Virus shows promise as prostate cancer treatment | Science Codex

A recombinant Newcastle disease virus kills all kinds of prostate cancer cells, including hormone resistant cells, but leaves normal cells unscathed, according to a paper published online ahead of print in the Journal of Virology. A treatment for prostate cancer based on this virus would avoid the adverse side effects typically associated with hormonal treatment for prostate cancer, as well as those associated with cancer chemotherapies generally, says corresponding author Subbiah Elankumaran of Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Blacksburg. The modified virus is now ready to be tested in preclinical animal models, and possibly in phase I human clinical trials.

Newcastle disease virus kills chickens, but does not harm humans. It is an oncolytic virus that hones in on tumors, and has shown promising results in a number of human clinical trials for various forms of cancer. However, successful treatments have required multiple injections of large quantities of virus, because in such trials the virus probably failed to reach solid tumors in sufficient quantities, and spread poorly within the tumors.

The researchers addressed this problem by modifying the virus's fusion protein. Fusion protein fuses the virus envelope to the cell membrane, enabling the virus to enter the host cell. These proteins are activated by being cleaved by any of a number of different cellular proteases. They modified the fusion protein in their construct such that it can be cleaved only by prostate specific antigen (which is a protease). That minimizes off-target losses, because these "retargeted" viruses interact only with prostate cancer cells, thus reducing the amount of virus needed for treatment.

Retargeted Newcastle disease virus has major potential advantages over other cancer therapies, says Elankumaran. First, its specificity for prostate cancer cells means it would not attack normal cells, thereby avoiding the various unpleasant side effects of conventional chemotherapies. In previous clinical trials, even with extremely large doses of naturally occurring strains, "only mild flu-like symptoms were seen in cancer patients," says Elankumaran. Second, it would provide a new treatment for hormone-refractory patients, without the side effects of testosterone suppression that result from hormonal treatments.

About one man in six will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, and one in 36 will die of this disease. Men whose prostate cancer becomes refractory to hormone treatment have a median survival of about 40 months if they have bone metastases, and 68 months if they do not have bone metastases.

Source: http://www.sciencecodex.com/virus_shows_promise_as_prostate_cancer_treatment-107475

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Apple pulls 'Prop 2' from upcoming proxy vote, says disappointed with court decision

By Mikey Campbell

After a U.S. federal judge sided with David Einhorn's Greenlight Capital in a lawsuit seeking the injunction of proposal vote scheduled to be held at Apple's upcoming shareholders meeting, the Cupertino, Calif., company removed the contentious "Prop 2" item from the docket.


Apple announced in a statement on Friday that it will be pulling Prop 2 from its annual meeting slated to take place on Feb. 27, reports AllThingsD. Einhorn sought to block a vote on the proposal as it contained an article which revokes the ability of Apple's board members to issue preferred stock, instead putting that power into the hands of shareholders.

Apple's statement:

We are disappointed with the court?s ruling. Proposal #2 is part of our efforts to further enhance corporate governance and serve our shareholders? best interests. Unfortunately, due to today?s decision, shareholders will not be able to vote on Proposal #2 at our annual meeting next week.

With the announcement, Apple is conforming to Judge Richard Sullivan's decision issued earlier today.

Einhorn wants Apple to issue so-called "iPrefs," or perpetual preferred stock that would pay out a quarterly 50 cents dividend equating to $2 per year. He suggests Apple could extend and enhance the program over time to ultimately offer five iPrefs per share of common stock, doubling the current dividend rate to return some $47 billion of company's swelling $137 billion cash hoard.

While Prop 2 has been removed from next week's annual meeting, Apple is not obligated to issue the iPrefs. It is unclear what the company plans to do regarding Einhorn's pressure, but thus far it has been loath to give in to the hedge fund manager's demands.

Source: http://appleinsider.com.feedsportal.com/c/33975/f/616168/s/28dd5839/l/0Lappleinsider0N0Carticles0C130C0A20C220Capple0Epulls0Eprop0E20Efrom0Eupcoming0Eproxy0Evote/story01.htm

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Watch How All Those Streets Signs Are Made

I've always wanted to steal a street sign but they're always bigger than you think. Where would I put it? How annoying is it for the city to fix? Wait, how are street signs even made? This video shows the street sign magic factory of New York City and reveals the true anatomy and process of those signs. If you're a fiend for cutting metal and silkscreening and anything in a manufacturing process, this video shows it all. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/JJrlkAhHIbU/watch-how-all-those-streets-signs-are-made

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Pelosi to GOP: You oppose minimum wage hike at your peril

As I reported here yesterday, Democrats are drawing up plans to run hard on Obama?s proposal to raise minimum wage in the 2014 Congressional elections. What few people remember is that there?s precedent for this: The minimum wage hike was one of the key issues Dems used to take back the House in 2006.

In an interview with me, Nancy Pelosi summed up the message Dems used against Republicans in 2006, and will again use in 2014: ?Just keep it simple. We want to raise the minimum wage, and you don?t. Why not??

In 2006, the minimum wage hike was one of the key planks in what Dems called the ?Six for ?06 Agenda? ? a set of initiatives focused on jobs and wages, national security, affordable health care, and energy independence. After Dems won back the House, the minimum wage hike was signed into law the next year. Pelosi tells me she would much prefer that Republicans agree to raise the minimum wage before it ever becomes a campaign issue, but if they don?t, Democrats will rerun the 2006 minimum wage playbook ? and that if anything, it will be worse this time, because it encapsulates the argument the parties have been having in the years since the financial crisis heightened public awareness about inequality.

?There?s an even greater awareness now than there was six years ago about the disparity of income in our country ? and that this disparity is not a healthy thing for a family or an economy,? Pelosi told me. ?Raising the minimum wage is the right thing to do, but it?s a popular thing to do as well.?

The other day, John Boehner shot down Obama?s minimum wage proposal, arguing it would kill jobs for low wage workers. Asked to respond, Pelosi cited studies showing little correlation between the minimum wage and unemployment, and noted that the debate is a template for the larger argument over what kind of economy we want. Republicans believe higher wages hurt the economy ? as Boehner put it, ?when you raise the price of employment, guess what happens? You get less of it.?

Democrats disagree ? they see higher wages at the bottom end as good for the economy and even the deficit. Pelosi noted that very low wage workers are a drag on the deficit because they are more reliant on government help ? and that in effect, government is subsidizing employers who pay them so little.

?If people really want to address the deficit and reduce government spending, they should address the issue that some spending on the safety net is subsidizing minimal pay in this country,? Pelosi said. ?When taxpayers are subsidizing low wages, people should be aware of that. We?re subsidizing an economy. We?re not subsidizing people. They are doing a hard day?s work. When we?re not rewarding work actively, there?s something wrong with the system.?

Pelosi also linked the minimum wage to Keynesian economics: ?Our economy is best served by rewarding work, by having those workers be stronger consumers, providing for their families, spending money, and injecting demand into the economy. You cannot deny that putting money into the hands of working people at that level is the best way to grow the economy.?

Pelosi also questioned whether voters would believe Republicans are opposing the minimum wage hike for the good of low wage workers ? after all, they opposed tax hikes on the rich on behalf of small businesses, and have held to this line even as the public has grown more convinced that GOP policies favor the rich.

?I don?t think they have any credibility in this regard ? none,? she said. ?There are certain things people believe about us ? that we?re there for working families. There are certain things people believe about them ? they?re there for the wealthy and special interests.?

Pelosi cautioned, however, that Dems had work to do in making the public aware of the GOP?s true position on the issue. ?Who would suspect that somebody? ? i.e., the GOP ? ?thinks $9.00 an hour would be an obstacle to economic success for our country? Who would believe that? We really have to make sure that all the people who would benefit from an increase in the minimum wage realize this is what?s going on.?

Democrats managed it before ? and they?ll be trying very hard to do it again.

Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2013/02/22/pelosi-to-gop-you-oppose-minimum-wage-hike-at-your-peril/

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How To Grow Your Home Business On A Budget | Content for Reprint

Author: Robert Strong | Total views: 207 Comments: 0
Word Count: 873 Date: Fri, 22 Feb 2013 11:22 AM

With the growing powers and capabilities of the internet and smart phones, businesses are less and less needing to be centered in an office setting. Many businesses now are operated from home. This can be advantageous in so many ways. This article will offer some tips about being a home businesses operator.

Running your home based business is a challenge, it is important to reward yourself so you will stay motivated. For instance, for every work related task that you complete from your list, you could reward yourself with fifteen minutes of non work activities. This will help to keep you focused and motivated.

Ensure that your home business is properly insured, by discussing the business with an insurance agent. You should also make sure that your home business complies with local zoning laws and city ordinances. You don't want to start a dog care business, if there is a limit to the amount of animals you can have on your property.

Keep an attitude that will bring you success in your home business venture. If you go about your day thinking of your home business as a hobby, you are not going to see the success that you would if you really considered it to be your real job. Keep a business attitude even when your business is in your home.

It is wise to engage the services of a professional accountant early in your home business career. Even the simplest home business owner is in a far more complex tax situation than a salaried employee. A tax expert can ensure that you avoid any pitfalls awaiting you in home business ownership, and make sure you meet all of your tax obligations.

Use a spreadsheet to keep track of your business activity. You can enter mileage, purchases, income and other business related transactions all in one spreadsheet using different columns. Use formulas to run totals on the columns and tax time will not seem quite so threatening.

One way you can keep your home business on track is to set fixed hours for working on it. Running a business out of your home can tempt you to put off your work or prioritize other interests ahead of it. By committing to a relatively inflexible schedule, you can encourage yourself to treat your business professionally.

In order to make your home business successful, make your website attractive. The number one thing a person notices when they click on a website is its design. If the website is too flashy or too plain, it may turn customers off. If you are unsure how to design your website, there are many tools online.

Keep everything you commonly use on your desk or at your workbench within easy reach. That may seem like an obvious tip but if you always have to over extend or even get up from your work area to get something you need then your aren't organizing your area efficiently. Organize according to need.

In order to make a home business successful, your business must be found in the Google search results. Search engine optimization is key in succeeding in today's business world. Many different companies offer tools for search engine optimization, and it is imperative that you employ a few different strategies in order to obtain success.

Leveraging social media for your home business is an absolute must! Both brick-and-mortar stores as well as online-only companies will find that it not only expands your reach but also creates a conversation with your customers. People love it when a company replies to their questions or comments on Twitter or Facebook!

Get your friends and family to promote your home business for you. Give them business cards so they can hand them out to the people they know who might want to use your services. You can even make it a fun game by putting a coupon code on the card which is specific to the individual you give it to, and then the person with the most referrals wins a prize!

Keep your equipment up to date. If you buy equipment that you obviously need for your business, such as office supplies or a computer, you can deduct your expenses from your taxes. To avoid getting in trouble, do not write off expenses that might fit into what you bought for your home rather than your business.

To reduce distractions keep your office off limits to children. Have set work hours that enable you to run your business and still have time for your family. Older children should understand not to disturb you while you are working. For your business to succeed your family needs to be supportive and respectful of your work schedule.

It is extremely important to set up specific space and time to work. When you are interrupted, you must maintain those work-at- home boundaries. With small children, child care is required as if you were not home. As the owner, you don't have any benefits. Sick days, vacations, and paid holidays are a thing of the past.

Read More On Robert Strong site to read more about this blog post Read More And download his video training

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1: Understanding Online Business Success

Starting a home based business to earn income online takes a significant amount of time and energy upfront to get things going. Not seeing results immediately can be discouraging and cause people to give up too early. In this article, we look at the process of starting a home based business and working through the frustrations to be there when the sales come flowing in.

by: Mike Christie on: Sat, 29 Sep 2012

2: Why You Need To Build Multiple Streams of Income For Yourself

Being an entrepreneur and earning multiple streams of income is a dream that many have, but in reality it does take some initial hard work to achieve this. Earning multiple streams of income is the wave of the future, and here are some tips and advice for you when you are looking for ways in which to do this for yourself.

by: Michel Maling on: Sat, 29 Sep 2012

3: What is Cyber Marketing And Why It Is So Important For The Success Of Your Website

Cyber marketing has now become an indispensable segment of e-commerce as well as the internet and World Wide Web related topics. Cyber marketing simply refers to a technique of attracting potential customers by advertising your products or services through such means as websites, emails, and banners.

by: WJaegel on: Tue, 18 Dec 2007

4: Article Marketing Strategy: Putting Together a "Class Schedule" For Your Article Topics

Businesses go to so much trouble when there is one sure-fire, simple, very inexpensive way to attract new clients to a business: Teach a free class. That is what article marketing is like. Your articles are just like free classes. You teach your target readers something helpful in your article. Your resource box then says, "If you enjoyed this article you can visit my website and apply what you have learned."

by: Steve Shaw on: Sat, 23 Apr 2011

5: The Best Way To Optimise Your Website SEO For Google Panda

If you want your SEO to work you now need to concentrate on appeasing Google Panda, and to do this you need to know what Google Panda's spiders/bots will be looking for. Find out here how to search engine optimise your website for the latest Google Panda algorithm, and achieve the success you deserve.

by: K Damian Qualter on: Mon, 26 Mar 2012

Source: http://www.content4reprint.com/internet-marketing/how-to-grow-your-home-business-on-a-budget.htm

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GeorgyG Design: New direction - house to home, garden to plate

Now the extension is finished I have been thinking what next with the blog? As many of you know even though an extension or house might have finished being built there is still lots to then do to make a house a home. This is what I am now going to focus on.

I had a good Summer break with the kids and now they are back at school and kinder, I have had a little head space and time to reflect.

A big thing for me is making our house a home, somewhere we feel comfortable, have fun and enjoy. Somewhere family and friends love to visit and spend time with us. The same goes for the garden, we would love a mini oasis in the middle of suburbia.

Over Summer holidays I quickly realised a few things, to have a comfortable home you want it to be cool and shaded. There is lots of? sun about and so was glad we got the solar panels in. For the garden water is obviously a necessity so hence a good size water tank. Other factors will come into play in Winter, so I am looking at sustainability measures to make our house comfortable all year around. This will also help keep the heating / cooling bills down.

The other thing I took in is with a lot of entertaining and the kids being home over the holidays we wasted a lot of fresh food by buying too much and then it spoiling before we ate it. So now I not only want to make a beautiful garden but a productive one. This has started with my bumper crop of cherry tomatoes which the kids, hubby and I not only enjoyed eating but the kids loved planting and picking them too. This also brings up the topic of fun things to do with the kids around the house and garden, another focus for my future posts.

Over Spring and Summer we have been working on our garden and thinking ahead we have started to plant tress that will not only grow to hide the fence and look good but will eventually grow fruit, our mini orchard in the middle of suburbia (see picture below-planting was something Hubby and son enjoyed together).?

So with all this in mind I hope you can join my journey of making my house a home and my garden a productive one. I am also aiming to come up with some great recipes, that use the fresh produce we have grown. I would love it too if you could share ideas with me along the way. So stay tuned for my garden to plate posts.

Source: http://georgygdesign.blogspot.com/2013/02/new-direction-house-to-home-garden-to.html

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Morgan Stanley Meets With Apple's CFO - Business Insider

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Stop us if you've heard this one before: A Wall Street analyst meets with Apple's management, and comes away more confident about Apple making a cheaper iPhone.

Morgan Stanley's Katy Huberty met with CFO Peter Oppenheimer. After her meeting, she wrote:

We also see several signs that a lower priced iPhone makes sense: 1) iPad Mini is expanding Apple?s customer base with 50% of purchases in China/Brazil representing new customers to the ecosystem. 2) Chinese consumers show a desire to purchase the latest version of iPhone (instead of discounted older generations). 3) iPhone 4 demand surprised to the upside in the December quarter. Even at a low 40% gross margin and 1/3 cannibalization rate, we see an ?iPhone Mini? as incremental to revenue and gross profit dollars.

This is a fairly consistent theme from analysts meeting with Apple's management.

Two years ago, then COO Tim Cook told Bernstein's analyst Apple is doing "clever things" to attack the prepaid market, because he wanted Apple to be "for everyone," not "just for the rich."

Since then, Apple has dropped the price of older models of the iPhone. This has helped it sell in developing markets, but it hasn't done enough to hold off the rise of Android and Samsung.

There is a lot of chatter that Apple is finally, really, going to release a less-expensive iPhone that can compete in developing markets that are all pre-paid this year. Who knows. Maybe it will really happen!

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/morgan-stanley-meets-with-apples-cfo-2013-2

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Evan Gattis wanders his way back to baseball

Atlanta Braves catcher Evan Gattis throws during a spring training baseball workout, Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2013, in Kissimmee, Fla. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Atlanta Braves catcher Evan Gattis throws during a spring training baseball workout, Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2013, in Kissimmee, Fla. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Atlanta Braves catcher Evan Gattis throws during a spring training baseball workout, Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2013, in Kissimmee, Fla. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Atlanta Braves catcher Evan Gattis waits for the start of a spring training baseball workout, Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2013, in Kissimmee, Fla. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP) ? Spring training is all about those on the fringes.

The phenoms looking to make their mark. The geezers trying desperately to hang on. The never-heard-ofs attempting to pull off the camp of their lives. For some reason, that warm Florida sun (Arizona sun works, too) makes all things seem possible.

Then there's Evan Gattis, who is so compelling that everyone else pales in comparison.

"This is my story," the 26-year-old says nonchalantly, sitting at his locker in the Atlanta Braves clubhouse. "Hey, it's the only one I've got."

He walked away from the game not long after high school, absolutely terrified of being a failure and figuring there must be something better out there. There were bouts with depression and drugs, a series of menial jobs ranging from valet to janitor to cart boy at a golf course. He traveled throughout the West, seeking out wandering souls such as himself and spiritual advisers who could help make sense of it all.

Finally, something clicked.

Baseball, the sport he once fled from, was what he needed all along.

"I mean, this is a pastime," Gattis says, a sense of wonderment in his voice. "Honestly, what would you rather be doing right now than this? You know what I mean? I hate to say it like, 'Oh, there's nothing better to do.' But, really, there is nothing ... better ... to do," drawing out the words for effect.

In a way, he's come to the right place. The Braves conduct spring training on the sprawling grounds of Walt Disney World, just down the road from the Magic Kingdom, a place that turned make believe into a very profitable business.

Now we have a player who uses the ID tag from his days as a janitor as the avatar on his Twitter account trying to make it to the big leagues.

Sure, he's a longshot. But ol' Walt would've loved this tale.

"It's kind of a bummer that I never even gave myself a chance to fail before," Gattis says. "Now, I'm not really afraid to fail."

He pauses for a bit of a course correction, then carries on.

"Sure, everybody is afraid of failure a little bit. But I'm not going to let it keep me from success."

Gattis was initially offered a scholarship to play baseball at Texas A&M. He never made it.

"I was smoking a lot of pot," he recalls. "I knew I was talented. I knew a lot of people were rooting for me. I just didn't want people to think I was a mess-up, basically. I was scared. ... I was afraid of being looked at as a failure."

His mother checked him into rehab, where he tackled some of his demons but not his longing for the meaning of life. He gave baseball another try, attending a junior college in Oklahoma, but his heart wasn't in it. He hurt his knee and was redshirted, then left school midway through the next season.

It was time to go wandering.

He would drop everything and leave on a dime whenever he felt the urge. There was the visit to his sister in Colorado, where he found "the most intense peace I've ever felt in my life," then felt it slip away. There was the time he drove one of his spiritual advisers to the airport, told her that he wished he could jump on the plane, too, then did just that a couple of days later ? even though it was Christmastime.

"I was like, 'Sorry, folks, I've got to go.' I just had to go."

Some may view Gattis as selfish.

He sees it as something that was absolutely necessary to becoming a whole person.

Through a different prism, it even sounds courageous, the sort of self-discovery that most of us long for but never have the guts to actually follow through on.

"Some people find out that stuff when they're 50," he says. "Then they say, '... I forgot to live.' So at least I got that out of me when I was young. People say in meditation groups, 'You can find it out when you're 25 or you can find it out later in life.'"

He finally found what he was looking for in California, where yet another spiritual mentor cracked a code that is still hard to understand.

"He kind of cleared up anything I had going on," Gattis remembers. "I don't know how to put it in words. I was just done looking for whatever it was I was looking for. I was done with it. It cleared up in kind of a final way where, without a shadow of a doubt, I just knew I didn't have to do that anymore."

Even at an age when most people are done with college, Gattis learned he was still eligible to play ball. In 2010, he enrolled at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin. After batting over .400, he was drafted by the Braves in the 23rd round.

An unorthodox prospect approaching his mid-20s, Gattis was hardly put on a fast-track to the majors, but he kept winning over the brass with his impressive hitting numbers. He batted .322 with 22 homers in the South Atlantic League. Last season, he split time between three minor-league teams and hit a cumulative .305 with 18 homers.

This year, he was invited to his first big-league camp ? albeit as a non-roster player. A catcher by trade, he's now getting work in left field, trying to improve his versatility and maybe earn a spot on the team that heads north.

"He's never been handed anything," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez says. "Sometimes ? myself included ? we give too much to our kids and they don't earn it. But this young man has earned everything he's gotten so far."

The Braves certainly aren't giving Gattis any special treatment. If anything, he's got to be even more impressive than those he's battling for a job, most of whom have played in the big leagues and have more gravitas with Gonzalez and the coaching staff.

"His story is nice. But that story isn't going to get him to the big leagues," the manager says. "Fifteen years from now, when he's an established major leaguer, that will be a nice book. But what's impressive about him now are his numbers."

If Gattis had chosen a more traditional course, he might already be an established big leaguer.

But he has absolutely no regrets about his journey and, really, that's what we all should be striving for.

"Did I miss out?" Gattis asks.

He knows the answer now.

"No, not at all."

___

Paul Newberry is a national writer for The Associated Press. Write to him at pnewberry(at)ap.org or www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2013-02-22-BBN-Paul-Newberry-022213/id-41ac5a8a06af4776a5847e69f26f8b13

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Tech Stocks: Techs sink with Apple, Facebook; Google up

By Benjamin Pimentel, MarketWatch

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) ? Technology stocks took another hit Thursday morning following a harsh selloff in the previous session, as large-cap players like Facebook, Oracle and Intel came under selling pressure.

Apple CEO Tim Cook, left, and hedge-fund manager David Einhorn.

Apple /quotes/zigman/68270/quotes/nls/aapl AAPL -0.93% ?was also down, slipping about 0.4% to $447.05 ahead of a planned conference call by hedge-fund giant David Einhorn, who is pressing the company to consider issuing a special preferred stock grant. Einhorn plans to host a conference call at 2 p.m. ET.

In an interview with AllThingsD, Einhorn said his proposal offers a ?win-win? for both Apple and its shareholders. ?We have a solution that allows shareholders to see that value and Apple to keep that cash,? he added. See: Einhorn on 'win-win' proposal to Apple

Apple?s retreat set the tone for a downbeat trading session, which saw the Nasdaq Composite Index /quotes/zigman/12633936 COMP -1.16% ?give up 0.6% to stand at 3,147. The Morgan Stanley High-Tech Index /quotes/zigman/6015481 MSH -1.40% ?and Philadelphia Semiconductor Index /quotes/zigman/1468249 SOX -1.97% ?both fell more than 1% in early trades.

The tech sector retreat followed Wednesday?s broader market selloff sparked by investor concern over the Federal Open Market Committee?s January meeting minutes that revealed differences over monetary policy. See: Market Snapshot.

Among large-cap tech names, Oracle /quotes/zigman/76584/quotes/nls/orcl ORCL -1.80% ?, SAP /quotes/zigman/126928/quotes/nls/sap SAP -1.92% ?, Intel /quotes/zigman/20392/quotes/nls/intc INTC -2.29% ?, Cisco /quotes/zigman/20039/quotes/nls/csco CSCO -1.30% ?and Microsoft /quotes/zigman/20493/quotes/nls/msft MSFT -1.36% ?were all trading down more than 1%. Facebook /quotes/zigman/9962609/quotes/nls/fb FB -3.56% ?was off more than 3% to $27.58.

Also in the red were shares of Hewlett-Packard /quotes/zigman/229301/quotes/nls/hpq HPQ +0.24% ?which were down a fraction at $16.64 ahead of the Palo Alto, Calif.-based company?s fiscal first-quarter report. See: H-P seen posting earnings drop.

Sony shows features of PS4

Sony is reinventing the PlayStation video game console, demonstrating faster, graphics-rich hardware with new Internet-based features; Ford adds 450 new jobs to its Cleveland plant; Congress proposes a high-tech ID in immigration talks.

Shares of VeriFone /quotes/zigman/365296/quotes/nls/pay PAY -39.75% ?were also in full retreat mode, plummeting 38% to $19.80 after the company drastically cut its estimates for its fiscal first quarter.

On the upside, shares of Google Inc. /quotes/zigman/93888/quotes/nls/goog GOOG +0.24% ?were up more than 0.8% at $801.59. The Internet powerhouse?s stock hit an all-high recently, rising above $800 for the first time in its history.

And the stock will probably go higher, Bernstein Research analyst Carlos Kirjner argues in a note raising the price target to $1,000. ?We believe mass adoption of smart phones, tablets and the mobile Web is a large value creation opportunity for Google,? Kirjner wrote.

Groupon /quotes/zigman/7212269/quotes/nls/grpn GRPN +4.29% ?also traded up 6% on a Piper Jaffray upgrade. Shares of Home Away /quotes/zigman/5675710/quotes/nls/away AWAY +9.82% ?also rallied more than 13% after the online home vacation and rental marketplace company posted upbeat results.

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US : U.S.: Nasdaq

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$421.50 billion

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Rev. per Employee

$323,739

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US : U.S.: Nasdaq

Volume: 35.25M

Feb. 21, 2013 12:55p

Market Cap

$102.53 billion

Rev. per Employee

$532,877

/quotes/zigman/20039/quotes/nls/csco

US : U.S.: Nasdaq

Volume: 18.57M

Feb. 21, 2013 12:54p

Market Cap

$112.53 billion

Rev. per Employee

$709,074

/quotes/zigman/20493/quotes/nls/msft

US : U.S.: Nasdaq

Volume: 27.69M

Feb. 21, 2013 12:55p

Market Cap

$233.45 billion

Rev. per Employee

$774,085

/quotes/zigman/9962609/quotes/nls/fb

US : U.S.: Nasdaq

Volume: 30.96M

Feb. 21, 2013 12:55p

/quotes/zigman/229301/quotes/nls/hpq

US : U.S.: NYSE

Volume: 8.40M

Feb. 21, 2013 12:55p

Rev. per Employee

$361,465

/quotes/zigman/365296/quotes/nls/pay

US : U.S.: NYSE

Volume: 22.71M

Feb. 21, 2013 12:55p

Rev. per Employee

$374,919

/quotes/zigman/93888/quotes/nls/goog

US : U.S.: Nasdaq

Volume: 2.25M

Feb. 21, 2013 12:54p

Market Cap

$262.41 billion

Rev. per Employee

$927,536

/quotes/zigman/7212269/quotes/nls/grpn

US : U.S.: Nasdaq

Volume: 11.83M

Feb. 21, 2013 12:54p

Rev. per Employee

$190,771

/quotes/zigman/5675710/quotes/nls/away

US : U.S.: Nasdaq

Volume: 2.75M

Feb. 21, 2013 12:55p

Benjamin Pimentel is a MarketWatch reporter based in San Francisco. Follow him on Twitter @BenPimentel.

Source: http://feeds.marketwatch.com/~r/marketwatch/software/~3/nNMj66uDToI/story.asp

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Customer Service Contrasts: Egypt Air and Air Canada ...

I am officially in love with Air Canada?s London Heathrow team.? Just a week ago, they appeared like angels at the end of a painfully long travel experience.? (See the post).? This morning, they again delivered a standout customer experience ? a stark contrast to the experience I?d had just five hours earlier at the Air Egypt counter.

I had been in the Cairo airport trying to give Air Egypt a bit more money ? paying to upgrade a ticket to business class from Cairo to London.? The first counter I went to was the ?ticket counter.?? Seemed like a logical place to start.? The young woman looked at my stuff, shook her head and said, ?It was issued by Air Canada, so we can?t change it.?? When I told her I had done it the last time I was on this flight, she just shook her head.? She didn?t even want to bother.? When I persisted, she finally asked a co-worker, who nodded.? Of course they can change it, he said, and proceeded to make the arrangements.? She shrugged, and went about her business, happy that it wasn?t her having to do the ?extra work.?

After fifteen minutes of filling out paperwork, he turned to me and said, ?Go to counter 322 to pay.?? I reluctantly left my bags and my passport, and walked two aisles over to counter 322. The sign above said ?Cashier.?? Two men were sitting their looking bored.? One looked at me, shook his head and said, ?Not here.?? I told him that I had been sent there by the nice man in the ticket booth, her just looked at me flatly and repeated, ?not here.?? Again, I persisted.? Finally the second man in the booth said, ?counter xxxxx.?? He stood and gave me a ?follow-me gesture? and said, ?Come.?? I followed him three aisles over to a counter that said ?Business Class.?

I finally found someone in this booth who was willing to take my money.? I handed him my Diners Club card, he inserted it into the machine, and handed it to me to type in my pin #.? I did, and we waited for the machine to make the wireless connection.? After a minute, he looked at the machine, then at me, and said.? ?You have another card??? I told him there was nothing wrong with the card, and asked him to try again.? This was clearly going to be too much work for him, and he assumed I was just being difficult.? He jammed my card back in the machine, and began typing on it.? I was waiting for him to hand it back to me for my pin again, but he just held on to it, and stared at it.? After a while, he shook his head and said, ?There?s a cash machine over there ? you go use it.?? It was my turn to stare at him.? I finally said, very slowly and very firmly.? ?There is nothing wrong with this card.? Try it again, and this time do it properly.?? He shrugged his shoulders, re-input the card, handed it to me for my pin, then we waited for 10 seconds.? Success.

My whole ordeal at Air Egypt lasted about 40 minutes.? It should have been 10.? All because, at every turn, individuals were looking for the easy way out, instead of what was best for the customer.? Fast-forward now, to the departure lounge in London?s Heathrow airport.

As I sit down in the crowded departure lounge, waiting to board my flight from London to

Air Canada Customer Service

Toronto, I realize with horror that I had left my Kindle e-reader in the security area.? (You now have to take those out of your bag along with laptops for screening).? I walk over to one of the Air Canada agents and explain the problem.? Sarah gave me a dazzling smile, and said in a cheerful English accent, ?Not to worry, let?s see what we can do!?? Moments later, she had contacted security, confirmed it was there, and confirmed that someone would be down to retrieve it.? I was ready for a sprint to security and back, but she said, ?You just sit down in the plane ? I?ll go and get it for you.?

I did, and she did ? bringing it to the plane, and apologizing to me for the inconvenience! (Like it was somehow her fault I was stupid enough to leave it in security.).? Where Sarah could easily have taken the easy way out, as I suspect the people at Air Egypt would have done, she chose the more difficult route.? The result ? why would I fly with anyone else?

I?m finally home.? A few side trips to Montreal and Toronto, but then off to see what customer service looks like in LA.? Then, let?s see if Princess Cruise Lines does a better job than the last time!

Source: http://www.customerthink.com/blog/customer_service_contrasts_egypt_air_and_air_canada

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Russian meteor explosion outshone sun

Traveling at 33,000 mph, a massive meteor hit the Earth's atmosphere creating a giant shockwave that blew out windows of glass, injuring nearly 1,000 people and creating panic. On the same day, an asteroid half the size of a football field came within 17,000 miles from Earth. NBC's Tom Costello reports.

By Miriam Kramer, SPACE.com

The fireball that exploded over Russia Friday morning provided onlookers with an incredible spectacle, even outshining the sun for a brief period, scientists say.

The meteor exploded just above the city of Chelyabinsk just before 9:30 a.m. local time, damaging hundreds of buildings and injuring more than 1,000 people. The blast probably released about 300 kilotons of energy, sending out a powerful shock wave and lighting up the daytime sky, researchers said.

"This event must have been brighter than the sun, if you were there to watch it," Paul Chodas, a scientist with the Near Earth Object Program Office at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., told reporters today. "It's just incredible."

The object that caused the Russian meteor was probably about 50 feet (15 meters) wide and weighed approximately 7,000 tons, said Bill Cooke of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. [See Photos of the Meteor Streaking over Russia]

This space rock exploded 12 to 15 miles (19 to 24 kilometers) above Earth's surface, releasing roughly 15 times as much energy as the atomic bomb the United States dropped on the Japanese city of Hiroshima during World War II.

The resulting blast shattered windows and knocked down walls, according to media reports.

Dr. Paul Chodas at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory discussed the asteroid that flew by Earth ?and the fireball that struck Russia. Choda called it "a huge coincidence."

"When you hear about injuries, those are undoubtedly due to the shockwave," Cooke said.

The fireball hit Earth's atmosphere at about 40,000 mph (64,374 kph) and left a trail 300 miles (483 kilometers) long in the sky, he added.

Although the explosion did shoot fragments of the rock toward the ground, there have been no confirmed reports of recovered pieces of the space rock, Cooke said.

Scientists have a particularly difficult time tracking small asteroids like the one that exploded earlier today because they are so small and dim. The Russian meteor was particularly difficult to spot because it came from the daylight side of the planet. Telescopes can only detect meteors in the dark, Cooke said.

Space rocks like the Russian fireball hit the Earth once every 50 to 100 years, he added.

Most asteroids are loose masses of rock, and NASA experts think this meteor probably fit that description. As the fireball entered the atmosphere, it started to break apart and eventually exploded when the heat generated by its dramatic plunge toward the Earth's surface became too great.

AFP

This video still image shows the smoke trail created by the meteor that exploded over the Chelyabinsk region of Russia on Feb. 15, 2013.

This is the most powerful meteor explosion of its kind since the Tunguska Event?1908, researchers said. The meteor that exploded that year over the Tunguska region of Russia's Siberia was probably 130 feet (40 m) in diameter and flattened 825 square miles (2,137 square km) of forest.

A meteor similar to today's fireball exploded in the air over Indonesia in 2009, but it didn't cause nearly this amount of damage. This most recent meteor explosion was probably four to five times more powerful than the 2009 event, Cooke said.

By coincidence, the Russian fireball exploded on the same day that the 150-foot-wide (45 m) asteroid 2012 DA14 cruised within 17,200 miles (27,000 km) of Earth. 2012 DA14's flyby was the closest by such a large asteroid that scientists have ever known about in advance. The two space rocks that made big news today are completely separate bodies, Cooke and Chodas stressed.

Follow Miriam Kramer on Twitter?@mirikramer?or SPACE.com?@Spacedotcom. We're also on Facebook?&?Google+.?

Copyright 2013 SPACE.com, a TechMediaNetwork company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://science.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/02/15/16978396-russian-meteor-explosion-outshone-sun?lite

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S.E. Cupp?s Advice To GOP In NY Times: Don?t ?Be Afraid To Call Out Rush Limbaugh?

A profile in the New York Times Magazine on Thursday examines if ?the Republicans can be saved from obsolescence.? The piece extensively details how the Republican Party allowed Democrats to outpace them by not keeping up with technological advances and creating innovative ways to recruit and train individuals interested in voter outreach. The profile focuses on the experiences of young Republican strategists like Patrick Ruffini, Erik Telford and Kristen Solits, but it also delves into the role Republican commentators can have on the party?s electoral prospects. The Times piece quotes MSNBC host and New York Daily News columnist S.E. Cupp who said conservatives cannot be afraid to hold prominent voices in the GOP commentariat, like Rush Limbaugh, accountable when they say thing which are potentially harmful to the Republican brand.

RELATED: S.E. Cupp, Steve Kornacki Battle Tour? For Defending Drone Strikes: ?That Was The Argument Under Bush?

?And we can?t be afraid to call out Rush Limbaugh,? said Goodwin?s fianc?e, S. E. Cupp, a New York Daily News columnist and a co-host of The Cycle on MSNBC. ?If we can get three Republicans on three different networks saying, ?What Rush Limbaugh said is crazy and stupid and dangerous,? maybe that?ll give other Republicans cover? to denounce the talk-show host as well.

But imposing discipline on Limbaugh does not mean abandoning the party?s principles, or ceasing to be vocal and unequivocal about their political views. Cupp said that the tea party, for example, remains a source of political cohesion for the Republican Party and is representative of a set of values shared by most Americans.

?Public polling still puts the country center-right on a host of issues,? Cupp told the Times. ?People aren?t repelled by the idea of limited government or balancing the budget or lowering taxes. Those Tea Party principles are incredibly popular with the public, even if they don?t know it. Again, that?s a messaging issue, that?s not a principle issue.?

Read the profile vie The New York Times Magazine

h/t The Daily Caller

> >Follow Noah Rothman (@NoahCRothman) on Twitter

Source: http://www.mediaite.com/online/s-e-cupps-advice-to-gop-in-ny-times-dont-be-afraid-to-call-out-rush-limbaugh/

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2013 Ford Edge Limited Sport Utility 4D (Enterprise New Carrolton Referral Lot (Facebook)) $30,499

Description:

Enterprise Car Sales is offering special pricing on the 2012 Dodge Avenger SE, Feb 1-28, 2013! Plus, every Enterprise used car comes backed with a Perfect Used Car Package. Including a 109-Point vehicle inspection, 12-month/12,000 mile limited powertrain warranty, 1 year roadside assistance and much more.Features: Hill Start Assist Control,AdvanceTrac,ABS (4-Wheel),Keyless Entry,Traction Control,Air Conditioning,Cruise Control,AM/FM Stereo,Keyless Start,Power Steering,Tilt & Telescoping Wheel,Power Windows,Power Door Locks,Bluetooth Wireless,Backup Camera,Dual Air Bags,F&R Side Air Bags,Head Curtain Air Bags,Dual Power Seats,Heated Seats,MyFord,SYNC,Parking Sensors,Leather,Privacy Glass,Premium Wheels,MP3 (Single Disc),SiriusXM Satellite,Chrome grille,Body-color door handles,Body-color rear spoiler,Black rocker moldings,17 spare tire,Bright beltline molding,Bi-functional projector beam halogen headlamps,Dual speed rear wiper w/washer,Auto on/off headlamps w/wiper activation,18 chrome-clad wheels,Intermittent speed-sensitive front windshield wipers,Solar tinted front door window glass,Privacy tinted rear windows,P245/60R18 all-season BSW tires,Supplemental park lamps,Cruise control,Electrochromic rearview mirror,Adjustable head restraints,Cargo area light,Cargo net,Accessory delay,Dual sunvisors w/illuminated vanity mirrors,(2) coat hooks,Brushed aluminum door sill plates,(8) cup/bottle holders,(4) 12V aux pwr outlets,Front & rear floormats,Pwr locks w/autolock,Overhead console w/sunglass holder,Leather shift knob,Front/rear door map pockets,Front/rear dome lights,Front seatback pockets,Illuminated entry,Glove box,Remote keyless entry,Universal garage door opener,Rear window defroster,SecuriLock encrypted passive anti-theft system (EPATS),Dual-zone electronic air conditioning -inc: particulate air filter,Below floor rear cargo management system,Front & rear passenger grab handles,Instrumentation -inc: tachometer compass,High-gloss black center stack applique,Manual tilt/telescoping steering column,Pwr windows -inc: driver one-touch up/down driver front/rear disable,Rear cargo area tie-downs,SecuriCode body-color illuminated door entry keypad,Wood appearance instrument panel appliques,All-wheel drive,3.16 axle ratio,3.5L Ti-VCT V6 Engine,Battery saver,Pwr assist rack & pinion steering,One-touch integrated start,Easy Fuel capless refueling,Dual bright round exhaust tips,Child safety rear door locks,Tire pressure monitoring system,4-wheel anti-lock disc brakes,Occupant classification system,AdvanceTrac w/roll stability control (RSC),Rear-view camera,Safety Canopy for (2) rows w/rollover sensor,Side-impact air bags,Hill start assist,SOS post crash alert system,(2) rear seat lower anchors & tethers for children (LATCH),Reverse sensing park assist system,Height-adjustable front seatbelts w/BeltminderDisclaimer: Price does not include tax, title, tags, governmental fees, any emissions testing charges, and any finance charges (if applicable). Unless otherwise stated separately in the vehicle details, price does not include processing, administrative, closing or similar fees of $199 or less. Vehicles subject to prior sale. We make every effort to provide accurate information including but not limited to price, miles and vehicle options, but please verify with your local Enterprise Car Sales location before purchasing. Current mileage may vary due to test drives and vehicle relocation. Used vehicles were previously part of Enterprise short term rental, lease fleet or purchased by Enterprise from other sources including auto auctions, with previous use possibly short term rental, lease or other.

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Adidas Energy Running: The Next Great Running Innovation, Or the Next Big Cheat

Running shoes are a touchy subject. Some people like minimal cushioning to promote good form, others prefer something more engineered. Adidas's new Energy Running push comes down on the latter side of the argument in an impressive way. Maybe even too impressive. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/Hh5cMlPkvRA/adidas-energy-running-the-next-great-running-innovation-or-the-next-big-cheat

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North Korea conducts third controversial nuke test

PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP) ? North Korea conducted a nuclear test at an underground site in the remote northeast Tuesday, taking an important step toward its goal of building a bomb small enough to be fitted on a missile that could reach United States.

North Korea made clear that the explosion of its third atomic device ? which it claimed was smaller than the ones in its previous two tests ? was a warning to what it considers a hostile United States. Its actions drew immediate condemnation from Washington, the U.N. and others. Even its only major ally, China, voiced opposition.

"The test was conducted in a safe and perfect way on a high level, with the use of a smaller and light A-bomb, unlike the previous ones, yet with great explosive power," North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency said.

It was a defiant response to U.N. orders to shut down atomic activity or face more sanctions and international isolation, as well as a direct message from young leader Kim Jong Un to the United States, Pyongyang's No. 1 enemy since the 1950-53 Korean War.

KCNA said the test is aimed at coping with "the ferocious hostile act of the U.S." That's a reference to what Pyongyang said was Washington's attempts to block its right to launch satellites. North Korea was punished by U.N. sanctions after a December launch of a rocket that the U.N. and Washington called a cover for a banned missile test. Pyongyang said it was a peaceful satellite launch.

The timing was significant. The test in an underground tunnel came hours before President Barack Obama was scheduled to give his State of the Union speech, a major, nationally televised address.

Obama said in a statement Tuesday that the test is "a highly provocative act" and promised to "continue to take steps necessary to defend ourselves and our allies."

The test also comes only days before the Saturday birthday of Kim Jong Un's father, late leader Kim Jong Il, whose memory North Korean propaganda has repeatedly linked to the country's nuclear ambitions. This year also marks the 60th anniversary of the signing of the armistice that ended the 1950-53 Korean War, and in late February South Korean President-elect Park Geun-hye will be inaugurated.

North Korea is estimated to have enough weaponized plutonium for four to eight bombs, according to American nuclear scientist Siegfried Hecker.

If the test was indeed successful, as claimed, it would take North Korean scientists a step closer to building a warhead small enough to be mounted on a long-range missile that can reach U.S. shores ?seen as the ultimate goal of North Korea's nuclear program.

Still, it wasn't immediately clear to outside experts whether the device exploded Tuesday was small enough to fit on a missile, and whether it was fueled by plutonium or highly enriched uranium.

In 2006, and 2009, North Korea is believed to have tested devices made of plutonium. But in 2010, Pyongyang revealed a program to enrich uranium, which would give the country a second source of bomb-making materials ? a worrying development for the U.S. and its allies.

Plutonium facilities are large and produce detectable radiation, making it easier for outsiders to find and monitor. However, uranium centrifuges can be hidden from satellites, drones and nuclear inspectors in caves, tunnels and other hard-to-reach places. Highly enriched uranium also is easier than plutonium to engineer into a weapon.

The nuclear test is North Korea's first since Kim Jong Un took power of a country long estranged from the West. The test will likely be portrayed in North Korea as a strong move to defend the nation against foreign aggression, particularly from the U.S., North Korea's longtime enemy.

North Korea's rocket launches and nuclear tests largely are seen by analysts as threats designed to force the United States to confront the issue of military tensions between the foes.

The test is a product of North Korea's military-first, or songun, policy, and shows Kim Jong Un is running the country much as his father did, said Daniel Pinkston, a Seoul-based expert on North Korea with the International Crisis Group think tank.

The test also shows North Korea is "more confident in their military technology and their military power," he said. "Now they will be emboldened as they focus on other goals."

The decision to push ahead with a test will be a challenge to the U.N. Security Council, which recently punished Pyongyang for launching the December long-range rocket. In condemning that launch and imposing more sanctions on Pyongyang, the council had demanded a stop to future launches and ordered North Korea to respect a ban on nuclear activity ? or face "significant action" by the U.N.

U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon condemned Tuesday's nuclear test in a statement.

The test will likely draw more sanctions from the United States and other countries at a time when North Korea is trying to rebuild its moribund economy and expand its engagement with the outside world.

China expressed firm opposition to the test but called for a calm response by all sides.

North Korea cites the U.S. military threat in the region as a key reason behind its drive to build nuclear weapons. The two countries fought on opposite sides of the Korean War, which ended after three years with an armistice signed on July 27, 1953, not a peace treaty. The U.S. stations more than 28,000 troops in South Korea to protect the ally.

Whatever scientific advancements the North can gain from its third nuclear test, there's also an important political angle. Many analysts believe the North uses nuclear and missile tests to win greater concessions in stalled nuclear disarmament-for-aid talks.

"A third test increases uncertainty about the North's intentions and calculations," Robert Carlin, a former U.S. State Department official who has made dozens of trips to North Korea, said in a Stanford University website posting last year.

The other part of a credible North Korean nuclear deterrent is its missile program. While it has capable short and medium range missiles, it has struggled in tests of technology for long-range missiles needed to carry bombs to the United States.

North Korea isn't close to having a nuclear bomb it can use on the United States or its allies. Instead, Hecker said in the Stanford web posting, "it wants to hold U.S. interests at risk of a nuclear attack to deter us from regime change and to create international leverage and diplomatic maneuvering room."

The North Korean nuclear program has long been a worry for Washington and Pyongyang's neighbors. A nuclear crisis in the early 1990s was followed by another standoff during the early 2000s during the George W. Bush administration.

Starting in 2003, negotiators from five nations ? China, Russia, Japan, the U.S. and South Korea ? tried to persuade North Korea to abandon its nuclear programs with offers of aid in return.

North Korea walked away from those talks after being punished by the U.N. Security Council for an April 2009 rocket launch.

___

Associated Press writers Foster Klug, Hyung-Jin Kim, Youkyung Lee, and Sam Kim in Seoul, Kim Kwang Hyon in Pyongyang, and Yuri Kageyama and Malcolm Foster in Tokyo contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/north-korea-conducts-third-controversial-nuke-test-091212327.html

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Mississippi tornado injures 63, damages homes, buildings

Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant said more than 60 people were injured in the storms that hit the state Sunday, but he said no lives were lost.

The storm tore across Mississippi, damaging about 200 homes, Bryant said.

Click to read more.

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/id/50771553/ns/local_news-jackson_ms/

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