunday, Naldo's powerful free kick helped Werder Bremen move back up to fourth with a 2-0 win over Stuttgart.

Brazilian defender Naldo unleashed a shot from the edge of the penalty area into the top right corner in the 67th, as Bremen coped without the injured Claudio Pizarro to bounce back from last week's 5-0 loss at Moenchengladbach.

Aaron Hunt broke the deadlock 10 minutes earlier with a shot through goalkeeper Sven Ulreich's legs.

"Many players weren't at their normal levels today," Stuttgart coach Bruno Labbadia said. "We just weren't as consistent as we were in previous weeks."

___

MILAN (AP) ? Inter Milan needed a last-minute goal from Luc Castaignos to beat 10-man Siena 1-0 on Sunday and move further away from the Serie A relegation zone.

Inter's second straight league win lifted it to 15th in the standings, four points off the bottom three.

Inter leapfrogs Fiorentina, which lost 2-0 at Palermo on goals from Fabrizio Miccoli and Josip Ilicic. Fiorentina had Cesare Natali sent off in the final minutes after he picked up a second yellow card for dissent.

Also Sunday, Adrian Mutu had two goals to lead Cesena a 2-0 win over Genoa, and Cagliari drew 1-1 with Bologna. Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored his 100th Serie A goal to help AC Milan crush Chievo 4-0 and keep the pressure on Serie A leader Juventus.

Inter is 11 points behind Juventus, which also has a game in hand, but coach Claudio Ranieri has not given up hope of making up lost ground.

"I don't know if now we're back in it," Ranieri said. "I said this game was important because they're all finals for us. We have to always look to win. It will be very difficult but that's our aim."

Inter had few chances during a tight match at the Stadio Artemio Franchi.

Thiago Motta found Castaignos in the middle of the area and the Dutch youngster managed to squeeze a shot in between two Siena defenders for his first goal in Inter colors.

Siena striker Franco Brienza was sent off seconds after the goal for dissent.

Cesena also managed to record a second consecutive victory. Genoa missed several chances to take the lead.

Cesena moves into 19th in the standings and now has a point more than Lecce, which takes over bottom spot. And Fiorentina is closer to being sucked into a relegation battle.

Miccoli beat the offside trap in the 22nd minute to give the home side the lead. The Palermo captain timed his run to perfection as he raced onto Ilicic's through ball before slotting home for his fourth goal this season.

Miccoli was taken off the field on a stretcher at the end of the first half after complaining of a right knee problem.

___

PARIS (AP) ? Paris St Germain surrendered the lead to Montpellier in the French league on Sunday as Marseille bounced back from two straight losses to beat its big-spending rival 3-0.

Marseille was under pressure after losing to Montpellier last weekend and to Greek side Olympiakos in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Lyon routed Auxerre 3-0. Argentine striker Lisandro Lopez headed home a cross from Michel Bastos in the 20th minute before beating the offside trap in the 69th to slip the ball past goalkeeper Olivier Sorin.

Bastos sealed the win with a chip in the 88th.

Also Sunday, Arnold Mvuemba converted a penalty in the 63rd to give Lorient a 1-0 win over Nice.

___

AMSTERDAM (AP) ? Miralem Sulejmani scored twice as Ajax beat NEC Nijmegen 3-0 to move fourth in the Dutch league on Sunday.

Newcomer Davy Klaassen also scored as Ajax ended its two-game winless streak.

John Guidetti and Jerson Cabral scored in the last 15 minutes to give Feyenoord a 2-1 comeback win over RKC Waalwijk.

Also Sunday, Leen van Steensel scored in the first minute in Excelsior Rotterdam's 1-1 draw against ADO The Hague. Jens Toornstra replied with a second half goal for ADO.

___

GLASGOW, Scotland (AP) ? Defending champion Rangers lost for the first time this season, 1-0 at Kilmarnock, cutting its Scottish Premier League lead cut to four points.

Manuel Pascali headed the only goal with 10 minutes remaining as Kilmarnock recorded a home win over Rangers for the first time since 1994.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/45455742/ns/sports-soccer/

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Ancient environment found to drive marine biodiversity

ScienceDaily (Nov. 24, 2011) ? Much of our knowledge about past life has come from the fossil record -- but how accurately does that reflect the true history and drivers of biodiversity on Earth?

"It's a question that goes back a long way to the time of Darwin, who looked at the fossil record and tried to understand what it tells us about the history of life," says Shanan Peters, an assistant professor of geoscience at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

In fact, the fossil record can tell us a great deal, he says in a new study. In a report published on Nov. 25 in Science magazine, he and colleague Bjarte Hannisdal, of the University of Bergen in Norway, show that the evolution of marine life over the past 500 million years has been robustly and independently driven by both ocean chemistry and sea level changes.

The time period studied covered most of the Phanerozoic eon, which extends to the present and includes the evolution of most plant and animal life.

Hannisdal and Peters analyzed fossil data from the Paleobiology Database along with paleoenvironmental proxy records and data on the rock record that link to ancient global climates, tectonic movement, continental flooding, and changes in biogeochemistry, particularly with respect to oxygen, carbon, and sulfur cycles. They used a method called information transfer that allowed them to identify causal relationships -- not just general associations -- between diversity and environmental proxy records.

"We find an interesting web of connections between these different systems that combine to drive what we see in the fossil record," Peters says. "Genus diversity carries a very direct and strong signal of the sulfur isotopic signal. Similarly, the signal from sea level, how much the continents are covered by shallow seas, independently propagates into the history of marine animal diversity."

The dramatic changes in biodiversity seen in the fossil record at many different timescales -- including both proliferations and mass extinctions as marine animals diversified, evolved, and moved onto land -- likely arose through biological responses to changes in the global carbon and sulfur cycles and sea level through geologic time.

The strength of the interactions also shows that the fossil record, despite its incompleteness and the influence of sampling, is a good representation of marine biodiversity over the past half-billion years.

"These results show that the number of species in the oceans through time has been influenced by the amount and availability of carbon, oxygen and sulfur, and by sea level," says Lisa Boush, program director in the National Science Foundation's Division of Earth Sciences, which funded the research. "The study allows us to better understand how modern changes in the environment might affect biodiversity today and in the future."

Peters says the findings also emphasize the interconnectedness of physical, chemical, and biological processes on Earth.

"Earth systems are all connected. It's important to realize that because when we perturb one thing, we're not just affecting that one thing. There are consequences throughout the whole Earth system," he says. "The challenge is understanding how perturbation of one thing -- for example, the carbon cycle -- will eventually affect the future biodiversity of the planet."

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of Wisconsin-Madison, via Newswise.

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

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Journal Reference:

1. B. Hannisdal, S. E. Peters. Phanerozoic Earth System Evolution and Marine Biodiversity. Science, 2011; 334 (6059): 1121 DOI: 10.1126/science.1210695

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

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111124150835.htm

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Video: Could a third party candidate win the 2012 race?

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Creditors back expedited Dodgers' TV rights sale (Reuters)

(Reuters) ? The committee of unsecured creditors for the bankrupt Los Angeles Dodgers threw its support behind the team's effort to sell TV broadcast rights earlier than expected, riling News Corp's Fox Sports.

In a document filed in Delaware bankruptcy court on Wednesday, the committee said it believed the expedited sale of the telecast rights would help facilitate the team's exit from bankruptcy and maximize the team's value.

This week, bankruptcy judge Kevin Gross appointed retired federal judge Joseph Farnan Jr. as a mediator to try to sort out the dispute between the team and Fox Sports regarding the sale of television telecast rights. The mediation is set to start on November 28 in Los Angeles.

Fox has a contract to broadcast Dodgers games through 2013 and the exclusive right to negotiate a new contract starting November 2012.

The Dodgers filed for bankruptcy protection in June as owner Frank McCourt struggled to cover costs. Major League Baseball fought McCourt's efforts to retain control of the team in bankruptcy court.

The Dodgers and Major League Baseball ended their long-running dispute in early November with a deal to sell the team, including the media rights. Now the Dodgers want to start the media rights auction soon instead of waiting for the contract to expire in order to boost the team's overall value.

Fox has asked the bankruptcy court to consider dismissing the bankruptcy case, arguing the team's bankruptcy was not valid and was an attempt to invalidate Fox's TV contract.

Financial information on the team and its assets is scheduled to go to potential buyers in December with initial bids due in January, two sources familiar with the process said last week. The sale of the team inherently includes media rights, whether or not it is free and clear of a Fox contract.

The sales process is expected to be wrapped up by the end of April, in time for the start of the 2012 Major League season, the sources said. The sale is expected to occur regardless of whether the issues with Fox are resolved, but those issues might affect the selling price, they said.

Also in the filing on Wednesday, the committee of unsecured creditors said they were hopeful the mediation would result in a settlement, but in the event it was not successful, the committee supported the Dodgers' motion to accelerate the sale of its broadcast rights.

The case is In re: Los Angeles Dodgers LLC, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Delaware, No. 11-12010.

(Reporting by Sue Zeidler)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/tv/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111124/tv_nm/us_dodgers_bankruptcy

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Pamper your pets this Christmas | Mountain Democrat

All year they?ve greeted you with wagging tails, wet noses and soft purrs. Now it?s time to show your pet just how much you appreciate their fuzzy companionship.

It?s time to fill their Christmas stocking ? but with what?

Let?s start with where your pet takes a nap. ?It?s bed season,? said Robin Mizell, owner of Bark Avenue in El Dorado Hills.

Doggy and kitty beds come in a variety of styles, from basic to fancy. Find one that fits your pet?s personality. Is Fido a plaid pooch? Maybe Gigi would like a velvet bed, fitting for the kitty queen that she is.

Next up, pet style.

Collars from bb simon will really add some bling to your pet?s wardrobe. These collars feature rhinestones, fine leather, flashy patterns and every color imaginable. You?ll be able to find your dog in the dog park ? just look for the sparkle.

For those with more down-to-earth tastes, Mizell recommends bandanas and, to get everyone in the holiday spirit, jingle bells.

Winter wear ? coats, boots, rain gear and sweaters ? are also popular and stylish gifts.

No Christmas would be complete without toys. Fun and function is the trend this year and the first toy Mizell pulled out is sure to be a big hit for those who don?t appreciate doggy breath. Planet Dog makes mint-flavored chew toys.

?They?re a good chew toy and a good breath saver,? Mizell said as she held up a soft red and white mint. Your pup can also chew on mint Christmas lights and snowballs and when he gives you a kiss afterward you?ll love it just as much as he does.

Big plush toys, squeaking and honking, always make tails wag, added Mizell. Pet toy makers have really gotten creative with what your dog will drag around, from giant candy canes to unidentifiable creatures.

Keeping your feline friend occupied is also important. Cats have no need for giant stuffed animals but a PURRfect cat toy from Vee Enterprises is probably at the top of their Christmas lists.

These danglers feature feathers, bouncy flex necks and reinforced cord. ?Then you?ve got some crazy ones with paper in the middle so they make fun noises,? Mizell said.

Add that toy to a new cat tree and you might even see your kitty wag its tail (maybe).

In a day and age where everyone has everything they need or want Mizell said, ?People find that the most fun gifts are the ones they buy their animals.?

And don?t forget the animals who don?t have a forever home this holiday season. To help them out Bark Avenue is hosting the ?Presents for Pound Puppies and Kitties Too? donation drive for Animal Outreach and the Grace Foundation. Last year Mizell?s customers donated 50,000 pounds of food. ?Isn?t that amazing?? Mizell asked.

Yes, it?s amazing what the holiday spirit can do.

If you need help picking out a gift for your pet or want to make a donation head over to Bark Avenue at?4311 Town Center Blvd., Suite 420, in El Dorado Hills.

For more information call 916-941-7400.

Short URL: http://www.mtdemocrat.com/?p=122011

Source: http://www.mtdemocrat.com/special-sections/pamper-your-pets-this-christmas/

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Yemen president quits after 33 years

SANAA, Yemen?? Yemen's authoritarian President Ali Abdullah Saleh agreed Wednesday to step down amid a fierce uprising to oust him after 33 years in power. The U.S. and its powerful Gulf allies pressed for the deal, concerned that a security collapse in the impoverished Arab nation was allowing an active al-Qaida franchise to gain a firmer foothold.

Saleh is the fourth Arab leader toppled in the wave of Arab Spring uprisings this year, after longtime dictators fell in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya. The deal gives Saleh immunity from prosecution ? contradicting a key demand of Yemen's opposition protesters.

Celebrations erupted in the capital Sanaa as Saleh inked the agreement. Yemenis danced in the streets, set off fireworks and waved flags.

Seated beside Saudi King Abdullah in the Saudi capital Riyadh, Saleh signed the U.S.-backed deal hammered out by his country's powerful Gulf Arab neighbors to transfer power within 30 days to his vice president, Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi. That will be followed by early presidential elections within 90 days.

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He was dressed smartly in a dark business suit with a matching striped tie and handkerchief, and he smiled as he signed the deal, then clapped his hands a few times. He then spoke for a few minutes to members of the Saudi royal families and international diplomats, promising his ruling party "will be cooperative" in working with a new unity government.

Slideshow: Yemen in the spotlight (on this page)

"This disagreement for the last 10 months has had a big impact on Yemen in the realms of culture, development, politics, which led to a threat to national unity and destroyed what has been built in past years," he said.

Protesters camped out in a public square near Sanaa's university immediately rejected the deal, chanting, "No immunity for the killer." They vowed to continued their protests.

President Barack Obama welcomed Saleh's decision, saying it is an important step forward for the Yemeni people. He urged all involved to move immediately to implement the agreement. Obama said the U.S. would stand by the Yemeni people "as they embark on this historic transition" to realize their aspirations for a new beginning, and he acknowledged "important work" done by Gulf allies.

Saleh has clung to power despite the daily mass protests calling for his ouster and a June assassination attempt that left him badly wounded and forced him to travel to Saudi Arabia for more than three months of hospital treatment. He was burned over much of his body and had shards of wood embedded in his chest by the explosion that ripped through his palace mosque as he prayed.

Shortly before Saleh inked the agreement, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the president told him he will travel to New York for medical treatment after signing it. He didn't say when Saleh planned to arrive in New York, nor what treatment he would be seeking.

Since February, tens of thousands of Yemenis have protested in cities and towns across the nation, calling for democracy and the fall of Saleh's regime. The uprising has led to a security collapse, with armed tribesmen battling security forces in different regions and al-Qaida-linked militants stepping up operations in the country's restive south.

Timeline: Yemen in turmoil (on this page)

For months, the U.S. and other world powers pressured Saleh to agree to the power transfer proposal by the Gulf Cooperation Council, and he agreed then backed down several times before. All the while, the uprising raged, security and the economy deteriorated. Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula grew more bold, even seizing some territory.

Even before the uprising began, Yemen was the poorest country in the Middle East, fractured and unstable with a government that had weak authority at best outside the capital Sanaa.

Security is particularly bad in southern Yemen, where al-Qaida militants ? from one of the world's most active branches of the terror network ? have taken control of entire towns, using the turmoil to strengthen their position.

The nation of some 25 million people is of strategic value to the United States and its Gulf Arab allies, particularly Saudi Arabia. It sits close to the major Gulf oil fields and overlooks key shipping lanes in the Red and Arabian seas.

Saleh addressed the country's troubles without mentioning the demands of protesters who have filled squares across Yemen calling for his ouster, often facing deadly crackdowns from his security forces.

He also struck out at those who strove to topple him, calling the protests the protests a "coup" and the bombing of his palace mosque that seriously wounded him in June "a scandal."

Saleh said his ruling party will be "among the principal participants" in the proposed national unity government that is to be formed between his party and opposition parties, who also signed the deal.

The deal to nudge him from power was denounced by some of the youth protesters who have emerged as a presence in Yemen's politics, and regard the parties that negotiated his exit partners in the crimes of which they accuse Saleh.

"We will remain on the streets until our demands are met," activist Samia al-Aghbari told Reuters. "Saleh's crimes won't end with time, so we will pursue him and all the killers."

But others welcomed the deal as a first victory of their uprising.

"This is a great victory," Badr Ali Ahmed, an activist at Change Square, said. "We have achieved one of the goals of the revolution, which is to bring down the head of the regime, and God willing we will achieve the rest."

Hamdan al-Haqab, a field organizer, said: "We were not part of this initiative, but since it happened, we consider it to be the first achievement of the revolution ... We will continue to achieve all our goals."

A Yemeni official said that renegade general Ali Mohsen, a longtime Saleh ally who turned on him after protests began, and Sadeq al-Ahmar, a tribal notable who also threw his weight against Saleh, could try to block the deal which excludes them.

Those figures, along with Saleh's son and a nephew who commands a key paramilitary unit, form a balance of forces on the ground that analysts say none is likely to tip, making a political resolution the only way out of Yemen's deadlock.

Witnesses said Ahmar fighters and Saleh forces traded shelling in the Soufan and al-Hasaba neighborhoods in Sanaa, where the tribal chief lives, and that sounds of explosions could be heard from a distance.

There were no reports of casualties. The area was the scene of heavy clashes earlier this year, where scores of people from both sides died.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45413404/ns/world_news-mideast_n_africa/

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Cadillac seeks to regain lost luxury turf

Rebecca Cook / Reuters

Cadillac is betting that it can regain its once-lofty standing with the launch of a series of new products that includes the big XTS sedan that made its debut earlier this month at the annual Los Angeles auto show.

By Paul A. Eisenstein

Once known as the ?standard of the world,? Cadillac has been anything but a benchmark for carmakers in recent years as imported brands such as Lexus, BMW and Mercedes-Benz have dominated the U.S. luxury market.

But now Cadillac is fighting back, betting that it can regain its once-lofty standing with the launch of a series of new products that includes the big XTS sedan that made its debut earlier this month at the annual Los Angeles auto show.

Cadillac will follow up next year with the addition of the compact ATS, and it has more new models on the drawing board.

A few years ago it might have seemed ?a stretch? for Cadillac to even imagine a comeback in the U.S., admits Don Butler, general marketing manager for the?General Motors division.

In the ?new (luxury) world old formulas don?t apply, so we had to start over? with the XTS, a premium luxury sedan that replaces two slow-selling Cadillac models, the STS and DTS, Butler said.

Caddy isn?t the only upscale domestic car brand that?s hoping to convince car show visitors in Los Angeles -- the nation's largest luxury car market -- that it can become relevant again.

Slide show: Images from the 2011 Los Angeles auto show

At this year?s show, Ford?s Lincoln division showed off updates to two of its own products, the big MKS sedan and MKT crossover. The two 2013 models get revised fascias and grilles, new wheels and modest improvements in performance and fuel economy. They?re also getting the updated version of the MyLincolnTouch systems designed to address recent criticism of the brand?s infotainment technology.

?This is truly marking the beginning? of Lincoln?s design renaissance, said Max Wolff, the brand?s chief designer, although he also hinted that the big news for Lincoln won?t be revealed until January when Detroit plays host to the North American International Auto Show -- generally thought to be the most important show in the auto show calendar.

There, the automaker plans to unveil a concept version of its next-generation Lincoln MKZ, the most popular sedan in its portfolio. The concept vehicle will introduce an all-new ?face? for the luxury brand that will abandon Lincoln?s time-tested ?waterfall grille? and move to a series of horizontal slats that are almost wing-like in appearance. The show car version will also feature an all-glass roof that will be able to open like a hard-top convertible.

The revised grille will reappear on a production version of the MKZ debuting at the New York auto show next April, although it?s not clear if the glass roof idea will be carried into production.

But the dramatic changes coming to Lincoln underscore the concerns Ford has for the Lincoln division, which has become little more than an also-ran in a market where it once vied with Cadillac for dominance.

Cadillac hasn?t stumbled quite so badly, but it has been struggling in recent years after what appeared to be a significant turnaround early in the new millennium. The maker scored big with the first generation of the compact CTS sedan, which introduced Caddy?s distinctively edgy ?art and science? design theme.

In a segment of the car market where manufacturers have traditionally opted for softer designs, the ?art and science? design ?language? was a bold standout. But after hitting a market home run with the CTS, Cadillac failed to score with the next run of offerings, like the STS, the DTS and the XLR sports coupe.

The products simply fell short of the competition in terms of interior refinement, ride and features, analysts contend.

Cadillac won?t make those mistakes again, insists Mark Reuss, president of GM?s North American operations. The goal, he insists, ?is to win in the intensely competitive luxury market, not just compete.?

Besides offering a striking exterior shape and a much more refined interior, the new XTS will introduce Cadillac?s new CUE -- an infotainment system that can be programmed using normal speech rather than requiring users to learn a complex and often confusing series of rigid commands.

These high-tech features have become a critical differentiator in the luxury market, notes Derek Kuzak, Ford?s global product development czar.

Lincoln thought it had a leg up on the competition with the MyLincolnTouch infotainment system, but, underscoring the risks of relying on high technology, the Ford luxury brand was slammed for problems with the touch-sensitive system. Indeed, influential Consumer Reports magazine lifted its sought-after ?Recommended Buy? rating from several Lincoln products this year.

The carmaker hopes to win back that endorsement with the updated MyLincolnTouch, and then show that its styling and performance are also relevant with the product offensive it is kicking off in Los Angeles this month.

But both Lincoln and Cadillac won?t have an easy time of it. Even established luxury brands such as Lexus, BMW and Mercedes are ramping up their own efforts. Lexus, in particular, is expected to be especially aggressive in the months ahead, hoping to recover the momentum it lost due to product shortages caused by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan last March.

And second-tier players such as Audi, and also Nissan?s Infiniti brand, are hoping to gain ground with their own expanding line-ups.

Then there?s the Koreans, and Hyundai in particular.

It scored an unexpected coup a few years back when its first luxury offering, the Genesis sedan, was named North American Car of the Year. The even bigger and more lavish Equus has so far this year handily beaten the company?s sales expectations, and Hyundai?s own new offering at the Los Angeles show, the big Azera, will target entry-luxury buyers who might have gone for more traditional offerings like the Lexus ES350.

Based on initial reviews, Cadillac and Lincoln are gaining visibility and credibility. But whether they can win back luxury car buyers is another matter entirely.

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Source: http://bottomline.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/11/22/8952609-after-losing-ground-american-luxury-carmakers-fighting-back

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