Switched On: Higher stakes, higher ground for crowdfunding, part 2

Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.

Last week's Switched On discussed the issues around crowdfunding liability, offering examples of some recent tech projects that delivered late or inconsistently, and explaining the justification for sites such as Kickstarter and Indiegogo denying accountability. Given this, there are a few options in how consumers choose to engage with crowdfunding sites.

Filed under: Misc, Internet

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Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/lQhJoTDRsWM/

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Lawmakers tighten belts amid automatic budget cuts

FILE - In this Dec. 7, 2011 file photo, House Budget Committee member Rep. John Campbell, R-Calif. speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington. Members of Congress are traveling less and worrying more about meeting office salaries. Their aides are having to deal with longer lines and fewer prospects of a raise. Such are the indignities thrust upon the people who brought the country $85 billion in automatic government spending cuts this month. "We've drastically reduced travel both for myself and my staff," said Campbell, who must go cross-country to visit his southern California district (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)

FILE - In this Dec. 7, 2011 file photo, House Budget Committee member Rep. John Campbell, R-Calif. speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington. Members of Congress are traveling less and worrying more about meeting office salaries. Their aides are having to deal with longer lines and fewer prospects of a raise. Such are the indignities thrust upon the people who brought the country $85 billion in automatic government spending cuts this month. "We've drastically reduced travel both for myself and my staff," said Campbell, who must go cross-country to visit his southern California district (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)

FILE - In this March 7, 2103 file photo, a seagull flies as the sun breaks through dark clouds at dawn over Capitol Hill in Washington. Members of Congress are traveling less and worrying more about meeting office salaries. Their aides are having to deal with longer lines and fewer prospects of a raise. Such are the indignities thrust upon the people who brought the country $85 billion in automatic government spending cuts this month. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

FILE - In this May 4, 2010 file photo, then-Indiana Congressional candidate Luke Messer arriving at a polling place in Carmel, Ind. Members of Congress are traveling less and worrying more about meeting office salaries. Their aides are having to deal with longer lines and fewer prospects of a raise. Such are the indignities thrust upon the people who brought the country $85 billion in automatic government spending cuts this month. Messer, a freshman Republican from Indiana, said he hired fewer people when he came to Washington because "we essentially began the term knowing there was a high possibility of a sequester". (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)

FILE - In this Sept. 24, 2011 file photo, House Administration Committee Chair Rep. Candice Miller, R-Mich. speaks on Mackinac Island, Mich. Members of Congress are traveling less and worrying more about meeting office salaries. Their aides are having to deal with longer lines and fewer prospects of a raise. Such are the indignities thrust upon the people who brought the country $85 billion in automatic government spending cuts this month. Miller has promoted a bill to slash the budgets of House committee by 11 percent. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File)

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Members of Congress are traveling less and worrying more about meeting office salaries. Their aides are contending with long lines to get inside their offices and fewer prospects of a raise. Such are the indignities thrust upon the men and women who brought the country $85 billion in government spending cuts this month.

There probably won't be much sympathy for a senator or congressman making $174,000 a year who is in no danger of being furloughed or laid off, at least until the next election. Still, there has been an effort, especially in the Republican-led House, to show that no one should be exempt from sacrifice.

"As those who are charged with the care of taxpayers' dollars, we need to lead by example," Rep. Candice Miller, R-Mich., who chairs the House Administration Committee, said last week in promoting a bill to slash the budgets of House committees by 11 percent.

Earlier in March ? after Congress and the White House failed to come up with an alternative to across-the-board cuts in most federal programs ? the House imposed an 8.2 percent reduction in lawmakers' personal office budgets. That came on top of 11 percent cuts to members' office budgets during 2011-2012.

"We've drastically reduced travel both for myself and my staff," said Republican Rep. John Campbell, who must cross the country to visit his southern California district. He said he tends to stay in Washington on two-day weekends rather than return home. "I'm more productive here when I'm not rushing to get home," he added.

Campbell said other "little things" he is doing to economize include reducing the office phone bill, cutting off magazine and newspaper subscriptions and using email rather than letters to communicate with voters.

Rep. Luke Messer, a freshman Republican from Indiana, said he hired fewer people when he came to Washington because "we essentially began the term knowing there was a high possibility of a sequester"? Washington-speak for the automatic spending cuts.

So far, congressional staffers appear to have escaped the furloughs that are likely to send thousands of public servants home without pay for several workdays over the next six months and disrupt some government services. "I hope to avoid that," said Rep. Jared Polis, D-Colo., "but we will take any steps to ensure we don't exceed our budget." Under House rules, a lawmaker must pay for excess spending out of his or her own pocket.

The fiscal pressures are weaker in the Senate, where senators have staff budgets about double the amount of the $1.3 million average in the House and where the office cuts ordered because of the sequester were limited to 5 percent.

While staffers still have their jobs, they may have a harder time getting to them. Security officials have cut costs by closing 10 entrances and several side streets around the Capitol complex, creating long lines to get through screening stations. People "have started to adjust to those changes at the entrances," although it is still a challenge on busy days, said Senate Sergeant at Arms Terrance Gainer.

Gainer, who oversees nearly 1,000 security and administrative employees, said he hopes to abide by the 5 percent sequester cut without layoffs by enlisting 70 or 80 people for a voluntary retirement program.

Some House members also are feeling the pinch during the two-week Easter break, a prime time for foreign "fact-finding" tours. House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, announced last month that members must book commercial flights rather than make use of more convenient but more expensive military aircraft.

Some Democrats have complained the GOP enthusiasm for frugality has come at too high a cost.

"At a time when most members of this body are representing newly formed congressional districts with a need to open new offices or move to new locations, we find ourselves with an 8.2 percent decrease in the very operating budgets that support constituent services," said Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla.

Wasserman Schultz, who also is the Democratic Party's chairwoman, criticized House Republicans for cutting budgets while spending some $3 million for the legal defense of the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, which bars federal recognition of same-sex marriages.

"We are past the point of cutting what we want, and we are now into cutting what we need ? our ability to attract and retain expert staff," said Rep. Robert Brady of Pennsylvania, the senior Democrat on the House Administration Committee.

Brad Fitch, president and CEO of the Congressional Management Foundation, a nonprofit organization that works to improve congressional operations, said it's still possible that House members will have to resort to furloughs or layoffs. So far, he said, they have been able to cope with the cuts of the past three years with less drastic steps, such as reducing the size of their staffs through attrition, making more use of interns and using email rather than mass mailings.

At the end of 2011, Fitch's group recommended 46 possible ways for members to cut $90,000 from their 2012 budgets, ranging from pay freezes, holding more town hall meetings by telephone, delaying purchases of new computers, eliminating Washington staffers' visits to district offices, closing district offices, eliminating bottled water from offices and reviewing spending on food and beverages for constituents.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/89ae8247abe8493fae24405546e9a1aa/Article_2013-03-30-Cutting%20Congress/id-45f55b061b3340f592aae790b4abf37d

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PST: England Ferdinand chant -- racist or banter?

Question: is the following chant concerning Rio Ferdinand and his brother Anton racist or banter?

?Build a bonfire,?

Build a bonfire,

Put Rio on the top,

Put Anton in the middle,

Then burn the f****** lot.?

The chant ? allegedly sung by England supporters during last Friday?s World Cup Qualifier against San Marino ? was reported to FIFA by Football Against Racism in Europe (FARE), a pan-European entity whose goal is to rid racism from football.

FARE, headed by Piara Powar, was not present at the game to hear the chant because apparently San Marino was not a ?high risk? match for racism. But FARE nevertheless?chose to file the report based on information from people who were present at the match (in other words, it appears the group?s argument is based entirely on hearsay). The group also reported racist or xenophobic incidents at Croatia v. Serbia and Poland v. Ukraine, matches where members were present.

FIFA will now review the report and decide whether action should be taken against England. If the governing body decides that FARE?s report has merit, England will be punished with the ultimate sanction potentially requiring the Three Lions to play a World Cup qualifier behind closed doors.

Powar explained why his group believes the song to be racist. ?It refers to the racist abuse Rio Ferdinand received, along with his brother Anton.?We don?t make the judgement. We send a report to FIFA but in the end its their decision whether they open proceedings or not. And whether they issue a fine or not.

?It?s not really the sort of thing we are generally attuned to looking at ? fans abusing players of their own country who may not have been picked.?Nevertheless if it happens at a game, even if the focus of the abuse isn?t there it?s still happening.

?One of the things we want to underline straight off is that sometimes racism doesn?t only take the form of monkey chants or bananas being thrown. Sometimes there are things that are more subtle at play.

?In the end we are not responsible for making a decision on whether England fans are guilty of racism here but we do have a duty to report things that are said to us because individuals have reported them as racist or xenophobic within the context.?

Rio Ferdinand took to Twitter to share his thoughts on the news. ?You expect and accept banter from fans on the terraces as it?s part of what makes the game great, but racism is not banter and from your own fans. WOW.

?Always a small minority who ruin it for others.?

The Manchester United defender was careful, however, to note that the?investigation?still needs to run its course.??Let?s not jump to conclusions and assume though as it might just have been banter. We?ll see after the investigation.?

England fans took to Sportsmail comment boards to express views?that?ranged from confusion to outrage. The fans? primary arguments are that 1) the song has been around a long time and 2) it was only directed at Rio due to his recent behavior.???Build a bonfire? is an old football chant and one used by miners about Thatcher,? said a fan by the name of ?ghanimah?. ?Given Rio?s behaviour it?s no wonder they sung about him but if that?s deemed racist then we should all pack our bags, go home and give up? Absolutely ludicrous.?

?Tone 827? echoed these sentiments. ?Dont get me wrong its a stupid chant and aimed at causing distress?.but is it really racist? Are we getting to the point where just a derogatory remark to someone who is of afro-carribean descent is deemed racism? As a white British man (who is absolutely NOT racist) its starting to grate a bit now?Rio was working for a TV channel covering the game, it was inevitable he was going to get some stick, at least he is being sensible about it and accepting that banter happens, lets not get to the point where nobody can say anything without being accused of racism even if it clearly is not.?

So what do you think? Is the chant ? within the context of being directed at Rio and Anton Ferdinand ? racist or just banter? Help decide by voting in ProSoccerTalk?s poll and share your views in the Comments below.

Source: http://prosoccertalk.nbcsports.com/2013/03/29/englands-chant-about-rio-and-anton-ferdinand-racist-or-banter/related/

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Rep. Don Young Is Sorry You Didn't Say 'Wetback' as Much as Him Back in the Day

Old Congressman Donald Young has half-apologized for using the term "wetback" to describe Latino migrant workers in a radio interview Tuesday, insisting that he knows "that this term is not used in the same way nowadays"?as if the term wasn't always considered a slur. Young, a Republican who represents Alaska and is the sixth most senior member of the House of Representatives, said in a radio interview Tuesday:

I used to own -- my father had a ranch. We used to hire 50 to 60 wetbacks to pick tomatoes. You know it takes two people to pick the same tomatoes now. It's all done by machine.

Oh, boy. Obviously, "wetback" is a term you're not supposed to use for its connotations about people of Mexican descent. Merriam-Webster says the term was first used in 1929?to describe Mexican and Central American immigrants who people thought crossed into southern border of the United States illegally, by way of the Rio Grande. It's taken Donald Young 85 years to still not understand the problem with it, apparently.

After a backlash, Young apologized?issued the following statement overnight, saying that he meant "no disrespect":

During a sit-down interview with Ketchikan Public Radio this week, I used a term that was commonly used during my days growing up on a farm in Central California ...?I know that this term is not used in the same way nowadays, and I meant no disrespect.

Oh, boy. About those "days growing up"?well, Young is pretty old, and he is using as his defense a time when even the government said some pretty borderline racist things. In 1954, when Young would have been?around 21 years old, the U.S.?created Operation Wetback, an Immigration and Nationalization Service project aimed at curbing illegal immigrants, which targeted Mexicans in particular. "The agents used a wide brush in their criteria for interrogating potential aliens. They adopted the practice of stopping 'Mexican-looking' citizens on the street and asking for identification,"?explains PBS. None of that history makes the term "wetback" any less racist.?

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/rep-don-young-sorry-didnt-wetback-much-him-123021704.html

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A look at RIM's much-delayed BlackBerry 10

Research In Motion Ltd. offered a glimpse Thursday at how its new BlackBerry 10 phones have been selling in Canada and abroad. Details on the U.S. are not expected for another three months.

The BlackBerry 10 is widely considered crucial to the company's future. RIM faced several delays getting phones with the software out. The delay could make it even harder for RIM to regain market share lost to Apple's iPhone and devices running Google's Android operating software.

Here's a look at developments surrounding the BlackBerry 10 in recent months:

Oct. 18, 2011: RIM unveils a new operating system, combining existing BlackBerry elements with RIM's previously announced QNX operating system for phones and tablet computers.

Dec. 6: RIM says "BlackBerry 10" will be the new name for its next-generation system after the company loses a trademark ruling on its previous name, BBX.

Dec. 15: RIM says new phones running BlackBerry 10 won't be out until late 2012, instead of early 2012 as previously expected. The company says the phones will need a highly integrated chipset that won't be available until mid-2012, so the company can now expect the new phones to ship late in the year.

May 1, 2012: RIM unveils a newly designed smartphone prototype powered by BlackBerry 10. The prototype BlackBerry has a touch screen, but no physical keyboard like most BlackBerry models. No update is given on the new system's launch date.

May 2: Company stresses that while the prototype has no physical keyboard, RIM will continue to make some models with one.

June 21: Company says the first BlackBerry device running BlackBerry 10 will not have a physical keyboard, only a touch-screen one. Ones with hard keyboards will eventually be made, but the company declines to say when.

June 28: RIM says it's delaying the launch of BlackBerry 10 yet again, to the first quarter of next year. CEO Thorsten Heins says RIM's top priority is a successful launch of the new BlackBerrys. He adds, "I will not deliver a product to the market that is not ready to meet the needs of our customers. There will be no compromise on this issue."

July 10: At its annual shareholders meeting, Heins asks disgruntled investors for patience as it develops BlackBerry 10. He says the product's quality is more important than rushing out the software, and he says some telecom carriers prefer a 2013 launch because next-generation wireless networks will be more widely operational by then.

Aug. 23: RIM says it has begun showing its new BlackBerry smartphones to wireless carriers around the world, but it remains "months and months" away from starting to sell them. The company says feedback from those carriers has been positive, and it will begin to discuss product launches and other business aspects with the carriers soon.

Sept. 25: Heins promises to restore the BlackBerry phone's stature as a trailblazing device even as many investors fret about its potential demise. Heins speaks at a conference for mobile applications developers to rally support for BlackBerry 10.

Oct. 31: RIM says its BlackBerry 10 smartphones are now being tested by 50 wireless carriers around the world. The company calls it a key step.

Nov. 12: RIM says it will hold an official launch event for BlackBerry 10 smartphones on Jan. 30.

Nov. 13: RIM says the phones will be released "not too long" after the launch event.

Nov. 29: RIM's stock rises after Goldman Sachs upgraded the company's shares, saying there's a "30 percent chance" that BlackBerry 10 smartphones will be a success.

Dec. 13: RIM says the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency will launch a pilot program with its smartphones using BlackBerry 10.

Jan. 30, 2013: RIM kicks off new BlackBerry 10 with events in New York and elsewhere. It unveils the first two phones ? the Z10, with a touch-screen keyboard, and the Q10, with a physical keyboard as well. RIM also says it will change the company's name to BlackBerry.

Jan. 31: The Z10 model goes on sale in the U.K.

Feb. 4: RIM's CEO says early signs show that sales in the U.K. are strong, with many buyers switching from other systems rather than upgrading from older BlackBerrys. He narrows the Z10 launch in the U.S. to mid-March and says the Q10 model might not be available in the U.S. for another eight to 10 weeks, even though some wireless providers elsewhere should get it in April.

Feb. 5: The Z10 model goes on sale in Canada.

Thursday: RIM announces that it sold 1 million BlackBerry 10 phones in the quarter that ended March 2, above the 915,000 that analysts were expecting. Details on U.S. sales are not part of the results because the Z10 became available there after the quarter ended. But RIM lost about 3 million subscribers to end the quarter with 76 million. It's the second consecutive quarterly decline for RIM, whose subscriber based peaked at 80 million last summer.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/look-rims-much-delayed-blackberry-222357786.html

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Getting under the shell of the turtle genome

Thursday, March 28, 2013

The genome of the western painted turtle (Chrysemys picta bellii) one of the most widespread, abundant and well-studied turtles in the world, is published this week in Genome Biology. The data show that, like turtles themselves, the rate of genome evolution is extremely slow; turtle genomes evolve at a rate that is about a third that of the human genome and a fifth that of the python, the fastest lineage analyzed.

As a group, turtles are long-lived, can withstand low temperatures including freezing solid, can survive for long periods with no oxygen, and their sex is usually determined by the temperature at which their eggs develop rather than genetically. The painted turtle is most anoxia-tolerant vertebrate and can survive up to four months under water depending on the temperature. Turtles and tortoises are also the most endangered major vertebrate group on earth, with half of all species listed as endangered. This is the first turtle, and only the second non-avian reptile genome to be sequenced, and the analysis reveals some interesting insights about these bizarre features and adaptations, many of which are only known in turtles.

The western painted turtle is a freshwater species, and the most widespread turtle native to North America. Bradley Shaffer and colleagues place the western painted turtle genome into a comparative evolutionary context, showing that turtles are more closely related to birds and crocodilians than to any other vertebrates. They also find 19 genes in the brain and 23 in the heart whose expression is increased in low oxygen conditions ? including one whose expression changes nearly 130 fold. Further experiments on turtle hatchlings indicated that common microRNA was involved in freeze tolerance adaptation.

This work consistently indicates that common vertebrate regulatory networks, some of which have analogs in human diseases, are often involved in the western painted turtle achieving its extraordinary physiological capacities. The authors argue that the painted turtle may offer important insights into the management of a number of human health disorders, particularly those involved with anoxia and hypothermia.

###

BioMed Central: http://www.biomedcentral.com

Thanks to BioMed Central for this article.

This press release was posted to serve as a topic for discussion. Please comment below. We try our best to only post press releases that are associated with peer reviewed scientific literature. Critical discussions of the research are appreciated. If you need help finding a link to the original article, please contact us on twitter or via e-mail.

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Source: http://www.labspaces.net/127506/Getting_under_the_shell_of_the_turtle_genome

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Samsung's new Galaxy S 4 costs $50 more than iPhone 5

Suzanne Choney , NBC News ? ? ? 3 hrs.

AT&T said it will start pre-orders for the Samsung Galaxy S 4 and will charge $250, making the hot Android phone $50 more than Apple's entry-level iPhone 5, its biggest competitor.

The new phone is expected to be offered by all carriers, but AT&T is the first to announce pre-orders for the phone, beginning April 16.

The iPhone 5 with 16 GB is $199.99 with a two-year contract; the Samsung Galaxy S 4 with 16 GB will be $249.99 with a two-year contract.

Generally, phones that compete directly with the iPhone cost the same or less, because Apple products are perceived to carry the "Apple tax" ? a slightly inflated price tag ? due to the brand itself. AT&T is still selling Samsung's previous flagship, the Galaxy S III, for its original starting price of $199. An AT&T spokeswoman told NBC News Thursday the company had nothing to add when asked about the pricing of the S 4.

AT&T did not say on its consumer blog when the S 4 will be delivered to customers, but the phone is expected to be widely available by late April.

Here's what NBC News' Rosa Golijan had to say about the phone after a recent hands-on with it.

Check out Technology, GadgetBox, TODAY Tech and In-Game on Facebook, and on Twitter, follow Suzanne Choney.

Source: http://feeds.nbcnews.com/c/35002/f/653377/s/2a1b1f24/l/0L0Snbcnews0N0Ctechnology0Cgadgetbox0Csamsungs0Enew0Egalaxy0Es0E40Ecosts0E50A0Emore0Eiphone0E50E1C9124680A/story01.htm

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David Petraeus apologizes for conduct, affair

LOS ANGELES (AP) ? David Petraeus apologized Tuesday night to an audience of veterans for the conduct that led to his resignation as head of the CIA following the disclosure of an extramarital affair.

"Needless to say, I join you keenly aware that I am regarded in a different light now than I was a year ago," Petraeus said. "I am also keenly aware that the reason for my recent journey was my own doing. So please allow me to begin my remarks this evening by reiterating how deeply I regret ? and apologize for ? the circumstances that led to my resignation from the CIA and caused such pain for my family, friends and supporters."

Dressed in a civilian's dark suit and red tie, Petraeus gave his first public speech since his resignation to about 600 people, including many uniformed and decorated veterans at the University of Southern California's annual ROTC dinner. The hero of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars has remained largely in seclusion since resigning. His lawyer, Robert B. Barnett, has said that Petraeus has spent much of that time with his family.

While the speech was peppered with jokes about USC and UCLA's longstanding rivalry, he mostly talked about getting better treatment for veterans and soldiers, but stopped short of criticizing current practices.

"While our country continues to improve its support and recognition for all of our veterans and their families, we can and must do more," he said.

Petraeus received applause and a standing ovation before he began the evening's program by cutting a cake with a sword in military tradition, a task reserved for the highest ranking person in the room.

The retired four-star general's affair with his biographer, Paula Broadwell, was discovered during an FBI investigation into emails she sent to another woman she viewed as a rival for his attention.

"I know I can never fully assuage the pain that I inflicted on those closest to me and a number of others," said Petraeus, in a somber tone to the audience that included his wife. He also mentioned their children.

At the time the affair was made public, Petraeus told his staff he was guilty of "extremely poor judgment."

"Such behavior is unacceptable, both as a husband and as the leader of an organization such as ours," he said.

On Tuesday night, Petraeus noted the challenges of transitioning from military life to civilian life, a path he is currently navigating.

"There's often a view that because an individual was a great soldier, he or she will naturally do well in civilian world," Petraeus said. "In reality, the transition from military service to civilian pursuits is often quite challenging."

As the military leader credited with reshaping the nation's counterinsurgency strategy, turning the tide in the U.S. favor in both Iraq and Afghanistan and making the U.S. safer from terrorism, Petraeus had a friendly audience at the ROTC dinner.

At least one expert in crisis communications said that if his apology comes across as heartfelt and sincere, the public will indeed be seeing much more of him.

"America is a very forgiving nation," said Michael Levine who, among dozens of other celebrity clients, represented Michael Jackson during his first child molestation investigation.

"If he follows the path of humility, personal responsibility and contrition, I submit to you that he will be very successful in his ability to rehabilitate his image," he said.

Another longtime crisis communications expert, Howard Bragman, said Petraeus has handled the situation perfectly so far and he expects he'll continue to do so. He noted that unlike former President Bill Clinton, former U.S. Sen. John Edwards and other public figures caught in extramarital affairs, Petraeus didn't try to lie his way out of it, immediately took responsibility and moved on.

"I think the world is open to him now," said Bragman, vice chairman of the image-building company Reputation.com. "I think he can do whatever he wants. Realistically, he can even run for public office, although I don't think he'd want to because he can make more money privately."

Ahead of the speech, Petraeus drew lavish praise from USC's president, C. L. Max Nikias, who called him "arguably the most effective military commander since Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower."

"In our post 9/11 world, Gen. Petraeus' influence on our military is unmatched, and his contributions to the CIA are far-reaching," Nikias said.

While at USC, Petraeus also planned to visit faculty and students at the Price School of Public Policy, which administers the ROTC program, and USC's School of Social Work, which trains social workers in how to best help veterans returning from war.

Petraeus was presented with a gift of silver cuff links by Nikias after his speech.

___

Associated Press writer Pauline Jelinek in Washington, D.C., contributed to this story.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/david-petraeus-apologizes-conduct-affair-050721900--politics.html

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Damon Lindelof Explains His 'Prometheus 2' Absence

After a particularly nasty report about the current status of "Prometheus 2," Damon Lindelof clarified why he decided to not writer the sequel to the "Alien" prequel. Also, learn about the long lost G.I. Joes in today's Dailies! » Damon Lindelof addresses "Prometheus 2" rumors [/Film] » The Lost G.I. Joes [Moviefone] » "You're Next" [...]

Source: http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2013/03/27/damon-lindelof-prometheus-2/

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Source: http://www.rathenauinstituut.com/crucial-search-engine-marketing-strategies-that-really-work/

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GameStick gets GameStop-backing, pre-loaded titles

OUYA may have nabbed the spotlight in the Android-based, Kickstarter-supported console wars, but the diminutive GameStick's got some heat behind it, too. The device's makers are putting on a bit of a show at this year's GDC, announcing a slew of news around the forthcoming product. At the top of the list are a number of backers, including, most prominently, the similarly-named GameStop, which clearly sees a viable future in such products, as the world continues to move away from brick-and-mortar outlets. Shadowgun and Smash Cops were also revealed as pre-installed titles for the console, "ensuring GameStick users have free, quality content ready to go out of the box."

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/27/gamestick-gamestop/

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'Bonnet rippers'? Amish romances are only gaining in popularity

While the Amish themselves may find the books absurd, popular writers in the 'bonnet ripper' genre are selling millions of books.

By Husna Haq / March 26, 2013

Two of the genre's most popular authors are Beverly Lewis and Wanda Brunstetter.

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What do you get when you cross bodice rippers with Amish fiction?

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That?s right, bonnet rippers. In a fascinating exploration of the rise of Amish romance novels, the LA Review of Books coined that apt term that encapsulates the realization of the wildly popular genre.

At a time when most bestsellers lists would have one believe that readers are far more interested in handcuffs and bondage than demure glances and first kisses, bonnet rippers are, well, tearing up the charts. (See our recent piece on the enduring appeal of Amish fiction in the era of ?Fifty Shades.")

Their popularity is astounding. According to the LA Review of Books, a new Amish romance novel hit the market every four days in 2012. ?Sixty more were published in 2012 than in 2009, and 83 more than in 2002,? writes the Review. It turns out the top three Amish-fiction authors ? Beverly Lewis, Wanda Brunstetter, and Cindy Woodsmall ? have sold more than 24 million books combined.

And folks are paying attention. Media outlets from the Wall Street Journal to Salon to ABC?s Nightline have covered the phenomenon.?

Publishers have taken notice, too.

?If you put a head covering on the woman on the front, you?re going to sell a lot more copies,? Steve Oates, vice president of marketing for Bethany House, told Salon in a September 2012 article. ?It?s that simple. Even if the book isn?t about the Amish ? maybe it?s about a Mennonite girl or even a young woman living in John Bunyan-era Europe ? if you put some sort of bonnet or hat on her, it?s almost like magic.?

One of Bethany House?s authors ?made the switch over to bonnet books and doubled her sales,? he said.

Who, exactly, is reading these bonnet rippers?

Not the Amish, it turns out. Most Amish people find the books bemusing at best and disgusting at worst, according to the LA Review. That?s because most of the books are written by evangelical Christian, not Amish, authors. That quickly becomes apparent to any Amish readers in small blunders like the use of bicycles by a character, mistakes in the Pennsylvania German lingo, even book covers depicting a character with her dress on backward.

The Amish also tend to discourage undue attention to their culture, which the books certainly invite, and some may disapprove of the romantic messages implicit in the popular bonnet rippers ? especially when the romance is between an Amish character and an English, or non-Amish, one.

Rather, it?s evangelical Christians who are driving the impressive sales of this genre. They?re looking for chaste romantic fiction replete with family values and such wholesome morsels as quilting bees, canning days, and Sundays filled with church and family.?

For some, it?s a heartening reminder that not all readers of romance are pining for erotica and S&M.

Husna Haq is a Monitor correspondent.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/WCgDo7xZikI/Bonnet-rippers-Amish-romances-are-only-gaining-in-popularity

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John Edwards? daughter speaks out on his affair

Cate Edwards with her father, John, in North Carolina in 2012 (Sara D. Davis/Getty Images)John Edwards? daughter Cate is finally speaking out about her father?s affair with a former campaign aide, which effectively ended his marriage to her late mother, Elizabeth, and killed his political career.

?I was devastated, and I was disappointed,? Cate Edwards tells NBC?s Savannah Guthrie in an interview set to air Friday on the ?Today? show and ?Rock Center with Brian Williams.? ?I mean, these are my parents. I had grown up with a lot of love in my family.?

According to interview excerpts released by the network, Edwards tells NBC her father told her about the affair directly. Asked if she was mad, she tells Guthrie, ?Yeah, yeah of course.?

In spite of her anger over her father's affair, Cate Edwards, who is a lawyer, stood by John Edwards' side when he went on trial last year for alleged campaign finance violations related to his efforts to hide his affair from his wife and the public. The proceedings ended in a mistrial.

Edwards tells NBC that she met Rielle Hunter, the campaign videographer who later gave birth to John Edwards? baby, during her father?s 2008 bid for the Democratic presidential nomination, but implies that she hasn?t since. (Cate and her siblings, Jack and Emma Claire, have reportedly met their half-sister, Frances Quinn Hunter.) Asked about Hunter?s book trashing Elizabeth Edwards, who died in 2010, Cate calls the book ?a poor choice.?

?I guess that?s all I can say,? she says.

Asked about the death of her mother, Edwards says she is still grieving and misses her mother every day, in part because of small things.

?I get away with bad grammar. I never used to get away with bad grammar,? she tells NBC. ?You know, I find a great deal online. We were super competitive about finding the best deal online.?

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/john-edwards-daughter-cate-speaks-affair-205607960--politics.html

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Lohse, Brewers complete $33 million, 3-year deal

File-This April 22, 2012 file photo shows St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Kyle Lohse throwing in the first inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh. Lohse and the Brewers completed a three-year contract worth $33 million on Monday march 25, 2013, a big boost to their suspect rotation exactly a week before the season opener at home against Colorado. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

File-This April 22, 2012 file photo shows St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Kyle Lohse throwing in the first inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh. Lohse and the Brewers completed a three-year contract worth $33 million on Monday march 25, 2013, a big boost to their suspect rotation exactly a week before the season opener at home against Colorado. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

PHOENIX (AP) ? Kyle Lohse waited all winter and finally found a home with Milwaukee.

Lohse and the Brewers completed a three-year contract worth $33 million on Monday, a big boost to their suspect rotation exactly a week before the season opener at home against Colorado.

"I'm really happy to be able to come over," Lohse said during a news conference at Milwaukee's spring training facility. "With this offense and the ability of their pitching staff, it looks like a good fit. I know everybody in the division."

Lohse enjoyed his best season in the majors last year, going 16-3 with a 2.86 ERA and helping the St. Louis Cardinals earn an NL wild-card spot.

When he hit the free-agent market, however, it took nearly the entire offseason for the 34-year-old right-hander to find a new team. He turned down a $13.3 million qualifying offer from the Cardinals in November, so under baseball's new labor agreement most major league clubs had to be willing to forfeit a first-round draft pick if they wanted to sign him.

Apparently, that made potential suitors pretty hesitant.

"We have a system in place here that's affecting the major leagues. It's affecting major league players, it's affecting development and preventing a lot of people from doing their jobs effectively, particularly organizations like this who rely on development," said Lohse's agent, Scott Boras.

"They should be able to sign free agents if they wish and also develop as they wish, and I think it's best for baseball that we really re-examine this."

But the Brewers were in need of a reliable starter and general manager Doug Melvin said the move "makes us a better club than we were yesterday."

Lohse joins All-Star right-hander Yovani Gallardo at the top of the rotation, but the rest of the group is mostly unproven: Marco Estrada, Mike Fiers, Chris Narveson and Wily Peralta.

"Kyle is coming off two very good years and his experience and competitiveness will be welcomed by the club," Melvin said.

Milwaukee gave up the 17th overall pick in this year's amateur draft to land Lohse, who made 33 starts last year for the Cardinals ? one of Milwaukee's division rivals in the NL Central. He finished seventh in Cy Young Award voting, was first in the league in winning percentage (.842) and held opponents to a career-best .239 batting average.

Lohse is 118-109 with a 4.45 ERA in 12 seasons with Minnesota, Cincinnati, Philadelphia and St. Louis. He went 55-35 in five seasons with the Cardinals.

His debut for Milwaukee could be delayed until mid-April as he gets his arm in game shape. The Brewers said Lohse would start the regular season on the active roster.

"I always knew something would work out," said Lohse, expected to pitch Thursday against Colorado in a Cactus League game. "I didn't know it was going to be this late. I'm glad this worked out because it's a great situation and a great team for me to be on. If you had to go through what I went through to get here, I think it was worth it."

Lohse spent this spring working out with a couple of local colleges in Arizona: Scottsdale Community College and Grand Canyon University. Meanwhile, Boras told him to be patient.

"He's been the best pitcher in the National League Central the past two years," said Boras, who spoke after Lohse at the news conference.

Lohse recovered from an injury-plagued 2010 season, when he went 4-8 with a 6.55 ERA in 18 games, to finish 14-8 with a 3.39 ERA in 2011.

He will wear No. 26 with the Brewers.

___

AP Baseball Writer Ben Walker and AP Sports Writer Mike Fitzpatrick in New York contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2013-03-25-Brewers-Lohse/id-daffd4f5a3114592871142a24f8b2425

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Soldier pimps Gator with radio suite | Defense Tech

FORT POLK, La. ? They call it the Boar Battle Wagon.

Pfc. Jonathan Bole, a soldier in 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, has pimped out a John Deere Gator all-terrain vehicle with some of the latest communications gear from the U.S. Army for potential use on an upcoming deployment to Afghanistan.?I have built a little mobile-command post for the colonel,? he said in an interview.

The brigade, based here at Fort Polk, La., will be the first in the service to deploy with new radios and networking equipment designed to boost mobile connectivity on the battlefield. Soldiers are receiving accelerated training with the technology, which includes smartphone-compatible radios made by General Dynamics Corp., before a planned deployment this spring.

The radios, antennae and laptops came installed on heavy, blast-proof trucks, known as mine-resistant ambush-protected all-terrain vehicles, or M-ATVs, made by Oshkosh. Bole, acting on orders from his commander, Lt. Col. Alan Boyer, assembled the systems on an ATV to see if he could get them working on a smaller vehicle that could fit into a CH-47 Chinook helicopter.

?Something I asked my staff to do, my communications experts, is to create me a mission-command platform that is of medium weight, that I could put onto a CH-47 and fly to an austere, expeditionary environment, that would provide mission-command over my troops and the operations,? Boyer said. ?They took my intent and came up with the Boar Battle Wagon.?

The result is a communications suite that can be powered by a small generator and provide everything from analog radio to satellite communications, as well as the ability to send instant messages, download intelligence feeds and digitally observe troop movements, Boyer said.

The unit is known as the Wild Boars, presumably after the animals that roam stretches of the military post,??located about 130 miles south of Shreveport.

March 25th, 2013 | Gear, Ground | 2 Comments

Source: http://defensetech.org/2013/03/25/soldier-pimps-gator-with-radio-suite/

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'Croods' clubs competition at box office

By Pamela McClintock, The Hollywood Reporter

A bumbling prehistoric family and a terrorist takeover of the White House galvanized weekend moviegoers as new entries "The Croods" and?"Olympus Has Fallen" took the top two spots at the North American box office.

DreamWorks Animation

"Croods" opened to a solid $44.7 million from 4,406 theaters after receiving a pleasing A CinemaScore. That's welcome news for Jeffrey Katzenberg's DreamWorks Animation, whose previous film "Rise of the Guardians" was a box-office dud.

Overseas, "Croods" opened to $63.3 million from 47 markets for a total global bow of $108 million. The international figure includes roughly $17 million in previews from last weekend.

Following the travails of a prehistoric family, "Croods" is the first DWA title to be distributed by Fox via the studio's new distribution and marketing deal with Katzenberg's company. The voice cast is led by Ryan Reynolds, Emma Stone and Nicolas Cage.

STORY: "The Croods" makes world debut with eye towards possible franchise

The animated 3-D tentpole, opening just ahead of DWA's March 2010 event pic "How to Train Your Dragon" ($43.7 million), is benefiting from a dearth of family product in the marketplace, evidenced by a sizeable 63 percent family bump from Friday to Saturday.

Fox and DWA are anticipating strong midweek business thanks to spring break and millions of kids being out of school. "Croods" cost a reported $135 million to make.

"This is a terrific opening," said Fox president of domestic distribution Chris Aronson. "And with the spring holiday ahead of us, audiences will continue to seek this movie out. The next family movie (Fox's "Epic") isn't Memorial Day."

Antoine Fuqua's "Olympus Has Fallen" overperformed in its debut, grossing $30.5 million from 3,098 theaters to become one of the few R-rated action pics of the year to work so far. The movie also marks a comeback for Gerard Butler, who has suffered a string of box office bombs.

"Olympus Has Fallen," receiving an A- CinemaScore and fueled by older moviegoers, also marks the biggest opening to date for distributor FilmDistrict. Millennium Films fully financed and produced the $70 million pic, which features Butler as a disgraced presidential guard who is called back into action when North Korean terrorists take over the White House. Roland Emmerich's "White House Down," opening in June, is similarly themed.

"Olympus Has Fallen" also stars Morgan Freeman, Aaron Eckhart, Melissa Leo and Ashley Judd.

New Paul Weitz specialty comedy "Admission," starring Tina Fey and Paul Rudd, opened on the soft side, grossing $6.4 million to place No. 5. Focus Features had hoped for slightly more, but believes "Admission" will benefit from word of mouth among older females. However, moviegoers only gave the film a B- CinemaScore, matching mixed reviews.

Focus' financial exposure is limited considering "Admission," ?playing in more than 2,000 theaters, cost a modest $13 million to produce. The comedy tells the story of a straitlaced Princeton University admissions officer (Fey) whose life takes an unexpected turn when she makes a recruiting trip to an alternative high school run by a former classmate (Rudd).

STORY: "Spring Breakers" scores top limited opening of 2013, but big challenge lies ahead

Harmony Korine's outrageous indie comedy "Spring Breakers," which expanded nationwide Friday, isn't that far behind "Admission" despite only playing in only about 1,100 theaters. The R-rated pic grossed $5 million, a solid number for upstart distributor A25 Films.

"Spring Breakers," starring James Franco, Selena Gomez, Vanessa Hudgens and Ashley Benson, scored the best limited release of the year last weekend when opening in three theaters in New York and Los Angeles. The pic's cume is $5.4 million.

Below are the top 10 estimates for the March 22-24 weekend at the domestic box office. Title, weeks in release/theater count, studio, three-day weekend total.?

1. "The Croods," 1/4,046, Fox/DreamWorks Animation, $44.7 million
2. "Olympus Has Fallen," 1/3,098, FilmDistrict, $30.5 million
3. "Oz the Great and Powerful," 3/3,805, Disney, $22 million, $177.6 million
4. "The Call," 2/2,507, Sony/TriStar, $8.7 million, $30.9 million
5. "Admission," 1/2,160, Focus Features, $6.4 million
6. "Spring Breakers," 2/1,104, A24 Films, $5 million, $5.4 million
7. "The Incredible Burt Wonderstone," 2/3,160, Warner Bros./New Line, $4.3 million, $17.4 million
8. "Jack the Giant Slayer," 4/2,560, Warner Bros./New Line, $3 million, $59 million
9. "Identity Thief," 7/2,166, Universal, $2.5 million, $127.7 million
10. "Snitch," 5/1,807, Lionsgate/Participant, $1.9 million, $40.3 million

Related content:

Source: http://entertainment.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/03/24/17440113-croods-clubs-competition-at-box-office-with-44-million?lite

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Could You Benefit From Umbrella Liability Insurance? - Wealth ...

If you prefer to plan ahead for anything unsavory that might happen to you financially, you might want to consider purchasing umbrella liability insurance. Umbrella liability insurance can protect your assets from large claims or lawsuits.

Review these elements of an umbrella liability insurance policy. Maybe the time is right for you to obtain an ?umbrella? of your own.

1. An umbrella policy is additional insurance. You can purchase an umbrella liability insurance policy as an adjunct to your homeowners? or auto insurance policy. With some policies, you can also add to other coverage, like your boat insurance, with an additional charge.

2. It provides extra financial protection. Should you ever be sued for liability, having an umbrella policy to fall back on will provide extra coverage past the limits of your homeowners? or car insurance policy. For example, if you cause an accident, liability claims could easily go way past your normal policy limits for property damage or medical care.

3. Umbrella policies are large. The least liability amount you can obtain through an umbrella liability policy is $1 million. Also, most umbrella liability policies require that your main policy (vehicle or homeowner?s insurance) already cover you for at least $300,000.

4. Your assets don?t have to be large. It?s not necessary for you to have $1 million worth of assets in order to obtain such coverage ? or to be sued for such an amount. After all, you could, for example, get sued for a million dollars and only have assets totaling $200,000. Without an umbrella policy, your future income and assets are also at risk!

5. Your family and pets are covered. An umbrella policy covers everyone in your family living in your household, including your pets. So even if your pets get loose and cause some damage, you?re covered. Many policies even extend coverage to others, such as when you let someone else drive your car somewhere and they get in an accident.

6. Your legal fees are covered by an umbrella liability policy. Umbrella liability coverage will even pay for your legal fees if a liability suit is brought against you.

7. The cost for umbrella insurance is reasonable. The first $1 million of coverage costs as little as $200-$400 per year. Each additional $1 million is only about $100. Raising your regular deductible might even provide enough savings to pay for an extra million dollars of coverage!

8. Obtain an umbrella policy from your current insurer. Ask your auto or home insurance agent about adding an umbrella liability policy to your coverage. You might even get discounts on all your liability policies when you bundle all of them with the same carrier.

Here?s an example of how your umbrella liability policy would work:

You?re on a car trip and have typical vehicle property liability coverage of $50,000. You?re involved in a major car accident. You collide with an expensive recreational vehicle (RV). The RV is less than a year old. The insurance estimate to repair the RV is $90,000.

Your regular car insurance policy would cover only $50,000 toward repairing the RV?s damage. However, with an umbrella liability policy, the remaining $40,000 worth of damage would also be paid. You won?t have to pay anything out of pocket (other than your primary car insurance deductible amount).

It?s a comforting feeling to know that you can protect all your current and future assets, plus cover legal fees, with such a small investment. In the unfortunate event that someone brings a liability suit against you, you?ll be prepared.

Open your ?umbrella? policy to protect you and your family!

Source: http://wpam.com/could-you-benefit-from-umbrella-liability-insurance/

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Jesse James weds drag racer Alexis DeJoria

Mike Windle / WireImage file via Getty

Jesse James and Alexis DeJoria attend John Paul DeJoria's annual winter wonderland holiday party in Malibu on Dec. 22, 2012.

By Bruna Nessif, E! Online

Jesse James has found love yet again.?The former West Coast Choppers CEO married girlfriend and drag racer Alexis DeJoria in Malibu Sunday, E! News confirms.

The wedding took place at the home of the bride's father, co-founder of Paul Mitchell hair care and Patron Spirits, John Paul DeJoria, with the ceremony taking place around 5 p.m. under an altar overlooking the ocean. Alexis wore a strapless gown with lavender flowers embroidered. The nuptials were planned by Mindy Weiss and Revelry Event Designers.

Alexis Bledel gets engaged!

James' youngest daughter, Sunny, 9, and DeJoria's daughter Bella, 10, were flower girls for the ceremony, and the rings exchanged were by none other than Neil Lane.

This is the fourth marriage for James, who was married twice before tying the knot and then getting divorced from Sandra Bullock in June 2010. In September 2011, James broke off his engagement to Kat Von D.

-- Additional reporting by Melanie Bromley

Take a look at some celebrity weddings?

Source: http://todayentertainment.today.com/_news/2013/03/25/17457198-jesse-james-weds-drag-racer-alexis-dejoria?lite

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Amazing Race B-52 Bomber Prop Sparks Outrage From Vietnam Veterans

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2013/03/amazing-race-b-52-bomber-prop-sparks-outrage-from-vietnam-vetera/

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ASUS teases something square and grey, will reveal its new device tomorrow (update: it's a DVD writer)

Were we expecting any new hardware from ASUS? Items we've seen but have not shipped like the Qube and Transformer Book spring to mind immediately, but they're not a direct match for this pic the company posted on its Google+ page earlier this evening (Update: we replaced it with the final pic.) It's inviting any and all guesses as to what's in store and promises a device reveal tomorrow, so your period of eager anticipation will be (thankfully) short lived. Judging by the comments it might not be anything we've gone hands-on with previously, but the image reveals that spun-metal aluminum look we've become familiar with on ASUS' tablets and laptops lately. Beyond that, the oddly squarish aspect ratio draws immediate comparisons to the 3:2 Chromebook Pixel, but until it's officially unveiled we'll leave the rest of the random speculation up to you.

Update 1: The smart money so far is on its Varidrive media dock, which appears to match the dimensions and spun-metal look nicely -- we'll see what it really is tomorrow.

Update 2: Well, ASUS has relieved the overwhelming tension on its Google+ page by announcing a new... DVD writer. It does strongly resemble the aforementioned Varidrive dock with its spiral brushed aluminum look and the outfit claims it's the world's thinnest at 13mm. Check the second source below for the reveal.

Filed under: Internet, ASUS

Comments

Source: ASUS (Google+) (1), (2)

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Pakistani cricket star is election wildcard

Pakistani cricket legend-turned politician Imran Khan waves to his supporters at a rally in Lahore, Pakistan on Saturday, March 23, 2013. Khan rallied around 100,000 flag-waving supporters in the eastern city of Lahore on Saturday ahead of a historic national election later this spring. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary)

Pakistani cricket legend-turned politician Imran Khan waves to his supporters at a rally in Lahore, Pakistan on Saturday, March 23, 2013. Khan rallied around 100,000 flag-waving supporters in the eastern city of Lahore on Saturday ahead of a historic national election later this spring. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary)

Supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, or the Movement for Justice wave party flags at a rally in Lahore, Pakistan on Saturday, March 23, 2013. Pakistani cricket legend-turned politician Imran Khan rallied around 100,000 flag-waving supporters in the eastern city of Lahore on Saturday ahead of a historic national election later this spring. (AP Photo/Rebecca Conway)

In this Friday, March 22, 2013, photo, Pakistani cricket legend-turned politician Imran Khan speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Lahore, Pakistan. Khan rallied around 100,000 flag-waving supporters in the eastern city of Lahore on Saturday ahead of a historic national election later this spring. "This is going to swing the election," Khan told The Associated Press in an interview before the rally. "The youth is standing with us and change." (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary)

In this Friday, March 22, 2013, photo, Pakistani cricket legend-turned politician Imran Khan, speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Lahore, Pakistan. Pakistani cricket legend-turned politician Imran Khan rallied around 100,000 flag-waving supporters in the eastern city of Lahore on Saturday ahead of a historic national election later this spring. "This is going to swing the election," Khan told The Associated Press in an interview before the rally. "The youth is standing with us and change." (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary)

Pakistani cricket legend-turned politician Imran Khan addresses at a rally in Lahore, Pakistan on Saturday, March 23, 2013. Khan rallied around 100,000 flag-waving supporters in the eastern city of Lahore on Saturday ahead of a historic national election later this spring. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary)

LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) ? As Pakistan looks ahead to a national election later this spring, the biggest wildcard is shaping up to be cricket legend Imran Khan, who rallied at least 150,000 flag-waving supporters in the eastern city of Lahore on Saturday.

After years of trying to gain a foothold in Pakistani politics, the shaggy-haired, ruggedly good-looking 60-year-old has finally elbowed his way into the big league. Casting himself as a populist anti-corruption crusader, he is seen as a threat to the two parties that have long dominated elections.

Khan has almost mythical status in cricket-crazy Pakistan. He was the captain of the national team that won the 1992 World Cup ? the only time the country has claimed the sport's highest prize ? and polls show he's the nation's most popular politician by a wide margin.

But it's uncertain how effective he will be in converting his personal appeal into votes for his party when Pakistan holds parliamentary elections on May 11 ? the first transition between democratically elected governments in a country that has experienced three military coups.

Much of Khan's support has come from young, middle-class Pakistanis in the country's major cities, a potentially influential group. Almost half of Pakistan's more than 80 million registered voters are under the age of 35, but the key question is whether Khan can get his young supporters to show up at the polling booth.

"This is going to swing the election," Khan told The Associated Press in an interview before the rally. "The youth is standing with us and change."

Khan, one of the few Pakistani politicians with a squeaky-clean image, broke into the political mainstream in the past 18 months with a message that capitalizes on widespread discontent with the country's traditional politicians. Some are seen as being more interested in lining their pockets than dealing with pressing problems facing Pakistan, such as stuttering economic growth, pervasive energy shortages and deadly attacks by Islamist militants.

On foreign policy, he has struck a chord by criticizing Pakistan's unpopular alliance with the United States and controversial American drone attacks targeting al-Qaida and Taliban militants in the country's northwest tribal region. He also believes the Pakistani army should pull out of the tribal region, where it is fighting a domestic Taliban insurgency, and resolve the conflict through negotiations.

A suicide attack in the North Waziristan tribal area Saturday killed five soldiers, the army said.

Khan's message has helped him rally huge crowds in Pakistan's major cities. Some people estimated that up to 200,000 people packed into the park in downtown Lahore on Saturday, despite periods of lighting and driving rain. Lahore is the capital of Punjab, the country's most populous province and the main battleground in determining which party wins enough seats in the National Assembly to form the next government.

"We want to clean up corruption. We want justice. We want electricity, and only Imran Khan can do it," said Mohammed Wasim, a 21-year-old student from Lahore and one of many first-time voters attending the rally near the country's towering national monument, the Minar-e-Pakistan.

Many of the people at the rally were middle-class youths like Wasim who danced to music blaring over loudspeakers and waved the red, white and green flag of Khan's party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, or the Movement for Justice. But plenty of older Pakistanis, some of whom had switched from other parties out of frustration, also turned up.

Khan hopes the momentum from the rally will push forward what he calls his political "tsunami" and help his party win a majority of the 272 National Assembly seats that are up for election. That would allow Khan to form the next government and position him to become prime minister.

He is up against the two groups that have dominated the country's politics for decades, the Pakistan People's Party, which led the most recent government, and the main opposition party, the Pakistan Muslim League-N. Both have broad alliances with local leaders who use political patronage, such as government jobs and contracts, to shore up support.

"The reason why we are in politics is to break the stranglehold of these two parties who have plundered this country," Khan told the AP.

Many analysts are less bullish and believe Khan's party will win 20-40 seats. They predict the PML-N, which is led by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, will lead the polls and Khan's party will come in third behind the recently ruling People's Party. The conventional wisdom is that no party will win a majority of the seats, and Sharif's PML-N will end up having to put together a weak coalition government.

"I think third place is the safest bet for Khan's party, but if he could gain second, which is not impossible, it would be a big political revolution for the country," said Rasul Baksh Rais, a political science professor at Lahore University of Management Sciences.

A breakout performance by Khan's party could spell trouble for the PML-N because both parties appeal to urban, middle-class voters in Punjab. Some analysts predict that if Khan's candidates can steal away enough votes from Sharif's party, they could swing the balance in favor of the People's Party and allow it to once again form the next government. The People's Party's largest area of support is outside Punjab, in southern Sindh province, where Khan has less backing.

Senator Tariq Azim Khan, who runs the PML-N's media operations, acknowledged Khan's potential role as a "spoiler," but claimed his party's lead is so great after five years of "misrule" by the People's Party that it's unbeatable. He also painted Khan as someone who doesn't have the experience to handle the country's problems.

"He might have good intentions, but winning a cricket World Cup does not make you a good prime minister," said the senator.

The former cricketer was known in his youth as a womanizing playboy who spent time hobnobbing with socialites in London and partying in the city's nightclubs, but later turned to religion and politics. He built a successful cancer hospital that treats patients for free.

Khan founded his political party over 15 years ago but struggled to make inroads until October 2011, when he held a rally in Lahore with more than 100,000 people that proved he was a real political force.

He risked losing support during the past year when he was criticized for opening his party up to traditional politicians who could deliver votes but clashed with promises to change Pakistan's corrupt political system. He said he addressed that criticism by holding the first intra-party elections in the country's history, so members can recommend who runs on the party's ticket.

One of the main reasons for the weekend rally in Lahore was to take an oath from the 80,000 newly elected party workers.

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Associated Press writer Zaheer Babar contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2013-03-23-Pakistan-Election%20Wildcard/id-6f5fd7cd5e5d4317aa8c2a69cbf8d43a

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