Barclays profit up, investment bank pain continues (Reuters)

LONDON (Reuters) ? Barclays Plc's (BARC.L) underlying quarterly profit rose 5 percent as gains in retail banking and credit cards took up the slack from its investment bank, which suffered a third straight sharp fall in quarterly income.

Barclays said on Monday capital markets had remained difficult in October as the euro zone's financial problems deepened, and were likely to remain tough despite improvement since last week's announcement of plans to solve the crisis.

"There's no question market conditions this year have been challenging and we'd expect that to continue in some way into next year, given the weaker economic growth we're seeing," said Chief Executive Bob Diamond.

Barclays has axed about 3,500 jobs this year, more than the 3,000 cuts that had been earmarked for the year in August, and Diamond said the trend could continue as he fights to revive profitability and slash costs.

Pretax profit in the third quarter through September reached 2.4 billion pounds ($3.9 billion). Stripping out a 2.9 billion pound gain on the value of its own debt and other one-off items, profit was 1.34 billion pounds, up 5 percent on the 2010 period.

Analysts said the weakness in the Barclays Capital (BarCap)investment bank had been taken up by improvement in other areas, notably UK retail banking and the Barclaycard credit card arm.

"It does look as if all their businesses are making a contribution, which is always a decent sign," said Cavendish Asset Management fund manager Paul Mumford, whose firm owns around 1 million Barclays shares.

By 0950 GMT Barclays shares were down 2.1 percent at 197 pence, slightly firmer than a 2.9 percent drop in the European bank index (.SX7P).

Barclays and its domestic rivals face having to separate their UK retail banking operations under planned reforms to safeguard taxpayers, but the bank declined to say how much extra this could cost.

It cut its holdings of troubled eurozone sovereign debt -- from Greece, Spain, Italy, Portugal and Ireland -- by 31 percent to 8 billion pounds. Half of that is Italian government bonds, and 2.7 billion more is Spanish sovereign debt.

"NOT THE SCENARIO FOR NEXT 3-5 YEARS..."

Top-line income at BarCap, which is expected to provide more than half of this year's group profit, fell to 2.25 billion pounds, down 22 percent from the second quarter to be in line with the consensus forecast as capital markets activity was

hit hard across the industry.

Analysts said that was a more resilient performance than U.S. and European peers, who have shown an average fall of about a third. BarCap typically outperforms during difficult markets and can lag growth when markets boom.

Revenue in its fixed income, currencies and commodities (FICC) dropped 16 percent from the second quarter -- better than expected -- but equities income slumped 40 percent and advisory income was down by a quarter.

BarCap's operating expenses were 1.8 billion pounds in the latest quarter, down 7 percent on the year but not as steep a fall as analysts had expected. Compensation accounted for 46 percent of income at BarCap, up from 43 percent a year ago.

Barclays' investment in U.S. money manager BlackRock Inc (BLK.N) was marked down by 1.8 billion pounds, which it said had already been recognized in equity and regulatory capital.

Barclays said its underlying profit for the first nine months of this year was a shade over 5 billion pounds, up 18 percent from a year earlier.

This showed the benefit of diversity and underpinned "rock solid" capital, funding and liquidity, Diamond said, adding the bank did not intend to raise new equity capital.

Diamond said he also remained "absolutely committed" to his goal of improving return on equity to 13 percent by 2013. RoE was 8.1 percent in the third quarter, from 6.5 percent.

He had in June outlined bullish targets for income at BarCap, which analysts said may need to be scaled back.

"We do expect tough conditions to remain, certainly for a while, but we would not factor in this being the scenario for the next three to five years," said Diamond, the American who took over as CEO at the start of this year after 14 years building up BarCap.

Losses on bad debts were 1 billion pounds in the third quarter, down 16 percent from a year ago, and have tumbled by a third this year.

($1 = 0.619 pound)

(Additional reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta and Sarah White; Editing by Dan Lalor and David Holmes)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/eurobiz/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111031/bs_nm/us_barclays

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Nickelodeon airing "banned" movie on Halloween (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) ? "Cry Baby Lane," a Nickelodeon movie about conjoined twins who are sawed apart, was deemed so scary after its one airing in October 2000 that it was banned by the network, never to be seen again.

Or so the story goes.

In fact, both the story in the movie and the story about the movie being banned are urban legends. TeenNick will air the movie on Monday, for the first time in more than a decade, as part of its "Stick-or-Treat" Halloween programing.

A Nickelodeon rep tells TheWrap that "Cry Baby Lane" was never formally banned. It was simply forgotten in the Nick vaults. Recent interest in the movie on Reddit.com, as well as the network's recent success with "The '90s Are That," a revival of its 1990s programing, prompted Nick to add "Baby" to its Halloween night line-up.

The movie will air at midnight and again at 2 a.m. on TeenNick.

"Cry Baby Lane" stars Frank Langella as undertaker Mr. Bennett, who tells brothers Andrew and Carl a creepy story about a local farmer who was the father of conjoined twins. The man was ashamed of the twins -- one good, one evil -- so he kept them locked away. When they died, he sawed them apart and buried them separately.

But when Carl and his pals disturb the grave of the evil twin, bad things happen.

The movie features an early-career performance by comedian Jim Gaffigan as a dissatisfied customer of Mr. Bennett's who tries to, ahem, stiff the undertaker on his bill.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/movies/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111028/film_nm/us_nickelodeon

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Trail Blazers roster breakdown: A look at where players will stand when NBA lockout ends

Every hint of progress and optimism in this mind-numbing NBA work stoppage is doused with a heated and disheartening pause of the labor negotiations that seemingly will never end.

But conventional wisdom ? and history ? suggests the lockout eventually will come to an end. That the billionaires and millionaires will stop squabbling over unfathomable amounts of money and begin a shortened season that is sure to be filled with fan discontent.

And then what? As Rip City endures talk of CBAs and BRIs instead of LAs and B. Roys, it?s easy to forget exactly where the Trail Blazers? roster stands 122 days into the lockout. Below is a brief overview, including the contract status, potential impact of a new collective bargaining agreement and the expected role of the players who are tied to the Blazers? roster:

LaMARCUS ALDRIDGE
Position: Power forward

NBA experience: Sixth season

Contract status/Impact of new CBA: Will make $12.6 million in the second of a five-year, $62.5 million deal. A new CBA should have little immediately impact.

2010-11 stats: 21.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists

When last season ended: Breakthrough season saw Aldridge emerge as The Building Block of the franchise. He was on the cusp of being an All-Star after establishing new career highs in points, rebounds, assists and steals (82). His play carried the Blazers during an injury-riddled season.

Expected role if lockout ends: The centerpiece, offensively and defensively, of a team that could feature a more uptempo playing style. Perhaps the biggest question is whether he will play as much center as he did last season.

GREG ODEN
Position: Center

NBA experience: Fifth season

Contract status/Impact of new CBA: The Blazers offered an $8.8 million qualifying offer, making him a restricted free agent. Oden's status is as complex as any player's in the NBA. Any team can offer the former No. 1 pick a free agent deal, but the Blazers' would then have seven days to match the offer (assuming the new CBA features a similar rule). They Blazers also could negotiate their own multiyear deal with Oden or, if he does not generate any free agent interest, simply sign him to the one-year qualifying offer. He then would become an unrestricted free agent next offseason.

2010-11 stats: Did not play because of knee surgery

When last season ended: Missed the entire season with his third season-ending knee surgery. He's played a total of 82 games over four years.

Expected role if lockout ends: It all depends on his health. He had microfracture surgery on his left knee on November 19, 2010, and the Blazers said he would miss "six to 12 months." Oden said last week on his Facebook page that he recently started to run, but his rehabilitation status is unclear. If he's healthy and can replicate the dominant potential he flashed before his second knee injury two seasons ago, he could be a difference-making starting center. But after three knee surgeries, expectations are at an all-time low for the one-time franchise player.

BRANDON ROY
Position: Guard

NBA experience: Sixth season

Contract status/Impact of new CBA: Will make $15 million in the second of a five-year, $82 million deal. Multiple reports suggest the CBA will include some form of "Amnesty Clause," which would allow teams to remove one contract from their salary cap by cutting a player (although the player would still receive his full salary). Roy, who's All-Star ability deteriorated seemingly overnight last season because of knee issues, is widely considered a prime candidate for such a clause because he is at the beginning of a max NBA contract. It's unclear what the details of the clause will be, but Roy's career with the Blazers is in jeopardy, an unfathomable scenario heading into last season.

2010-11 stats: 12.2 points, 2.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists

When last season ended: Balky knees forced him to miss all but 47 games and his game lacked the athleticism and burst that allowed him to develop into the centerpiece and heart and soul of the franchise. Was an effective sixth man off the bench, however, and his magical play in Game 4 against the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Playoffs will go down as one of the most memorable moments in Blazers history.

Expected role if lockout ends: It depends on the details of the Amnesty Clause. But if he comes back, he would compete for minutes at shooting guard and has stated a desire to return to the starting lineup.

NICOLAS BATUM
Position: Small forward

NBA experience: Fourth season

Contract status/Impact of new CBA: Will make $2.2 million in final year of rookie contract. New rules for free agency and salary allocation and changes to salary cap or luxury tax system will have significant implications for him after this season, when Batum becomes a free agent for the first time.

2010-11 stats: 12.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists

When last season ended: Had a solid, but unspectacular third season that included starting and reserve roles at small forward. After the trade deadline acquisition of Gerald Wallace, Batum eventually evolved into a top reserve off the bench.

Expected role if lockout ends: Coach Nate McMillan hinted in the offseason that Batum could see time at shooting guard. Will battle for minutes there and at small forward with Wallace, and will continue to serve as one of the team's best wing defenders and a "glue" player on both ends. A big season could cement his status as a long-term fixture in the franchise.
?
MARCUS CAMBY
Position: Center

NBA experience: 16th season

Contract status/Impact of new CBA: Will make $11.2 million in final year of two-year, $21 million deal. New rules would effect free agency next offseason, but after a long and lucrative career, impact is minimal.

2010-11 stats: 4.7 points, 10.3 rebounds, 1.56 blocks.

When last season ended: Maintained hold on starting center job despite age and arthroscopic surgery on left knee that caused him to miss 17 games.

Expected role if lockout ends: Until Greg Oden or a to-be-determined-center replaces him, will continue to be the Blazers' starting center. In the twilight of his career, will need to prove he can stay healthy and withstand what could be a shortened season crammed with games and less-than-normal rest.

WESLEY MATTHEWS
Position: Guard

NBA experience: Third season

Contract status/Impact of new CBA: Will make $6.1 million in the second of a five-year, $32.5 million deal. A new CBA will have no immediate impact.

2010-11 stats: 15.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.0 assists

When last season ended: Despite playing with undisclosed ankle injury during the last four months of the season, lived up to the hype of his controversial contract by developing into starting shooting guard.

Expected role if lockout ends: Depends on the health of Brandon Roy -- and the impact of an Amnesty Clause -- but likely will regain role as starting shooting guard and defensive tone-setter.
?

RAYMOND FELTON
Position: Point guard

NBA experience: 7th season

Contract status/Impact of new CBA: See: Batum. Will make $7.6 million in the final year of a two-year, $14.6 million contract. Felton will be a free agent next offseason in the prime of his career, so any changes to the CBA will have a direct effect on him next summer.

2010-11 stats: 15.5 points, 8.3 assists per game with the New York Knicks and Denver Nuggets

When last season ended: In the midst of his best statistical NBA season, Felton was included in the blockbuster trade that sent Carmelo Anthony to the from the Denver Nuggets to the New York Knicks. Finished season with the Nuggets as a backup point guard.

Expected role if lockout ends: Instantly becomes the Blazers' starting point guard, replacing Andre Miller, the player he was traded for on draft night. Because Felton excels in the open floor and in the pick and roll, the Blazers could be poised to replace their methodical style with a more uptempo offense. A standout season would reinforce the Blazers' belief that their revolving door at point guard is over and he could run the show for years to come.

GERALD WALLACE
Position: Forward

NBA experience: 11th season

Contract status/Impact of new CBA: Will make $9.5 million in the final year of a six-year, $57 million deal and holds player option for 2012-13. Like Batum and Felton, a new CBA will impact him directly next offseason unless he exercises his player option.

2010-11 stats: 15.7 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.4 assists

When last season ended: After providing a necessary late-season burst of adrenaline that catapulted the Blazers to the sixth seed in the Western Conference, he fizzled in the playoffs, which played a significant role in the Blazers' six-game loss to the eventual-champion Mavericks.

Expected role if lockout ends: One of the team's most important players, he likely will regain his starting small forward spot ahead of Batum. His rugged defense and all-hustle game will be critical to the Blazers' success.
?
NOLAN SMITH
Position: Guard

NBA experience: Rookie season

Contract status/Impact of new CBA: Will make $1.1 million in the first year of his rookie contract. A new CBA should have no immediate impact.

2010-11 stats: 20.6 points, 5.1 assists, 4.5 rebounds at Duke

When last season ended: Completed a stellar four-year career at Duke by earning first-team All-American and ACC Player of the Year honors.

Expected role if lockout ends: The Blazers selected him with the No. 21 overall pick -- ahead of gritty power forward Kenneth Farried -- because they think he can play backup point guard immediately.

LUKE BABBITT
Position: Forward

NBA experience: Second season

Contract status/Impact of new CBA: Will make $1.8 million in the second year of his rookie contract. The new CBA should not impact him this season.

2010-11 stats: 1.5 points and 1.3 rebounds

When last season ended: Touted as an immediate contributor when the Blazers drafted him No. 16 overall (in a trade with Minnesota), Babbitt failed to live up the hype, playing just 137 minutes in 24 games.

Expected role if lockout ends: Will have to show exceptional growth to crack the playing rotation at forward, a position of depth and strength for the Blazers. If he can prove he can shoot -- the reason the team drafted him -- he could carve a niche.

ARMON JOHNSON
Position: Point guard

NBA experience: Second season

Contract status/Impact of new CBA: Will make $800,000 in second year of two-year deal. As a rank-and-file player, a new CBA will greatly impact career going forward -- but not this season.

2010-11 stats: 2.0 points, 1.2 assists

When last season ended: After a surprising training camp and preseason performance earned him a backup point guard role, Johnson lost his job to Patty Mills and ended the season outside of the playing rotation.

Expected role if lockout ends: Should get opportunity to compete with rookie Nolan Smith and -- if he returns -- Mills for backup point guard duties. But the selection of Smith was hardly a ringing endorsement.

ELLIOT WILLIAMS
Position: Guard

NBA experience: Second season

Contract status/Impact of new CBA: Will make $1.4 million in second year of rookie contract. A new CBA should have no immediate impact.

2010-11 stats: Did not play (knee surgeries)

When last season ended: Had resumed basketball activities in March after undergoing separate surgeries to repair patella instability in both knees.

Expected role if lockout ends: A wild card, but unlikely, contributor this season. The Blazers valued Williams' athleticism and potential enough to draft him No. 22 overall -- despite knowledge about his knee issues. But with just two years of college play and one injury-riddled professional season under his belt, growing pains are to be expected.

CHRIS JOHNSON
Position: Center/forward

NBA experience: Second season

Contract status/Impact of new CBA: The Blazers hold the rights to a nonguaranteed contract that would pay $800,000 if exercised. As a player who went undrafted and features a nonguaranteed contract, it's unclear what impact a new CBA would have but it could be substantial.

2010-11 stats: 2.4 points, 2.3 rebounds

When last season ended: Showed potential as a spark plug post player off the bench after the Blazers signed him with a hardship exception in January. Distinguished himself in the Game 3 of the playoffs with a standout effort off the bench and earned playing time throughout the Dallas series.

Expected role if lockout ends: Depending on what free agent moves the Blazers make, could compete for backup minutes at power forward and center.

PATTY MILLS
Position: Guard

NBA experience: Third season

Contract status/Impact of new CBA: The Blazers offered $1.2 million qualifying offer, making him a restricted free agent. Any new free agency rules and tweaks to salary cap structure would directly and immediately effect Mills.

2010-11 stats: 5.5 points, 1.7 assists

When last season ended: Held backup point guard job for most of season, at one point earning fourth-quarter playing time over then-starter Andre Miller. But failed to do enough to cement long-term status with team.

Expected role if lockout ends: A restricted free agent, the Blazers hold Mills' rights and will have seven days to match any contract offer from another team (assuming the new CBA features a similar rule). But with the Blazers' draft selection of Nolan Smith and their investment in Johnson, he appears to be a long shot to return to Portland.

--Joe Freeman

Source: http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/index.ssf/2011/10/trail_blazers_roster_breakdown.html

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Herman Cain Gets The Bad Lip Reading Treatment (VIDEO)

First Rick Perry. Then Michele Bachmann. Then Mitt Romney. It's only natural that Herman Cain be the next GOP frontrunner to get the Bad Lip Reading treatment.

See, Herman Cain's a different kind of Republican candidate. One who wants to protect us from spiders and big potato moths. He's got swag, he's hungry for a McDonald's special and he'll even leave you dime to go eat at White Castle.

If only his political ads were as funny as this. Oh wait, they are!

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/29/herman-cain-bad-lip-reading-video_n_1065459.html

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Russian cargo ship launched to space station

MOSCOW (AP) ? A Russian cargo ship was launched successfully to the International Space Station on Sunday, clearing the way for the next manned mission and easing concerns about the station's future after a previous failed launch.

The unmanned Progress M-13M blasted off as scheduled at 2:11 p.m. Moscow time (1011 GMT; 6:11 a.m. EDT) from the Russian-leased Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Mission Control spokesman Valery Lyndin said.

"It was a perfect launch," Lyndin told The Associated Press, adding the ship successfully reached a designated orbit and will dock at the station Wednesday. A new crew will be launched to the space outpost on Nov. 14, he said.

A Progress launch failure in August, which was blamed on an "accidental" manufacturing flaw, cast doubts about future missions to the station, because the upper stage of the Soyuz booster rocket carrying the cargo ship to orbit is similar to that used to launch astronauts.

The next Soyuz launches were delayed pending the outcome of the probe. NASA said the space station ? continuously manned for nearly 11 years ? will need to be abandoned temporarily if a new crew cannot be launched by mid-November.

NASA space operations chief Bill Gerstenmaier congratulated Russia on the successful Progress launch.

"Pending the outcome of a series of flight readiness meetings in the coming weeks, this successful flight sets the stage for the next Soyuz launch, planned for mid-November," Gerstenmaier said in a statement. The station's crew, which has been reduced to three astronauts after the failed launch in August, will be restored to six in December when another trio of astronauts will be sent, he added.

The Russian spacecraft serve as the only link to the station after NASA retired the space shuttle in July.

Sundays' Progress mission was the second successful launch of a Soyuz booster rocket after the August mishap. Earlier this month, another Soyuz rocket launched the first two satellites of the European Union's Galileo navigation system from the Kourou launchpad in French Guiana. The launches followed inspections, which required the rocket engines to be sent back to manufacturers for close examination.

The August crash was the latest in a string of spectacular launch failures that have raised concerns about the condition of the nation's space industries. The Russian space agency said it will establish its own quality inspection teams at rocket factories to tighten oversight over production quality.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/apdefault/b2f0ca3a594644ee9e50a8ec4ce2d6de/Article_2011-10-30-SCI-Space-Station/id-41daf29720c6474e8d9e9f46c48cede4

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Game 6 of World Series postponed by rainy forecast (AP)

ST. LOUIS ? The Texas Rangers took 40 seasons to reach this position. After such a long climb, they were ready to wait one more day for a chance to win their first World Series title.

Game 6 was postponed Wednesday because of a wet forecast, delaying their bid to win the championship. Ahead 3-2, they can close out the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday night.

"It's just a rainout, that's it," said Texas star Michael Young, in his 12th year with the team. "I don't know if people think we're going to sit in our hotel rooms all night biting our nails. We're going to get something to eat, get some rest and be ready to go."

Both clubs pushed back their starters by a day. Colby Lewis is set to pitch against the Cardinals' Jaime Garcia. It's likely to be clear with temperatures in the low 50s at Busch Stadium.

If there's a Game 7 Friday night, it'll be Matt Harrison for Texas against, well, no telling. St. Louis manager Tony La Russa playfully mentioned the great Bob Gibson, now a robust 75, but ace Chris Carpenter on three days' rest looms as a possibility.

"It's already been asked about Carp," La Russa said. "I was told by Carp that he would be ready to go."

The postponement came after a travel day for the teams. This two-day gap is the longest at the World Series since 1989, when the Bay Area earthquake left the Athletics and Giants idle for 11 days.

"We're not getting antsy, we're not getting ahead of ourselves. We just have to wait," Texas manager Ron Washington said.

After a damp season and postseason, Major League Baseball announced the decision about 4 1/2 hours before the scheduled first pitch. At the time, no drops had fallen at the ballpark.

"I'm not even sure why they canceled it," Cardinals outfielder Lance Berkman said. "This is better than the weather for Game 1. I guess I'm going to lie back on the couch like a big, fat pig and watch a movie."

Maybe Berkman could've joined La Russa. The Cardinals manager planned to go see "Moneyball."

By late afternoon, a light mist turned to drizzle and then to steady rain.

This was the first Series washout since 2008 at Philadelphia. That year, Tampa Bay and the Phillies were tied in the sixth inning when rain and snow turned the field into a quagmire, forcing a suspension. It rained the next day, too, and the game finally resumed two days later, with the Phillies winning to take the crown.

Because of the debate about how to handle that situation MLB adopted a rule a few months later mandating that any postseason game stopped in progress would be resumed at the point of suspension, rather than being postponed and starting over.

This marked the latest rainout at a Series since 1986, when Game 7 between the Red Sox and Mets was pushed back by a day.

MLB executive Joe Torre said he alerted Washington and La Russa on Tuesday that a postponement was possible.

Rain was in "every forecast we had probably for the last three days," Torre said at a news conference. "They were all consistent there was going to be rain during the game."

Looking at Commissioner Bud Selig, Torre asked: "Do you want to play in rain?"

During the AL championship series, a game between Detroit and the Rangers in Texas was called because of predicted showers that never arrived. This time, they came.

Busch Stadium has had weather woes in the past. In 2006, Game 4 between Detroit and the Cardinals was called.

Rain has hovered over the majors all year with more than 50 washouts, baseball's highest total since 1997. The bad weather actually started before opening day, as the Milwaukee Brewers and Reds worked out in snow flurries on March 31.

Wicked weather intruded earlier in this postseason, too.

The opener of the AL playoff series between Detroit and New York was halted after 1 1/2 innings by showers that lasted all night. The game at Yankee Stadium was suspended and picked up the next day at the point when it was stopped.

The only other suspension in postseason history was that Rays-Phillies game in 2008.

Baseball began the playoffs a week earlier this year than last season, intending to have the World Series conclude before November. MLB also hoped the adjustment could help avoid a chilly finish for the championship. It was in the 40s and raw last week for Game 1.

It was in the 70s and clear at Busch Stadium on Tuesday. A perfect night to play, but it was a travel day for Texas and St. Louis.

Banged-up Texas star Josh Hamilton took the rainout in stride.

"You don't have to get worked up, hyped up to get into game mode and then shut it down," he said. "We know early, so we're able to come out here, get some swings in the cage, throw a bit. And it's smart for the pitchers, too, they don't have to get up, get going, have a rain delay, sit down."

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/sports/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111027/ap_on_sp_ba_ne/bbo_world_series

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UFC 137 video: Mitrione is going to learn some hard lessons according to Kongo?s manager

Matt Mitrione takes a major step up in competition on Saturday against veteran fighter Cheick Kongo. A confident Anthony McGann, Kongo's manager, knows the former Big 10 defensive lineman is dangerous, but thinks his guy will be too much to handle for a 5-0 fighter.

Watch UFC 137 right here on Yahoo! Sports

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/UFC-137-video-Mitrione-is-going-to-learn-some-h?urn=mma-wp8590

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Lindsay Lohan's father arrested again in Tampa (AP)

TAMPA, Fla. ? The estranged father of actress Lindsay Lohan was back in police custody Thursday, hours after being released from a Tampa jail on domestic violence charges.

Tampa police answered a 911 call from Michael Lohan's on-and-off girlfriend early Thursday. Kate Major told police Lohan, 51, made a harassing phone call to her shortly after being released from jail Wednesday afternoon.

Lohan called again while police were at Major's condo. Major, 28, put the call on speaker so police could listen. After hearing what Lohan said, the police notified the Hillsborough County State Attorney's Office of a violation of Judge Walter Heinrich's pre-trial release orders that Lohan stay away from Major and an arrest order was authorized.

Officers went to the Tahitian Inn in Tampa, where Lohan was reportedly staying. According to the police, Lohan spotted the officers, tried to hide and then ran from them, eventually jumping off a third-floor balcony in an attempt to escape.

Lohan "apparently leaped up from his balcony and grabbed a hold of the roof. He then must have scurried across the roof (about 30 feet) until he thought he was hanging over top of the next balcony," according to a report by Officer J. Ladd, one of two police who initially responded to the call.

The report says Lohan let go but missed the balcony. "He came crashing down on top of wooden high chairs that were laying on the ground."

Lohan was arrested after a short pursuit on foot and was taken to the Hillsborough County Jail. Deputies suspected he may have broken his foot when he jumped off the balcony, so he was then taken to Tampa General Hospital for evaluation.

Authorities said he will be returned to the jail once he's been cleared by doctors.

Lohan was arrested Tuesday on domestic violence charges involving Major, a former reporter for the Star tabloid. Police say he grabbed her arms and pushed her down multiple times during a daylong argument. When Lohan was released from jail Wednesday, he said he "didn't do anything" and the charges were Major's way of making money.

The St. Petersburg Times ( http://bit.ly/txPQkt) reported that Lohan claimed Major set him up to be overheard by police Thursday. "She needs help, she calls me, and I'm a sucker so I call her back. I'm an idiot," Lohan said as he was being put into the back of a police cruiser.

But in the police report, officers noted Major's phone number did not appear among recent calls on Lohan's phone.

According to police, Wednesday's incident began when Lohan sent his friend and trainer David Dominique to Major's apartment to pick up his personal belongings. Lohan initially called her to speak with Dominique. Major told him he was not supposed to call her. After Dominique left, Lohan called back seeking to work things out with Major. She later told police he sounded "very drunk," according to the report.

According to Ladd's report, he and his fellow officer were gathering information and listening to messages left by Lohan on Major's answering machine when Lohan called again from his cell.

"We had the victim put the phone on speaker when she answered. During this conversation (Lohan) kept asking things like "how can we work things out, where you moving to, you know I didn't threaten you, I didn't throw the remote at you I threw it at the floor," Ladd wrote.

The officers eventually whispered to Major to hang up and to tell Lohan not to call again, which she did.

Lohan called again, but Major did not pick up.

In an interview with police, Dominique told police, "there is always drama between these two."

Earlier this year, Lohan appeared on VH1's "Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew."

He is not the first reality show celebrity that Major has dated.

In 2009, Major also dated Jon Gosselin from the TLC reality show "Jon & Kate Plus 8."

According to a People Magazine story from that year, Major and Gosselin even stayed at Lohan's house.

"Jon is a friend, he's a great guy, he needed a place to get away to and my doors were open to him and Kate Major," Lohan told People.com, adding, "Kate's like a daughter to me. When she needed a place my doors were open."

In July, a misdemeanor domestic violence charge against Lohan stemming from a fight with Major was dismissed in Los Angeles after she failed to show up for the trial. Lohan's attorney said Major declined to cooperate to avoid a court spectacle.

Lohan has a history of arrests in New York over allegations of harassment from ex-girlfriends.

One of those incidents occurred with Major in 2010 in exclusive Long Island beach community of Southampton. Major dropped those charges.

Meanwhile, his daughter Lindsay Lohan could also return to jail in California after a judge last week ruled she violated probation involving a community service assignment. A Nov. 2 court date was set to decide whether Lindsay Lohan should be jailed.

The 25-year-old actress was given probation for a 2007 drunken driving case and a misdemeanor theft case this year.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/movies/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111027/ap_en_mo/us_people_lindsay_lohan_s_father

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Frost: Obama fundraising incomparable (Politico)

President Barack Obama may have raged against the Supreme Court?s campaign finance game-changing decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, but he?s no hypocrite for now benefiting from it, former congressman and Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Martin Frost says.

?If you?re a candidate ? I don?t care whether you?re running for president or running for Congress or running for some other office ? you live under the laws that are in place at the time, and so I don?t see any problem with the president benefiting from these outside groups after saying he disagreed with what the Supreme Court did,? Frost said during the final installment of POLITICO?s weeklong video series about money?s influence on politics.

Continue Reading

Defends Obama for benefiting from system he scorned

On the growing cost of running

That doesn?t mean the nation?s campaign finance system, in which outside political organizations may now raise and spend unlimited amounts of money for or against political candidates, isn?t fundamentally broken, noted Frost, who represented the Dallas-Fort Worth area in Congress between 1979 and 2005 and is now a practicing attorney.

Such a situation is ?extreme,? Frost said, particularly since many political groups don?t have to disclose their donors and may spend their cash until Election Day.

?It is the worst possible result,? he said.

How to change it, Frost said, is a constitutional amendment ? something that?s incredibly difficult to achieve.

?The courts have taken the position that money equals speech. This is a free-speech issue, and so you can?t limit what corporations spend, you can?t limit what individuals spend, and so we?re stuck with this very terrible system, quite frankly,? he said. ?We did try and amend the Constitution when I was in Congress, and what you have to do is to provide that constitutional amendment that would give the authority to Congress to enact legislation putting spending limits on all kinds of groups and individuals. Only about three or four of us voted for it. Nobody wanted to be for that.?

As a result of this new campaign finance landscape, are political party committees destined to become marginalized?

?Political parties to a degree have,? Frost said. ?The parties run some of these issue ads attacking the opponent or supporting the candidate, but a lot more money will be spent outside the party structure on both sides. And it?s a direct result of some reformers thinking that they could fix the system and disregarding the fact that the U.S. Supreme Court was on the other side.?

Since Frost?s time in Congress, the act of fundraising itself has certainly changed, he said. Most notably: the amount of time lawmakers spend doing it.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/politics/*http%3A//us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/external/politico_rss/rss_politico_mostpop/http___www_politico_com_news_stories1011_67031_html/43415903/SIG=11m1l1smm/*http%3A//www.politico.com/news/stories/1011/67031.html

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Video: Are Dems Vilifying the Top One Percent?

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Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/45054987#45054987

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Romney waffles on anti-union law in Ohio (AP)

FAIRFAX, Va. ? A day after he refused to endorse an Ohio ballot measure that limits public employee union rights, Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney said Wednesday that he is "110 percent" behind the effort.

While he was in Ohio on Tuesday, Romney seemed to distance himself from anti-union measures that have lost popularity in recent months. Campaigning a day later, the former Massachusetts governor told reporters that he supports a ballot measure known as Issue Two aimed at restricting collective bargaining rights for 350,000 public workers such as teachers, firefighters and police officers.

"I'm sorry if I created any confusion in that regard. I fully support Gov. (John) Kasich's ? I think it's called Question Two in Ohio. Fully support that," Romney said, referring to the Issue Two ballot initiative, after visiting a local GOP office in the Washington suburbs. "Actually, on my website, I think back as early as April, I laid out that I support Question Two and Gov. Kasich's effort to restrict collective bargaining in Ohio."

In June, Romney praised Kasich's efforts to "limit the power of union bosses and keep taxes low."

"I stand with John R. Kasich and Ohio's leaders as they take on this important fight to get control of government spending," Romney wrote on his Facebook account then.

Romney waffled this week though; his rivals criticized him for not supporting the measure, which has seen its popularity falter.

"As a true conservative, I stand with Gov. Kasich in promoting S.B.5 for fiscal responsibility and job creation in Ohio," Texas Gov. Rick Perry said in a statement. "Gov. Kasich and the Republican leadership of Ohio are to be commended for their efforts." Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman told ABC News that Romney failed to show leadership.

"This is a time when if you are going to be president of the United States, you show a little presidential leadership. That's by taking a position and leading out ? sometimes there is a risk associated with taking a position, but that's all part of leadership," he said.

On Wednesday, Romney tried to answer the criticism.

"I know there are other ballot questions in Ohio. I wasn't taking a position on those," Romney said after meeting with volunteers. "I am 110 percent behind Gov. Kasich and in support of that question."

Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern called it "an epic re-reversal."

"Such lack of character is a slap in the face to Ohioans and says everything you need to know about the serial flip-flopper Mitt Romney," Redfern said.

A Quinnipiac University poll this week showed the anti-union law is unpopular with voters; 57 percent oppose it in that poll.

Romney's arm's-length stance seemed to reflect that on Tuesday.

"I am not speaking about the particular ballot issues," Romney said during an appearance near Cincinnati. "Those are up to the people of Ohio. But I certainly support the efforts of the governor to rein in the scale of government. I am not terribly familiar with the two ballot initiatives. But I am certainly supportive of the Republican Party's efforts here."

And on Wednesday, he still sidestepped questions about a separate ballot measure that would exempt Ohioans from President Barack Obama requirement that individuals have health insurance.

"I've said that should be up to individual states. I, of course, took my state in one direction. They may want to go in a different direction," Romney said. "I don't want to tell them what I think they ought to do in that regard."

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/politics/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111026/ap_on_el_ge/us_romney_unions

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[OOC] Arcane Steel

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Sleeping sickness drug may provide long-term protection against nonmelanoma skin cancers

ScienceDaily (Oct. 24, 2011) ? An antiparasitic agent used to treat African sleeping sickness might someday be used to prevent nonmelanoma skin cancers. Researchers found that DFMO, or ?-difluoromethylornithine, still appeared to protect against nonmelanoma skin cancers years after people stopped taking the drug, according to a poster presented at the 10th AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research, held Oct. 22-25, 2011.

In this follow-up study, researchers evaluated prolonged evidence of a protective effect of DFMO among 209 people who had participated in an earlier study. The researchers also wanted to ensure there were no obvious deleterious effects associated with the drug, according to Howard H. Bailey, M.D., professor of medicine, and study presenter Sarah Lamont, a medical student, both from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.

The original study was a phase III, randomized, double-blind, prospective study of 291 men and women with a history of nonmelanoma skin cancer. They were assigned to either DFMO or a placebo for four to five years. At the end of the study period, researchers found a reduced skin cancer incidence among those assigned to DFMO.

"We showed a significant protective effect against basal cell carcinoma, but not a significant amount of protection against squamous cell carcinoma of the skin," Bailey said.

The main side effect was a slight ototoxicity that was found on testing, but this was not associated with a noticeable reduction in hearing by the subjects.

In the current retrospective study, researchers reviewed the electronic medical records of 209 of the original participants to establish cancer rates and to see if any other illnesses they might have developed could be attributed to DFMO.

"We found there is still evidence that the men and women assigned to DFMO for five years continued to have a lower incidence of nonmelanoma skin cancers compared with people assigned to placebo," Bailey said. "What we saw was that the presumed benefit that people got in taking DFMO appeared to persist for years after stopping it."

Study limitations include that participants may have been followed differently or changed their behaviors to limit sun exposure because of being in the original study, Bailey said.

"Our data suggest that the protective event that we saw in our prospective study appears to continue and there was no evidence of any rebound effect," he said. "We did not find any evidence that the people who received DFMO were harmed [other than the original ototoxicity]."

However, Bailey cautioned, more studies are needed before DFMO can be recommended as a prophylaxis against nonmelanoma skin cancers.

He added that such prophylaxis measures are needed because public health efforts to teach people about limiting sun exposure have not resulted in fewer cases of skin cancer, with more than 2 million cases of nonmelanoma skin cancer diagnosed each year. "The incidence continues to rise despite public health efforts to get people to lessen their sun exposure," Bailey said.

The study was sponsored by the University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center and the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.

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Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111024084710.htm

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Nurse: Jackson said only propofol let him sleep

LOS ANGELES?? A sometimes tearful nurse testified Tuesday that her efforts to save Michael Jackson from the drug he craved for sleep were rebuffed by the star who insisted he needed the powerful anesthetic that eventually killed him.

Cherilyn Lee, a nurse practitioner who tried to shift Jackson to holistic sleep aids in the months before he died, said the singer told her Dipravan, a brand name for propofol, was the only thing that would knock him out and induce the sleep he needed.

He told Lee he had experienced the drug once during surgery.

Lee almost didn't testify. She sat down in the witness box then said she felt dizzy before starting to cry.

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"This is just very sensitive for me," she explained.

Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor had her taken to another room to rest, and she returned 20 minute later saying she felt better. She became tearful again while testifying that she had warned Jackson not to take the drug.

The day was also marked by poignant testimony from the head of AEG, the concert giant that planned Jackson's ill-fated "This Is It" shows in London.

Randy Phillips, the company president and chief executive officer who first proposed the concert to Jackson, said the star was excited and committed to restarting his career in London, where he could settle down with his children on a country estate "so they wouldn't be living as vagabonds."

"It was emotional," said Phillips. "I cried."

"Did he cry?" asked defense attorney Ed Chernoff.

"Yes," Phillips said softly.

Slideshow: The face of change (on this page)

Lee told of coming into Jackson's life at the beginning of 2009 and leaving just before Dr. Conrad Murray arrived. Murray has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter and is accused of giving Jackson a fatal dose of the drug Lee would not give him.

Lee recalled a meeting with the superstar at his rented mansion two months before his death.

"He was sitting very close to me," she said. "He looked at me and said, 'I have a lot of difficulty sleeping. I've tried a lot of things and I need something that will make me fall asleep right away. I need Dipravan."

Lee had never heard of the drug but did research and later told Jackson it was too dangerous to use in a home.

At one point she asked: "What if you didn't wake up?"

Jackson, however, was unswayed and adamant the drug would be safe if he had a doctor who could monitor him while he slept.

Prosecutors claim Murray abandoned Jackson after administering the fatal dose of propofol and failed to have proper life-saving and monitoring equipment on hand.

Lee was called to the stand by Murray's defense, but the impact of her testimony was mixed.

While she supported a defense theory that Jackson was doctor shopping in a desperate search for someone to give him propofol, a prosecutor seized on her warning to show Murray should have known the dangers too and refused the request by Jackson.

Under cross-examination by prosecutor David Walgren, Lee acknowledged a conversation with Jackson in which she told him: "No one who cared or had your best interest at heart would give you this."

She said her final refusal to provide the drug came on April 19, 2009, and she never saw Jackson again.

Another medical witness, Dr. Allan Metzger, testified Monday that Jackson also implored him to provide the anesthetic. Metzger also refused and instead gave the singer sleeping pills that had proven effective in the past.

Metzger saw Jackson just one day before Lee refused the request for drugs by the singer.

Attorneys for Murray, a Houston-based cardiologist, are trying to show that Jackson was a strong-willed celebrity who became the architect of his own demise when he insisted on getting the intravenous drug. They also alleged he gave himself the fatal dose after Murray left his bedroom.

Lee said she had treated Jackson for nutrition and energy issues as he prepared for his planned series of "This Is It" comeback concerts.

Lee was followed to the witness stand by Phillips, who said Jackson saw the series of appearances at the 02 Arena in London as a new beginning.

He said Jackson agreed to the plan with a few caveats: He wanted his own doctor to travel with him and a lavish country home for him and his children, complete with streams and horses.

Video: Surveillance video surfaces in Murray trial (on this page)

However, in June, 2009, only weeks before they were to leave for London, Phillips said "This Is It" director Kenny Ortega became concerned about Jackson's absence from some rehearsals and there was a meeting of Jackson, Murray and the organizers. He said Murray spoke for Jackson at the meeting and said he was in good health and would be fine for the concert tour.

Phillips also said Jackson refused to be dissuaded from bringing his own doctor to London despite the expense, and Phillips agreed to hire Murray.

Judge Pastor blocked Murray's attorneys from asking Phillips about Jackson's contract.

Defense attorneys had wanted to introduce Jackson's contract to show he would have owed $40 million to the promoter if the concerts were canceled. The lawyers said Jackson would be desperate to make sure the shows continued and needed sleep to get through his rehearsals.

Pastor said there was no evidence Jackson was concerned about the money and allowing testimony about the contract might confuse jurors.

"This is not a contractual dispute. This is a homicide case," Pastor said.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/45032681/ns/today-entertainment/

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Investors seen undeterred by U.S. withdrawal from Iraq (Reuters)

BAGHDAD (Reuters) ? Foreign investors eager to snap up development projects in key oil producer Iraq are unlikely to balk after the United States withdraws all its troops at the end of the year as long as security does not deteriorate.

U.S. President Barack Obama said on Friday all U.S. forces would leave Iraq at the end of 2011 as scheduled, almost nine years after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion that toppled dictator Saddam Hussein.

Iraq is trying to rebuild after decades of war and economic sanctions and needs investment in every sector. The OPEC member country has signed a series of deals with international firms to develop its oil fields, the fourth-biggest in the world.

Foreign investors like oil majors Royal Dutch Shell (RDSa.L) and BP (BP.L) and bank HSBC (HSBA.L) are already pouring billions of dollars into Iraq and a U.S. pullout will likely not thwart foreign firms for an extended period, especially those with long-standing interests in the country.

"Any impact on investment will be short-term and quite muted, assuming the security situation doesn't deteriorate drastically," said Economist Intelligence Unit's Ali al-Saffar.

"This is primarily because Iraq has only really managed to attract (beyond the oil sector), frontier investors who have some level of appetite for risk so far. These more adventurous investors know the risks associated with doing business in the country, and have become quite adept at dealing with them."

Iraqi security forces continue to battle a stubborn Sunni insurgency and Shi'ite militias, and bombings and killings still occur on a daily basis despite a sharp drop in violence from the height of sectarian fighting in 2006-07.

For investors on the ground, primary concerns center around kidnapping threats and attacks on development sites. Oil pipelines are targeted by insurgents in the north and south.

Some production at the southern Rumaila oilfield was stopped this month when two bombs hit pipelines.

Most foreign companies with a footprint in Iraq hire personal security guards for their protection and analysts say it is unlikely the departure of U.S. troops by year-end will raise extensive concern.

"For quite some time, investors have been operating in Iraq without very much in the way of assistance from the U.S. military so they may not notice a big difference following the withdrawal," said AKE Group senior risk consultant John Drake.

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Iraq's government aims to attract $86 billion in investment by 2014 under a five-year economic development plan. Rehabilitation of the oil, housing, agriculture and power sectors are seen as most pressing.

The head of Iraq's National Investment Commission, Sami al-Araji, said in July the country had secured around $6 billion in investment for licensed projects so far this year.

Examples of deals include a $472 million contract with Italy's Saipem (SPMI.MI) for an oil export facility expansion and sub-sea pipeline and a 100,000-unit housing project with South Korea's Hanwha Engineering & Construction.

Foreign investors have also been net buyers on the Iraq Stock Exchange (ISX) so far this year, buying 66 billion shares to end-September with a volume of $110 million, according to ISX chief executive Taha Abdulsalam.

"The complete pullout will probably slow down flows to ISX in the short-term, but overall this news is priced into the market by serious investors," said Carl Wahlquist Ortiz, investment manager at City of London Investment Management in Dubai.

"Typically, if you're looking at Iraq, you're looking for something a bit more risky, generally speaking."

Iraq's stock market is still relatively small compared to international exchanges and its regional counterparts, but volume on the local bourse is expected to rise as more companies, particularly the local mobile phone firms, list.

"It (the withdrawal) has to bring more confidence in the political and economic management of Iraq and confidence in the capability of enforcing security," said Amar Essa al-Jawahiri, an independent industrial and investment consultant in Baghdad.

Iraq's northern Kurdish region is a prime example of a part of Iraq where foreign investment and construction is booming.

The area has been a place of relative calm since becoming a semi-autonomous zone under Western protection in 1991 and is widely regarded as a safe haven.

(Editing by Jim Loney and Mike Nesbit)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/business/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111023/bs_nm/us_iraq_investors

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Thailand says capital flood threat may ease soon (AP)

BANGKOK ? The threat that floodwaters will inundate Thailand's capital could ease by early November as record-high levels in the river carrying torrents of water downstream from the country's north begin to decline, authorities said Sunday.

Bangkok's immediate prospects remain uncertain, however, as the front lines in battling the flood draw tighter around the city daily.

The relatively rosy longer term projection from the Flood Relief Operations Center came just a day after reports that Bangkok's main Chao Phraya river was overflowing its banks and at its highest levels in seven years.

People should not be too concerned because the spillover could be drained, said the center's chief, Justice Minister Pracha Promnok, in a televised news conference. He also said water in an overflowing main canal in Bangkok was receding, and drainage efforts east and west of the city were working well.

The situation was dire in many respects in the capital's northern outskirts and Thailand's central provinces, which suffered the worst of the flooding after heavy monsoon rains since July. However, some badly hit provinces in the central rice-growing area are starting to recover, with water receding.

Off a highway heading north of the city, Associated Press reporters found people scrambling for safety in flooded streets.

The Thai military used boats to help rescue stranded residents near a domestic airport in northern outer Bangkok that has been the flood-operations headquarters and a shelter for evacuees.

Mothers walked in hip-high water with children strapped to their backs, while other people waded through the murky water holding belongings in plastic bags atop their heads.

There are concerns the Don Muang airport itself may be vulnerable, and the European Union canceled an aid-handover ceremony scheduled there Monday due to "unforeseen circumstances."

In Nonthaburi province, just north of Bangkok, a 7-foot (2-meter) crocodile was captured while resting on dry land outside a restaurant, presumably after pulling itself out of the surrounding floodwaters. Thai television showed the beast, which had reportedly escaped from a farm, with its snout taped shut and its scaly body covering most of a boat that was carrying it away.

An Associated Press photographer saw two crocodiles that had been killed in Nonthaburi, and unconfirmed recent reports have claimed up to 100 crocodiles may have escaped from farms in the region.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has said the waters may take up to six weeks to recede to manageable proportions around Bangkok. The government has cautioned that rumors have been quick to circulate and people should check all information, advice that follows strong criticism of the government for missteps and confusion since the crisis began.

Residents of Bangkok and its suburbs have settled into a routine of waiting and worrying.

Many are hoarding supplies, and supermarket shelves have emptied faster than they can be restocked. Bottled water, batteries and canned food were among the first items to go.

At a supermarket in central Bangkok's business district ? which is not under immediate threat ? sandbags lined both entrances Sunday, forcing shoppers to step over to go inside. Many of the shelves were bare, with the handful of shoppers inside grabbing the few snacks that were left. Cat food and toilet paper were gone.

While larger stores in Bangkok have kept their prices fixed, smaller merchants were raising theirs in the flooded zones north of the city. A Rangsit resident, Taweetit Hongsang, complained that the price of a papaya, 10 baht (33 cents) a week ago, had shot up to 30 baht ($1).

The desperate battle to route the water away from the city has led to several conflicts in which people have used force to try to protect their own neighborhoods by removing flood barriers.

Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra said Sunday one crew of city workers was unable to carry out reinforcement of one barrier because of "a group of people opposing the mission and harassing" them. He said it was necessary to withdraw them "since they are not trained to deal with unruly and armed outsiders."

In evident response, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said she had delegated high-ranking police officers to protect workers carrying out anti-flood duties.

The flooding that began in August has killed 356 people in Thailand and the $6 billion cost estimate could double if Bangkok is badly hit.

The flooding is the worst to hit Thailand since 1942 and is proving a major test for Yingluck's nascent government, which took power in July after heated elections and has come under fire for not acting quickly or decisively enough to prevent major towns north of the capital from being ravaged by floodwaters.

A Sunday night report on state television in Myanmar, Thailand's western neighbor, said heavy rains and flash floods killed 106 as several villages were inundated in the country's northwest last week.

Cambodia, Thailand's eastern neighbor, has also suffered from flooding, with more than 240 people killed.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111023/ap_on_re_as/as_thailand_floods

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Cupcake Ipsum: A Text Generator with a Sweet Tooth [Lorem Ipsum]

While I'm still not convinced anything will surpass the majesty of Bacon Ipsum, or match the blunt hilarity of Samuel L. Jackson Ipsum, there's something just so deliciously sweet about Cupcake Ipsum. It's also the only text generator I know of where you can sprinkle in a little dash of love. More »

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Video: Firefighters resuscitate dog injured in fire

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Just Show Me: How to create a zip file in Windows 7 (Yahoo! News)

Welcome to?Just Show Me on Tecca TV, where we show you tips and tricks for getting the most out of the?gadgets in your life. In today's episode we'll show you how to zip up a file in Windows 7.

When you zip a file, you compress it and make it smaller. While the majority of hard drives are big enough these days that file size really doesn't matter for most people, when you have to send a file as en email attachment, the smaller the file size the better. After a file is zipped, it can be easily unzipped on any Windows or Mac computer.

For more episodes of Just Show Me, subscribe to Tecca TV's You Tube channel and check out all our Just Show Me episodes. If you have any topics you'd like to see us cover, just drop us a line in the comments.

This article originally appeared on Tecca

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Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/techblog/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_technews/20111021/tc_yblog_technews/just-show-me-how-to-create-a-zip-file-in-windows-7

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GE profit up 18 percent, driven by foreign growth (Reuters)

(Reuters) ? General Electric Co reported an 18 percent profit rise that met Wall Street's expectations, helped by strong revenue growth in key foreign markets including Brazil, Russia and China.

The largest U.S. conglomerate said on Friday it expects earnings to rise at a double-digit percentage rate next year, following peer United Technologies Corp in trying to assuage investors' fears about Europe's brewing debt crisis.

"We continue to successfully navigate a volatile global economy," Chief Executive Jeff Immelt said in a statement.

Investors took heart in the company's 16 percent growth in industrial equipment orders -- an important indicator of future revenue, and in the 25 percent rise in international sales. GE has been counting on strong demand in rapidly developing economies to offset weak U.S. and European demand.

"The revenue number was strong and the organic growth rate in industrial was strong," said Jack De Gan, chief investment officer at Harbor Advisory Corp in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. "Those are telling and they give us a little bit of a look into next quarter and beyond."

But GE shares declined 1.4 percent to $16.40 in premarket trading as some raised concerns that its profit margins were weaker than expected in the quarter, with a low tax rate helping the company to meet expectations.

"Margins missed our forecast and were down year on year in the four big industrial businesses," said Jeffrey Sprague, managing partner at Vertical Research Partners. "There is little or no operating leverage in GE's portfolio due to low priced equipment in backlog and R&D headwinds."

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For a graphic on the manufacturing sector: http://r.reuters.com/bed54s

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The report comes amid a wave of generally strong earnings reports from big U.S. manufacturers. Also on Friday, Honeywell International Inc reported a 45 percent profit rise. Fellow blue chips Caterpillar Inc and 3M Co will report next week.

Still, investors remain concerned whether Europe's crisis could drag down global demand by shaking the financial system.

"Possible concerns going forward are going to be related to Europe and what impact that may have, not just there but on global growth in general," said Perry Adams, vice president and senior portfolio manager at Huntington Private Financial Group in Traverse City, Michigan. "There's elevated uncertainty."

BUYS BACK BUFFETT STAKE

The world's biggest maker of jet engines and electric turbines reported third-quarter earnings attributable to common shareholders of $2.34 billion, or 22 cents per share, compared with $1.98 billion, or 18 cents per share, a year earlier.

The results included an 8-cent-per-share charge to buy back the preferred shares the company had sold to Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc during the financial crisis.

Buying back the Buffett stake, which carried a preferred dividend, will boost GE's annual earnings by 3 cents per share in the coming years.

Factoring out one-time items, profit came to 31 cents per share, meeting analysts' average forecast, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

Revenue was little changed at $35.37 billion, above the $34.94 analysts had forecast.

GE's weak point on profit remained its big energy infrastructure division, where earnings slipped 9 percent despite a 30 percent rise in revenue, reflecting pricing pressure on wind turbines. The company has said that business will resume profit growth next year.

"That's bottoming out. It will start to turn up probably in the next quarter but definitely in 2012," said Harbor's De Gan. "It's a margin issue. Margins have contracted because wind is just so terrible."

Before today, GE shares had fallen about 9 percent so far this year, while the Dow Jones industrial average has declined less than 1 percent.

(Reporting by Scott Malone in Boston, additional reporting by Nick Zieminski, Edward Krudy and Ryan Vlastelica in New York, editing by Maureen Bavdek and Derek Caney)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/business/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111021/bs_nm/us_ge

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