A Wildlife Vet, a Pigeon, a Groundbreaking Discovery

One of the reasons I love my job as a wildlife veterinarian so much is the variety of my days. No two days are the same; each is filled with different animals with different problems, and I love the anticipation of what my day may bring. I never know what kind of animal will come through the door, what challenges I?ll face, and what skills I?ll get to use ? it?s very unpredictable and that makes it so fun and exciting! My job is very fast-paced, keeps me on my toes, and there?s never a dull moment ? emergency medicine at its finest! It is also full of new discoveries, as I found out last spring.

A wild pigeon with S. calchasi. Note the characteristic head tilt (torticollis). Photo by WRC

Last April I was examining a wild male adult Rock Pigeon that couldn?t fly. The person who found the pigeon suspected a broken wing. On the initial physical exam, I didn?t find any broken bones but the bird was exhibiting odd neurologic behaviors, including ataxia (lack of coordination) and torticollis (head tilt).

My differential diagnoses included head trauma, aberrant parasite migration (a parasite that?s normally found in the gastro-intestinal system migrates to other parts of the body, like the central nervous system), and a viral or bacterial infection causing encephalitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain).

I started the bird on anti-inflammatories and moved it into our isolation ward in case he was potentially contagious to other birds. Over the next five to seven days, the bird?s neurological symptoms progressively worsened. He literally started standing on his head and spinning in circles (see video). The torticollis also worsened. Because of his decreasing status and poor prognosis I humanely euthanized him.

Normally, when we euthanize an animal or when an animal dies, it?s disposed of or saved under a salvage permit for a licensed organization to use in their collections, for research, etc. Sometimes though, we send animals out for additional testing to help pinpoint the cause of the animal?s illness or death. This is done via a necropsy (just like an autopsy but for animals).

Since Paramyxovirus, a highly contagious viral disease in pigeons that manifests as neurological symptoms, including ataxia and torticollis, was high on my list of possible diagnoses, I sent this bird to the University of Minnesota (UMN) Diagnostic Lab (D-Lab) where they would do a necropsy and test for the virus.

In the past WRC has had several pigeons showing similar signs and Paramyxovirus was always suspected. To my knowledge, however, none had ever been sent in for necropsy. A pattern was there, but what was it? What is going on with these neurologic pigeons, I wondered.

Sarcocystis calchasi in the brain of the pigeon. Photo by Dr. Arno Wuenschmann, Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, University of Minnesota

Well, the bird tested negative for Paramyxovirus. However, what the D-Lab did find was shocking. A parasite, named Sarcocystis calchasi, was found in cysts in the bird?s skeletal muscles. The really neat thing? This parasite had never been identified in the United States! It actually hadn?t been identified anywhere outside of Germany (where it was identified in 2009)!

When the pathologists contacted me to tell me this news, I was very excited (as were they!). Tissue samples were sent to Germany to confirm identification of the parasite, and sure enough it was S. calchasi.

The parasite is passed from bird to bird via infected feces, likely from the Northern Goshawk or Cooper?s hawk, which acts as final host in the lifestage of the parasite (does not cause symptoms in those birds). The parasite then migrates from the GI tract into the muscles of the bird. The aforementioned bird had a severe case of meningoencephalitis (inflammation in the brain); however, the parasite was not found there. The parasite?s role in causing neurologic symptoms is still unknown but the UMN?s pathologists are busy researching other birds.

Sarcocystis calchasi in the muscle of the pigeon. Photo by Dr. Arno Wuenschmann, Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, University of Minnesota

With these amazing results, we promptly collaborated and published the findings in ?Transboundary and Emerging Diseases.? My first paper as a wildlife veterinarian has been published!

Dr. Arno Wunschmann, a veterinary diagnostician at UMN who discovered the S. calchasi cysts, speaks of what impact this discovery has on the global transmission of diseases:

?This case demonstrates that diseases can spread very quickly and how the use of modern diagnostic tools can help diagnose diseases (in this case PCR). The disease was first described in 2009 in Germany and showed up 2 years later already in Minnesota.

?I was only to able to put the pieces together because somebody in Germany had worked hard to get his cases published in a timely fashion (because the first cases were only seen two years before the paper was in print) and I used the literature resources (including the internet). It is a beautiful example of how the scientific community as a whole is meant to function and can function. Alternatively, one can speculate that the disease went undiagnosed for some period of time but that seems unlikely because the lesion is very obvious (if a pathologist examines the muscle).?

S. calchasi is now recognized as an important differential diagnosis in neurologic pigeons.

Sarcocystis calchasi in the muscle of the pigeon. Photo by Dr. Arno Wuenschmann, Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, University of Minnesota

How many pigeons possibly have it and have been misdiagnosed? That?s hard to say, but since S. calchasi was discovered, we?ve submitted every pigeon (all wild birds, not domestic) that dies while in our care or is euthanized. Nearly 20% have tested positive for this parasitic infection. This is huge news in the tracking of wildlife diseases on a global level.

One of the best parts of this discovery? My curiosity paid off! Wunschmann states: ?The case demonstrates nicely how important it is that curious clinicians do not just accept the status quo and submit animals for necropsy. Compliments to you!?

Source: http://rss.sciam.com/click.phdo?i=96ea989a822864f0cab5e6b87a08b86a

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France to revise budget within days, amid slump (AP)

PARIS ? France's finance minister says the government will revise this year's budget in the coming days to take into account lower-than-expected growth.

Finance Minister Francois Baroin says "there's a slowdown that's been observed for the last three or four months" and the budget will be adjusted accordingly.

France is the eurozone's second-largest economy after Germany and its lagging economy could weigh on efforts to bail out weaker eurozone countries.

Baroin said on France-Info radio Monday the Cabinet would take up a revised budget within the next 10 days. The current 2012 budget foresees growth at 1 percent.

The updated budget is also expected to include higher consumption taxes and other measures announced by President Nicolas Sarkozy to cut debts and boost growth.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/eurobiz/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120130/ap_on_bi_ge/eu_france_financial_crisis

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Expected Growth in the Communications Field Entices Students to ...

Our online degree rankings are primarily based on several factors, including faculty and program popularity, peer and educational quality, and general affordability.

Although Americans have been experiencing an economic downturn, according to a recent report from Veronis Suhler Stevenson, the U.S. communications industry is projected to increase at a 5.5 percent compound annual growth rate from 2010 to 2015 to $1.41 trillion. This growth comes on the heels of the explosion of Internet-based computer and mobile technologies, which are expected to continue to evolve and flourish. For prospective students, this proves there has never been a better time to obtain a communication degree or further their education with a Masters in Communication. Featuring the benefits and requirements for obtaining a communication degree or Masters in Communication, CommunicationDegreeGuides.org informs people about the important things to consider when advancing their education. These essentials include admissions prerequisites, majors, tuition and curriculum, and more. Visitors can also learn about the variety of career opportunities and potential salaries within the communications industry. Due to the flexibility and affordability of online degrees, an increasing number of people are choosing to pursue their communication degree through Internet-based programs. But according to CommunicationDegreeGuides.org, because online communication degrees can vary greatly in quality, it is essential to perform extensive research to find the top-rated program. ?To assist with that investigation, we?ve put together a rating of what we have determined to be the most effective online and distance studying master?s degree programs in communication, journalism and public relations,? states the site. ?Our online degree rankings are primarily based on several factors, including faculty and program popularity, peer and educational quality, and general affordability.? CommunicationDegreeGuides.org also offers a guide to some of the careers available to people once they have obtained their communication degree or Masters in Communications. These include jobs within the marketing, advertising, public relations, political science, financial, sales and non-profit sectors. Advanced communication skills are considered by companies to be one of the most desired traits in employees. To develop their interpersonal skills even further and make themselves a more valuable asset to future employers, numerous people are choosing to acquire a higher degree. To learn the benefits of obtaining a communication degree or Masters in Communication, visit http://www.CommunicationDegreeGuides.org About CommunicationDegreeGuides.org: CommunicationDegreeGuides.org provides visitors with the array of benefits associated with acquiring a communications degree or masters in communication. Featuring an assortment of information pertaining to the communications field, people can read about topics such as typical salary ranges, available positions, education requirements and prerequisites and more.

Source: Press Release Distribution

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Obama works to save jobs, 1 at a time

WASHINGTON (AP) ? President Barack Obama is trying to rebuild the American economy, one job at a time ? literally.

The president asked an online town hall questioner Monday to send him her husband's resume, insisting he wanted to look into why the man remained out of work despite his background as a semiconductor engineer.

"I meant what I said, if you send me your husband's resume, I'd be interested in finding out exactly what's happening right there," Obama told the questioner, Jennifer Wedel of Fort Worth, Texas.

He told Wedel that according to what he was hearing from industry, such high-tech fields are in great demand and her husband "should be able to find something right away."

Wedel told Obama that despite what he said, her husband had been out of work for three years. She wanted to know why foreign workers were getting visas for high-skilled work.

The exchange came as Obama appeared in a live video chat room known as a "Hangout," part of online search giant Google's social networking site Google Plus. He was answering questions submitted via the Google Inc.-owned video site YouTube, as well as interacting live with Wedel and four others in the Hangout.

The post-State of the Union session was part of the White House focus on social media. In past such events ? with Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and earlier YouTube sessions following previous State of the Union addresses ? Obama answered questions that had been submitted via online networks. But Monday's event allowed him to interact with a selection of his questioners, leading to more substantive exchanges as they pushed him on his stances.

Wedel's insistence that the president's claims about the demand for high-skilled workers weren't being born out for her husband led to the president's offer to take a look at his resume.

"I'll have to take you up on that," she told him. And Obama came back to it after covering a range of issues in the 45-minute session, telling Wedel, "Remember to send me that information!"

Obama got a variety of questions on the economy, and defended his policies on small businesses and innovation. An Occupy protester sent in a video saying she was out of work and asking Obama: "I need help. I'm 53. What am I going to do?"

The president's response, in part: "The most important thing I can do for folks who are out of work right now is grow the economy."

Obama was also asked to justify his administration's use of unmanned drone strikes, and contended they were being used judiciously. "I think that there's a perception somehow that we're just sending in a whole bunch of strikes willy-nilly," Obama said. "This is a targeted, focused effort at people who are on a list of active terrorists who are trying to go in and harm Americans."

And he was asked about online piracy. Congress recently delayed action on legislation cracking down on online piracy after opposition from Internet companies including Google.

Obama said he thought it was possible to protect intellectual property that creates jobs in the U.S., while still respecting the integrity of the Internet as an open system.

The exchanges came a day ahead of the Republican primary in Florida, as GOP presidential hopefuls attack Obama daily. But none of the questions put to him were about the presidential race. They were about the State of the Union and people's lives now.

There were also light moments, as Wedel asked Obama if he would show off his dance moves (the president refused, saying the first lady mocks his dancing) and another questioner asked the president how he and Michelle Obama planned to celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary this fall (since it's shortly before the election, Obama said he wasn't sure how romantic it would be).

More than 133,000 questions were submitted and voted on by YouTube users. Google officials selected the questions to ask based in part on those results.

Although many of the questions that appeared online were about Obama's stance on legalizing marijuana ? something he has said he opposes when asked in the past ? that did not come up Monday. Organizers said the No. 1 voted question was about the potential extradition to the U.S. of Richard O'Dwyer, a British student accused of setting up a website that gave people access to films and TV shows for free in violation of copyright laws.

Obama said he wasn't personally involved in the case but the administration wanted to ensure that intellectual property is protected "in a way that's consistent with Internet freedom."

___

Associated Press writer Ken Thomas contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2012-01-30-Obama/id-9fe92ec193af41b0940caba7d780218f

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If it feels good, do it (Balloon Juice)

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Incomes up strong 0.5 pct., consumer spending flat

In this Nov. 9, 2011 file photo, shoppers walk past a clearance sign at the New York & Company outlet store at the Dolphin Mall, in Miami. Consumer spending was flat in December while incomes rose by the largest amount in nine months. But even with the December income surge, incomes for the whole year were up just half the amount of 2010, underscoring the challenge facing the economy. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)

In this Nov. 9, 2011 file photo, shoppers walk past a clearance sign at the New York & Company outlet store at the Dolphin Mall, in Miami. Consumer spending was flat in December while incomes rose by the largest amount in nine months. But even with the December income surge, incomes for the whole year were up just half the amount of 2010, underscoring the challenge facing the economy. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)

In this Nov. 9, 2011 file photo, a shopper carries purchases while shopping at Dolphin Mall, in Miami. Consumer spending was flat in December while incomes rose by the largest amount in nine months. But even with the December income surge, incomes for the whole year were up just half the amount of 2010, underscoring the challenge facing the economy. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Americans' incomes rose last month by the most in nine months, a hopeful sign for the economy after a year of weak wage gains. But consumer spending was flat.

Incomes rose 0.5 percent, the Commerce Department said Monday. It was the strongest increase since a similar gain in March.

Consumer spending was unchanged. That followed weak gains of 0.1 percent in both October and November.

The report underscored the challenge facing the economy in 2012. Unless incomes grow more rapidly, consumers will be forced to cut back further on spending. That would slow growth and result in less hiring.

After-tax incomes adjusted for inflation rose 0.3 percent in December. For the year, inflation-adjusted incomes rose 0.9 percent, just half the modest 1.8 percent rise in 2010.

The government reported Friday that the economy grew at an annual rate of 1.7 percent last year ? roughly half the growth of 2010. It was the weakest showing since the economy contracted 3.5 percent in 2009.

Consumer spending for the year rose a modest 2.2 percent, only slightly higher than the 2 percent gain in 2010. But Americans dipped into their savings last year to finance some of the growth in spending last year.

Consumer spending is closely watched because it accounts for 70 percent of economic activity.

Unemployment stands at 8.5 percent ? its lowest level in nearly three years after a sixth straight month of solid hiring.

For the final three months of 2011, Americans spent more on vehicles, and companies restocked their supplies at a robust pace.

Still, overall growth last quarter ? and for all of last year ? was slowed by the sharpest cuts in annual government spending in four decades. Many people are reluctant to spend more or buy homes, and many employers remain hesitant to hire, even though job growth has strengthened.

The outlook for 2012 is slightly better. The Federal Reserve has estimated economic growth of roughly 2.5 percent for the year, despite abundant risk factors: federal spending cuts, weak pay increases, cautious consumers and the risk of a European recession.

Economists say the big question going forward is whether incomes will gain enough strength to support stronger spending, thus helping the economy to grow at a faster rate. Many analysts believe the economy will continue to muddle along with low growth in 2012.

Nigel Gault, chief U.S. economist at IHS Global Insight, said he expected the overall economy would grow 2 percent this year, only slightly better than 2011 with consumer spending rising 2 percent as well.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2012-01-30-Consumer%20Spending/id-b8a57e446e3b4b388b8795fd011f82f0

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'Beasts of the Southern Wild' wins at Sundance

Director Benh Zeitlin, left, holds up actress Quvenzhane Wallis as they accept the Grand Jury Prize Dramatic award for the film "Beasts of the Southern Wild" during the 2012 Sundance Film Festival Awards Ceremony in Park City, Utah on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Danny Moloshok)

Director Benh Zeitlin, left, holds up actress Quvenzhane Wallis as they accept the Grand Jury Prize Dramatic award for the film "Beasts of the Southern Wild" during the 2012 Sundance Film Festival Awards Ceremony in Park City, Utah on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Danny Moloshok)

Director Benh Zeitlin, left, and actress Quvenzhane Wallis, right, pose with the Grand Jury Prize Dramatic award for the film "Beasts of the Southern Wild" during the 2012 Sundance Film Festival Awards Ceremony in Park City, Utah on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Danny Moloshok)

Director Eugene Jarecki, right, puts his hand on the pregnant belly of producer Melinda Shopsin, left, as they accept the Grand Jury Prize U.S. Documentary during the 2012 Sundance Film Festival Awards Ceremony in Park City, Utah on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Danny Moloshok)

Actress Quvenzhane Wallis poses with the Grand Jury Prize U.S. Dramatic award for the film "Beasts of the Southern Wild" during the 2012 Sundance Film Festival Awards Ceremony in Park City, Utah on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Danny Moloshok)

Actress Quvenzhane Wallis poses for a photo after the film that she stars in, "Beasts of the Southern Wild," won the Grand Jury Prize U.S. Dramatic during the 2012 Sundance Film Festival Awards Ceremony in Park City, Utah on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Danny Moloshok)

PARK CITY, Utah (AP) ? A mythical film starring an 8-year-old girl and a documentary about the war on drugs took top honors at the Sundance Film Festival.

"Beasts of the Southern Wild" won the grand jury prize in the U.S. dramatic competition, and "The House I Live In" won the same honor in the U.S. documentary category Saturday at the independent film festival's awards ceremony.

Directed and co-written by 29-year-old first-time filmmaker Benh Zeitlin, "Beasts of the Southern Wild" follows a girl named Hushpuppy who lives with her father in the southern Delta. The film also won the cinematography prize.

Zeitlin said he was grateful to the Sundance Institute and labs, where he worked on the film for more than three years.

"This project was such a runt, this sort of messy-hair, dirty, wild child, and we just have been taken care of and just eased along until we were ready to stand up on our own," he said in an interview after the ceremony. "It's just great that it happened here. This is the right place for the world to meet the film."

Zeitlin described his spunky young star, Quvenzhane Wallis, as "the biggest person I know." She said she is ready to be a movie star, but first will be going back to third grade.

Fox Searchlight acquired the film earlier this week.

Eugene Jarecki's documentary "The House I Live In" examines the social, human and financial costs of the war on drugs. The filmmaker won the same award in 2005 for his documentary "Why We Fight."

As he accepted his award, Jarecki called the war on drugs "tragically immoral, heartbreakingly wrong and misguided."

"If we're going to reform things in this country, putting people in jail for nonviolent crime, in many cases for life without parole, for possession of a drug, for sentences longer than is now given for murder in this country, must end," he said.

Kirby Dick's documentary about rape in the military, "The Invisible War," won the audience award, as did Ben Lewin's heartfelt drama "The Surrogate," which stars John Hawkes as a paralyzed 38-year-old man who hires a sex surrogate, played by Helen Hunt, to help him lose his virginity. Fox Searchlight acquired that film, too.

"I don't think most people have ever seen this sort of story before," Lewin said after the ceremony. "I think it was very new and unexpected... From the experiences I've had seeing it with an audience, it seems to be a real emotional ride."

"The Surrogate" also won a special jury prize for its ensemble cast.

World cinema jury prizes went to the documentary "The Law in These Parts," about Israel's legal system in occupied Palestinian territories, and the drama "Violeta Went to Heaven," about Chilean musician Violeta Parra.

The audience favorites in world cinema were the documentary "Searching for Sugar Man," which also won a special jury award, and the drama "Valley of the Saints," which also claimed the Alfred P. Sloan film prize. A second winner of the Sloan Award, which recognizes films with science as a theme or a scientist as a major character, was "Robot and Frank." The film, which premiered at Sundance, stars Frank Langella as a retired jewel thief who befriends the caretaker robot his children have given him, eventually bringing the robot along on his illegal outings.

Other winners:

? U.S. drama directing award: Ava DuVernay, "Middle of Nowhere."

? U.S. documentary directing award: Lauren Greenfield, "The Queen of Versailles."

? World cinema drama directing award: Mads Matthiesen, "Teddy Bear."

? World cinema documentary directing award: Emad Burnat, Guy Davidi, "5 Broken Cameras."

? U.S. drama screenwriting award: Derek Connolly, "Safety Not Guaranteed."

? World cinema screenwriting award: Marialy Rivas, Camila Gutierrez, Pedro Peirano, Sebastian Sepulveda, "Young & Wild."

? U.S. documentary editing award: Enat Sidi, "Detropia."

? World cinema editing award: Lisanne Pajot, James Swirsky, "Indie Game: The Movie."

? U.S. documentary cinematography award: Jeff Orlowski, "Chasing Ice."

? World cinema drama cinematography award: David Raedeker, "My Brother the Devil."

? World cinema documentary cinematography award: Lars Skree, "Putin's Kiss."

? U.S. drama special jury prize for producing: Andrea Sperling and Jonathan Schwartz, "Smashed" and "Nobody Walks."

? U.S. documentary special jury prizes: "Love Free or Die," ''Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry."

? World cinema drama special jury prize: "Can."

? Short film audience award: "The Debutante Hunters."

? Best of NEXT audience award: "Sleepwalk With Me."

___

Follow Entertainment Writer Sandy Cohen at www.twitter.com/APSandy .

___

Online:

http://www.sundance.org/festival/

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/apdefault/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2012-01-29-Film-Sundance-Awards/id-4c73ff1ecd994f7a8c4869785c919c71

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6.3 earthquake shakes Peru but no injuries or damage reported (Reuters)

LIMA (Reuters) ? A earthquake of 6.3 magnitude rattled the coast of Peru early on Monday, the U.S. Geological Survey said, but there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.

The quake occurred shortly after midnight local time (1 a.m. ET) and was centered about 9 miles southeast of the city of Ica and about 170 miles south-southeast of Lima.

Witnesses said the quake shook buildings in coastal Lima, Peru's capital. Although there were no reported injuries or damage, local radio said residents near the epicenter were alarmed and ran outside their homes when they felt the quake. Power was out in nearby Pisco, the radio said.

"We felt a terrible earthquake that's really scared us," Ica resident Blanca Cabanilla told the local radio. "It was similar to what happened to us in 2007."

An 8.0 quake in 2007 killed more than 500 people in Ica and wrecked thousands of homes.

(Reporting by Helen Popper and Patricia Velez; Editing by Bill Trott)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/world/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20120130/wl_nm/us_peru_quake

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Biden Prediction: Dems Will Retake House (Michellemalkin)

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Celebrity pot busts put tiny Texas county on map (AP)

SIERRA BLANCA, Texas ? Nestled among the few remaining businesses that dot a rundown highway in this dusty West Texas town stands what's become a surprise destination for marijuana-toting celebrities: the Hudspeth County Jail.

Willie Nelson, Snoop Dogg and actor Armie Hammer have been among the thousands of people busted for possession at a Border Patrol checkpoint outside town in recent years, bringing a bit of notoriety to one of Texas' most sparsely populated counties.

"Once I was in Arizona, and when I said where I was from, they said, `That's where Willie Nelson was busted,'" said Louise Barantley, manager at the Coyote Sunset souvenir shop in Sierra Blanca.

Hudspeth County cameos aren't only for outlaws: Action movie star Steven Seagal, who's already deputized in Louisiana and Arizona for his reality show "Steven Seagal Lawman" on A&E, has signed on to become a county officer.

Locals already have found ways to rub shoulders with their celebrity guests.

Deputies posed for pictures with Snoop Dogg after authorities said they found several joints on his bus earlier this month. When Nelson was busted here in 2010, the county's lead prosecutor suggested the singer settle his marijuana charges by performing "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain" for the court. Nelson paid a fine instead, but not before county commissioner Wayne West played one of his own songs for the country music legend.

West acknowledged he's a big fan of Nelson and wanted to capitalize on a golden chance to perform for such a noted "captive audience."

"Willie loved the song, he is a real outgoing individual" he added.

The once-thriving town of Sierra Blanca began to shrink to its current 1,000-person population after the construction of nearby Interstate 10 ? a main artery linking cities from California to Florida ? offered an easy way to bypass the community.

Now the highway is sending thousands of drug bust cases Sierra Blanca's way, courtesy of a Border Patrol checkpoint just outside of town where drug-sniffing dogs inspect more than 17,000 trucks, travelers ? and tour buses ? daily for whiffs of contraband that may have made its way inland from the border.

Hudspeth County Sheriff Arvin West, younger brother of the musically inclined commissioner, said his office handled about 2,000 cases last year, most of them having to do with drugs seized at the checkpoint.

Border Patrol agents say people busted with small amounts of pot often say they have medical marijuana licenses from California, Arizona or New Mexico ? three states along I-10 that, unlike Texas, allow for medicinal pot prescriptions ? and claim to believe the licenses were valid nationwide.

Nelson's publicists declined to comment about the specifics of the singer's case. Representatives for Snoop Dogg, who will pay a fine and court costs after being cited for possession of marijuana paraphernalia, did not return several messages seeking comment.

County authorities have not yet decided whether to prosecute or issue a citation for Hammer, who starred in the 2010 film "The Social Network" and more recently played FBI's number two man in "J. Edgar" He was arrested in November on his way to his wife's bakery in San Antonio after authorities said they found marijuana-laced brownies and cookies. His attorney Kent Schaffer has called the case a "total non-issue."

Local officials say they're not on a celebrity witch hunt, but some residents are enjoying the publicity from the high-profile arrests. They say the once forgotten town of Sierra Blanca should take pride in not pandering to famous people caught breaking the law.

"We get attention because something is being done right," resident Adolfo Gonzalez said while shopping at a local convenience store. "It'd be worse if we'd let them go because they are celebrities."

That's not expected to change when Seagal comes to town. Sheriff West insists the "Under Siege" star hasn't indicated any plans to film his show here ? but the sheriff isn't ruling it out.

"If he wants to, we can do it but that's not what he said this was about," West said.

West's spokesman, Rusty Flemming, said Seagal will patrol the area and train colleagues in martial arts and weapons techniques. The actor is expected to arrive in Hudspeth County within months, once he's done filming a new movie in Canada.

Seagal's management agency did not return calls and emails seeking comment about his plans in Texas.

Commissioner West, meanwhile, is keeping his musical skills sharp ? just in case another performer pays a surprise visit to the county jail. The lead guitarist and vocalist of a local band, West said he regrets not having a chance to sing for Snoop Dogg, but wasn't sure if the rapper would have enjoyed the performance anyway.

"Our stuff is laid back," he said. "Mas o menos (more or less) country."

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/celebrity/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120128/ap_on_en_ot/us_celebrity_checkpoint

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Obama to speak at Alfalfa Club dinner (AP)

WASHINGTON ? President Barack Obama will address the 99th annual Alfalfa Club dinner in Washington Saturday evening.

First lady Michelle Obama will join the president at the prestigious event for Washington's movers and shakers being held at the Capital Hilton.

The dinner traditionally is closed to the media but is known for its jokes and speeches. The president usually is invited to deliver remarks.

The Alfalfa Club exists solely to put on the annual dinner.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/obama/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120128/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_obama_preview

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Polish economy grows 4.3 percent in 2011 (AP)

WARSAW, Poland ? Despite the European debt crisis, Poland's economy grew a brisk 4.3 percent in 2011, even more than its strong 3.9 percent growth rate for 2010.

The figures released Friday by the Central Statistical Office underline how strongly the economy has continued to grow in Poland, the largest of the ex-communist countries now in the 27-nation European Union.

"This is even more than was expected, though close to what we planned a year ago," Prime Minister Donald Tusk said, expressing satisfaction and saying the numbers show his center-right government has managed the country well during a time of substantial financial upheaval.

Although Poland's economy has proven unusually resilient, even growing when the rest of the EU fell into recession in 2009, the pace of its growth is expected to slacken this year due to fallout from Europe's debt crisis. Various economists and institutions estimate 2012 growth to be in the range of 2.5 to 3 percent.

Despite the strong growth, Poland still struggles with a number of problems, including a stubbornly high jobless rate. Other statistics released Friday show that unemployment in December jumped to 12.5 percent from 12.1 percent in November.

Tusk also expressed satisfaction that the Polish currency, the zloty, has been appreciating for more than a week, giving relief to Poles who have foreign currency loans and to drivers, since gas prices are set in dollars.

"It's very important to me that I travel to Brussels on Monday as the prime minister of a country that is really managing in the crisis," Tusk said.

EU leaders are meeting in Brussels on Monday to hammer out a new deal to help prevent future debt crises, especially in the 17-nation eurozone. Tusk has been threatening to not sign the deal unless it allows Poland to participate in talks on the euro, even though his country isn't yet in the eurozone.

Poland plans to make the currency switch to the euro one day and fears that it is being sidelined.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/eurobiz/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120127/ap_on_bi_ge/eu_poland_economy

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'Barefoot Bandit' sentenced to 6 1/2 years

FILE - In this Dec. 16, 2011 file photo, Colton Harris-Moore, also known as the "Barefoot Bandit," glances at the courtroom gallery as he walks to the defense table, in Island County Superior Court, in Coupeville, Wash. Harris-Moore is scheduled to be sentenced Friday, Jan. 27, 2012, in a U.S. federal court for his two-year international crime spree of break-ins and boat and plane thefts. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)

FILE - In this Dec. 16, 2011 file photo, Colton Harris-Moore, also known as the "Barefoot Bandit," glances at the courtroom gallery as he walks to the defense table, in Island County Superior Court, in Coupeville, Wash. Harris-Moore is scheduled to be sentenced Friday, Jan. 27, 2012, in a U.S. federal court for his two-year international crime spree of break-ins and boat and plane thefts. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)

John Henry Browne, the attorney for Colton Harris-Moore, talks to reporters outside the Federal Courthouse in Seattle, Friday, Jan. 27, 2012, following the federal sentencing hearing for Harris-Moore, who is also known as the "Barefoot Bandit." (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Pam Kohler, center, the mother of Colton Harris-Moore, who is also known as the "Barefoot Bandit," glares at photographers, Friday, Jan. 27, 2012, as she leaves the federal sentencing hearing for her son in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

John Henry Browne, the attorney for Colton Harris-Moore, talks to reporters outside the Federal Courthouse in Seattle, Friday, Jan. 27, 2012, following the federal sentencing hearing for Harris-Moore, who is also known as the "Barefoot Bandit." (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Assistant U.S. Attorney Darwin Roberts, right, talks to reporters as Kelly Kneifl, center, who had his home broken into by Barefoot Bandit Colton Harris-Moore, and FBI Agent Steven Dean, left, look on, Friday, Jan. 27, 2012, following the federal sentencing hearing for Harris-Moore in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

SEATTLE (AP) ? After a two-year international crime spree in which he survived a handful of crash landings, Colton Harris-Moore ? the infamous "Barefoot Bandit" ? says he's lucky to be alive.

Harris-Moore spoke publicly in court Friday for the first time since his 2010 arrest. A short while later, he was sentenced to 6 1/2 years in federal prison, which will be served concurrently with state prison time.

"What I did could be called daring, but it is no stretch of the imagination to say that am lucky to be alive ... absolutely lucky," he said. "I should have died years ago."

He particularly apologized for stealing planes, saying his arrogance led him to keep alive his dream of flying.

But Harris-Moore, once a gangly teenager, was more than just a self-taught pilot.

He hopscotched his way across the United States, authorities said. He flew a plane stolen in northwestern Washington to the San Juan Islands, stole a pistol in British Columbia and took a plane from Idaho to Washington state, stole a boat in southwestern Washington to go to Oregon, and took a plane in Indiana and flew to the Bahamas, where was arrested.

The 20-year-old earned his nickname because he committed several of the crimes without wearing shoes, and he attracted fans across the nation for his ability to evade police.

Friday's sentencing all but ends his exploits, providing the final details for a movie that an entertainment lawyer and federal prosecutors said 20th Century Fox has in the works.

But far from a gloating star, Harris-Moore apologized Friday to his victims.

"I now know a crime that took place overnight will take years to recover from," he said in court.

Defense attorney John Henry Browne said he expects Harris-Moore to be out of prison in about 4 1/2 years, accounting for the 18 months he's already been in custody. Federal prosecutors declined to comment on how much time he might serve, saying that will be up to the Bureau of Prisons.

Outside the courthouse, Harris-Moore's mother, Pam Kohler of Camano Island, said her son gave her a letter in court, but she refused to talk to reporters. She used her purse to hit a television crew's microphone and camera, and a newspaper photographer's camera.

In court, U.S. District Judge Richard Jones asked Harris-Moore to speak to young people who may look up to him because of his exploits.

"I would say to younger people they should focus on their education, which is what I am doing right now," he said. "I want to start a company. I want to make a difference in this world, legally."

Before the sentencing, defense attorneys said federal prosecutors released cherry-picked excerpts from emails in an effort to make Harris-Moore appear callous and self-aggrandizing.

He called the Island County sheriff "king swine," called prosecutors "fools," and referred to reporters as "vermin." He also described his feats ? stealing and flying planes with no formal training ? "amazing" and said they were unmatched by anyone except the Wright brothers.

But Harris-Moore's lawyers claim the full emails show that he is sorry for what he did and thankful for the treatment he received from a state judge who called his case a "triumph of the human spirit." The state judge sentenced him last month to seven years, at the low end of the sentencing range.

The attorneys acknowledged that in certain instances he bragged, but they said those writings were simply the product of an impulsive adolescent and don't reflect his true remorse.

Harris-Moore apologized for those emails in court Friday.

Federal prosecutors had asked for Jones to impose a 6 1/2 year sentence to be served while Harris-Moore serves his state time. His attorneys had asked for a federal sentence of just under six years.

The judge acknowledged that Harris-Moore had a difficult childhood, one with "complete lack of parental guidance" and alcohol and drug abuse from his parents. But he said he was concerned that that his previous court appearances didn't have an impact on him.

Jones acknowledged that Harris-Moore committed his early crimes to survive after fleeing from home. But he said "most of the federal offenses were committed for one reason: to fulfill your passion for flying at all costs and consequences."

The judge encouraged Harris-Moore to get treatment in prison.

"The most important day in your life is what you do when you are released. It will be up to you to create a new flight plan," Jones said.

Harris-Moore's defense lawyers said treatment was already under way.

There will be another hearing in a month to decide how much restitution Harris-Moore will be required to pay.

Federal prosecutor Darwin Roberts said he doesn't expect the movie deal to provide enough money to cover the estimated $1.3 million restitution.

Entertainment lawyer Lance Rosen said outside the courtroom that Academy Award winner Dustin Lance Black ? who wrote "Milk" and the recent "J. Edgar" ? has met with Harris-Moore several times and has turned in a draft of the script.

One of Harris-Moore's victims, Kelly Kneifl, made the trip from Yankton, S.D., to speak at the sentencing. Harris-Moore broke into Kneifl's home while he and his family were away on vacation.

Kneifl said he just caught a glimpse of a naked Harris-Moore escaping and wanted get some closure by watching him getting sentenced to prison.

"I do have empathy for him. I hope ... he can get on the right track someday," Kneifl said.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2012-01-27-Barefoot%20Bandit/id-6ef202f5a16d410cb0d08ecb807b67b6

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Tiger Woods shoots 66 to share lead in Abu Dhabi

Tiger Woods from U.S., right, shakes hands with Rory McIlroy on the 18th hole after they finished the third round of Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)

Tiger Woods from U.S., right, shakes hands with Rory McIlroy on the 18th hole after they finished the third round of Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)

Tiger Woods from U.S. plays a ball on the 16th hole during the third round of Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)

Tiger Woods from U.S. plays a ball in sand on the 17th hole during the third round of Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)

Tiger Woods from U.S. reacts on the 2nd hole during the third round of Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)

Thorbjorn Olesen from Denmark tees off in front of a billboard of a camel caravan on the 15th hole during the third round of Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) ? Tiger Woods shot a 6-under 66 Saturday for a share of the lead after the third round at the Abu Dhabi Championship.

The 14-time major winner played a consistent round to move to 11 under for the tournament.

"It just seemed like I didn't do a lot of things right but I didn't do a lot of things wrong today, it was just very consistent," Woods said. "You know, made a couple putts here and there ... I stayed away from trouble and tried to keep the ball towards the fat side of some of these pins and I think I did a pretty good job."

Woods is tied with newcomer Robert Rock, who birdied his final two holes to earn the 117th-ranked Englishman a first-ever pairing with the American star on Sunday.

Rory McIlroy (68), Peter Hanson (64), Francesco Molinari (66) and Peter Lawrie (68) are two shots off the pace. Four more players, including overnight leader Thorbjorn Olesen (71) of Denmark, are a shot further back.

Woods, who was two shots back after the second round, started climbing up the leaderboard Saturday with an opening birdie, followed by another on No. 7. He stepped up his game on the back nine, running off four birdies in a bogey-free round that was memorable not for stunning shots but Woods' ability to sink clutch putts and keep his ball in play.

The former world No. 1 grabbed a share of the lead after he narrowly missed an eagle putt on the 10th and settled for birdie. He briefly took the outright lead with a birdie on No. 14 and rolled in a six-footer for birdie on the 18th. The crowd roared with every birdie but Woods held off from his trademark fist pumping.

"There's too many guys up there right now. There's a ton of guys with a chance to win," Woods said. "You know, we have not separated ourselves from the field. The field is very bunched. I need to go out there and put together a solid round of golf, and I can't go out there and shoot even par and expect to win. I've got to go out there and go get it."

Rock, who got his first European Tour win last year in Italy in a playoff with Sergio Garcia, admitted he was star-struck at the prospect of facing off against Woods, calling him "the best guy I've ever seen play golf."

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2012-01-28-GLF-Abu-Dhabi-Championship/id-e8f8fa4a1b164f5486a0381a2d3e2b76

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Tweet lightly: How social media could someday affect your credit score, insurance, and more (Digital Trends)

Did you know January 28 is Data Privacy Day in the United States, Canada, and the European Union? The intention behind Data Privacy Day is to raise awareness of the importance of protecting the privacy of personal information?not just amongst individual users of things like social networking, but also amongst businesses, organizations, and corporations that collect, retain, and access information about their clients, customers, and users. Companies like Facebook, Google, Microsoft, and Yahoo have been drawing the attention of privacy advocates and regulators in recent years, but the reality is that there are tens of thousands of companies out there collecting, processing, and distributing personal information about individuals all the time. Increasingly, those companies are looking to things like social networking for cues about individuals? behaviors, lifestyle, interests, and activities.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg ??Time?s 2010 Man of the Year ? once famously declared privacy is not a ?social norm,? and Facebook and other companies have consistently borne out that idea in the online world, collecting increasing amount of information about individuals and hiding behind privacy policies longer than the U.S. Constitution. Clauses of implied consent decree that users legally agree to having their information gathered and tracked, so long as they continue using accounts or services. In other words: Users can either agree to be tracked, or they can agree not to use a service. However, this cavalier approach to data collection and user profiling is drawing increased scrutiny not just from consumer and privacy advocates, but by governments and everyday people. The European Commission has just proposed new data protection laws that would enshrine a ?right to be forgotten? for individuals, and the U.S. Federal Trade Commission has forced Facebook to toe the line on sharing user information with third parties. Google?s recent ground-up revamp of its privacy policies and user tracking is almost certain to draw FTC scrutiny as well.

Social impact

In observance of Data Privacy Day, Microsoft?which has a major stake in how data protection plays out, has released data from a survey of 5,000 people examining how they approach their online profiles and reputations. Overall, the survey found that 91 percent of respondents have taken some action to manage their overall online profile at some point in time, while about two thirds of respondents feel they are actually in control of their online reputations. However, only 44 percent indicated they actively consider the potential long-term consequences of their online actions; that means a surprising 56 percent do not consider any consequences from their online activity. Further, a surprising 14 percent believe they have been negatively impacted by the online activities of others. In this survey, ?negative impact? means things like being fired from a job, being denied a mortgage, losing health insurance, or losing out on being accepted to a college or a job.

It?s well-known that most employers these days commonly vet job candidates by checking out their social media postings: Pictures from a drunken party in college could come back to haunt job-seekers later in life, particularly as things like Facebook?s now-mandatory Timeline expose more of people?s online histories. Similarly, employers and others can easily trawl through someone?s postings to Twitter and other social media services. Someone who regularly uses insulting or demeaning language in their public tweets or fuels flame wars with strangers in forums might now be an employer?s first choice for a job that entails dealing with the public or customers politely. By the same token, tweeting ?Mainstreet offramp at 90mph, flipped off ugly minivan that honked at me!!? is probably a fast way to lose a job as a delivery driver.

Messages, files, photos, videos and other things marked as private or shared with a small group on a social networking site are only private in a very limited sense. If someone you?ve shared with takes the material public, it?s out there for the whole world to see, forever, just like any other social media posting. Also remember that discovery processes for civil and criminal cases treat social networking posts just like any other communication: They can be subpoenaed, and providers have to turn them over the data regardless of whether that information was free for the whole world or intended for just a selected few. And those subpoenas don?t have to be about you specifically: they might be about one of your online ?friends? or related to a fan page, group, discussion list, or blog you happen to like.

Do not track

Back in December 2010 the FTC fielded a do-not-track proposal that essentially extends the notion behind the the well-received U.S. do-not-call list for telephone solicitation to the Web. Consumers would be able to tell online advertisers that they do not want to be tracked or have data about their online data collected about them and used to target advertising. Although all the major Web browsers implemented support for the do-not-track behavior during 2011 (and Microsoft even submitted a version to the W3C as a standard), the bottom line is that, even if consumers enable the feature on all their browsers, sites and services must explicitly support it. It doesn?t work automatically, and there is no regulatory requirement that any site support it.

Of course, there is a negative consequence for high-profile companies (the Googles, Microsofts, and Facebooks of the world) if they fail to support something like the do-not-track technology: They can be publicly humiliated, which could impact their usership and, ultimately, the amount of money they can earn via their online advertising businesses. However, FTC commissioner Julie Brill, speaking at the George Washington University law school in observance of Data Privacy Day, noted a entirely different aspect of the industry: Low-profile data brokers who specialize in scraping and collecting information about Internet users?and then, of course, sell it to others. Like, perhaps, the Facebooks, Googles, and Microsofts of the world.

Brill indicated the FTC intends to take a much closer look at these sorts of data brokers, particularly since the data they collect is essentially unverified and hidden away. Internet users have no way of knowing, reviewing, or correcting what data brokers are saying about them, and similarly have no way to opt out of the data collection. In much the same ways inaccurate credit reports can have a severe negative impact on an individual?s finances (and can take months or even years of effort to correct, even in cases of fraud and identity theft), material collected about individuals via the Internet could have an impact on people?s everyday lives.

?Analysts are undoubtedly working right now to identify certain Facebook or Twitter habits or activities as predictive of behaviors relevant to whether a person is a good or trustworthy employee, or is likely to pay back a loan,? Brill said in her remarks. ?Might there not be a day very soon when these analysts offer to sell information scraped from social networks to current and potential employers to be used to determine whether you?ll get a job or promotion??

Brill outright admitted the FTC doesn?t even know who many of these data brokers are.

The FTC is expected to release its final report early next year, outlining policy principles and urging the industry to adopt and implement transparency principles that put consumers in control of the personal data being distributed about them. Unfortunately, these will be nonbinding recommendations: The FTC doesn?t have much in the way of enforcement power without assistance from Congress, and about the only thing the FTC can bring to bear right now is the Fair Credit Reporting Act, which only applies to credit reporting agencies (CRAs), defined as companies assembling and selling credit and financial information about individuals. It?s not clear whether scrapings from the Internet and social networking services would fall within that definition. And the final policy report is expected to fall far short of the EU?s proposed ?right to be forgotten,? which itself is not above criticism.

It?s not all about you

There are essentially three classes of information that impact people?s online reputations:

• Items posted by a user for the whole world to see
• Items posted by a user intended only for a select group
• Items posted about a user by a third party

This last case is noteworthy because it?s singularly outside of a users? control. In the same way we can?t control what people say when we leave a room, we can?t control what people say about us on social networking services. Unfortunately, people have a tendency to say things online they would never say in real life; equally unfortunately, those kinds of insensitive or outright untrue comments can have an impact on our real lives. The day may come when it?s possible to negatively impact someone?s credit score just by saying enough negative things about them online.

To combat this possibility, industry leaders like Microsoft and Google recommend users be proactive and keep an eye on what?s being said about them online. Both companies recommend regularly searching for all variations on their names in popular search engines to see what turns up. Microsoft?s survey found that only 37 percent of Internet users do this. (Among other things, Google recommends automating these types of searches with a Google Alert. (Unfortunately, you have to have a Google account to do that, and will be subject to Google?s we-track-everything policies.) If you find your online reputation is less flattering than you?d hoped, there?s not much you can do about it: Once something is published on the Internet, it?s essentially available to anyone, forever.

One tactic for maintaining some online privacy can be to keep your personal and professional lives separate. Maybe have one profile that?s public and available to the world ? including employers, schools, government agencies and others. Then, have separate profiles, screen names, and email addresses that handle your personal business, and keep those under tighter control, utilizing the privacy tools available on most social networking services and sites. (Bearing in mind that nothing available on the Internet is truly private.) If you do separate personal and professional roles, don?t cross-pollinate the two! There?s no point to having separate setups if you?re just going to link back and forth between them.

Keep a lid on it

A little over a two years ago, current Google chairman Eric Schmidt opined on CNBC that if people were doing something they didn?t want anyone to know, maybe they shouldn?t be doing it in the first place; Schmidt has also frequently expressed disdain for anonymity online, once declaring it ?too dangerous.? Comments like these from a top executive at one of the world?s most pervasive providers of online services ? and advertising ? should be troubling to anyone who doesn?t feel all the details of their lives ought to be accessible to anyone at any time

Although we can?t control what others say about us, or what companies are compiling about us, we do have control over what we do ourselves. A good rule of thumb for managing online privacy and reputation is ?think before you post.? If you?ve separated your personal and professional online lives, make sure you?re logged into the right account. And before posting a candid photo or hot-under-the-collar remark, think ?Is this something I really want associated with me for years?? Because whether you answer yes or no, it will be.

Image credit: Shutterstock / ra2 studio / VLADGRIN

This article was originally posted on Digital Trends

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Hyundai Motor reports record $7.2B profit for 2011 (AP)

SEOUL, South Korea ? Hyundai Motor's net profit jumped 35 percent to a record high last year after selling more than 4 million cars for the first time.

The company's 2011 earnings reached 8.1 trillion won ($7.2 billion), up from 6 trillion won a year earlier, the automaker said Thursday in a regulatory filing. Operating profit rose 36.4 percent to 8.07 trillion won.

Company officials said in a telephone conference that sales increased in countries such as the United States and China as well as at home. For the first time, the company sold more than 4 million cars in a year, they said.

Hyundai Motor Co., the maker of the Elantra and Sonata sedans and the Tucson SUV, is South Korea's largest automaker and a major force in the global auto industry. It has expanded aggressively overseas in recent years with factories in China, India, the Czech Republic, the United States and Russia.

Despite last year's growth, the company is wary of uncertainties in the global market as financial worries trouble European and other nations, it said in a statement.

Challenges from U.S. automakers are also expected to intensify in markets for small and medium-size cars while Japanese competitors are poised to unveil new models, Hyundai Motor said.

The South Korean automaker said it will focus on quality and consolidate its internal management rather than excessively expanding this year as it tries to deal with challenges.

"This means the company will concentrate on raising the profitability of its existing models through various sales tactics," said Chung Sung-yop, an analyst with Daiwa Securities in Seoul. He also expects the company to invest further this year in burnishing its brand at home and abroad.

Hyundai Motor owns a large stake in Kia Motors, South Korea's second-largest automaker, and they together form one of the world's largest auto groups.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/earnings/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120126/ap_on_bi_ge/as_skorea_earns_hyundai_motor

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Laura Kam: Why 'Never Again' Is a Litmus Test for Iran

As we approach International Holocaust Remembrance Day on Friday (January 27) the need to memorialize the horrors of Auschwitz should be self-evident. Yet this year, the Iranian regime's continued determination to realize its nuclear ambitions underscores the necessity to turn the motto 'Never Again' into action. The memory of the Holocaust should be at the forefront of the minds of world leaders who today must keep nuclear weapons out of Iran's reach. Even those statesmen who dismiss Iran's calls for Israel's destruction as little more than jingoistic rhetoric must regard Tehran's fanatical Holocaust denial as reason enough to thwart their nuclear armament.

It is undoubtedly a credit to European and other Western leaders that they recently slapped an unprecedented oil embargo on Iran in the most serious attempt yet to bring Tehran's nuclear plans to heel. Yet there are still those who question the severity of the Iranian threat and even regard Western determination to deny Iran atomic capability as rank hypocrisy, given the nuclear capacity on both sides of the Atlantic. For those still in doubt as to the seriousness of the nuclear threat, International Holocaust Memorial Day should serve as a timely reminder.

There can be no other country as determined to whitewash the crimes of Nazi Germany as Iran. The depth of Iranian Holocaust rejection is clear. President Ahmadinejad has repeatedly denied the Holocaust, calling it a "big lie" in August of last year. There is apparent consensus on the issue in the higher echelons of the Iranian leadership. Ahmadinejad used a trip to Germany (where Holocaust denial is a crime) in 2007 to pointedly announce that he "cannot confirm or deny" the Holocaust. Infamously, in December 2006, the Iranian regime arranged an academic smoke-screen for deniers, organizing a conference "to review the global vision of the Holocaust."

On the face of it, Iran's Holocaust obsession makes little sense, given that it is a county both untouched and untainted by the horrors of Hitler. Yet, it should be a wake-up call to those who would give Iran a free pass. By denying that the darkest chapter in human history ever happened, Ahmadinejad and his cronies understand that they are leaving a chink of light for such depravity to return.

This is exactly why Iranian vows to destroy Israel are so deeply worrying. Supreme Leader Khamenei declared in 2010 that "Israel is a cancerous tumour," which must be "cut out," while at the same time, Defense Minister Vahidi referred to the "Zionist regime" and "the countdown to its extinction."

There are of course those who continue to rubbish these repeated calls for Israel's elimination. Writing recently in Foreign Policy, Harvard academic Stephen Walt dismissed the prospect of an Iranian nuclear strike a "bizarre fantasy." Even if a pathological fixation on Israel's destruction is not enough to stir Walt and his ilk, the combustible mixture of nuclear armament and Iran's peculiar obsession with the Holocaust should be serious cause for concern. Let us not forget that it was the ashes of the Holocaust upon which the concept of universal human rights was codified under the auspices of the United Nations. To deny the Holocaust is to rip away those very foundations. To pretend that the evils of the concentration camps never happened is to deny the horrific consequences of allowing racial, national or religious 'purity' to trample upon equality and freedom. Placed alongside an already deplorable human rights record and a passionate ideological opposition towards Israel and the West, Holocaust denial can only pave the way for further Iranian abuses at home or abroad.

Accepting the dire lessons of the Holocaust has rightly become a litmus test of human decency. A country such as Iran which refuses to even recognize that there are any lessons to be learnt must never be permitted nuclear weapons. The pledge 'Never Again' is as relevant as it has ever been. Only continued international determination to stop Iran's nuclear march in its tracks will ensure that it does not become an empty slogan.

?

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/laura-kam/holocaust-remembrance-day_b_1232017.html

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Mass. gov suggests goalie's DC snub was rude

BOSTON (AP) ? A Boston Bruins goalie's decision to skip a White House ceremony with President Barack Obama because he believes the federal government is "out of control" points to a growing lack of courtesy in the country, Gov. Deval Patrick said Thursday.

Patrick, a Democrat, was asked about the controversy Thursday during his monthly "Ask the Governor" program on WTKK-FM. He didn't directly criticize goalie Tim Thomas, but suggested that the snub showed disrespect toward the presidency.

"He's a phenomenal hockey player and he's entitled to his views," Patrick said. "It just feels like we are losing in this country basic courtesy and grace."

The governor said while he strongly disagreed with many of the policies of former President George W. Bush, a Republican, he was always respectful when they met.

"I always referred to him as Mr. President, I stood when he came into the room. There are rules to live by," Patrick said.

The ceremony on Monday was to honor the Bruins for winning the Stanley Cup last season, their first championship in 39 years. Thomas was named the Most Valuable Player of the Stanley Cup finals against the Vancouver Canucks.

Thomas explained his choice in a statement posted on his Facebook page.

"I believe the federal government has grown out of control, threatening the rights, liberties, and property of the people," he wrote.

Thomas blamed all three branches of government and both political parties.

"This was not about politics or party, as in my opinion both parties are responsible for the situation we are in as a country," he said in the statement, adding that he did not plan to speak further about his decision.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2012-01-26-Patrick-Thomas-White%20House/id-489e7010dbab44e9833bda3b4c445186

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