Udall pitches bipartisan seating ?date night? again for State of the Union

U.S. Sen. Mark Udall will urge members of Congress to sit in mixed partisan company on the State of the Union address Feb. 12. This is his third year pushing the effort. (Associated Press/David Zalubowski)

WASHINGTON ? Sen. Mark Udall will again ask his Senate and House colleague to sit together in mixed company for the State of the Union address Feb. 12.

This is the third year Udall, a Democrat, has pushed the Republican and Democrat ?date night? where lawmakers sit together instead of on separate partisan sides of the chamber in the U.S. Capitol.

In the old days, Republicans sat on one side and Democrats sat on the other.

For the past two years, Colorado?s delegation sat together, except Udall, who has sat with South Carolina Republican Sen. Jim DeMint. DeMint has since left public office to run the Heritage Foundation.

Udall?s staffers said Wednesday he will likely sit with Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska.

Udall?s efforts were attempts at promoting comity among a divisive Congress.

In a letter to Congressional leadership that Udall will send today, he acknowledged that the seating hasn?t done much to thwart gridlock, but, ?We feel it has been a very important step in the right direction, symbolizing the importance of working together to solve the common challenges we face in securing a strong future for the United States.?

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/dp-spot-politics/~3/baT6m2-xIrE/

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Business, Management Courses Offered

For those ready to take themselves ? or their businesses ? to the next level, Pennsylvania College of Technology is offering a wide array of noncredit, business and management courses.

The courses, presented by Workforce Development & Continuing Education at Penn College, are held at the Center for Business & Workforce Development on the college?s main campus in Williamsport. They are taught by qualified, experienced industry experts and faculty.

Courses offered this spring include Customer Service, Working With Difficult Personalities, Workplace Motivation, Time Management, Decision Making and Problem Solving, Conducting Effective Meetings, Business Acumen, Managing Multiple Priorities, Projects and Deadlines, Effective Communications, and Understanding and Appreciating Differences Using the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator.

For a complete listing of courses, descriptions and dates ? or to register ?visit the WDCE website (click on ?Courses?) or call 570-327-4775.

For information on credit offerings at Penn College, visit the Academic Schools page.

Source: http://pctoday.pct.edu/business-management-courses-offered/

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Clinton doesn't see 'getting back into politics'

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Outgoing U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Tuesday cast doubt on speculation she might run for the White House in 2016.

In an interview taped for National Public Radio, Clinton was asked what questions she needs to answer for herself as she decides whether to run for president.

"I'm not even posing those questions. I am really looking forward to stepping off the fast track that I've been on. I've been out of politics as Secretary of State. I don't see myself getting back into politics," she said, according to an excerpt of the interview.

Whether this is her last word on the subject is unknown. She will face strong pressure from Democrats to join the field of contenders. Clinton will step down this week, following Senate confirmation Tuesday of Massachusetts Democratic Senator John Kerry as her successor.

Those close to Clinton are eager for her to announce a 2016 run, so much so that a group has already formed a new super PAC and registered with the Federal Election Commission on Friday, called "Ready for Hillary."

In 2008, she lost to President Barack Obama in a bitter Democratic primary campaign to be the party nominee for the White House.

Although Clinton, 65, did not categorically rule out another presidential run, in a separate NBC interview she said that she was healthy enough to wage a campaign.

"I have no doubt that I am healthy enough and my stamina is great enough and I'll be fully recovered to do whatever I choose to do," Clinton told "Andrea Mitchell Reports" in an interview that aired on Tuesday.

Clinton was hospitalized in December after doctors found a blood clot stemming from a concussion she suffered previously.

She intends to do more public speaking and writing, and work alongside her husband, former President Bill Clinton, and daughter Chelsea on "mutual foundation interests," she said in the NPR interview.

"I want to be involved in philanthropy, advocacy, working on issues - like women and girls - that I care deeply about," Clinton said.

(Reporting by Margaret Chadbourn; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/clinton-says-she-doesnt-see-getting-back-politics-015239548.html

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Polycom buying IT consulting firm Sentri to expand Microsoft services

Polycom has just announced plans to purchase Sentri, a Massachusetts-based IT consulting and managed services firm.

More significantly, Sentri's specialty is providing support for Microsoft business solutions.

Thus, the goals for Polycom with this merger are twofold: to grow its services business and beef up its own support for and integration with Microsoft products.

Citing 10 percent annual growth for the services unit in last week's earnings report, Polycom told ZDNet that this is another step for the San Jose-based company towards becoming a software company primarily for video collaboration.

Polycom has been a significant Microsoft partner for the last few years, especially since the two tech companies inked a broad agreement to team up on unified communications back in 2010.

Under that deal, Polycom agreed to develop unified communications systems for various Microsoft servers and products. In one example last year, Polycom its RealPresence video conferencing platform with Microsoft's Lync UC system to work on Hewlett-Packard's AppSystem for scalable operability on HP's networking services and storage.

In this light, Sentri -- certified as a Microsoft Gold Competency Partner with services dedicated to Lync, SharePoint and more -- appears to make a natural fit for Polycom.

Although an exact figure wasn't revealed, Polycom said it paid "less than $10 million" for Sentri. The deal is expected to close during the first quarter of 2013.

Source: http://www.zdnet.com/polycom-buying-it-consulting-firm-sentri-to-expand-microsoft-services-7000010559/

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ASUS and Google working on Nexus 7 successor, says DigiTimes

Supply chain rumormonger tips 1080p display, thinner bezel, same price point

The ASUS-made Nexus 7 has been a runaway success -- arguably the most successful Android tablet yet, and certainly the most popular Nexus device to date. So it shouldn't come as much of a surprise to hear that a successor might be in the works, and due for launch later this year.

That's exactly what's being reported by Taiwanese outlet DigiTimes, which cites its sometimes right, sometimes wrong supply chain sources with access to "engineering samples" of the tablet. The site claims the ASUS-built Nexus 7 successor (Nexus 8, perhaps?) will feature a "full HD" 1080p display, thinner bezels and the same attractive $199-249 price point. "Several specifications" will also be upgraded, DigiTimes says, though no specifics are given.

The site's sources also estimate total Nexus 7 shipments at six million as of the end of January, with the $249 32GB Wifi-only version being the most popular at present.

This is the first we've heard of a possible Nexus 7 follow-up, but there's nothing terribly shocking in there as far as we're concerned. The Nexus 7's low price has been instrumental in its success, and so any successor was likely to be priced around the same level. In addition, with mobile device screen resolutions reaching dizzying heights this year, the Nexus tablet's screen is an obvious point for improvement.

Then again, given the patchy nature of supply chain rumblings, a large pinch of salt should be taken when dealing with this kind of rumor. Either way, we'll be on the ground in San Francisco in May to see what new hardware Google brings to this year's I/O conference.

Source: DigiTimes

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/c5AE9HPlwuE/story01.htm

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Rupert Sanders' wife files for divorce in LA

FILE - In this May 14, 2012 file photo, actress Liberty Ross with director Rupert Sanders pose for the media at the World Premiere of the film, "Snow White and the Huntsman," at a cinema in central London. Ross filed for divorce on Friday, Jan. 28, 2013 in Los Angeles, roughly five months after it was revealed that Sanders had engaged in a brief affair with actress Kristen Stewart. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, File)

FILE - In this May 14, 2012 file photo, actress Liberty Ross with director Rupert Sanders pose for the media at the World Premiere of the film, "Snow White and the Huntsman," at a cinema in central London. Ross filed for divorce on Friday, Jan. 28, 2013 in Los Angeles, roughly five months after it was revealed that Sanders had engaged in a brief affair with actress Kristen Stewart. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, File)

FILE - In this May 14, 2012 file photo, actress Liberty Ross with director Rupert Sanders pose for the media at the World Premiere of the film, "Snow White and the Huntsman," at a cinema in central London. Ross filed for divorce on Friday, Jan. 28, 2013 in Los Angeles, roughly five months after it was revealed that Sanders had engaged in a brief affair with actress Kristen Stewart. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, File)

LOS ANGELES (AP) ? Rupert Sanders' wife has filed for divorce five months after it was revealed the director had a brief affair with actress Kristen Stewart.

Liberty Ross, Sanders' wife of more than nine years, filed for divorce Friday in Los Angeles citing irreconcilable differences.

Ross' filing cites irreconcilable differences for the couple's breakup. They have two children, an 8-year-old daughter and 6-year-old son.

The model-actress is seeking joint custody of the children and spousal support from her estranged husband, who directed Stewart in "Snow White and the Huntsman."

TMZ, which first reported the filing, stated that Sanders also filed divorce paperwork but it was not available on Monday.

Stewart, who has been dating "Twilight" co-star Robert Pattinson, apologized for her fling with Sanders in July after it was revealed by US Weekly.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/4e67281c3f754d0696fbfdee0f3f1469/Article_2013-01-28-People-Rupert%20Sanders/id-bb3a72f6ff1a4a8d8d672db093b5a88c

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EU takes on task of rebuilding Mali army

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union has a vital role to play in rebuilding Malian army that is badly paid, poorly equipped and seriously weakened by a year of defeats, the commander of a new EU military training mission said on Tuesday.

French General Francois Lecointre, speaking after an initial fact-finding trip to Mali, where troops are fighting with French help to push back Islamist rebels who occupied the north of the country, said the army there was in a "very broken-down" state.

"It has been under-equipped, badly paid, badly trained and it is an army which has just suffered a full year of successive defeats which has considerably weakened it. There is a true moral strength to be rebuilt," he told reporters in Brussels.

The EU has approved a 15-month mission to train Malian soldiers but Lecointre said a longer term commitment may be needed to reconstruct the army.

French forces intervened this month after Mali appealed to Paris for urgent military aid to halt advances by the Islamists and defuse the risk of Mali being used as a springboard for jihadist attacks in the wider region or Europe.

"Recent events have highlighted that what might have seemed at the start like a short-term training mission of the Malian army is really a fundamental, absolutely necessary action for an army which collapsed very quickly in the face of the Tuareg offensive," Lecointre said.

Mutinous soldiers seized power from Mali's then president in a coup in March, angry at the government's failure to stamp out what was then a two-month-old separatist rebellion by the Tuaregs and eventually became the Islamist takeover that the army was powerless to halt after civilian rule was restored.

CHALLENGE REMAINS

France has sent around 3,000 troops to Mali but is anxious not to get bogged down in a messy counter-insurgency war in their former Sahel colony.

The French have also made clear that while the first phase of liberating the biggest north Mali towns may be over, a more difficult challenge to flush the Islamist desert insurgents from their isolated rural lairs remains.

The crisis led the EU to bring forward its previously planned training mission by a few weeks.

The first European experts, who will advise Malian officers, will start work soon but the full force of about 250 trainers plus about 200 other soldiers to guard and lead the team will only be ready to start the training around the end of March.

Spain, Germany, Britain, Sweden and Ireland are expected to take part in the French-led EU training mission and non-EU members Norway and Canada may also participate, Lecointre said, but he gave no numbers for how many trainers each country would provide.

The EU's plan is to train four battalions of the Malian army, each with about 650 soldiers. Britain said earlier it had offered up to 40 soldiers for the training mission.

The Malian army also urgently needs help with equipment, Lecointre said, adding that until a few months ago, not every soldier had a gun.

Lecointre said he saw no risk of "rogue attacks" by Malian soldiers on European trainers of the kind that have killed many foreign troops in Afghanistan, noting that the Malian army recruited mainly among the people of southern Mali whereas the Islamists' stronghold is in the north.

(Editing by Alison Williams)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/eu-takes-task-rebuilding-mali-army-222023922.html

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Rose Cameron: According to Kids, Coke and the Critics Are Missing the Point

Last week I've watched with great interest the commercials launched by Coca-Cola, which were created to engage in the discussion on obesity and provide a perspective on the role that sugar and sodas play in this health dilemma. As a mother of two boys , a former ad executive and now founder of a company in the kids' beverage industry, I believe that Coke, as well as its numerous critics, are missing the point.

First of all, I would like to applaud the work of leaders such as the First Lady Michelle Obama and Mayor Michael Bloomberg, whose efforts have been key in getting the world's largest beverage company to do something unprecedented and actually engage in the subject of obesity in a serious way. I also applaud Coke for raising attention to this issue in a thoughtful way by pointing out the range of products they offer and community work they have done, and continue to do, to help curb obesity. With that said, I think that Coke and the critics of their new campaign are missing the point altogether and missing a great opportunity.

I believe that the success of Coke, and let's not forget Pepsi, over many generations has not been due to product innovation, community-oriented efforts, social engagement or anything of that nature. With over half of Americans drinking at least one soda daily, a shocking average of 45 gallons of soda per year, their success has been attributed to their mastery of marketing, or as my kids would say, "making sodas really cool!" In my opinion, between the two commercials the one that works best in terms of engagement for Coke is not 'Coming Together' -- the two minute corporate responsibility film which unfortunately comes across as defensive, very late and transparent in its agenda -- it is the 'Be OK' ad. Why? Because 'Be OK' is a classic Coke ad. As my son Jack elaborated, "Coke ads are fun, cool and make you feel happy." They relate to the audience in an emotional and emphatic way. That is exactly why kids love to drink Coke.

Yes, kids love sodas and sugary drinks. About 56 percent of 8-year-olds and 78 percent of 9-14 year-olds consume soda daily. Even more shocking, one in three teens consume at least three cans of soda per day. That is too much soda. These beverages contain empty calories, which have no nutritional value, and are certainly not what Coke is telling its consumers -- 'happy.' Over consumption of these drinks can lead to serious health issues, including obesity. These hard facts along with learning that, due to obesity, today's generation of kids are expected to live shorter than their parents, pushed me to become involved in the kids' beverage industry. Over the last five years, I have had the privilege of learning from kids about how to engage their generation and create excitement for the healthiest thirst quencher of all -- water.

Being a mom and also having worked with and been inspired by kids, I believe part of the solution to the obesity problem, particularly childhood obesity, is not to confuse and reposition the facts (empty is not happy) and it's not to make low or no calorie versions of products such as Coke Zero or Vitamin Water Zero. Kids don't like to be confused, they are smart and can tell if a brand is trying too hard or deceiving them in some way. They also perceive these attempts at a healthier product as 'less than the real thing.' If you know kids, you know they hate nothing more than being shorted or 'gipped.' I believe from the kids' perspective, the answer is very simple. Create healthy, contemporary brands that do what Coke and Pepsi have done so successfully for years; build a desire, create a strong emotional appeal and most of all be 'cool' in the eyes of kids. This is exactly how Coke is portrayed in their anti-obesity 'Be OK' spot and why, in my eyes, it is effective.

Unfortunately, most of the so-called 'healthy' brands out there are either compromises (less than the real thing) or are marketed around adult values like purity of source, good for you, organic, natural ingredients and eco-responsibility. The industry doesn't get it. Not many kids crave Coke or sip it from that iconic bottle because it is 'sugar and fizzy water,' they love or loved Coke because of its marketing -- 'Teach the World to Sing,' the Polar Bears, and more recently 'Open Happiness.' Similarly, young people grab Pepsi not for what is inside but for what it stands for, the 'new generation.' Michael Jackson and Britney Spears have danced alongside Pepsi and now, the face of the most beautiful women in the world as dubbed by People magazine, Beyonce, will be on its can.

I believe that marketing and its emotional appeal is the key and that is the point that Coke missed in their new campaign. It is also what the critics are missing in their commentaries. Instead of slamming the ads and claiming they are deceitful, defensive, disingenuous and so on, they should recommend that Coke use their significant corporate power and truly face the problem head on. Coke needs to seriously invest in putting out healthy products instead of the 'less then the real thing' options and begin standing behind brands that are genuinely healthy. They should do what they are so good at -- make wonderful commercials for those brands and show that they are as cool, fun and happy as the classic Coca-Cola. With their distribution arm (that's another subject) and deep media budgets, those brands will surely be a success and will begin paving the way to improve the health of this country -- most importantly the kids.

Let's face it, if anyone can make a difference in this obesity epidemic it the largest beverage company in the world.

And yes, my kids are allowed an occasional drink of Coca-Cola!

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rose-cameron/soda-marketing-kids_b_2563724.html

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Girl saves mom suffering diabetic attack

A fast thinking 9-year-old Illinois girl was able to help guide her mother to safety after the woman suffered a diabetic attack while driving at speeds of up to 70 mph.

Jennifer Sheridan, 42, was driving her daughter Aleksandra to McDonald's in Frankfort, Ill., after the two had attended a high school basketball game on the evening of Jan. 18. Sheridan, who has type 2 diabetes, had a diabetic attack when her blood sugar suddenly dropped. She told ABCNews.com that she was not aware of what was happening.

"I was still conscious, and talking, my daughter said. I don't remember any of that," Sheridan said. "We went through, she says, a red light, and then I know I kept saying, 'We have to stop.' That was in my mind, but it wasn't clicking."

Sheridan said that they passed her house and the McDonald's. Aleksandra was screaming and crying during the wayward drive, which she says must have lasted 15 to 20 minutes, but kept talking to her mother.

"She says she kept telling me different things, that I was going too fast, or too slow," Sheridan said.

While the car was still moving, Sheridan's husband called. She said that Aleksandra was on phone screaming that they were going off the road.

Her car eventually veered to the right, through a small ditch and a group of trees. At that point Aleksandra turned the car off, preventing the still moving car from hitting a tree.

Luckily, both mother and daughter were unharmed. Once the car was off, Aleksandra slowly fed her mother a chocolate bar that was in the car's cup holder.

"Once we were stopped and she could focus, she fed me," Sheridan said. "She said, 'I kept just giving little pieces so you wouldn't choke.'"

Police and the fire department were called to the scene by a passerby who saw the incident. The story also caught local media attention from WBBM-TV and Fox News.

Sheridan says the next thing she actually remembers was being in the ambulance. Police who arrived on the scene congratulated Aleksandra, and even gave her a yellow duck toy, which they call the "Golden Duck Award for Heroes."

This is not the first time Aleksandra has come to her mom's aid when she had a diabetic attack. Two years ago, while they were in their home, the girl called 911 when she found her mother on the kitchen floor.

Sheridan said that she is now using an insulin pump, which is designed to eliminate lows in blood sugar in diabetics. She said that she will soon be on the list for a new pancreas. With a daughter and a 16-year-old son with cerebral palsy, she says she needs to be in top form. For now, she's happy that both she and Aleksandra are unscathed.

"Every day, I wake up and think, 'Yes!'" she said.

Also Read

Source: http://gma.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blogs/girl-9-saves-mom-diabetic-attack-while-driving-155739348--abc-news-topstories.html

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Clashes in Egypt despite state of emergency

CAIRO (AP) ? Police are firing tear gas at rock-throwing protesters in Cairo a day after Egypt's president declared a state of emergency in three provinces hit hardest by political violence.

The clashes Monday near Tahrir Square mark the fifth consecutive day of street violence in Egypt.

Late Sunday, thousands of protesters demonstrated in Port Said, Ismailiya and Suez to reject President Mohammed Morsi's declaration of a 30-day state of emergency in the three Suez Canal cities and their surrounding provinces.

Those provinces have been the hardest hit by a weekend wave of unrest that has left more than 50 dead.

Morsi declared the state of emergency in a televised address late Sunday and warned that he would not hesitate to take more action to stem Egypt's latest eruption of violence.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/clashes-egypt-despite-state-emergency-084636581.html

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Senators reach deal on immigration changes

WASHINGTON (AP) ? A bipartisan group of leading senators has reached agreement on the principles of sweeping legislation to rewrite the nation's immigration laws.

The deal, which was to be announced at a news conference Monday afternoon, covers border security, guest workers and employer verification, as well as a path to citizenship for the 11 million illegal immigrants already in this country.

Although thorny details remain to be negotiated and success is far from certain, the development heralds the start of what could be the most significant effort in years toward overhauling the nation's inefficient patchwork of immigration laws.

President Barack Obama also is committed to enacting comprehensive immigration legislation and will travel to Nevada on Tuesday to lay out his vision, which is expected to overlap in important ways with the Senate effort.

The eight senators expected to endorse the new principles Monday are Democrats Charles Schumer of New York, Dick Durbin of Illinois, Robert Menendez of New Jersey and Michael Bennet of Colorado; and Republicans John McCain of Arizona, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Marco Rubio of Florida and Jeff Flake of Arizona.

Several of these lawmakers have worked for years on the issue. McCain collaborated with the late Democratic Sen. Edward M. Kennedy on comprehensive immigration legislation pushed by then-President George W. Bush in 2007, only to see it collapse in the Senate when it couldn't get enough GOP support.

Now, with some Republicans chastened by the November elections which demonstrated the importance of Latino voters and their increasing commitment to Democrats, some in the GOP say this time will be different.

"What's changed, honestly, is that there is a new, I think, appreciation on both sides of the aisle ? including maybe more importantly on the Republican side of the aisle ? that we have to enact a comprehensive immigration reform bill," McCain said Sunday on ABC's "This Week."

"I think the time is right," McCain said.

The group claims a notable newcomer in Rubio, a potential 2016 presidential candidate whose conservative bona fides may help smooth the way for support among conservatives wary of anything that smacks of amnesty. In an opinion piece published Sunday in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Rubio wrote that the existing system amounts to "de facto amnesty," and he called for "commonsense reform."

According to documents obtained by The Associated Press, the senators will call for accomplishing four goals:

?Creating a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants already here, contingent upon securing the border and better tracking of people here on visas.

?Reforming the legal immigration system, including awarding green cards to immigrants who obtain advanced degrees in science, math, technology or engineering from an American university.

?Creating an effective employment verification system to ensure that employers do not hire illegal immigrants.

?Allowing more low-skill workers into the country and allowing employers to hire immigrants if they can demonstrate they couldn't recruit a U.S. citizen; and establishing an agricultural worker program.

The principles being released Monday are outlined on just over four pages, leaving plenty of details left to fill in. What the senators do call for is similar to Obama's goals and some past efforts by Democrats and Republicans, since there's wide agreement in identifying problems with the current immigration system. The most difficult disagreement is likely to arise over how to accomplish the path to citizenship.

In order to satisfy the concerns of Rubio and other Republicans, the senators are calling for the completion of steps on border security and oversight of those here on visas before taking major steps forward on the path to citizenship.

Even then, those here illegally would have to qualify for a "probationary legal status" that would allow them to live and work here ? but not qualify for federal benefits ? before being able to apply for permanent residency. Once they are allowed to apply they would do so behind everyone else already in line for a green card within the current immigration system.

That could be a highly cumbersome process, but how to make it more workable is being left to future negotiations. The senators envision a more streamlined process toward citizenship for immigrants brought here as children by their parents, and for agricultural workers.

The debate will play out at the start of Obama's second term, as he aims to spend the political capital afforded him by his re-election victory on an issue that has eluded past presidents and stymied him during his first term despite his promises to the Latino community to act.

"As the president has made clear for some time, immigration reform is an important priority and he is pleased that progress is being made with bipartisan support," a White House spokesman, Clark Stevens, said in a statement. "At the same time, he will not be satisfied until there is meaningful reform and he will continue to urge Congress to act until that is achieved."

For Republicans, the November elections were a stark schooling on the importance of Latino voters, who voted for Obama over Republican Mitt Romney 71 percent to 27 percent, helping ensure Obama's victory. That led some Republican leaders to conclude that supporting immigration reform with a path to citizenship has become a political imperative.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/senators-reach-deal-immigration-changes-050551602.html

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Family left devastated after pet cat is killed by poison - This is ...

ANIMAL lover Tracey Heap has been left distraught after her two cats were poisoned with antifreeze within days of each other.

The 46-year-old was devastated when 16-month-old tabby Beauty had to be put to sleep after consuming a lethal dose of the liquid.

1. Tracey Heap's daughter Grace Hansbury aged six holding seven month old Charlie_

And her other cat Charlie is also being treated by vets after displaying the same symptoms.

Now Staffordshire Police are investigating whether both cats could have been deliberately targeted.

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Tracey, from Smallthorne, said: "Poor Beauty just kept being sick.

"I thought it was just a bug, but then one day I came home and she was making this horrendous noise and she started fitting violently.

"She had lock jaw and it didn't stop, even when we got her to the vets."

Tracey rushed the cat to the PDSA, in Stoke, where staff took the decision to put Beauty down after finding she had dangerous levels of anti-freeze in her system.

Tracey, who lives in William Ruston Road with her six-year-old daughter Grace, added: "She had a vile death. No animal should ever have to go through what she did.

"Grace saw it all and she was so upset which makes it even more distressing.

"She hasn't stopped crying since it happened. We're all devastated." Shortly after Beauty was put to sleep earlier this month, six-month-old Charlie, who is Beauty's kitten, has also had to be treated by vets for permanent kidney damage after they found that he too had been exposed to the poison.

Tracey added: "He is okay at the moment.

"He hasn't had such extreme symptoms as Beauty had, but he could take a turn for the worse at any time. That's our fear.

"He is on prescription food now and I am petrified of letting him out in case it happens again.

"But cats need to be outdoors and it is unfair on him. I don't know how long I can keep it up.

"I know there's more anti-freeze about at the moment because of the cold weather but we think they have both been deliberately targeted.

"I just want other people to be aware that this is happening."

The RSPCA is now warning pet owners to be vigilant following the poisonings.

A spokesman for the animal charity said: "Most people are unaware of the hidden dangers to pets from antifreeze poisoning. Unfortunately, many animals find the taste of antifreeze very attractive, and ingesting even the smallest amount can lead to kidney failure and death, especially in cats.

"We are deeply concerned and extremely saddened by the recent spates of antifreeze poisonings in cats across the country.

"We would like to take this opportunity to remind the public that antifreeze poisoning can cause animals pain, suffering and distress, ultimately resulting in their death."

The spokesman added: "The poisoning of a cat can constitute a criminal offence.

"Under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, the maximum penalty for anyone found guilty of this offence is up to six months imprisonment and/or a fine of around ?20,000."

Staffordshire Police confirmed officers were investigating the poisonings.

A spokesman said: "We are aware of the matter and are liaising with the RSPCA."

Have your cats been poisoned? email newsdesk@thesentinel.co .uk

Source: http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/Family-left-devastated-pet-cat-killed-poison/story-17971134-detail/story.html

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Stepparenting & Blended Families

While resources abound for stepmothers, stepfathers are often left to travel a difficult road without clear directions. Ron Deal offers advice for men navigating the stepfamily minefield, including how to connect with stepchildren, being a godly role model, how to discipline, dealing with the biological dad, and keeping the bond strong with one's new spouse. He gives perspective on what the kids are going through and why things don't work the same as in a biological family. The Smart Stepdad provides essential guidelines to help stepfathers not only survive but succeed as both dad and husband.

• Rank: #80949 in Books
• Published on: 2011-04-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: 8.27" h x .63" w x 5.31" l, .65 pounds
• Binding: Paperback
• 256 pages

Source: http://popstepparentingblendedfamili137.blogspot.com/2013/01/smart-stepdad-steps-to-help-you-succeed.html

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Source: http://betriobiberz.typepad.com/blog/2013/01/stepparenting-blended-families-2017-smart-stepdad-the-steps.html

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Why game consoles may soon take over home theater | Digital Trends

It?s no secret that game consoles are good for much more than just gaming, but what you may not know is that game consoles are poised to become the centerpiece of home theaters. We take a look at how they got to this point, and what we can expect from them in the near future.

For veteran gamers who cut their teeth during the Atari days, much of what you?re about to read may seem like old news. But gaming is?beginning?to pop up on the radar for a whole new sector of the population, many of whom have never so much as picked up a controller. As a result, game consoles appear poised to completely take over a whole new sector of entertainment: home theater.

Today, we tend to think of console gaming as a mainstream convention, but in its early years it was pigeon-holed, stigmatized, and even relegated to the fringes of geek-dom. As a result, it became a sub-culture of sorts. Sure, it was ubiquitous among the 21 & under set, but adults who played games on a regular basis back then were far less common.

The gaming industry outgrew that awkward phase and expanded its audience throughout the 90?s , but analyst Michael Pachter of Wedbush Morgan estimates that, in 2003, gaming?s audience still comprised about 90 percent young men. Eventually, however, demographics began to shift in earnest, and when they did,?it was largely due to a prescient business move from gaming?s most recognizable household name.

When Nintendo launched?its Wii console in November of 2006,?it also launched a new marketing strategy. The company billed the new system and its games as tools for fitness, learning, and family fun, adopting an ?everyone?s a gamer? ethos and staking its new hardware on its success. Of course, the rest is history, as units flew off shelves and Nintendo enjoyed record sales, while stores?scrambled?to satisfy demand.

Once the dust had settled in 2011, The Entertainment Software Association?s Essential Facts report determined the average age of gamers to be 37. Pre-Wii, in 2005, the same report by the same?organization had that age at 30.

Nintendo?s?success?helped bring about a paradigm shift in gaming. Instead of courting hardcore fans and fighting a war of attrition over a smaller swath of the?population, gaming companies started looking at strategies that would bring new players into the fold. One obvious way to get the whole family on board was to enable them to do more than just play games with their consoles. What if dad could watch sports and little sis could check her Facebook page? The potential was endless.

Xbox had always made media content available for download, but streaming and social elements were missing. In November of 2008, the company added Netflix functionality, and followed that up with Facebook and Twitter in November of the next year. Suddenly, the console had a hook to draw in non-gamers, and enhanced TV became a part of the gaming world. But perhaps more importantly, home theater and gaming were blended together like never before.

Slow on the uptake

In case you haven?t noticed, the Xbox 360 is a fully functional OTT (over-the-top) set-top box, the PS3 is a Blu-ray player, and the Wii U provides a tablet-esque second-screen-enabled controller.

Casual gamers have been slow to realize their gaming hardware?s potential as a home-theater enhancement, perhaps because gaming consoles are still seen by many as devices designed for people who play games. To be fair, it would appear a perfectly valid characterization; after all, it?s baked right into their title. Consequently ? despite delivering Smart Hubs, media players, and second screen experiences that often outshine their specialist competition ? the consoles have gone largely unrecognized for their contributions to home theater.

Another important fact to consider is that modern consoles? GPU?s have historically out-muscled those implemented in Smart TVs. What?s more, console controllers are better-suited for navigating complex menus than most TV remotes, and they have an all-in-one appeal that other options lack ? and that?s just what?s available today.

Next-Gen

While it?s difficult to separate rumor and innuendo from leaks and facts at this point, it?s clear that next-generation consoles will be even more powerful and easier to integrate into your home theater system than their predecessors. So what else can we glean?

Multiple reports indicate that Microsoft will aim to bolster set-top options in its next go-around (Xbox 720), with some even indicating it may?choose to release two versions of the officially-unnamed console, one being a less expensive, dedicated set-top with scaled-back gaming functionality. If you want a safer bet though, look for Smart Glass to take center stage, just as it did at E3. The app provides a companion interface for second screen functionality and enhances more than just the gaming experience.

Also buzzing is the potential that Sony?s next machine ? code-named Orbis - could support 4K/UHD resolutions. If the reports are true, gaming may realize the next big thing in TV before TV does. Sony has bet everything but its shirt on the tech, so such a move would appear to make sense.

Lastly, there?s the possibility that the new round of consoles could be here sooner than later. Recent reports have indicated that reveals could be coming as early as March. If true, that would?put both Microsoft and Sony?s new consoles on track for holiday releases.

On the periphery

It?s not just the consoles, however, that are getting in on the action. Gaming peripherals are also making their way into the home theater conversation. Gaming headphones, like the PS3 PULSE wireless headset, can amplify and clarify in-game audio, sure, but you can also use them to tune into your TV, or listen to your MP3 player when you?re done berating your digital foes.

Kinect is another great example, and a potential game-changer for the home-theater industry. Gesture and voice control options come standard on the device and can be used to streamline the searching, selecting, and playing of entertainment, usually better than competing technologies built into Smart TVs. But recent developments provide even more intriguing possibilities.

At CES 2013, Microsoft unveiled video footage of its Illumiroom prototype, a smart-projection technology designed to drive gaming beyond the screen. Despite its stated intention, we can?t help but salivate over its potential to revolutionize home theater. There was a time that we were excited over ambient?back-lighting?and the prospect of 3D TV, but to think of an intelligent system that could project content outward and onto the objects around you is truly exciting.

A little bit of Hollywood

Brain teaser: What do Gary Oldman, Christina Ricci, Samuel L. Jackson, Christopher Plummer, Elijah Wood, Ice Cube, and Patrick Stewart have in common? If you said they all act you?re correct ? and a true master of the obvious. The answer we were looking for, however, is that?they?ve?all worked as voice actors on video games.

In effort to create more compelling?story-lines?and more enveloping entertainment experiences, the game industry has turned to Hollywood ? and not just for talent either.?

Cut-scenes are a convention in video games and ? whether you love them or loathe them ? they?ve become far more?detailed and far better executed in the tenure of current-gen consoles. It?s hard to pinpoint exactly when video games started taking their cinematic sequences more seriously, but improved graphics were definitely a factor in the movie-esque cut-scenes that are now all but commonplace.

Some studios, however, have taken it one step further. By constructing entire playable titles in the same cinematic vein, you end up with a product that could be called a chimera, forged from the parts of films and games alike. Take Rockstar?s ?L.A. Noire,? or Quantic Dream?s ?Heavy Rain.? Both games borrow liberally from Hollywood in their quests to creative compelling?narratives,?and in the process, further cement gaming?s crossover appeal.?

Nowadays, gaming and home theater are interwoven, and each drives the other forward. High resolution TVs unleash video games? graphical potential, while consoles with integrated Smart Hubs streamline home-theater content delivery; 3D displays provide players with an immersive experience, while game systems with built-in Blu-ray players save consumers money as they build their entertainment systems; we have movies about video games, video games that mimic movies, and a bevy of consumers who love both.

Gone are the days when gaming and home theater orbited one another like binary stars. The two have collided and the resultant exchange of matter means improved entertainment, for us all.

Source: http://www.digitaltrends.com/home-theater/why-the-game-console-will-soon-take-over-your-home-theater/

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Accident at Work? We've Got You Covered - Account Services Group

Accidents happen. Even in the most proactive, cautious working environments, employees may sustain injuries or contract illnesses of varying severity. Workers' compensation laws were created to ensure that employees who are injured on the job are provided with fixed monetary awards eliminating the need for litigation and creating an easier process for the employee.

Workers' compensation also helps to control the financial risks for employers since many states limit the amount an injured employee can recover from an employer. Workers' compensation insurance is designed to help companies pay these benefits. So who needs to purchase workers' compensation insurance? Everyone who owns and operates a business with employees. As a protection for employees, most states require that employers carry some form of workers' compensation insurance. Workers' compensation insurance is not health insurance; it is designed specifically for injuries sustained on the job.

In most states, if you have employees, you are required to carry workers' compensation coverage. Workers' compensation insurance covers workers injured on the job, whether they're hurt on the workplace premises or elsewhere, or in auto accidents while on business. It also covers work-related illnesses.

Each state has different laws governing the amount and duration of lost income benefits, the provision of medical and rehabilitation services and how the system is administered. Workers' compensation insurance must be bought as a separate policy, and although in-home business and business owners' policies are sold as package policies, they don't include coverage for workers' injuries.

If you are a business owner and need to purchase a new policy or simply review and update your current policy, the insurance professionals at Account Services Group are happy to assist with a free, no-obligation workers' compensation insurance quote. Contact us at (601) 981-3663 and let us help you protect your employees and the business you've worked so hard to build.

?1/25/2013?11:01:27 AM?

Posted Friday, January 25 2013 11:03 AM

Source: http://www.accountservicesgroup.com/blog/accident_at_work_weve_got_you_covered.aspx

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Senate approves limits on the filibuster rule to speed debate (Los Angeles Times)

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

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Woman Sues Match.com For $10 Million After Date Ends in Brutal Assault

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2013/01/woman-sues-matchcom-for-10-million-after-date-ends-in-brutal-ass/

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Chance finding reveals new control on blood vessels in developing brain

Jan. 24, 2013 ? Zhen Huang freely admits he was not interested in blood vessels four years ago when he was studying brain development in a fetal mouse.

Instead, he wanted to see how changing a particular gene in brain cells called glia would affect the growth of neurons.

The result was hemorrhage, caused by deteriorating veins and arteries, and it begged for explanation.

"It was a surprising finding," says Huang, an assistant professor of neuroscience and neurology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. "I was mainly interested in the neurological aspect, how the brain develops and wires itself to prepare for all the wonderful things it does."

But chance favors the prepared mind, as Louis Pasteur said, and Huang knew he needed to follow up on the suggestion that glia, normally considered "helpers" for the neurons, would affect the growth of blood vessels. For one thing, blood flow is a big deal in the brain, says Huang, whose collaborators included Shang Ma, in the graduate program in cellular and molecular biology at UW-Madison. "We know the brain is very energy-intensive. Per unit of volume, it consumes 10 times as much oxygen as the rest of the body."

Although it makes intuitive sense that blood vessel development should be guided by neuronal development in some fashion, Huang spent years making sure he wasn't being mislead by his experiment. Now, he's satisfied himself, and his scientific reviewers, and the journal PLOS Biology has just published his study.

Glial cells in the nervous system establish a nurturing environment for neurons but do not carry signals. In particular, Huang looked at "radial glial cells," which also act as stem cells in creating new neurons. Radial glia extend from the inside of the brain to the outside, and also guide growing neurons to their final locations.

A standard way to find out what cells and genes do is to "knock out" specific genes, using a technology invented at UW-Madison by former professor Oliver Smithies (who shared the 2010 Nobel Prize for this discovery).

When Huang grew mice with a "knock out" mutation that blocked cell division among the radial glia, he expected to see abnormalities in the embryonic brain. But the major abnormality was completely unexpected: blood vessels that had already formed had collapsed.

New blood vessels in an embryo generally develop via a two-step process, first growing, and then stabilizing. "If the second step cannot be carried out, the vessels may already be formed, but the organ still cannot get its blood supply because the vessel will regress, or collapse," Huang says.

When blood vessels collapse, neurons start to die, says Huang. Some brain diseases, including Alzheimer's and hemorrhagic stroke, show a similar regression, and Huang says it's possible that the signaling mechanism that he experimentally blocked may play a role in these diseases as well.

Although any clinical treatment is years away, Huang is still basking in the thrill of basic discovery.

"We find that these progenitor and helper cells, the radial glia, regulate blood vessel development, and nobody has found that before." Huang says. "We used a mouse with alterations in genetics that regulate activity in these helper cells in the brain, and were very surprised to see that this had a drastic effect on blood vessel development. Previously it was always thought that these were two separate systems, now we know there is crosstalk between them. It's almost like a new field has opened up."

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of Wisconsin-Madison. The original article was written by David Tenenbaum.

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. Shang Ma, Hyo Jun Kwon, Heidi Johng, Keling Zang, Zhen Huang. Radial Glial Neural Progenitors Regulate Nascent Brain Vascular Network Stabilization Via Inhibition of Wnt Signaling. PLoS Biology, 2013; 11 (1): e1001469 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.1001469

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

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

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/health_medicine/genes/~3/sUfC38d4lkw/130124150847.htm

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'Upside Down' Trailer: Weirdly Awesome Or Awesomely Weird?

We're still trying to figure out what to make of "Upside Down." The film comes from Argentinian director Juan Diego Solanas, stars Kirsten Dunst and Jim Sturgess, and seems to have a visual premise that would put visionary directors like Christopher Nolan or the Wachowskis to shame. But is it too much to handle? That's [...]

Source: http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2013/01/25/upside-down-trailer/

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Shrinking proton puzzle persists in new measurement

A puzzle at the heart of the atom refuses to go away. The most precise measurement yet of the proton's radius confirms that it sometimes seems smaller than the laws of physics demand ? an issue that has been hotly debated for two years.

The latest finding deepens the need for exotic physics, or some other explanation, to account for the inconsistency. "If we were in a hole before, the hole is deeper now," says Gerald Miller of the University of Washington in Seattle, who was not involved in the new measurement.

The saga of the proton radius began in 2010, when a group led by Randolf Pohl at the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics in Garching, Germany, determined the width of the fuzzy ball of positive charge ? and found it was smaller than had been assumed.

Previous teams had inferred the proton's radius, which is impossible to measure directly, by studying how electrons and protons interact. One method uses the simplest atom, hydrogen, which consists of one electron and one proton. A quirk of quantum mechanics says that an electron in an atom can only orbit its proton at certain distances, corresponding to different energy levels. The electron can jump between levels if it absorbs or releases energy in the form of a photon of light.

Ball of charge

By measuring the energy of photons emitted by an excited hydrogen atom, physicists can figure out how far apart the energy levels are, and thus the distances of the permitted electron orbits. A theory called quantum electrodynamics then allows them to calculate how far the proton's ball of charge must extend to keep the electrons at those distances.

This method gave a charge radius for the proton that was about 0.877 femtometres, less than a trillionth of a millimetre.

Pohl and colleagues used a novel method. They created an exotic version of hydrogen that replaces the electron with a muon, a particle that has the same charge as the electron but is 200 times heavier. Its extra bulk makes it more sensitive to the proton's size, meaning radius measurements based on muons are orders of magnitude more precise.

The new method didn't just make the measurements more precise. It also changed them: the muonic hydrogen gave a radius of 0.8418 femtometres, 4 per cent less than before.

Scandalous result

That might not sound like much, but in the world of particle physics, where theory and experiment can agree to parts in a billion, it was scandalous. A lively discussion sprang up, with some physicists claiming problems with Pohl's experiments and interpretations, and others suggesting gaps in the standard model of particle physics.

Pohl and colleagues have now repeated their experiment. The measurement of the radius is now even more precise than in 2010 ? and it is still 4 per cent smaller than the value from hydrogen-based experiments.

Pohl reckons that there are three likely explanations. His experiment could have errors, although the confirmation makes that less likely. Alternatively, the electron experiments could be off. "This would be the most boring possibility," says Pohl.

The third, and most exciting, possibility is that muons do not interact with protons in the same way as electrons. In other words, the proton's apparent radius changes a little bit depending on which particle it is interacting with.

If true, that might require the existence of unknown particles that alter the way the muon interacts with the proton. Those particles could, in turn, solve some of the problems with the standard model of particle physics. They could, for instance, provide a candidate for dark matter, the mysterious stuff that makes up more than 80 per cent of the mass in the universe.

Monumental idea

Miller, Pohl and Ron Gilman of Rutgers University in Piscataway, New Jersey helped organise a workshop with 50 proton experts in Trento, Italy, last October to hash out the details of the problem ? and arrived at a verdict of sorts. "Because the muon experiments seem to be so solid, the most popular answers were that there's some beyond-the-standard-model physics differentiating between muon and electron, which would be very important," Gilman says.

"That would be monumental, truly," Miller says.

But Miller also has a less radical suggestion, which could reconcile all the measurements without invoking new particles. According to quantum electrodynamics, two charged particles can interact with each other by exchanging a photon ? it's as if they spontaneously create a basketball and throw it between them, he says.

The equations also allow for a more complicated interaction where the particles create two balls, and juggle them. Until now this type of interaction was considered too rare to be important, but Miller reckons that the muon's greater mass could make it a better juggler. That would strengthen the proton's interaction with it and make the proton look smaller to the muon without requiring any new physics.

All these ideas will be up for review in a few years' time when new experiments, including shooting muons at protons to see how they scatter and building muonic helium atoms to measure their energy levels, are completed.

"It's quite likely that through other experiments, in two to three years we might get an end to this," Miller says. "It shouldn't take forever."

Journal reference: Science, DOI: 10.1126/science.1230016

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Authorities: NM teen planned family shootings

Nehemiah Griego, 15, is seen in an undated photo provided by the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Deptartment. Griego is charged with killing five family members on Jan. 19, 2013, including his father, mother, and three youngest siblings in Albuquerque, N.M. Authorities in New Mexico say Griego had reloaded his guns after the attacks and planned to go to a Wal-Mart and randomly shoot people. Instead, they say he texted a picture of his dead mother to his 12-year-old girlfriend, then spent much of Saturday with her. The two went to the church where his father had been a pastor, and Griego eventually confessed to killing his parents and three younger siblings. (AP Photo/Bernalillo County Sheriff's Deptartment)

Nehemiah Griego, 15, is seen in an undated photo provided by the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Deptartment. Griego is charged with killing five family members on Jan. 19, 2013, including his father, mother, and three youngest siblings in Albuquerque, N.M. Authorities in New Mexico say Griego had reloaded his guns after the attacks and planned to go to a Wal-Mart and randomly shoot people. Instead, they say he texted a picture of his dead mother to his 12-year-old girlfriend, then spent much of Saturday with her. The two went to the church where his father had been a pastor, and Griego eventually confessed to killing his parents and three younger siblings. (AP Photo/Bernalillo County Sheriff's Deptartment)

This undated photo provided by Eric Griego shows Nehemiah Griego. Griego is charged with killing five family members, including his father, mother, and three youngest siblings in Albuquerque, N.M. Authorities in New Mexico say Griego had reloaded his guns after the attacks and planned to go to a Wal-Mart and randomly shoot people. Instead, they say he texted a picture of his dead mother to his 12-year-old girlfriend, then spent much of Saturday with her. The two went to the church where his father had been a pastor, and Griego eventually confessed to killing his parents and three younger siblings. (AP Photo/Courtesy of Eric Griego)

Bernalillo County Sheriff Dan Houston, right, and Lt. Sid Covington answer questions about the shooting deaths of five family members during a news conference at the sheriff's headquarters in Albuquerque, N.M., on Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2013. Authorities have charged Nehemiah Griego, 15, with murder and child abuse counts in connection with the slaying of his family. (AP Photo/Susan Montoya Bryan)

Bernalillo County District Attorney Kari Brandenburg answers questions during a news conference in Albuquerque, N.M., on Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2013, about the potential legal aspects in the case of a 15-year-old boy who is accused of gunning down his family. Nehemiah Griego remained in custody Tuesday on counts of murder and child abuse resulting in death. (AP Photo/Susan Montoya Bryan)

Bernalillo County Sheriff Dan Houston prepares for a news conference at the sheriff's headquarters in Albuquerque, N.M., on Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2013, regarding the shooting deaths of five family members over the weekend. Authorities have charged Nehemiah Griego, 15, with murder and child abuse counts in connection with the slaying of his family. (AP Photo/Susan Montoya Bryan)

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) ? For at least a week, authorities say, 15-year-old Nehemiah Griego had been planning the attack.

After shooting his mother and three siblings in their beds, he ambushed his father as the pastor returned home from an overnight shift at a homeless shelter. Then the teen reloaded the family's rifles.

His plan was to randomly shoot people at a Wal-Mart on Saturday, which happened to be "Guns Across America" day, until he could be killed in a shootout with law enforcement, according to authorities.

He also contemplated killing his 12-year-old girlfriend's parents, Bernalillo County Sheriff Dan Houston said Tuesday.

And while Griego loaded guns and ammunition into the family's van, Houston said, it was unclear whether the teen did go to a Wal-Mart or how seriously he contemplated continuing his rampage on the same day that thousands of gun advocates gathered peacefully at state capitals around the country to rally against stricter limits on firearms.

The "Guns Across America" events were held after President Barack Obama unveiled a sweeping package of federal gun-control proposals.

What authorities know, the sheriff said, was that Griego texted a picture of his dead mother to his girlfriend, then spent much of Saturday with her and her family, authorities said. That evening, he went to the church where his father worked and confessed to killing his parents and three younger siblings, authorities said.

The sheriff said he didn't know if Griego's contact with his girlfriend avoided further bloodshed. But he said she apparently knew what had happened, and officials were investigating whether she should be charged with failing to report the crime.

"We know Nehemiah had been contemplating this for some time," Houston told reporters at a news conference. Griego apparently had told others of his plans, but whom and when were still under investigation, Houston said.

The motive, Houston said, "was purely that he was frustrated with his mother. He did not give any further explanation."

The teen waived his right to arraignment in adult criminal court Tuesday on charges of murder and child abuse resulting in death and was ordered held without bond. He was arrested Saturday at his family's home in a rural area southwest of Albuquerque.

The sheriff's office identified the dead as Greg Griego, 51, his wife, Sarah Griego, 40, and three of their children: a 9-year-old boy, Zephania Griego, and daughters Jael Griego, 5, and Angelina Griego, 2.

According to Houston and charging documents, it began early Saturday at the family's home, when Nehemiah Griego acted on what he described to investigators as homicidal and suicidal thoughts.

Houston said the teen shot her as she slept at about 1 a.m. with a .22-caliber rifle the parents kept in a closet. He said he killed his siblings and then grabbed his parents' .223-caliber rifle and waited downstairs to ambush his father as he returned from work around 5 a.m.

Griego told authorities he then reloaded the two guns and put them in the family van. Houston said officers found the rifles, as well as at least a dozen rounds for the .22 and a handful of rounds for the other rifle, in the van.

At about 8 p.m., Griego went to Calvary church and told church members that his family was dead. Church officials called 911 and took Griego to his home.

Griego told detectives he discovered his family dead after returning from a friend's house, court documents say. The teen later confessed to shooting his mother because he "had anger issues" and was annoyed with her, the documents say.

The teen had no history of mental illness, and drugs or alcohol did not appear to be a factor, Houston said. He noted that the teen liked violent video games such as "Modern Warfare" and "Grand Theft Auto." He did not say whether he believed the games were a factor.

The boy's uncle, Eric Griego, said in an emailed statement on behalf of the family that the teen is "bright, curious and incredibly talented" with a love of music and sports.

"It is clear to those of us who know and love him that something went terribly wrong. Whether it was a mental breakdown or some deeper undiagnosed psychological issue, we can't be sure yet," the statement said.

Greg Griego was a gang member-turned pastor who had served at Calvary, one of Albuquerque's largest Christian churches. He had an extensive arrest record from his gang days, but was best known throughout the law enforcement community for his work as a voluntary chaplain.

Calvary Pastor Skip Heitzig said in a statement Tuesday that the deaths have stunned the church community. "We are doing what we can as a church body to minister to the remaining family members," he said. "Only the Lord Jesus Christ can heal this type of pain and heartache."

A records check by the Children, Youth and Families Department indicated no problems with the family and that Nehemiah Griego had never been in trouble with the law.

Sheriff's Deputy Aaron Williamson confirmed there was no history of any emergency calls to the home in the recent past.

"This is beyond any human reasoning or understanding," Houston said.

"It's horrific. What other words do you use? This is certainly the first time that I have been into a crime scene with this much destruction at one home."

In addition to the two rifles, two pistol-grip shotguns were in the home, Houston said. Griego's father taught him to use guns, and they shot together on a regular basis, Houston said.

Eric Griego's statement said the family had "differing views on gun rights and gun control" and asked the media "to not use Nehemiah as a pawn for ratings or to score political points.

"He is a troubled young man who made a terrible decision that will haunt him and his family forever."

___

Associated Press writer Jeri Clausing in Albuquerque, N.M., contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2013-01-23-US-New-Mexico-Shooting/id-f97a21a86dd3438fb04911fde405ad29

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