Michelle Obama, Jill Biden: Businesses must hire more vets ...

By Michelle Obama and Jill Biden

Michelle Obama and Jill Biden

FORTUNE -- Two years ago, we launched Joining Forces, a nationwide campaign to rally all Americans to support our veterans and military families. We did this for two simple reasons: because we were both awed by the courage and sacrifice of our men and women in uniform who risk their lives every day to protect our values and keep us safe. We were also awed by their families, the spouses and children who serve right along with them, enduring deployment after deployment with grace and resolve.

As we traveled the country visiting bases and military communities, everywhere we went, we heard from veterans who had years of training and experience in the military -- leading dozens, even hundreds of their peers; operating some of the most advanced technology; and solving complex problems under the most extreme conditions imaginable. But when they returned home, they struggled to find decent jobs. We met military spouses who'd spent decades moving from base to base every couple of years and struggled to maintain their careers. As the months passed, we saw that the unemployment rate for our most recent veterans remained far too high above the national average.

These men and women are some of the highest-skilled, best-trained, hardest-working people in this country. They are medics and engineers, drivers and welders, computer technicians and machinists. They are eager to work and determined to keep on serving this country. All they need is a chance.

But the challenge of giving them that chance is only becoming more urgent. In the coming years, more than a million servicemembers will be hanging up their uniforms and transitioning to civilian life. That's on top of the hundreds of thousands of veterans and military spouses already out there looking for work.

MORE FROM FORTUNE:?Wall Street remains too bullish on the job market

That's why, back in August of 2011, President Obama challenged the private sector to hire or train 100,000 veterans and military spouses by the end of 2013. And over the past two years, businesses across America have answered that call. By last August, they had already filled 125,000 jobs, with commitments to hire 250,000 more. And today, we are proud to announce that America's businesses have hired or trained 290,000 veterans and military spouses, almost triple the original goal. In addition, companies like Wal-Mart,?UPS, Home Depot, the Blackstone Group, Target, and McDonald's have committed to hire or train another 435,000 veterans and military spouses over the next five years.

So we're making real progress. We're encouraged that the unemployment rate for post-9/11 veterans dropped by 2.2% in 2012. But it is still too high; because as long as any veteran or military spouse who needs a job is unable to find one, then we still have work to do.

That's why, in his budget, President Obama proposed a permanent extension of the tax credits he signed into law for businesses that hire unemployed veterans and wounded warriors. We've also been working with governors and state legislators to revamp state laws to give our troops credit for the skills they've learned in the military when they apply for professional licenses and credentials here at home. In addition, we've created new partnerships between the armed forces and the manufacturing and information technology industries to ensure that our servicemembers are trained for good jobs.

But ultimately, it's up to our companies to actually hire veterans for these jobs. So today, we need business leaders across this country to ask themselves, "What can my company do for these men and women who have served our country so bravely?" If you own a small business, can you commit to hiring a few veterans -- or even just one? If you own a larger company, can you hire a few hundred -- or a few thousand? Can you retrain the veterans already in your workforce so they can grow within your company? Can you team up with other businesses to hire the veterans in your communities?

This is an all-hands-on-deck issue, and we cannot rest until every single veteran and military spouse who is searching for a job has found one. These men and women have sacrificed so much for all of us. Now is the time for all of us to come together to serve them as well as they have served this country.

Michelle Obama is First Lady of the U.S., and Dr. Jill Biden is Second Lady of the U.S.?

Source: http://management.fortune.cnn.com/2013/04/30/michelle-obama-jill-biden-vets/

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Nina Dobrev vs. Julianne Hough: Battle of the Bikini Babes!

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2013/04/nina-dobrev-vs-julianne-hough-battle-of-the-bikini-babes/

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Israel lawmaker claims Hezbollah getting chemicals

JERUSALEM (AP) ? A former Israeli defense minister alleged Monday that Syria's chemical weapons are "trickling" to the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, the first claim by a senior politician in Israel that one of the country's nightmare scenarios is coming true.

Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, who also called for international intervention in the Syria's civil war to stop mass civilian deaths, did not supply any evidence for his claim.

"The process of weapon transferal to Hezbollah has begun," Ben-Eliezer told The Associated Press. He refused to elaborate.

Ben-Eliezer, a retired general who is now a lawmaker from the opposition Labor party, also told Israel Radio that he "has no doubt" that Syrian President Bashar Assad has already used chemical weapons and that that "these weapons are trickling to Hezbollah."

His statements do not represent an official assessment and defense officials say that, while they are concerned about Hezbollah getting chemical weapons, they are assuming it has not yet done so.

Israel has repeatedly expressed concern that Syria's chemical arsenal could fall into the hands of anti-Israel militants like Lebanon's Hezbollah, an Assad ally, or an al-Qaida-linked group fighting with the rebels. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned that militants getting chemical arms or other sophisticated weapons is a red line that could trigger military action.

Israel is widely believed to have carried out an airstrike in Syria early this year on a shipment of sophisticated anti-aircraft missiles allegedly bound for Hezbollah. Israel has all but confirmed it carried out the attack.

Although Assad is a bitter enemy, Israel has been careful not to take sides in Syria's civil war, partly because the Assad family has kept the border with Israel quiet for the past 40 years and because of fears of what would happen if he is overthrown. Israeli military officials believe some Syrian opposition groups, especially those affiliated with the al-Qaida terror group, will turn their focus toward Israel once Assad is ousted.

Ben-Eliezer said he is "amazed by the silence of the world" and that the international community needs to intervene to end the high civilian death toll in Syria's civil war. He said Israel should consider action if there is no international intervention.

"I wouldn't rule out preparing a plan for Israel to act if the world continues to remain silent and the weapons continue to flow to Hezbollah. These are crazy people, terrorists who will not hesitate to use this tomorrow morning," he said.

This week another former defense chief, Environment Minister Amir Peretz, also called for international action in Syria.

Both sides in Syria's civil war accuse each other of using chemical weapons in the war, which according to the U.N. has killed more than 70,000 people.

The U.S. has warned such weapons cross a red line and last week said the weapons were probably used, though it still seeks definitive proof.

Last week, Brig. Gen. Itai Brun, the head of research and analysis in Israeli military intelligence, said Assad's soldiers had used chemical weapons against rebels. He said sarin, a lethal nerve agent, was probably used in one instance. He cited images of alleged victims of the attacks foaming at the mouth and displaying other apparent symptoms of chemical attacks as part of the evidence.

The Israeli government convened its Security Cabinet to discuss Syria on Sunday but no details were released.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/israel-lawmaker-claims-hezbollah-getting-chemicals-122131118.html

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Barking Blondes: Smuggling your dog into forbidden places ...

Whether its right or wrong, smuggling your dog into forbidden areas is on the increase. Over the Easter holidays a pair of long ears and snout were spotted peering out of a handbag in London?s Chelsea Old Church and from under a coat in the back pew of St James?s Piccadilly.

A miniature schnauzer quietly enjoyed a late night screening in one of The West End art houses and a we were reliably informed that a Yorkie was privileged enough to be following the recently released Spring Breakers from the warmth of a pocket in a local cinema.

Good luck, we say to anyone who manages to pull this off. We have spent enough time, sharing space with offensive humans, to welcome the smuggling in of a few of our four-legged friends.

What did concern us, however was a call to our radio show from a listener who referred to herself as ?a member of an underground society of dog owners?. Apparently, she dog sits other peoples pooches when the site officer visits their block of flats, as dog ownership is forbidden. Many of the elderly residents keep dogs when it?s clearly written into the lease that they are banned.

There is the added problem, she admitted, of avoiding the areas with CCTV as well as certain neighbours. Her call encouraged a number of listeners admitting to keeping a dog where its quite clearly stated, they are illegal. One lady suggested that if you don?t ask and you don?t admit to having a dog when renting or buying a flat, then often you can ?get away with it?. Is this the correct atmosphere to live with a dog?

The occasional smuggling into a restaurant, church or cinema is one thing? but living with such anxiety has to be questioned. With so many of us believing a house is not a home without a dog, how can we get landlords and letting agents to appreciate the value of the ?hound pound? instead of the NO PETS ALLOWED policy?

Molly, our miniature bull terrier was faced with eviction from a leasehold property. Fortunately, with her undeniable charm, she won over the minority and was allowed to stay, providing the flat was immediately put on the market for sale. Nothing can be more heartbreaking for an owner to be forced to rehome a dog in these circumstances. And with the triple dip recession this is becoming more common.

The Dogs Trust ?is championing a campaign called Lets with Pets. Their famous slogan ?A dog is for life and not just for Christmas? has epitomised this initiative. Galvanising landlords and letting agents to become dog-friendly, Lets with Pets is a lifeline for some dogs and owners meaning the difference between staying together for life or not.

Landlords commonly believe that a dog will automatically destroy their property, bark incessantly causing complaints, dig up a garden and generally be a nuisance. We find this ironic when toddlers and babies are welcomed. A toddler wielding a felt-tip pen might wreck the wallpaper in minutes or destroy a carpet with spilt fizzy pop, but that?s acceptable. Young babies crying all night is not considered noise pollution and is also accepted by landlords. But the fate for a barking dog is a likely noise abatement order imposed by the local council.

The Dogs Trust is proactively winning over the letting profession, but for leasehold property owners the fight is still on for any pets except a goldfish to be allowed. And trying to smuggle a dog into the home in these circumstances could end in tears. Some leaseholders will agree to a doggy resident, it?s up to the owner to convince them with outstanding responsibility and prove their dog?s good behaviour. The motto is spend enough time with your dog to ensure it?s a perfect canine citizen ??a credit to you. Less cause for smuggling.

The Barking hour Thursdays 3-4pm BBC London 94.9fm

www.barkingblondes.net

Tagged in: Lets with Pets, The Dogs Trust

Source: http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2013/04/07/barking-blondes-smuggling-your-dog-into-forbidden-areas/

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Powers, Iran fail to end nuclear stalemate in Almaty talks

By Justyna Pawlak and Yeganeh Torbati

ALMATY (Reuters) - World powers and Iran failed again to end the deadlock in a decade-old dispute over Tehran's nuclear program in talks that ended in Kazakhstan on Saturday, prolonging a standoff that could yet spiral into a new Middle East war.

No new talks were scheduled but big power negotiators, who earlier this year were insisting that time was running out, were at pains to say the diplomatic process would continue.

Iran's critics accuse it of covertly seeking the means to produce nuclear bombs. Israel, widely believed to have the Middle East's only nuclear arsenal, sees Iran's nuclear program as a potential threat to its existence.

With a presidential election due in Iran in June, scope for a breakthrough at the two-day meeting in Almaty was slim.

European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, the powers' chief negotiator, said long discussions had not bridged the differences between the two sides.

"It became clear that our positions remain far apart," Ashton, who represents the United States, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany in talks with Iran, told a news conference.

In the meeting, the powers were asking Iran to suspend its most sensitive uranium-enrichment work in return for modest relief from international sanctions, an offer Iran did not accept.

"The Iranians indicated readiness to take some steps but they were small," one Western diplomat said.

Iran says its nuclear work is entirely peaceful and that it is Israel's assumed atomic arsenal that threatens peace.

"NO BREAKDOWN"

A senior U.S. official said there had been no breakdown in the negotiations and suggested that a willingness by Iranian negotiators to engage in detailed dialogue about the six nations' proposal was the most useful sign in years.

"There may not have been a breakthrough but there also was not a breakdown," the official, who requested anonymity, said. "Our intention is to proceed," the official added, referring to the powers' commitment to further diplomatic efforts.

Iranian chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili acknowledged a gap in positions between the two sides.

"We proposed our plan of action and the other party was not ready and they asked for some time to study the idea," he told a separate news conference, referring to Tehran's own proposals.

Iran says it is only refining uranium to power a planned network of nuclear energy plants and for medical purposes.

Some diplomats and experts have said Iran's June presidential election fuels uncertainty in the West over the Islamic Republic's strategy for nuclear diplomacy.

The U.S. official did not rule out that new talks could take place before the vote. But first the six powers would have to decide what steps, if any, to take to energize diplomacy.

OPTIONS

Strengthening economic sanctions, which now target Iran's vital oil industry and its banking sector, is one likely option.

"We need to absorb and digest what we heard," the official said. "And decide what makes best sense on the way forward."

Israel's Strategic Affairs Minister Yuval Steinitz warned in a statement that Iran was trying to use the negotiations to gain time to advance its uranium enrichment programme.

"The Iranians are using this round of talks to pave the way to a nuclear bomb," Steinitz said, urging a more aggressive stance to make it "unequivocally clear to the Iranians that the negotiation games are finished."

Shashank Joshi, a senior fellow and Middle East specialist at the Royal United Services Institute, said: "I do not think the risk of war has substantially increased.

"The priority for both sides is to keep the diplomatic track alive until after the Iranian presidential elections."

Ashton said that for the first time there had been a "real back and forth between us when were able to discuss details ... To that extent, that has been a very important element"

But, she added: "What matters in the end is substance."

The six powers tried to persuade Iran to abandon its higher-grade uranium enrichment, as a first step to a broader deal. Refined uranium can be used to power atomic reactors, Iran's stated aim, or provide material for weapons if processed more.

Iran, which denies seeking nuclear weapons, wants major economic sanctions - including on its oil exports and banks - lifted and its right to enrich uranium publicly recognized.

Diplomats said one area where Iranian negotiators appeared willing to cede some ground was the demand that Tehran ship out some of its stockpile of 20 percent uranium, the sensitive product that powers worry represents an important step on route to making weapons-grade material.

One way to address the stocks could be for Iran to speed up conversion of the higher-grade uranium into reactor fuel. But that alone would not allay international concerns.

Jalili said it was Iran's "inalienable" right to refine uranium but that the activity could still be a subject for confidence-building cooperation. He did not elaborate.

The talks were held against a backdrop of flaring tension between big powers and North Korea, which like Iran is defying international demands to curb its nuclear program.

(Additional reporting by Zahra Hosseinian in Zurich, Dmitry Solovyov in Almaty,; Ari Rabinovitch in Jerusalem and Fredrik Dahl in Vienna; Editing by Stephen Powell)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/no-deal-sight-final-day-iran-nuclear-talks-070017525.html

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Mom: 'BUCKWILD' star a Christian, now in heaven

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) ? For all his on-camera carousing and cussing, "BUCKWILD" reality TV star Shain Gandee was a publicly proclaimed and baptized Christian, and his mother told hundreds of mourners Sunday that she will see him again.

"I know where Shain is," Loretta Gandee told the family, friends and fans crammed into the Charleston Municipal Auditorium. "He said about a month ago, 'I know when I die I'm going to heaven.'"

Dressed in a hot-pink "Gandee Candy" T-shirt and jeans, she spoke only a few words but bellowed out an unaccompanied hymn, her voice echoing through the auditorium in prayer for their reunion.

Gandee, his 48-year-old uncle, David Gandee, and 27-year-old friend Donald Robert Myers were found dead April 1 in a sport utility vehicle that was partially submerged in a deep mud pit near Sissonville. They had last been seen leaving a bar at 3 a.m.

Autopsies determined all three died of carbon monoxide poisoning, possibly caused by the tailpipe being submerged in mud. That could have allowed the invisible gas to fill the vehicle's cabin.

Shain Gandee, nicknamed "Gandee Candy" by fans, was a breakout star of the show that followed the antics of young friends enjoying their wild country lifestyle. Season one was filmed last year, mostly around Sissonville and Charleston.

The Rev. Randy Campbell told the many young people in the crowd he understands that life bombards them with difficult choices. But he urged them to follow Shain Gandee's lead and embrace their faith now, while they are energetic and engaged.

"This life will hand you a lot of things and call it pleasure, but there is nothing that brings greater joy to a person's heart than serving the Lord," Campbell said. "You may think at this point, you're having fun, but those days will pass."

When they do, he said, God is all that matters.

Cameras were not allowed at the funeral or private family burial in Thaxton Cemetery.

As hundreds filed past the two closed coffins on the auditorium stage, a slideshow of family photos showed the simple life that Shain Gandee lived long before TV cameras started following him.

Set to country music were snapshots of him as a uniformed pee wee football player, as a teenager in a tuxedo for prom, then graduating from high school in a black gown and mortarboard.

In other images, he kissed a bride and held babies. In several, he wore hunting camouflage, displaying a slain buck by its antlers and lining up a batch of gray squirrels on a bench.

Gandee favored four-wheelers, pickups and SUVs over cellphones and computers, and "mudding," or off-road driving, was one of his favorite pastimes.

It was no coincidence some mourners arrived in mud-splattered trucks.

Dreama and Charlie Frampton, who live a few doors down, said Gandee had been playing in the mud since he was 5.

"If it wasn't a four-wheel drive truck," Dreama said, "it was a four-wheeler or a dirt bike."

"He was dedicated to the sport," Charlie added. "That's all you can do out in the country."

Gandee's family asked mourners to wear camouflage or the neon-colored Gandee Candy T-shirts to the service because Shain didn't like to dress up.

Ricky Sater, 23, said his friend would have loved the sea of camo and T-shirts that filled the auditorium.

"He probably would walk in there going, 'BUCKWILD!'" he said.

Sater has known Shain since middle school and last saw him a week ago, when he came over to borrow a pin for a trailer hitch.

"He said, 'See ya, Rick!' and I said, 'See ya, drunk!" recalled Sater, who got the terrible news days later in a phone call.

"My sister told me about it, and it being April Fool's, I thought she was joking. But she wasn't," he said, swallowing hard. "I try to keep my emotions balled up, but I started breaking down about six hours later."

Shooting was underway on season two at the time of Gandee's death, but MTV spokesman Jake Urbanski said film crews were not with him over Easter weekend and hadn't filmed him since earlier that week.

MTV says it will be weeks before producers and cast members decide whether to continue. For now, the network said, everyone is focused on supporting Gandee's family.

Katrina Burdette, 25, of Cross Lanes, didn't know Gandee but is friends with his cast mate, Ashley Whitt. Burdette has watched every episode and wants to see more.

"I think it should go on. Give them time to mourn and everything, but he'd want the show to go on," she said. "He wanted to be in the show and keep it going, so why not ? in his memory ? keep it going?"

MTV said the half-hour series in the old "Jersey Shore" time slot was pulling in an average of 3 million viewers per episode since its premiere and was the No. 1 original cable series on Thursday nights among 12- to 34-year-olds.

Others, like his neighbors the Framptons, say the show just won't be the same.

"They should just leave well enough alone," Charlie Frampton said.

But he won't object if the show survives. It's bringing people to West Virginia, and he rejects the notion that it portrays the state in a negative light.

"They're just showing what true country is," he said. "It's no worse than that 'Teen Mom.'"

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/mom-buckwild-star-christian-now-heaven-201147426.html

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Canon outs VIXIA HF G30 camcorder with premium optics, XA20 ...

The New Canon VIXIA HF G30 Camcorder Opens Up New Possibilities For Video Enthusiasts And Advanced Amateurs

Features Include a 20x Zoom Lens, Newly Designed HD CMOS Pro Sensor, MP4 Recording and Wireless Capabilities

MELVILLE, N.Y., April 3, 2013 ? Unveiling an outstanding device for video enthusiasts and advanced amateurs, Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, today announced a new flagship camcorder, the VIXIA HF G30 camcorder. This new camcorder features a powerful 20x Genuine Canon HD Video Lens, MP4 recording, and built-in Wi-Fi? capability with dual band wireless support, making the VIXIA HF G30 camcorder a great device to help preserve inspirational moments in stunning image quality. Whether capturing a once in a lifetime trip or creating a movie, avid videographers will enjoy the sophisticated capabilities of this powerful device in a compact body.

"The new VIXIA HF G30 camcorder opens up new possibilities for advanced amateurs looking to explore their creative potential with professional-level performance and wireless capabilities in a consumer camcorder." said Yuichi Ishizuka, executive vice president and general manager, Imaging Technologies and Communications Group, Canon U.S.A.

Professional-Level Optics

The newly designed 20x wide-angle (35mm equivalent: 26.8mm - 536mm) f/1.8 HD Video Lens has been designed to offer advanced amateur videographers wide-angle and powerful zooming without compromising quality. The new lens was built using the same Hi-UD (Hi Index Ultra Low Dispersion) technology found in Canon's XF professional camcorder line, helping to reduce chromatic aberrations throughout the zoom range. A new 8-blade circular aperture on the lens utilizes the same technology found in Canon's popular EF series of lenses, which helps create a more natural, smoother out-of-focus area than previous G-Series models. In addition to the lens, the VIXIA HF G30 camcorder features a dedicated manual focus ring as well as a custom key, a feature commonly found in professional level video products. While utilizing the manual focus ring, shooters can switch between the focus and zoom feature when using the Focus/Zoom Selection Switch located at the back of the camera. Precise adjustments are right at a user's fingertip with the ring, allowing users to create videos quickly and smoothly.

The size of the new HD CMOS PRO Image Sensor was increased 1/2.84-inch over the previous sensor, answering the demand for performance from the newly designed lens. The new image sensor, combined with the new DIGIC DV 4 Image Processor and SuperRange Optical Image Stabilization, work together offering high sensitivity and wide dynamic range, while providing images with low noise, more depth, and enhancing vibration control. The SuperRange Optical Image Stabilization feature includes a new Dynamic Mode. This mode helps to substantially reduce image distortion, even when shooting while walking, resulting in steady video.

Convenient Shooting

The new VIXIA HF G30 camcorder features a variety of improvements over the prior G-Series models designed to help enhance the overall shooting experience and inspire users to capture creative content from virtually anywhere. For the first time in the G-series lineup, both 1080/60p MP4 (35Mbps) and AVCHD Progressive (28 Mbps) recording are available through the newly introduced Dual Recording feature. Now, users can experience great output flexibility, whether sharing short clips with friends and family or editing a more in-depth video. The VIXIA HF G30 camcorder also supports cinematic recording at Native 24p, allowing for maximum resolution and high image quality, and the easy to use pull-down conversion helps prevent loss of image quality. For added convenience, two SD memory card slots are available, while the Relay Recording feature automatically continues to record on the second SD memory card1 once the first one becomes full.

Operation is intuitive and seamless with the new vividly brilliant 3.5-inch Organic LED Touch Panel Display that utilizes Electrostatic technology. This newly integrated technology allows users to control focus, exposure, and track shooting subjects with the simple swipe or touch of the screen - similar to the experience found on a smartphone or tablet.

The new seesaw-style zoom mirrors the design of professional-grade camcorders and offers improved ease-of-use over prior G-Series models. The VIXIA HF G30 camcorder features a Mini Advanced Accessory Shoe as well as a cold shoe, allowing users to add external microphones or additional lighting. In addition, the audio jack includes headphone and microphone terminals. The VIXIA HF G30 camcorder is compatible with the optional Canon WM-V1 Wireless Microphone, and optional GP-E2 GPS Receiver. The GP-E2 can be connected to the camcorder using a USB cable, providing location and time information of your recording, which can be a very useful tool for editing and archiving purposes.

Advanced Wireless Connectivity

For shooting situations that make capturing the perfect shot difficult, the VIXIA HF G30 camcorder's new Wi-Fi Remote feature allows users to control the camcorder remotely and change settings via a versatile web browser when using your tablet, smartphone or PC. With the dual band wireless support (5GHz and 2.4GHz), users can select from two wireless frequencies to help improve signal strength in areas with increased signal interference.

No matter the level of user, consumers recognize the need and convenience of uploading and sharing their video quickly. While using the Movie Uploader app, you can connect the camcorder to an iOS tablet or smartphone, available for free download in the Apple App store, allowing users to view, save or even upload videos previously recorded on the camcorder without the hassle of cables or wires.

Professional Controls and Shooting Assist Functions

The VIXIA HF G30 camcorder has been packed with several professional features to give the user a level of comfort and operability. The VIXIA HF G30 camcorder includes advanced features like manual color temperature adjustment (2,000K-15,000K in 100K increments), color bars with test tone, manual shutter speed and aperture control, a built-in Remote Control Terminal (which supports LANC protocol). Despite its compact body the VIXIA HF G30 camcorder features the new 0.24-inch high-resolution (1.56-million-dot) angle-adjustable color viewfinder (CVF) with a large-sized eyecup. The CVF can be tilted at a 45-degree angle, improving operation during low-angle shooting. The new zoom lever inherits the same level of zoom operation as found in professional level cameras, allowing for the shooter to quickly zoom in and out, and respond to almost any shooting scenario.

Pricing and Availability

The VIXIA HF G30 camcorder is currently scheduled to be available in June with an estimated retail price of $1,699.99.

Canon U.S.A. Introduces Two Ultra-Compact Professional Camcorders Enabling Wireless Digital Content Transfer And Remote Operation

New Canon XA25 and XA20 Camcorders Include a 20x HD Zoom Lens, Simultaneous MP4 and AVCHD Recording, a 3.5-Inch Organic LED Touch Panel Display, and Wireless Connectivity for Digital Content Uploading or Remote Operation Via Tablet or Smartphone

MELVILLE, N.Y., April 3, 2013 ? Strategically integrating some of Canon's sophisticated next-generation imaging and wireless technologies, the new XA25 HD and XA20 HD professional camcorders from Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, provide an impressive combination of professional features and optics in a compact design. Ideal for run-and-gun style videography, or electronic newsgathering (ENG), both models weigh only 2.6 pounds, allowing for extreme mobility and portability. Both camcorders feature multiple shooting-assist functions and enhanced key components such as a newly developed Genuine Canon wide-angle 20x HD zoom lens with an ENG-style "rocker" zoom control and built-in real-time optical image stabilization. Delivering outstanding low-light performance and image quality, the Canon XA25 and XA20 HD camcorders are equipped with a new high-sensitivity 2.91-megapixel 1/2.84-inch HD CMOS image sensor and the new Canon DIGIC DV 4 image processor.

Additional features include simultaneous recording of multiple bit rates and Full 1080p HD formats - including 60p and native cinematic at 24p - on two separate SD cards. Users can simultaneously record Full 1080p HD video at 60p in either AVCHD Progressive (28Mbps) or MP4 (35Mbps) format for crisp moving images, or record at a lower bit rate and transmit MP4 (3Mbps) format video to cover and quickly upload breaking news via wireless FTP file transfer. The cameras' dual SD slots allow for relay recording for long periods without interruption.

"The nearly instantaneous rate by which video news is consumed and shared via TV, tablets and smartphones has fueled the immediacy by which journalists need to capture and deliver their content. The introduction of the XA25 and XA20 professional camcorder models are designed to provide these professionals with a compact, portable, and wireless system for content acquisition and uploading," stated Yuichi Ishizuka, executive vice president and general manager, Imaging Technologies & Communications Group, Canon U.S.A. "In addition, the tremendous growth of independent and documentary filmmaking as well as innovative, creative online content may also benefit from the compact design, high-quality formats and long-range optics found in both models."

Advanced Canon Optics

Drawing from the many innovations developed by Canon for its EF-series lenses, the wide-angle 20x HD zoom lens in the new Canon XA25 and XA20 HD camcorders features a 35mm equivalent zoom range of 26.8mm - 576mm. The MOD (minimum object distance) of this lens is only 60cm, enabling users to capture up-close shots, particularly useful when filming in narrow, tight quarters. Canon's real-time optical image stabilization and vibration correction in five axes of 3D movement helps reduce picture shake, even when shooting while walking, particularly useful for run-and-gun handheld videography. An eight-blade circular aperture can help create a natural, smooth look for out-of-focus areas such as a blurred nighttime skyline, and is equipped with Canon's unique EMD (Electro Magnetic Diaphragm) technology for high-precision control.

Optimal Operability

Ultra-compact and designed with professional operability and multiple shooting-assist functions, the new Canon XA25 and XA20 HD camcorders feature a handgrip with accessible joystick and other controls, allowing for easily adjustable settings including a broadcast-style zoom rocker. Each camcorder's wide-angle 20x HD zoom lens can also be adjusted using a multipurpose ring on the lens that can switch between zoom or focus control. A convenient custom key dial provides quick access to frequently used set functions.

The XA25 and XA20 professional camcorders are the first Canon video cameras featuring an Organic LED (OLED) electrostatic touch panel. This 3.5-inch, 1.23 million-dot touch panel displays vivid, clear video images allowing for simple, intuitive operation and menu access. Five custom buttons on the panel allow operators to assign settings according to their unique shooting preferences. The camcorders also feature a 1.56 million-dot high-resolution adjustable-angle compact viewfinder, allowing users to see clearly even when filming in bright sunny conditions. The design also allows operators to use the viewfinder and check critical focus while recording.

Essential for broadcast and professional use, the Canon XA25 HD camcorder provides an HD/SD-SDI connector (BNC) to feed video directly to a microwave van, satellite uplink, or other TV transmission system. The positioning of the connector allows for handheld shooting while the SDI cable is attached. A recorder (sold separately) can also be attached to the SDI connector to make uncompressed recordings. The convenient ergonomics of the Canon XA25 and XA20 HD camcorders also includes XLR terminals with phantom power, a microphone holder, independent audio level controls, multipurpose accessory shoe, and an infrared emitter, all combined in a detachable handle. For extreme low-light shooting, the cameras' infrared shooting mode makes possible the capture of HD video in conditions with little to zero ambient light. A green or white color option can provide pleasing HD infrared imagery even in darkness for documentary, undercover news, law enforcement surveillance and wildlife operation.

On-Board Intelligence and Wireless Features

In addition to the professional manual operation of the new Canon XA25 and XA20 HD camcorders, automatic features provide a variety of shooting-assist functions. Controlled by the new Canon DIGIC DV 4 onboard image processor, these sophisticated capabilities include the Canon Intelligent IS feature that automatically switches among four types of image-stabilization control based on shooting conditions (walking, macro, telephoto, and tripod). With real-time optical image stabilization, unnecessary shakiness is greatly reduced or eliminated during shooting. Canon Auto Focus (AF) features include natural-looking medium-speed, instant, and Face Detection AF, which can significantly reduce the effort required when shooters need to keep a particular face in focus in a jostling crowd or similar situation.

FTP file transfer of MP4 (3Mbps) format video to cover breaking news is enabled by dual-band wireless support (5GHz and 2.4GHz), which also allows for data sharing. A wireless remote feature also enables users to control the XA25 and XA20 camcorders via a web browser of the user's PC or mobile device. Camera videos can be played back or downloaded to a device using the web browser* of a PC or mobile device connected to the camcorder. In playback mode, video files can be uploaded to social media websites via the free Movie Uploader app, currently available only for iOS-related mobile devices**.

The new Canon XA25 and XA20 HD camcorders also support use of the optional Canon GP-E2 GPS receiver, which can be connected via USB cable to provide location and time information recorded during shooting. This capability supports editing workflow and can add valuable information for archiving purposes.

Pricing and Availability

The Canon XA25 HD ENG camcorder and XA20 HD professional camcorder are scheduled to be available at the end of June 2013 for estimated retail prices of $3,199.00 and $2,699.00, respectively.

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/03/canon-outs-vixia-hf-g30-camcorder-xa20-and-xa25/

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Alabama joins flood of states restricting abortion. What's behind this?

The Alabama and Virginia legislatures just passed new measures, following stricter actions in North Dakota and Arkansas. To understand this latest wave, look to the tea party.

By Linda Feldmann,?Staff writer / April 4, 2013

Abortion opponents pray as they gather on the steps of the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Ala., last month. Hundreds gathered to hear speakers, including Gov. Robert Bentley, during the rally.

Dave Martin/AP

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Alabama has joined North Dakota and Arkansas in taking steps to enact tough new restrictions on abortion.

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The Alabama bill, passed by the state Legislature late Tuesday, includes a requirement that an abortion provider have admitting rights at a local hospital ? a rule that may sound minor, but could prove challenging to achieve in a state with strong opposition to abortion. Supporters say it is aimed at protecting women?s health, while opponents say it is medically unnecessary and aimed at denying women access to abortion.

Last week, North Dakota became the most restrictive state in the country toward abortion when the governor signed a bill banning abortion as soon as a fetal heartbeat is detected ? as early as six weeks. North Dakota also requires abortion doctors to have admitting privileges, as do Mississippi and Tennessee. Early in March, Arkansas passed a fetal-heartbeat law that would ban abortion as early as 12 weeks.

Also taking action on abortion, but along a different track, is Virginia. On Tuesday, the legislature approved a measure proposed by Gov. Robert McDonnell (R) that would forbid insurers in federally managed "exchanges" from covering abortion under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

What?s behind this flood of restrictions? And why now?

The immediate answer is that, following the November elections, states across the country have just seated their new legislatures ? and for some members, taking action against abortion rights is a top priority. In Virginia, Governor McDonnell is moving fast on abortion as the clock winds down toward the Oct. 1 start of open enrollment for health insurance under the ACA.

A wave of state-level activism against abortion rights has been under way for the past 12 years, but it picked up steam in 2011, following the birth of the conservative tea party movement. ?In the 2010 elections, tea partyers won big in some state legislatures. Though their main focus is fiscal issues, most are also social conservatives ? many of them driven to enact abortion restrictions soon after taking office.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/vK6lALPtuwU/Alabama-joins-flood-of-states-restricting-abortion.-What-s-behind-this

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Polygamous group asks to build retirement homes in Utah town ...

( Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune) Brooks Baker, who was representing the Corporation of the Presiding Elder of the Apostolic United Brethren, talks during a Bluffdale Planning Commission public hearing on a request by the group to rezone about 26 1/2 acres from agricultural to high-density residential. The hearing was held in Bluffdale, Utah Tuesday April 2, 2013.

Government ? City?s planning board balks over rezone request, citing traffic concerns.

Bluffdale ? The planning commission in this small city voted 4-0 Tuesday to table a zone change that would allow the polygamous Apostolic United Brethren to build a retirement community.

Commissioners first tried to approve the zoning change, but the motion stalled in a 2-2 vote. Planning Commissioner Lee Bertoch did not attend the meeting. So the commissioners in attendance then tabled the discussion.

Polygamy was not the hold-up on the rezoning Tuesday. Instead, concerns revolved around the winding Jordan Narrows Road that provides single access to the 26-acre property at 1242 W. 16580 South, along with water and sewer inadequacies.

"There?s only one access in and one access out and the road is very, very, very narrow," said Helly Kunz-Nelson, a resident of neighboring Jordan Narrows Estates. "I have no problem with a subdivision as long as there?s another access."

"Every meeting they have a traffic jam," Kunz-Nelson added of AUB?s Sunday services that draw good-sized crowds.

"I?ve driven on that road, and it scares me in broad daylight," said Planning Commissioner Connie Pavlakis, adding that there were so many major infrastructure issues with the land that she wondered if they should proceed with the rezone.

Brooks Baker, a AUB member who asked for the zoning change, said Sundays are their big days, drawing 200 to 300 cars depending on the weather.

The retirement homes are needed because "we have a lot of women who have lost a husband," Baker said.

The AUB ? also known as the Allred Group ? practices plural marriage between consenting adults. The group currently has two homes and operates a church and school on the property, and it hoped to add eight retirement homes that could house some of its elderly women.

The requested zone change would shift the land from agricultural use with one residence per five acres to one home per acre, and would also allow clustered development so the homes could be built closer together with more adjacent open space.

story continues below

The Jordan Narrows Road ultimately intersects with Redwood Road, but when clogged with traffic, the cars impedes the ingress and egress of residents who live off of 1400 West.

The city?s general plan foresees a shift to one-acre lots in that area, and Bluffdale Economic Development Director Grant Crowell said subdivisions are already allowed in every zone.

While a school and church would likely not be possible on single-access land under current zoning requirements, those existing uses were grandfathered into the AUB site, Crowell said.

"There are a lot of concerns to review here," Crowell said, referring to utilities, water and sewer systems and other infrastructure requirements that would be addressed during the subdivision review process.

Pavlakis asked that a thorough traffic study be conducted, funded by AUB, and also that city staff review infrastructure issues and whether the Jordan Narrows Road can be widened.

Baker expressed frustration over the board?s decision and was unhappy that AUB would have to pay for a traffic study.

"The city suggested we apply for the rezone," Baker said. "That?s why it?s so frustrating that they turned me down. They?ve already decided they?re going to go to one acre down there, so I didn?t think it was a problem."

The mainstream Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which has no connection to self-described fundamentalist Mormons, publicly abandoned polygamy in 1890 and excommunicates members who support or practice plural marriage.

cmckitrick@sltrib.com

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Copyright 2013 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/56096245-78/aub-road-homes-access.html.csp

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U.S. woman kidnapped, raped on Rio bus

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) ? An American woman was gang raped and beaten aboard a public transport van while her French boyfriend was shackled, hit with a crowbar and forced to watch the attacks after the pair boarded the vehicle in Rio de Janeiro's showcase Copacabana beach neighborhood, police said.

A third man, aged 21, was arrested for the attacks, which took place over six hours starting shortly after midnight on Saturday, police said in a Tuesday statement. Two men aged 20 and 22 had already been taken into custody for the attacks, police said. and a young Brazilian woman has come forward to say that she, too, was raped by the same men in the van on March 23.

"The victims described everything in great detail, mostly the sexual violence," police officer Rodrigo Brant told the Globo TV network. "Just how they described the facts was shocking ? the violence and brutality. It surprised even us, who work in security and are used to hearing such things. Their report shocked us."

The incidents raise new questions about security in Rio, which has cracked down on once-endemic drug violence in preparation for hosting next year's football World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympic games. The city will also be playing host to World Youth Day, a Roman Catholic pilgrimage that will be attended by Pope Francis and is expected to draw some 2 million people in late July.

Officials from the local Olympic and World Cup organizing committees didn't immediately respond to requests for comment.

The attack also drew comparisons with the fatal December beating and gang rape of a young woman on a New Delhi bus. Six men beset a 23-year-old university student and male friend after they boarded a private bus, touching off a wave of protests across India demanding stronger protection for women. Officials there say tourism has dropped in the country following the attacks.

In the Brazil case, a police statement said the suspects forced other passengers to get out of the van and then raped the female tourist inside the vehicle, which was one of a fleet of vans that serve bus routes and seat about a dozen people.

Such van services are often linked to organized crime in Rio, particularly the militias largely comprised of former police and firemen that control large swaths of the city's slums and run clandestine services such as transportation and sell cooking fuel and illegal cable TV hookups. In general, tourists avoid the vans and opt for regular buses or taxis.

Sexual assaults on tourists are not common in Rio, with muggings and petty crime reported more frequently.

During the assault, the two foreigners were driven to the poor neighborhood of Sao Goncalo, where the two suspects were apprehended, a police statement said.

Reports said the two foreigners had been studying Portuguese in Rio for about a month and both left Brazil following the attack.

The police statement said that one victim's cellphone was found in the suspects' possession. The suspects had also used a debit card belonging to one of the victims at two gas stations, it said.

The Globo television network broadcast surveillance camera images of two men filling up the white van and showed police images of a crowbar the suspects used to beat and intimidate the victims. The victims positively identified the two suspects.

In an interview with Globo television, commanding officer Alexandre Braga, who heads the Rio police unit specializing in crimes against tourists, said the suspects had gone on a sex crime spree.

"The characteristics of both crimes, both the Brazilian case and the one with the foreigners, lead us to believe that they (the suspects) wanted to have a 'party of evil,' in quotes," Braga said. "The principal motive appears to have been the satisfaction of their lust."

He added that the robbery and other crimes appear to have been "secondary."

Multiple calls to police seeking further details on Tuesday were not immediately returned.

In Brazil, more than 5,300 cases of sexual assault were reported between January and June 2012, according to the country's Health Ministry.

___

AP Television producer Ana Pereira contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/us-french-tourists-kidnapped-1-raped-rio-153518185.html

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Is a Roth IRA the Right Retirement Savings Plan for You? - Work ...

If you're 50+, Roth IRAs can be a retirement savings plan with very good benefits. ? Stephen Swintek/Getty Images

Both Roths and traditional IRAs are basically savings accounts with good tax breaks, which makes them an excellent place to stash cash for your retirement. You can sock away up to $5,500 in an IRA this year ? $6,500 if you're 50 or older.

You can make the full annual contribution up to a certain income level. For traditional IRAs, that's currently $59,000 for singles and $95,000 for marrieds. For Roths, it's better ? $112,000 for singles and $178,000 for marrieds. After that, the allowed contributions gradually decrease to zero.

Here's what Roths offer compared with traditional IRAs:

1. Easy access to your money, at any age.

You're allowed to withdraw your personal contributions whenever you want, without paying taxes or penalties. If you put $1,000 into a Roth on Monday and suddenly need some cash on Tuesday, you can take that $1,000 right out again. So your Roth can be both a retirement account and a ready savings account. Traditional IRAs don't allow free withdrawals.

Source: http://www.aarp.org/money/investing/info-04-2013/financially-speaking-roth-ira.html

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Multigrain French Toast with Almonds and Light Guava Maple Syrup ...

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