Galaxy S 4 launches tomorrow in South Korea, despite Samsung admitting supply issues

?

Smitten with Samsung's Galaxy S 4? Well, if you're looking to pick on up right now, you'd best book a red-eye flight to South Korea, where it'll go on sale in the next 24 hours. The 5-inch 1080p flagship will arrive on all three of the country's main carriers, with an unspecified global roll-out following on Friday. Meanwhile, the company has also commented on "supply chain problems" affecting its roll-out of the S 4. In a statement to Sky News, Samsung said that initial supplies of the handset may be limited "due to overwhelming global demand" and its limited stock of memory components. The pinch is already being felt in the US, as both Sprint and T-Mobile reassess their launch dates in-store.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Samsung

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Source: Samsung Tomorrow, Sky News

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/iAHlXAsV8g8/

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405 project stuck in the slow lane

Elon Musk quips that it's easier getting rockets into orbit than navigating his commute between home in Bel-Air and his Space Exploration Technologies factory in Hawthorne.

"The 405 ? varies from bad to horrendous," said Musk, who also co-founded PayPal and Tesla Motors. "It just seems people in Los Angeles are being tortured by this. ? I don't know why they aren't marching in the streets."

The massive project to widen the 405 Freeway is not only causing traffic nightmares for motorists like Musk but has also been plagued by cost overruns and delays.

Transportation officials say the project is now slated to take at least a year longer than first anticipated and cost about $100 million more than the originally budgeted $1 billion.

The companies handling the work won kudos when they were able to reopen the freeway ahead of schedule during the so-called Carmageddon events in 2011 and 2012. But that masked a larger problem for the main contractor, Kiewit, and the subcontractors.

Officials now aim to complete the bulk of the project by June 2014, with work on the problematic middle segment between Montana Avenue and Sunset Boulevard lasting perhaps until next fall, according to Michael Barbour, the veteran engineer overseeing the project for the L.A. County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Kiewit has said "it could go as far as September," Barbour said, "but we think we're ahead of that."

The delays and cost overruns are raising the ire of both residents and local officials, who say the project is causing major disruptions throughout the already traffic-clogged Westside.

"This project has been horribly managed," said Zev Yaroslavsky, Los Angeles County supervisor and board member of Metro, which is running the project. "The performance of contractors has left a lot to be desired. ? They've shown a complete lack of sensitivity and empathy for the community in which they're doing the work."

Asked why he and other elected officials have not publicly prodded the contractor to enlist more workers and equipment to speed the project, Yaroslavsky said: "Where's the money going to come from? This project is over budget by a considerable amount, and Metro hasn't figured out how it's going to cover the cost overruns, let alone incur additional costs."

Several factors have driven the delays, including the structural failure of miles of new sound walls that had to be demolished and rebuilt, a legal wrangle over the placement of ramps near the Getty Center and the complex logistics of finding and relocating more than a dozen utility lines under Sepulveda Boulevard.

All the while, Kiewit was instructed to keep traffic moving on one of the nation's busiest highways.

Kiewit released a statement Wednesday defending its work.

"The costs and schedule impacts are the result of the project's overall complexity and the significant challenges associated with multiple unexpected utility and right-of-way issues," the firm said. "Kiewit and Metro are committed to working together to minimize future delays and resolve final costs. We ... are committed to delivering the highest-quality product on the I-405 project."

Metro said some of the problems, such as the utility lines and legal issues over where ramps should be placed, were out of the contractor's control.

The 405, which carries about 300,000 vehicles a day, is a vital north-south artery known for epic jam-ups under the best of circumstances.

In a bid to ease that notorious congestion, Metro and the California Department of Transportation four years ago began preliminary work on the final 10-mile leg of a carpool lane through the Sepulveda Pass. In addition to completing the northbound HOV link between Orange County and the San Fernando Valley, the project called for building new on- and off-ramps, demolishing and rebuilding three bridges and adding miles of retaining and sound walls.

At the time, officials forecast completion by spring 2013 ? right about now. The timeline was later nudged to December 2013.

But after last fall's Carmageddon II shutdown and countless other smaller and seemingly unpredictable closures, earthmovers, backhoes, K-rails and neon-vested workers are still much in evidence. Residents and businesses have met the further delays with moans, groans and a measure of resignation.

Nancy Z. Freedman, chairwoman of the Brentwood Community Council, read three chapters of "The Hare With Amber Eyes" while crawling two-thirds of a mile along viscous Sunset Boulevard from Kenter Avenue to Barrington Avenue. "The traffic did not move," she said.

Sol Kahen, owner of Western Electric Supply near the Santa Monica Boulevard entrance to the 405, said road blocks and surly work crews have damaged his business. He has repeatedly called 405 project representatives to complain. "They don't care," he said. "Sometimes they let my customers go through the cones. Sometimes they were really mean."

Source: http://feeds.latimes.com/~r/latimes/news/science/~3/Ntjuzv7EAaY/la-me-405-problems-20130425,0,4321838.story

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Anti-smoking ads with strong arguments, not flashy editing, trigger part of brain involving behavior change

Anti-smoking ads with strong arguments, not flashy editing, trigger part of brain involving behavior change

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania have shown that an area of the brain that initiates behavioral changes had greater activation in smokers who watched anti-smoking ads with strong arguments versus those with weaker ones, and irrespective of flashy elements, like bright and rapidly changing scenes, loud sounds and unexpected scenario twists. Those smokers also had significantly less nicotine metabolites in their urine when tested a month after viewing those ads, the team reports in a new study published online April 23 in the Journal of Neuroscience.

This is the first time research has shown an association between cognition and brain activity in response to content and format in televised ads and behavior.

In a study of 71 non-treatment-seeking smokers recruited from the Philadelphia area, the team, led by Daniel D. Langleben, M.D., a psychiatrist in the Center for Studies of Addiction at Penn Medicine, identified key brain regions engaged in the processing of persuasive communications using fMRI, or functional magnetic resonance imaging. They found that a part of the brain involved in future behavioral changes?known as the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dMPFC)?had greater activation when smokers watched an anti-smoking ad with a strong argument versus a weak one.

One month after subjects watched the ads, the researchers sampled smokers' urine cotinine levels (metabolite of nicotine) and found that those who watched the strong ads had significantly less cotinine in their urine compared to their baseline versus those who watched weaker ads.

Even ads riddled with attention-grabbing tactics, the research suggests, are not effective at reducing tobacco intake unless their arguments are strong. However, ads with flashy editing and strong arguments, for example, produced better recognition.

"We investigated the two major dimensions of any piece of media, content and format, which are both important here," said Dr. Langleben, who is also an associate professor in the department of Psychiatry. "If you give someone an unconvincing ad, it doesn't matter what format you do on top of that. You can make it sensational. But in terms of effectiveness, content is more important. You're better off adding in more sophisticated editing and other special effects only if it is persuasive."

The paper may enable improved methods of design and evaluation of public health advertising, according to the authors, including first author An-Li Wang, PhD, of the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania. And it could ultimately influence how producers shape the way ads are constructed, and how ad production budgets are allocated, considering special effects are expensive endeavors versus hiring screenwriters.

A 2009 study by Dr. Langleben and colleagues that looked solely at format found people were more likely to remember low-key, anti-smoking messages versus attention-grabbing messages. This was the first research to show that low-key versus attention-grabbing ads stimulated different patterns of activity, particularly in the frontal cortex and temporal cortex. But it did not address content strength or behavioral changes.

This new study is the first longitudinal investigation of the cognitive, behavioral, and neurophysical response to the content and format of televised anti-smoking ads, according to the authors.

"This sets the stage for science-based evaluation and design of persuasive public health advertising," said Dr. Langleben. "An ad is only as strong as its central argument, which matters more than its audiovisual presentation. Future work should consider supplementing focus groups with more technology-heavy assessments, such as brain responses to these ads, in advance of even putting the ad together in its entirety."

###

University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine: http://www.uphs.upenn.edu/news/

Thanks to University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine for this article.

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

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Source: http://www.labspaces.net/127881/Anti_smoking_ads_with_strong_arguments__not_flashy_editing__trigger_part_of_brain_involving_behavior_change

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Drugs found on Bieber tour bus in Sweden

Canadian singer Justin Bieber performs on stage during the "I Believe Tour " in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, March 31, 2013. (AP Photo/Gero Breloer)

Canadian singer Justin Bieber performs on stage during the "I Believe Tour " in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, March 31, 2013. (AP Photo/Gero Breloer)

Canadian singer Justin Bieber performs on stage during the "I Believe Tour " in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, March 31, 2013. (AP Photo/Gero Breloer)

Canadian singer Justin Bieber performs on stage during the "I Believe Tour " in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, March 31, 2013. (AP Photo/Gero Breloer)

FILE - This Tuesday April 23, 2013, photo from files shows singer Justin Bieber boarding his tour bus outside Grand Hotel where Bieber was staying during his concerts in Stockholm, Sweden. Swedish police said on Thursday they found drugs on Bieber's tour bus in Stockholm, but had no suspects and were unlikely to pursue the case further. (AP Photo/Scanpix Sweden, Leo Sellen, File) SWEDEN OUT

FILE - This Tuesday April 23, 2013, photo from files shows young girls running towards pop singer Justin Bieber's tour bus as it parks outside Grand Hotel where Bieber were staying during his concerts in Stockholm, Sweden. Swedish police said on Thursday they found drugs on Bieber's tour bus in Stockholm, but had no suspects and were unlikely to pursue the case further. (AP Photo/Scanpix Sweden, Leo Sellen, File) SWEDEN OUT

STOCKHOLM (AP) ? The list of troubles linked to Justin Bieber's tour of Europe grew again after Swedish police said Thursday they had found drugs and a stun gun on the pop singer's bus.

No arrests were made since the bus was empty at the time, Stockholm police spokesman Lars Bystrom told The Associated Press.

Police said they decided to act after smelling marijuana coming from inside the bus while it was parked outside the hotel where Bieber was staying in the capital. Drug officers searched the bus during the concert while Bieber was on stage, Bystrom said.

He said a small amount of drugs and a stun gun were discovered during a search of the bus, which had been parked under the Globen concert venue in Stockholm, where Bieber was performing Wednesday. Bystrom declined to identify the drug, saying that it was sent to a lab for analysis.

Bieber, who arrived in Helsinki, Finland, later Thursday to perform in a concert the following evening, tweeted after his arrival: "some of the rumors about me....where do people even get this stuff. whatever...back to the music."

The incident is the latest in Bieber's tumultuous European tour, which has included a monkey detention, a Holocaust museum furor and a health scare.

In Britain, the 19-year-old singer struggled with his breathing and fainted backstage at a London show. He was taken to a hospital, only to be caught on camera clashing with paparazzi.

The Canadian teenage idol had to leave his monkey in quarantine in Germany since he didn't have the necessary papers for the animal.

Bieber then became the focus of intense criticism in the Netherlands for writing an entry into a guestbook at the Anne Frank House museum in Amsterdam, saying he hoped the Jewish teenager, who died in a Nazi concentration camp, "would have been a Belieber" ? or fan of his ? if her fate had turned out differently.

The comment provoked a flood of comments on the museum's Facebook page, with many people criticizing the singer for gross insensitivity.

Anne Frank hid with her family in a small apartment above a warehouse during the Nazi occupation of World War II. Her family was caught and deported, and Anne died of typhus in Bergen-Belsen in 1945. She was 13 years old when she began keeping her diary in 1942. Like many teenage girls, she made a collage of the celebrities of her day ? movie stars, dancers, and royalty ? and kept it on her bedroom wall.

In Norway, where Bieber enjoys enormous popularity, education officials in a remote district rescheduled midterm exams for high school students so that the singer's fans could attend the concert in the capital and not have to worry about missing the tests.

___

Jan M. Olsen in Copenhagen, Denmark, contributed to this story.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/4e67281c3f754d0696fbfdee0f3f1469/Article_2013-04-25-Sweden-Bieber-Drugs/id-7857afdc46ce4875967a52eee4b8a59e

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Louis Davidson : Why We Write #4 - An Interview With Doug Lane

My next guest is Doug Lane, who has been blogging for the past few years on his website: http://www.douglane.net/. Doug is also a speaker who has spoken at SQL Saturdays as well as the SQL PASS Summit, and as I write these interview questions was on his way to speak at the SQL PASS Business Analytics conference in 2013. I also liked quite a few of the pictures in his photostream here (http://www.flickr.com/photos/58251371@N06/), particularly because I tried the bean bag juggling, though I cannot find the picture anymore.

I have never met Doug personally (so as such have never mistaken him for anyone else), and am only acquainted with him through Thomas LaRock's Rockstar Blogger list, so I am looking forward to finding out more about him from the questions in my interview.

He also once won a SQL Cruise from Idera with this YouTube video:

------------------------------------------

1. There was a point in time when you didn't have a blog, didn't tweet, and probably had no public presence whatsoever. And then, one day, you made the decision to put yourself out there. What prompted you to write that first blog entry that got you started?

I had a personal blog about 6-7 years ago but I struggled with it. I did two posts: one about music I listen to while running, and one about a camping trip I took. It was horrible and nobody read it. I'm hoping the internet found a way to bury it alongside my MySpace page.

Then, in late 2010, two things really pushed me to get back into blogging: Brent Ozar's blog and Steve Jones' presentation, "The Modern Resume". Steve convinced me that having a blog was important, and Brent convinced me I was capable of doing it. I'm immensely grateful for their influence. There's no way I'd be writing today without it.

2. We all have influencers that affect our trajectory as a writer. It may be a teacher who told you that you had great potential, or another writer who impressed you that you wanted to be like? Or perhaps on the other end of the spectrum it was a teacher who told you that you were too stupid to write well enough to spell your own name, much less have people one day impressed with your writing? Who were your influences that stand out as essential parts of your journey to the level of writer you have become?

I've heard stories from friends about how they had teachers that told them they weren't cut out for writing, science, athletics, music, and so on. It makes me enormously grateful to have never had a teacher like that. I had some uninspiring teachers, sure, but never one that told me I was destined to fail at something. In fact, several of my English teachers encouraged me to write. There's one in particular I'll never forget. Diana Daniels was my 7th and 8th grade English teacher. For one assignment, she gave me a note that said this:

I still have it. I've gradually thinned out the stuff I kept from school but that one always makes the cut. I still feel good when I read it, even though it's from 25 years ago. Sincere encouragement lasts a lifetime.

I would have LOVED writing for Saturday Night Live, Mystery Science Theater 3000, or Archer. I even chose my college, The University of Iowa, based on the fact they offered screenwriting classes and had a heralded creative writing program. While a writing career for film or television didn't come to be, I'm a firm believer in things happening in the right time and place. I can still write blog posts, presentations, and the occasional ultra-low budget screenplay with a sense of humor.

3. As the years pass, how has your writing changed? Do you feel like it is becoming a more natural process? Or perhaps you get more critical of your own writing to the point that it takes you longer?

Like all writers do, I think I'm getting better with practice. I'm getting better with tempo and efficiency. I'm also getting better at expressing my personality through writing without it resembling a train of thought. I'm a little faster now than when I first started. I don't struggle as much with how I'm going to say something.

On the other hand, I take more time now to make sure what I'm writing is technically correct. I feel like I need to be more accurate and informed on my subjects. When I first started, I thought, "If I miss this detail or that, it's okay." Now I try to make sure the minor details all check out too. As we all know, there's NOTHING worse than being wrong on the internet.

4. Assume a time machine has been created, and you are allowed to go back in time to speak to a group of potential writers, in which you and I are in attendance. What would you tell "past us", and do you think that your advice would change where you and I are in our careers now? Like would you tell yourself that one day you would be sitting here for a rather long period of time answering interview questions and not getting paid for it, instead of doing something else?

First, I'd make sure they were all in a room on the ground floor. Then I'd tell them that in 2013, all of the following will be vastly more famous than even the most popular blogger: a monotesticluar man who cheated like crazy in French bike races, a show about unclaimed storage units, an unfinished calendar from an ancient civilization, skinny jeans for men, and a singular picture of a cat who looks unhappy. Many writers will throw themselves out the windows in shock and despair.

Once the glass shard-encrusted writers have been pulled from the shrubs outside the window (we're on the ground floor for a reason), I'd tell them the good news. I'd show them fivethirtyeight.com, lifehacker.com, deadspin.com, and of course some SQL Server-related blogs. I'd tell them there are huge audiences for the things you're interested in. Combine that with the means to self-publish and promote, and no one can prevent you from being a success.

I'd also share the two thoughts really paralyzed me when I was first starting my blog:

Paralyzing Thought #1: "Someone already wrote about this topic."

Louise Hay put it brilliantly. Addressing a crowd at a convention, she said this: "You'll have all these speakers. We're all going to say the same thing, really. But we're going to do it in slightly different ways. And everybody wants to hear things differently. Just because I say something, some of you will get it, some of you will say 'What is that woman talking about?' But another teacher -- or three or six or twelve -- can say the same thing that I'm saying in different words. And you'll go, 'Oh, that's brilliant! Never heard that before.'"

Whatever you're going to write about, someone's almost certainly already covered it. But they haven't written about it your way. People may not understand an idea until they hear you explain it in your words.

Paralyzing Thought #2: "Nobody's reading this."

That's true in the beginning. Unless you're already well known, very few people will be anticipating your first blog post because you have yet to demonstrate quality and consistency. Your blog is like a retail store. If what you have inside is interesting or useful to people, word will spread and more people will come. Be patient.

It's scary putting yourself out there in printed permanence, I know. But nothing gets you past the fear of publishing faster than hitting the "Publish" button again and again. If you need ideas or motivation, pick up Problogger's 31 Days to a Build a Better Blog. You don't have to do all the exercises in 31 days. Just do one whenever you're stuck. (Let's pretend this e-book exists and I'm not violating the space-time continuum by recommending it.) Gradually, your content will get better and your audience will grow.

I'd conclude by saying, "Don't stress over it. Nothing about your blog is as big a deal as you think it is."

If I told Historical Me that he'd be interviewed about writing and it wasn't conducted from prison, I think he'd be excited.

5. Do you have any assistance from an editor, either formally or informally. And in either case, do you like your set up do you sometimes wish you had it different?

I don't have an editor, and I'm not really worried about having one until I start writing detailed technical posts. That day is still a ways off since I'm really enjoying the topics and level of complexity I'm covering now. I do like to bounce ideas off people, but I don't usually have finished posts proofread by someone else.

A bad habit of mine is proofreading after I've published. (Don't get me wrong, I proofread beforehand too.) I think every post I've done in the last year or so, I went back and updated at least twice after it'd been published. George Lucas admires my inability to leave perfectly good work alone.

6. Finally, beyond the "how" questions, now the big one that defines the interview series. Why do you do write?

I write because I enjoy it and I want to make people's lives better, whether it's getting people unstuck from a technical problem or just making them chuckle. The work I do is immensely enjoyable. I want to share some of that joy. I don't care if I'm paid for it or not -- that doesn't enter into my thought process.

Another reason I write is to establish myself as a resource people can come to when they need a problem solved. I'm not trying to come across as a technical expert (because I'm really not -- not by a long shot), but rather someone who's had to solve the same problems my readers are having. It's funny that 48% of my page views come from a post about connecting a MacBook to a projector. I had no idea that post would be so useful.

While I don't set out to write life-altering material. I have a powerful story coming that I hope will re-orient people. I'm waiting for the right time to publish it -- probably early summer.

Bonus Question: Are there any projects coming up that you would like to tell people about?

One project I've had on the back burner for FAR too long: SQL Server Murder Mystery Hour. Like one of those murder mystery dinner parties, except done at a SQL Saturday or maybe one of the nights of PASS Summit. I've let this idea percolate for two years now (like I said, FAR too long). Here are a few ticklers:

• Think Murder on the Orient Express, except it's a database or server that's killed.?
• Attendees form teams to solve the crime.
• Names of the suspects are a gag, e.g., Bill Freeley is a consultant.
• Slightly over-the-top, Poirot-style interrogations will reveal clues.

Okay, writing about it really has me excited to get moving on it again.

------------------------------------------

Wow, this has been a fantastic read. Doug has given a lot of great and interesting answers to my questions. Some notes:

• I too loved Steve Jones' presentation, "The Modern Resume". Chock full of fantastic information about how to enhance your career and behave yourself (Brent?s blog is great too :)
• I have always wanted to be a sitcom writer too. I took some advice from the early Simpson?s writers. The goal is something that is funny over and over again, not just once. I know I still laugh at the Simpson?s after 15-20 viewings of many episodes.
• The George Lucas comment about not leaving well enough alone is a problem I have too.
• I feel a good bit of kinship with his ?why? answers too (other than the MacBook thing, I considered editing Mac references out?)

I am sad a bit that he didn?t hit on my answer to past me, but it will come one day. Like I have said before, when I get the same answer, I will interview myself?

I love the idea for the murder mystery, and am hereby invited to SQL Saturday Nashville .Next to do the SQL Server Murder Mystery at least as a session, or perhaps some other time.. (you will still have to provide your own transportation :).

Next up is Jason Strate (@stratesql), someone I have known for quite a long time (and have worked with several times), and am certainly looking forward to see what he comes up with. I have really enjoyed these interviews so far, and I hope you have too.

Source: http://sqlblog.com/blogs/louis_davidson/archive/2013/04/23/why-we-write-4-an-interview-with-doug-lane.aspx

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Secret Police

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Kim Kardashian: Eating! Profiting from Pregnancy! Endangering Fetus!

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2013/04/kim-kardashian-eating-profiting-from-pregnancy-endangering-fetus/

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Engadget Giveaway: win one of two iPad minis, courtesy of TurboTax!

Hear the birds singing, smell the roses, behold the beautifully blossoming trees and get stuck inside your abode with the unwelcoming burden of taxes. TurboTax is once again coming to the rescue, offering up two 16GB WiFi-only iPad minis for a pair of lucky winners! As you can imagine, the software company offers easy-to-use software for iOS or Android users who need to file a 1040EZ or 1040A; the apps walk you step-by-step through the process and double checks for every deduction and credit. As usual, head to the widget to enter. Good luck!

Note: Please enter using the widget below, as comments are no longer valid methods of entry. The widget only requires your name and email address so we know how to get in touch with you if you win (your information is not given out to third parties), but you will have an option to receive an additional entry by following us and TurboTax on Twitter if you so desire.

Filed under: Announcements, HD, Mobile, Alt

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/04/engadget-giveaway-turbotax/

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Coco Bikini Pic: Hot or Really, Really Not?

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2013/04/coco-bikini-pic-hot-or-really-really-not/

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Ebert: Cancer returns, taking 'leave of presence'

CHICAGO (AP) ? Acclaimed film critic Roger Ebert said he's been diagnosed with cancer again and that he will scale back his prolific writing of movie reviews while undergoing radiation treatment.

In a blog post, the 70-year-old said he'll take a "leave of presence."

"I am not going away," the ailing Pulitzer Prize winner wrote in a note posted late Tuesday. "My intent is to continue to write selected reviews but to leave the rest to a talented team of writers. ... What's more, I'll be able at last to do what I've always fantasized about doing: reviewing only the movies I want to review."

The veteran critic battled cancer in his thyroid and salivary glands and lost the ability to speak and eat during previous surgery, which also left him with a facial disfigurement.

Ebert said the cancer recurrence was discovered after a "painful fracture" that made it difficult for him to walk. He hospitalized late last year with a hip fracture.

"It really stinks that the cancer has returned and that I have spent too many days in the hospital," he wrote.

In addition to the select movie reviews he'll write, Ebert said he also plans to spend time writing about his own illness.

"I may write about what it's like to cope with health challenges and the limitations they can force upon you," he said. "So on bad days I may write about the vulnerability that accompanies illness. On good days, I may wax ecstatic about a movie so good it transports me beyond illness."

Ebert penned more than 300 reviews last year. He also said he plans to relaunch his website and roll out several other projects later this year.

Ebert began reviewing films for the Chicago Sun-Times in 1967 and marked his 46th anniversary at the paper on Wednesday. He was the nation's foremost movie critic on television on shows such as "Sneak Previews" and "At the Movies."

___

Online:

Roger Ebert's Journal: http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2013/04/a_leave_of_presense.html

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/ebert-cancer-returns-taking-leave-presence-114032646.html

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Let me introduce myself -- leafcutter bee Megachile chomskyi from Texas

Public release date: 4-Apr-2013
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Contact: Cory S. Sheffield
cory.sheffield@gov.sk.ca
306-787-5781
Pensoft Publishers

The genus Megachile is a cosmopolitan group of solitary bees, often called leafcutter bees. This is one of the largest genera of bees, with well over 1,500 species in over 50 subgenera. A new species, Megachile chomskyi, has been found only in Texas, US. What is specific and interesting about this bee is the fact that it is among those insects which exhibit a narrow, specialized preference for pollen sources. Presumably, the irreplaceable host of M. chomskyi are the beautiful flowers of the widespread Onagraceae, or the so-called Evening-Primrose Family. The study has been recently published in the peer review, open access journal ZooKeys, with distribution data available via Canadensys.

The new species is named after Professor Noam Chomsky, Department of Linguistics & Philosophy at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, for his long career and many academic achievements and contributions as a linguist, philosopher, cognitive scientist, historian, political critic, activist and global champion of human rights. Previously, Prof. Chomsky had inspired the name of another animal, the chimpanzee Nim Chimpsky, who was a part of an extended study of animal language acquisition at Columbia University. The pun referred to Chomsky's influential role in the development of modern linguistics, including in the ongoing debate about what aspects of language are unique to humans.

The most prominent features of M. chomskyi and the other members of this species group in the subgenus Megachiloides are their elongate tongues and the unique mandible structure of the females. Unlike the other representatives of the family that chew leaves or flower petals, many species of Megachile neatly cut circular pieces of leaves or petals for nest construction. Nests of Megachile are often constructed within hollow twigs or other similarly constricted natural cavities, but some species, including members of the subgenus Megachiloides, excavate burrows in the ground.

The subgenus Megachiloides still remains one of the most problematic Megachile groups in North America, partially due to males and females of many species not being associated with each other; as such, a large proportion of the species are described from one sex. Outdated identification keys and descriptions which are poorly illustrated are also contributing factors.

"In addition to naming the species after Dr. Chomsky to honour his many accomplishments, I also have been a huge fan and follower of his writings, lectures, and political views for a long time," said Dr Cory Sheffield, the author of the study.

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Original Source

Sheffield CS (2013) A new species of Megachile Latreille subgenus Megachiloides (Hymenoptera, Megachilidae). ZooKeys 283: 43, doi: 10.3897/zookeys.283.4674

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Public release date: 4-Apr-2013
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Contact: Cory S. Sheffield
cory.sheffield@gov.sk.ca
306-787-5781
Pensoft Publishers

The genus Megachile is a cosmopolitan group of solitary bees, often called leafcutter bees. This is one of the largest genera of bees, with well over 1,500 species in over 50 subgenera. A new species, Megachile chomskyi, has been found only in Texas, US. What is specific and interesting about this bee is the fact that it is among those insects which exhibit a narrow, specialized preference for pollen sources. Presumably, the irreplaceable host of M. chomskyi are the beautiful flowers of the widespread Onagraceae, or the so-called Evening-Primrose Family. The study has been recently published in the peer review, open access journal ZooKeys, with distribution data available via Canadensys.

The new species is named after Professor Noam Chomsky, Department of Linguistics & Philosophy at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, for his long career and many academic achievements and contributions as a linguist, philosopher, cognitive scientist, historian, political critic, activist and global champion of human rights. Previously, Prof. Chomsky had inspired the name of another animal, the chimpanzee Nim Chimpsky, who was a part of an extended study of animal language acquisition at Columbia University. The pun referred to Chomsky's influential role in the development of modern linguistics, including in the ongoing debate about what aspects of language are unique to humans.

The most prominent features of M. chomskyi and the other members of this species group in the subgenus Megachiloides are their elongate tongues and the unique mandible structure of the females. Unlike the other representatives of the family that chew leaves or flower petals, many species of Megachile neatly cut circular pieces of leaves or petals for nest construction. Nests of Megachile are often constructed within hollow twigs or other similarly constricted natural cavities, but some species, including members of the subgenus Megachiloides, excavate burrows in the ground.

The subgenus Megachiloides still remains one of the most problematic Megachile groups in North America, partially due to males and females of many species not being associated with each other; as such, a large proportion of the species are described from one sex. Outdated identification keys and descriptions which are poorly illustrated are also contributing factors.

"In addition to naming the species after Dr. Chomsky to honour his many accomplishments, I also have been a huge fan and follower of his writings, lectures, and political views for a long time," said Dr Cory Sheffield, the author of the study.

###

Original Source

Sheffield CS (2013) A new species of Megachile Latreille subgenus Megachiloides (Hymenoptera, Megachilidae). ZooKeys 283: 43, doi: 10.3897/zookeys.283.4674

Licensing

This press release is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License. It is expected to link back to the original article.

Posted by Pensoft Publishers.

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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-04/pp-lmi040413.php

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Duchess Kate surprises young fan with touching letter

Afp / AFP/Getty Images

Duchess Kate surprised some young fans by sending them a nice letter.

By Georgina Brewer, ITV News / TODAY contributor

Duchess Kate rarely disappoints her fans, but when she visited Grimsby, England last month, she left one school girl wanting more.?

10-year-old Isabella Clarkson had been on her way with her brother and sister to see the Duchess at the Havelock Academy, but arrived too late to even catch a glimpse after the family was delayed by severe weather conditions.?

Slideshow: Duchess Kate's maternity style

Isabella was so disappointed that she wrote to the Duchess of Cambridge to tell her what had happened, and was rewarded with a letter back from St James' Palace ? complete with the royal crest and a picture of the Duchess.?

Isabella told the local paper: "My mum was so excited when it arrived at our house that she brought it into school and the teacher read it out to the class."

Caters News Agency

A trio of youngsters (from left, Isabella Clarkson, 10, Reuben Clarkson 4 and Alice Clarkson, 8) smile with delight after receiving a letter on behalf of the Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton.

The letter, which the Palace confirms is genuine and was sent by Kate's office, reads:?

"Dear Isabella, the Duchess of Cambridge has asked me to thank you for the lovely letter you recently sent, in which you wrote about Her Royal Highness' visit to Grimsby and told her a little about your brother and sister.

"The Duchess of Cambridge was sorry to hear you and your schoolfriends were unable to see her when she visited Lincolnshire but Her Royal Highness had a wonderful day and gratefully appreciated the warm reception Grimsby gave her.

"The Duchess of Cambridge was immensely touched that you should take the trouble to write as you did. It really was most thoughtful of you and Her Royal Highness has asked me to send you her warmest thanks and best wishes."

Isabella's mother, Jackie Clarkson, said: "It's a lovely thing for her to keep and look back on in the future, especially as Kate will be queen one day."

Duchess Kate returns to the spotlight on Thursday as she and her husband Prince William are due to visit Glasgow, Scotland.?

Georgina Brewer is the Royal Producer for ITV News in the U.K. Follow her on Twitter at?@georginaitv.

From the moment the royal couple announced in December 2012 that they were expecting, the world has been captivated by Kate's many maternity looks.

Source: http://feeds.nbcnews.com/c/35002/f/653387/s/2a548977/l/0Ltheroyals0Btoday0N0C0Inews0C20A130C0A40C0A30C175888560Educhess0Ekate0Esurprises0Eyoung0Efan0Ewith0Etouching0Eletter0Dlite/story01.htm

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10 Remakes of Classic Horror Movies

Horror movies derive most of their power and enjoyment (you sicko) from a combination of novelty and surprise.The novelty: how the filmmakers will have this particular bad guy stalk and kill the good guys. The surprise: OHMYGODLOOKOUTBEHINDYOUDREWBARRYMORE!

Nevertheless, because horror movies are eternally popular, Hollywood remakes the biggest ones, as they would any genre of film. However, horror movies also boast extremely devoted and defensive cult bases, so time will tell if this weekend?s Evil Dead reboot is as good as Sam Raimi?s original 1981 classic, despite Sam Raimi?s seal of approval and active involvement. Here then are 10 more notable horror remakes.

Friday the 13th (2009)
There was once a rumor that they were going to eventually make 13 Friday the 13^thmovies. But after sending camp drowning victim/supernatural hockey mask-wearing murderer Jason Vorhees to space, hell, and Freddy Krueger, the franchise ran out of steam at 11 movies. So in 2009 they rebooted the franchise by remaking the original 1980 film, set at the proven horror setting of a summer camp full of libidinous teens getting brutally murdered.

The Wolfman (2010)

This one was delayed for years, and it?s tricky to remake those classic Universal monster movies. Lon Chaney is an icon, and Beneicio Del Toro is a good choice to replace him, because he?s already a wolfman.

Village of the Damned (1995)

Yes, it?s a remake of the 1960 horror standard, but it?s directed by Halloween horrorsmith John Carpenter, so it?s arguably better. Also, the spooky little Aryan kids make the adults do way, way more violent stuff than they could get away with onscreen in 1960. Village of the Damned is most notable for its super-famous, post-peak-popularity cast, such as Kirstie Alley, Mark Hamil, Linda Kozlowski, and Christopher Reeve in his final starring role before that paralyzing horse accident.

The Last House on the Left (2009)

The original from 1972: horror icon Wes Craven?s first film, and basically porn made of violence. The remake: also deeply uncomfortable, but better than it had any right to be due to the casting of Garret Dillahunt, the marvelous character actor from Winter?s Bone and Deadwood.

Dawn of the Dead (2004)

George Romero?s ?70s zombie movie was fraught with heavy-handed satire (the zombies are descending on a mall because consumerism is zombielike HAHAHAHA). The remake is more akin to a season of The Walking Dead, playing up the claustrophobic terror of being in a see-through prison. And it?s got the dad from Modern Family convincingly playing a badass.

Little Shop of Horrors (1986)

Definitely an improvement on the original, a quickie, only slightly funny B-movie shot for about $85 by Roger Corman. The Frank Oz-directed remake is a film version of the stage musical based on the first movie, and it?s got a soul-singing cannibalistic plant, cameos from Christopher Guest and Bill Murray, and Steve Martin as Elvis-as-sadistic-dentist.

The Good Son (1993)

In the early ?90s, Macauley Culkin starred in every movie that came out. The studios had to occasionally throw him a bone for starring in family-friendly garbage by allowing him to play occasionally against type, such as a sadistic wee sociopath in?The Good Son,?a gender-switched unofficial remake of?The Bad Seed.

The Omen (2006)

The 1977 version was a legitimately good movie if still a horror movie, a classy joint with real actors (like Gregory Peck), in the vein of The Exorcist. The remake, I would venture to guess, was only made so they could release it on Satan?s birthday, which was 06/06/06.

The Shining (1997)

In 1980, Stanley Kubrick directed the psychologically terrorizing and also bloody screen adaptation of Stephen King?s The Shining. King never much liked the movie, even though literally everybody else on earth did, so in 1997 he authorized, oversaw, and wrote the script for another version of The Shining, which aired on ABC television. It starred Steven Weber, the guy from Wings. Because what do Kubrick and Jack Nicholson know about filmmaking? Not as much as the guy from Wings.

The Wicker Man (2006)

When remaking a movie, you have to update certain staid and stale references so everything makes sense. You know, for the kids. So when they remade the creepy 1973 horror movie The Wicker Man, they added on to the burning wicker man, the island?s method of ritualistic human sacrifice to ensure a harvest, with a face-cage of bees. Beeeeeeeeeees.

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1927159/news/1927159/

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Building quantum states with individual silicon atoms

Apr. 3, 2013 ? By introducing individual silicon atom 'defects' using a scanning tunnelling microscope, scientists at the London Centre for Nanotechnology have coupled single atoms to form quantum states.

Published April 3 in Nature Communications, the study demonstrates the viability of engineering atomic-scale quantum states on the surface of silicon -- an important step toward the fabrication of devices at the single-atom limit.

Advances in atomic physics now allow single ions to be brought together to form quantum coherent states. However, to build coupled atomic systems in large numbers, as required for applications such as quantum computing, it is highly desirable to develop the ability to construct coupled atomic systems in the solid state.

Semiconductors, such as silicon, routinely display atomic defects that have clear analogies with trapped ions. However, introducing such defects deterministically to observe the coupling between extended systems of individual defects has so far remained elusive.

Now, LCN scientists have shown that quantum states can be engineered on silicon by creating interacting single-atom defects. Each individual defect consisted of a silicon atom with a broken, or "dangling," bond. During this study, these single-atom defects were created in pairs and extended chains, with each defect separated by just under one nanometer.

Importantly, when coupled together, these individual atomic defects produce extended quantum states resembling artificial molecular orbitals. Just as for a molecule, each structure exhibited multiple quantum states with distinct energy levels.

We have created precise arrays of atomic defects on a silicon surface and demonstrated that they couple to form unique and interesting quantum states.

The visibility of these states to the scanning tunneling microscope could be tuned through the variation of two independent parameters -- the voltage applied to the imaging probe and its height above the surface.

The study was led by Dr Steven Schofield, who said: "We have created precise arrays of atomic defects on a silicon surface and demonstrated that they couple to form unique and interesting quantum states."

He added: "The next step is to replicate these results in other material systems, for example using substitutional phosphorus atoms in silicon, which holds particular interest for quantum computer fabrication."

Ongoing research at the LCN is exploring even more complex arrangements of these defects, including the incorporation of impurity atoms within the defect structures, which is expected to alter the symmetry of the defects (similar to the role of the nitrogen atom in the nitrogen-vacancy center defect in diamond).

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University College London.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

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Journal Reference:

1. S. R. Schofield, P. Studer, C. F. Hirjibehedin, N. J. Curson, G. Aeppli, D. R. Bowler. Quantum engineering at the silicon surface using dangling bonds. Nature Communications, 2013; 4: 1649 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms2679

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

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZPVk8mNwUbw/130403112742.htm

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The Paradoxical Anti-Keystone Billionaire | The Business Ethics Blog

The role of wealth in politics, and in particular wealth derived from corporate sources, has reared its head again. It was recently reported that a US billionare is throwing a $5,000 per person fundraiser for President Obama. And it?s no secret that said billionaire, Tom Steyer, is an opponent of the Keystone XL pipeline, and is likely to use the opportunity to press Obama not to approve Keystone.

This story is noteworthy for a couple of reasons, beyond the mere fact that some pretty heavy hitters are weighing in on the Keystone issue.

The first of course is that Steyer himself made much of his money in oil. In particular, he was founder of Farallon Capital Management, and reportedly left the fund ? ?which had invested in a range of oil and pipeline companies, including BP, Nexen and Kinder Morgan, as well as an oil-carrying railway? ? because those investments were at odds with his new-found environmental commitments.

It?s also interesting to wonder what psychological and moral tension created for the American left by the involvement of Steyer ? a billionaire ? in trying to influence policy. Not that there?s anything unusual about the rich trying to flex their muscles. But Steyer embodies something of a value conflict for the American left. Opposition to Keystone, after all, has come primarily from the left. But so has opposition to what is seen as the growing influence of wealth in American politics.

So it?s tempting to poke fun, here. What must be going through the minds of those who are both opposed to Keystone and opposed to the wealthy having disproportionate influence in politics? Can someone who went ballistic over the Citizens United decision really be happy to see a rich guy like Steyer using his wealth (and his wealthy friends) to try to influence the president? Of course it helps that Steyer is associated only with companies most Americans have never heard of. So when Americans hear that a rich guy is hosting a fundraiser for the president, at least it?s not a rich guy from General Motors, or from Walmart, or from Goldman Sachs. That would raise worries not just about the role of wealth in politics, but of specifically corporate wealth. But of course, Steyer?s wealth didn?t exactly come from running a successful paper route after school, or selling organic apples at the local farmer?s market. But for opponents of Keystone, at least he?s on the right side. So in effect what you have is a sort of Bruce Wayne figure, the billionaire businessman with a heart (not to mention wallet) of gold.

But the important lesson, here, isn?t about the role of wealth in politics. It?s about ideology. It is attractive ? but a mistake ? to believe that all points of view that are in any way ?anti-business? have to hang together. It is entirely consistent to want environmentalists to win over industrialists in matters of pipeline approval, and yet share a widely-held ambivalence about the pronounced role that the wealthy will inevitably play in shaping that debate. And it is dangerously polarizing to assume otherwise.

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Source: http://businessethicsblog.com/2013/04/02/the-paradoxical-anti-keystone-billionaire/

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Court says city of Stockton, California may proceed with bankruptcy

By Jonathan Weber

SACRAMENTO, California (Reuters) - A federal judge on Monday approved the city of Stockton's petition for bankruptcy in a case that sets the stage for a lengthy battle between bondholders and the California pension system.

In a case being studied by other cash-strapped American cities including Detroit, U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Christopher Klein's decision was a setback for bondholders and insurers who had resisted the California city's bankruptcy filing. Stockton is the largest U.S. city ever to file for bankruptcy.

The judge also signaled that the California Public Employees Retirement System's position in the case was not above review. Stockton, a city of 300,000, has so far not reduced pension payments to retired city workers, although it has eliminated retiree healthcare benefits.

"This does not mean there is not potentially a serious issue involving Calpers," Judge Klein said. "But at this point I do not know what that is." He added that there were "very complex and difficult questions of law that I can see out there on the horizon," relating to Calpers.

The decision on Stockton marks the start of a lengthy restructuring of the obligations that currently overwhelm its finances, which were crippled by the housing crisis and recession.

Investors in the $3.7 trillion municipal bond market are concerned that if Stockton is able to avoid paying bondholders in full without cutting pension payments, other cities will pursue a similar strategy as they struggle to cope with budget shortfalls.

Kenneth Naehu, head of fixed income at Bel Air Investment Advisors in Los Angeles, agreed that the case could cloud the issue of where bondholders stand in relation to retirees and pension funds in a municipal bankruptcy.

CALPERS ISSUE LOOMS

In a lengthy preamble to his ruling, Klein delivered a stinging rebuke to the so-called capital market creditors - mainly the insurers for bondholders who own hundreds of millions of dollars of Stockton debt - who had opposed the bankruptcy filing.

He rejected the arguments of bondholders and insurers that Stockton was not truly insolvent when it sought Chapter 9 bankruptcy protection last summer and that it had improperly failed to seek relief from its pension obligations.

Klein said capital market creditors had failed to negotiate in good faith in a pre-bankruptcy mediation, as required by law, and also criticized their refusal to pay part of the bill for mediation.

Calpers is far from off the hook, but the city's obligations to the retirement system are properly addressed as part of the effort to finalize a "plan of adjustment" for emerging from bankruptcy, the judge said.

Michael Sweet, a municipal bankruptcy lawyer with Fox Rothschild who is not involved in the case, said the judge's remarks suggested that "somewhere along the line the city will have to go to Calpers, because otherwise they will have problems with discrimination in the plan."

A plan of adjustment, like any bankruptcy reorganization plan, cannot favor one group of creditors over another.

"You're going to see an issue teed up that could go to the U.S. Supreme Court," Sweet said.

Calpers asserts that California law protects pensioners from any haircut even in bankruptcy, but that position has never been tested in court.

'SCORCHED EARTH' TACTICS

Bob Deis, the Stockton city manager who is largely responsible for managing the bankruptcy process, called the judge's verdict a "vindication" of the city's position.

He criticized the "scorched-earth" legal strategy of the bond creditors as a waste of time and money, and said the city had already spent $6 million to $7 million on the mediation and legal costs.

Assured Guaranty Ltd, one of the bond insurers, said in a statement that it "disagrees" with the judge's ruling but that it looked forward to working with the city on a "consensual approach" to resolving its debts. A company spokesman also said that it had tried to negotiate with the city prior to bankruptcy, but without success.

Others opposing the city's bankruptcy included National Public Finance Guarantee Corp, Wells Fargo Bank, the Franklin California High Yield Municipal Fund and Franklin High Yield Tax-Free Income Fund.

Throughout his two hours of comments, the judge made it clear that he thought the city had done everything it could to avoid bankruptcy. He noted that sharp cost-cutting had begun years ago, and that 77 percent of the city's budget was devoted to already-diminished police and fire services.

Klein agreed that further cuts in public safety and other services were not options.

It was not clear on Monday if any of the capital market creditors would appeal the ruling. A spokesman for Assured Guaranty said the company wanted to see the written ruling before it determined next steps. National Public Finance Guarantee had no comment on a possible appeal.

(Reporting by Jonathan Weber; Additional reporting by Michael Connor in Miami; Editing by Chris Reese, Tiziana Barghini and Will Dunham)

(This story was refiled to add California in the headline)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/court-says-city-stockton-may-proceed-bankruptcy-014004337.html

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ISM survey shows manufacturing sector expansion slows

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Factory activity slowed in March as new orders weakened, but a rebound in construction spending in February was another sign of faster economic growth in the first quarter.

The Institute for Supply Management said on Monday its index of national factory activity fell to 51.3 last month from 54.2 in February. A reading above 50 indicates expansion in the manufacturing sector.

The report was at odds with other data showing growth in the nation's factories picked up in March on strong orders, closing out the best quarter for the sector in two years.

Financial data firm Markit said its U.S. Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index rose to 54.6 last month from 54.3 in February. A reading above 50 indicates expansion.

While the two surveys use the same sub-indexes, they give different weights to the components.

"Hopefully this is an anomaly. This gives a pause in the recent bullish data we have been seeing," Craig Dismuke, chief economic strategist at Vining Sparks in Memphis, Tennessee.

U.S. stock prices slightly extended losses after the data. U.S. Treasuries prices slipped in morning trade, while the yen rose against the dollar.

Despite tighter fiscal policy, data on employment, consumer spending and factory activity have been relatively strong, leaving economists scrambling to raise their forecast.

That run of strong so-called real data, which has left first-quarter GDP growth estimates ranging as high as a 3.5 percent annual rate, continued on Monday.

The Commerce Department reported construction spending advanced 1.2 percent to an annual rate of $885.1 billion in February. Spending had declined 2.1 percent in January.

The construction report added to a series of other data that have suggested economic growth accelerated in the first quarter from the fourth quarter's anemic 0.4 percent annual pace.

Construction spending in February was boosted by a 1.3 percent rise in private construction projects. Spending on private residential projects increased 2.2 percent to the highest level since November 2008.

Part of the increase reflected renovations. The housing market is no longer a drag on the economy and residential construction contributed to growth last year for the first time since 2005. It is expected to do so again this year.

Spending on private nonresidential structures rose 0.4 percent after declining 5.9 percent.

Public sector construction spending increased 0.9 percent, rising for a second straight month. Outlays on federal government projects fell 1.1 percent.

However, state and local spending, which is far larger than federal projects, rose 1.1 percent. It was the second straight month of gain in state and local government outlays.

(Reporting By Lucia Mutikani, Luciana Lopez and Steven C. Johnson and Richard Leong; Editing by Neil Stempleman)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/manufacturing-sector-expansion-slows-march-ism-140720404--business.html

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News worthy? - Indigo Society, a forum for Indigo Children and Adults

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Source: http://indigosociety.com/showthread.php?67637-News-worthy

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Iran sanctions see Pakistani kids, drug dealers turn to smuggling diesel

Ian Kursheed / Reuters

A boy fills the tank of a motorbike with smuggled petrol near a roadside shop in Quetta, Pakistan, on Feb. 13, 2013.

By Hamdan Albaloshi, Reuters

JOGAR, Pakistan -- Some of the contraband is spirited across the mountains in Pepsi bottles carried by child smugglers. Yet more is loaded into pickup trucks or siphoned into barrels and strapped onto mules.

So lucrative are the returns that even seasoned opium traffickers are abandoning their traditional cargo to grab a share of Pakistan's closest thing to an oil boom: a roaring trade in illicit Iranian diesel.

As Western powers tighten sanctions on Iran, an unexpected set of beneficiaries has emerged in the hard-scrabble Pakistani province of Baluchistan -- smugglers lured by surging profits for black market fuel.

"Why smuggle opium when you can earn as much money by smuggling diesel? It's much safer," said a former opium trader from the Pakistani town of Mand, a smuggling hub near the Iranian border.

"Besides, I'm now called a successful businessman -- not a drug dealer," said the man, who gave his name as Hamid.

Ghulam Ali sells the smuggled products openly in Quetta, the main city in Baluchistan. "Vehicles loaded with Iranian diesel and petrol provide us with fuel as a routine matter -- there are no hindrances to its transportation," he said.

Diesel smuggling has long been a part of the illicit trade in Baluchistan, where a thriving trade in goods -- from guns and narcotics to duty-free cigarettes and second-hand Toyotas -- constitutes one the arteries of the globalized criminal economy.

'Why wouldn't I?'
In Nushki, a small town on one of the roads cutting through Baluchistan's arid moonscape, diesel traders preparing to drive to the Iran border had little to fear from the law.

"Bringing in fuel this way is so much cheaper and makes great profits," said one of the transporters, a burly man wearing a gold watch. "Even though there are security check points at all these border towns inside Pakistan, no one ever stops me. Why wouldn't I do this?"

Smugglers have gone into overdrive since late September, when growing pressure from Western sanctions caused the Iranian rial to lose 40 percent of its value against the dollar in a week, making diesel even cheaper for Pakistani buyers.

Iran sets its diesel price at 4,500 Iranian rials (about 15 cents) a liter -- less than the price of mineral water.

In Pakistan, a liter of smuggled diesel can sell for 104 rupees a liter ($1.06) -- cheaper than the official price of 112 rupees a liter.

At Jogar, a border pass in granite mountains, children trek across the hills bearing Iranian diesel in Pepsi bottles. Some is transported on donkeys.

On the Baluchistan coast, smuggling proceeds on an industrial scale as diesel arrives at ports via vessels plying the Gulf of Oman.

Like tributaries feeding a river, individual smugglers bring their barrels to depots, where the cargo is aggregated into tanker trucks.

In January, the U.S. Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction warned that fuel purchases made for Afghan security forces using U.S. government funds may have included Iranian petroleum products, which would be a violation of Washington's own sanctions on Tehran.

Iran's attempts to boost formal energy ties with Pakistan are also a concern for the U.S. government. Washington has voiced opposition to plans to build a pipeline through Baluchistan to tap Iranian natural gas, which Pakistan sees as a possible answer to its chronic electricity shortages.

Iran's government, already battling Western moves to restrict supplies of gasoline and other refined products, has sought to stem smuggling by introducing a system of smart cards to ration subsidized fuel.

In Pakistan, authorities admit they are overwhelmed. Ibrahim Vighio, a senior customs official in Quetta, said the government plans to form a new 1,000-strong anti-smuggling unit. "We have lack of forces, proper weapons and equipment to stop the smuggling," he said.

Related:

Israel to grill Obama over possible military strike on Iran

Iran bans pistachio exports as sanctions bite

Iranian: 'Our money is becoming more and more worthless every day'

Copyright 2013 Thomson Reuters. Click for restrictions.

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Tech firms bumping up perks to recruit, retain

Martha Mendoza , The Associated Press ? ? ? 3 hrs.

Apple's ring-shaped, gleaming "Spaceship Headquarters" will include a world class auditorium and an orchard for engineers to wander. Google's new Bay View campus will feature walkways angled to force accidental encounters. Facebook, while putting final touches on a Disney-inspired campus including a Main Street with a B-B-Q shack, sushi house and bike shop, is already planning an even larger, more exciting new campus.

More than ever before, Silicon Valley firms want their workers at work.

Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer has gone so far as to ban working from home, and many more offer prodigious incentives for coming in to the office, such as free meals, massages and gyms.

This spring, as the tech industry is soaring out of the Great Recession, plans are in the works for a flurry of massive, perk-laden headquarters.

"We're seeing the mature technology companies trying to energize their work environments, getting rid of cube farms and investing in facilities to compete for talent," said Kevin Schaeffer, a principal at architecture and design firm Gensler in San Jose. "That's caused a huge transition in the way offices are laid out."

New Silicon Valley headquarters or expansions are under way at most of the area's major firms, including eBay, Intel, LinkedIn, Microsoft, Netflix, Nvidia and Oracle. Many will be huge: Apple Corp.'s 176-acre campus will be one of the world's largest workplaces. On the outside, many of the new buildings boast striking architectural designs and will collectively be among the most environmentally friendly in the country. Inside, there are walls you can draw on, ping pong tables, Lego stations, gaming arcades and free haircuts.

Critics say that while some workplace perks and benefits are a good thing, the large, multibillion dollar corporate headquarters are colossal wastes of money that snub the pioneering technology these firms actually create.

"Companies led by older management tend to be very controlling, but when I look at people in the 20s or 30s, they're totally capable of working on their own and being productive," said Kevin Wheeler, whose Future of Talent Institute researches and consults on human resources for Silicon Valley businesses. "To have artificial structures that require everybody to be in the office at certain hours of the day is simply asinine."

Wheeler said he thinks Yahoo called everyone back to work "because they had gotten into a culture of laziness," and that the firm will likely loosen the restrictions soon.

Yahoo was, in fact, an early model of Silicon Valley's happy workplace culture, touting their espresso bar and inspirational speakers as a method of inspiring passion and originality. Today yoga, cardio-kickboxing and golf classes at the office, as well as discounts to ski resorts and theme parks, help it receive top ratings as one of America's happiest workplaces.

Companies say extraordinary campuses are necessary to recruit and retain top talent and to spark innovation and creativity.

And there are business benefits and financial results for companies that keep their workers happy. The publicly traded 100 Best Companies To Work For in America consistently outperform major stock indices and have more qualified job applicants and higher productivity, according to the San Francisco-based Great Place to Work Institute. That may not always be obvious, however.

"People do work really, really hard here," Facebook spokesman Slater Tow said as an engineer glided past a row of second floor conference rooms on a skateboard. "They have to be passionate about what they do. If they're not, we would rather someone who is."

He points out the Jumbotron frame for outdoor movies, the Nacho Royale taqueria, a bank branch with tellers standing by, an artist in residence. Traditional benefits are part of the Silicon Valley packages as well. Facebook offers free train passes, a shuttle to work, a month of paid vacation, full health care and stock options.

Facebook staffers are welcome to stop by and play in Ben Barry's Analog Research Laboratory, a large, sunlit studio with laser cutters, woodworking tools, a letter press machine and silk screening supplies.

"I believe if people feel they can control their environment, that leads to a greater sense of ownership over the product," says Barry, who makes posters for the campus walls with mantras like "What would you do if you weren't afraid?" and "Move fast and break things."

About six miles north at Google's headquarters, workers on one of more than 1,000 Google-designed bikes rolled from one building to another. Others stepped into electric cars, available for free check outs if someone has an errand. In one office, two young engineers enjoyed a beer and shot pool.

Google doesn't want its Googlers to have to worry about distractions in their life.

Concerned about the kids? Childcare is on campus. Need to shop and cook? Have the family dine at Google. Dirty laundry piling up? Bring it in to the office. Bring Fido too, so he doesn't get lonely. There's a climbing wall, nap pods (lay down in the capsule, set the alarm, zzzzz), a bowling alley, multiple gyms, a variety of healthy cafes, mini kitchens, and classes on anything from American Sign Language to Public Speaking. In a shared, community garden, Googlers plant seeds, knowing that if they get too busy, a landscaper will pull their weeds.

The company has no policy requiring people to be at work. But officials say Googlers want to come in.

"We work hard to create the healthiest, happiest and most productive work environments possible that inspire collaboration and innovation," said spokeswoman Katelin Todhunter-Gerberg.

Wheeler says the mega-complexes being built today will be hard to staff 10 years from now, and that the next era will see smaller workplaces where employers are responsible for meeting achievements and objectives, and have flexibility about when they come in to their office.

"When you look at how some of these companies operate, they're in effect, sweat shops. ... They want 80, 90, 100 hours of work. In order to even make that tolerable, of course you have to offer haircuts and food and places to sleep or else people would have to go home," he said.

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