For fans of HD and / or nature documentaries, the BBC Planet Earth series is the unquestioned champion, and to provide a proper followup the Brits are improving it the only way they know how: doing it live. What the broadcaster calls its "most ambitions global wildlife series ever" will air simultaneously in 140 countries (more on that bit later) starting Sunday May 6th, then every Thursday and Sunday for three weeks. The plan is to track animals in seven different locations around the world in real time as they struggle for survival and broadcast it all in HD. One segment features Top Gear's Richard Hammond following a pride of lions across southern Kenya, while another will track black bears in Minnesota. The bad news? If you're in the US or Canada you're not on that 140 country list and won't be seeing any of this live. We're not sure if there's time to make this a campaign issue in the 2012 presidential election but we figure that, or at least bugging BBC America (while we're on the subject -- where's our global iPlayer?) is worth a try. Check after the break for a press release with all the details on where and when it is airing, as well as a trailer.
The legacy of West Coast rap music was celebrated and the 20-year anniversary of the riots in Los Angeles was commemorated on Saturday night at the KDAY show.
Tiffani Thiessen was spotted dining at her favorite NYC restaurant, Beauty & Essex. Before her dinner, the starlet was seen trying on jewelry and checking out handbags at the famous Pawn Shop located in front of the restaurant. Tiffani enjoyed Tomato Tartare, Tuna Tacos and Kale Salad.
The Office's Craig Robinson sported Chicago White Sox headphones by BiGR Audio.
DJ Vice was spotted playing at Avenue on Wednesday night in NYC. The DJ powerhouse was also spotted at NYC hotspot Beauty & Essex on Thursday night catching up with friends and checking out the DJ booth before jet setting back to Vegas for shows at TAO and LAVO
Heidi Klum is back and bolder than ever with brand new pieces for spring! Featuring unique metal finishes and custom-made simulated gemstones, the latest additions to the Wildlife by Heidi Klum collection are as bold as they are beautiful. Each style embodies a modern aesthetic that is sure to make a statement this season. You can visit QVC.com starting on Thursday, May 17 to see Heidi showcase several new pieces, including bracelets, necklaces, earring and rings.
Mariah Carey and L.A. Reid had dinner at Catch to celebrate new artist, Leah Labelle.
Selita Ebanks attended the 2012 Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation Champion Committee Spring Social at Catch Rooftop in New York.
Constantine Maroulis partied at the Absolut/Avion-sponsored bash for the Journey documentary Don't Stop Believin' at NYC's Gansevoort Hotel on April 19.
Nintendo 3DS fans Nikki Reed and Whitney Port are loving the new Kid Icarus game!
True Blood star Joe Manganiello and his mystery date roamed the Coachella Music Festival. Joe wore G-Star?s Halo Rovic Art Loose ? in Camo print.
On Sunday, April 22, Kim Kardashian, Magic Mike's Olivia Munn, NBA star Chris Paul, Malika Haqq and more joined The Jeep Brand for the launch of it's 2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Altitude Edition, announced as the ?official vehicle of USA Basketball? and celebrated the men's and women's USA Basketball team's quest for Gold this summer at LA Center Studios in Downtown LA.
Olivia Munn celebrated the pre-opening of Mercedes-Benz Transmission LA: AV CLUB curated by Mike D of the Beastie Boys.
I am a light-hearted guy ? and, as many of the people closest to me put it, a ?knucklehead.? So, I find the generally serious, aggressive tone that looms over many relationships ? whether discussing their basics or specifics ? to be overkill. And a little dangerous.
There are some aspects of marriage that many people consider ?too sacred? to even discuss or negotiate ? such as monogamy. And while I appreciate the romantic sentiment at work here, self-censorship undermines the importance of communication in human relationships. Many of us are raised to think that certain topics, such as money, religion, and politics, should be off limits ? for the sake of politeness or keeping the peace. But if we never discuss them, we limit our opportunities for learning, growth and/or understanding.
Speaking freely can be important in relationships, and agreeing that nothing is too sacred to discuss can save you lots of heartache and confusion down the road. Without conversation and negotiation, assumptions may arise and linger. And assumptions can get us into trouble.
Sacred means ?reverently dedicated to some person, purpose or object.? Sure, there are certainly things I believe to be sacred ? including my family, my friendships and my quiet time. But I have learned that this reverence is mine and pretty much only mine. Strangers and even friends may not value any of these things. This value is determined and felt by me, but not by the world. To assume otherwise would only lead to disappointment.
Bottom line: You can make whatever you want to make sacred ? to you. But it gets tricky when others are involved. And because a relationship is an agreement between two people, it?s only as sacred as its participants make it. People change and, therefore, so do the players in agreements, often without your permission or consent.
Is your relationship or some aspect of it too sacred to discuss? Perhaps it would hurt too much if the two of you were to analyze or change it? Or, maybe you had a discussion, considered the matter closed, and made it clear that you never want to revisit it. But if there is something you believe to be set in stone, remember this: Stone breaks. It is just the nature of working with someone else. An understanding of this is both flexible and Powerful.
Keep Rising,
?
Frank Love www.FrankLove.com
PS: To become a Frank Love sponsor you can make a one-time contribution or contribute monthly by clicking on the amount you?d like to donate each month: $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $35, $50, $75, $100, $200 or $500.
Drug interactions won't exclude HCV transplant or HIV co-infected patients from treatmentPublic release date: 19-Apr-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Travis Taylor easlpressoffice@cohnwolfe.com 44-789-438-6428 European Association for the Study of the Liver
Additional data provides hope for HCV non-responders
Barcelona, Spain, Thursday 19 April 2012: New data from a number of clinical trials presented for the first time at the International Liver Congress 2012 provides hope for previously difficult to treat hepatitis C (HCV) patient populations.
In the first multicentric study of the efficacy and safety of the protease inhibitors (PI) Boceprevir or Telaprevir in patients with severe HCV genotype 1 (GT1) recurrence after liver transplantation(1), results show that 57% of patients achieve undetectable hepatitis C viral loads 24 weeks after treatment (SVR24) with pegylated Interferon-alfa-2b (PegIFN-?-2b), ribavirin (RBV) and either Boceprevir or Telaprevir. Interactions between immunosuppressants and PIs were easily controlled.
Further new data shows that, in HCV GT1 and HIV co-infected patients, the addition of Boceprevir to PegIFN-?-2b and RBV results in higher rates of undetectable HCV RNA levels compared to treatment with only PegIFN-?-2b and RBV alone.(2) At the end of treatment (week 48), 63.9% of patients receiving Boceprevir, PegIFN-?-2b and RBV had undetectable HCV RNA, compared to 29.4% in the control arm. The study found the safety and tolerability profile of Boceprevir, PegIFN-?-2b and RBV was consistent with that observed in HCV-monoinfected patients.
The combination of these findings provides new hope for various difficult to treat hepatitis C populations. Professor Mark Thursz, EASL's Secretary General commented on the exciting new data: "Patients with HIV co-infection and patients who have been transplanted for HCV infection often have more aggressive disease and have been harder to treat. Worries about drug-drug interactions have caused concern about the use of protease inhibitors in these groups. The new trial data shows that the benefits of direct anti-virals can now be experienced by a wider group of patient populations."
In a study of chronic HCV GT1 patients previously unresponsive to treatment with PegIFN and RBV alone , new data shows TMC435 - an oral, once-daily, investigational HCV NS3/4A protease inhibitor - combined with PegIFN-alfa-2a and RBV achieves significantly higher SVR24 rates compared with placebo.(3) In the hardest to treat group of prior null-responders with cirrhosis, TMC435, PegIFN-alfa-2a and RBV treatment shows 61-80% SVR24 compared to 23% with placebo.
In other exciting data presented at the congress, the authors of a study on PSI-7977, a uridine nucleotide analog, propose that it may signal an end to response guided therapy in HCV GT1 patients.(4) Response-guided therapy is a paradigm for treating chronic HCV infections in which treatment decisions are based on how rapidly HCV responds to treatment.(5) With response-guided therapy, patients who rapidly clear virus from their bloodstream are eligible to receive a shorter duration of therapy, while slower responders receive standard or extended durations of therapy.(5)
In earlier studies, PSI-7977 has been associated with greater than 90% SVR (sustained virological response undetectable HCV RNA level 24 weeks after treatment) in HCV GT1, GT2, or GT3 patients, independent of predictors of poor responsiveness to interferon. In new data presented at the congress, the study authors show HCV GT1, GT4, or GT6 patients treated with PSI-7977 and PEG/RBV achieved 97% RVR (rapid virological response undetectable HCV RNA level after four weeks of treatment), with no viral breakthrough or relapse observed to date in subjects completing at least 10 weeks of PSI-7977.
###
Notes to Editors
About EASL
EASL is the leading European scientific society involved in promoting research and education in hepatology. EASL attracts the foremost hepatology experts and has an impressive track record in promoting research in liver disease, supporting wider education and promoting changes in European liver policy.
EASL's main focus on education and research is delivered through numerous events and initiatives, including:
The International Liver CongressTM (http://www.easl.eu/_the-international-liver-congress/general-information) which is the main scientific and professional event in hepatology worldwide
Meetings including Monothematic and Special conferences, Post Graduate courses and other endorsed meetings that take place throughout the year
Clinical and Basic Schools of Hepatology, a series of events covering different aspects in the field of hepatology
Journal of Hepatology published monthly
Participation in a number of policy initiatives at European level
iLiver iPhone app - a free medical app developed by EASL, with content fully authored, validated and accredited by 42 independent liver specialists
About The International Liver CongressTM 2012
The International Liver Congress 2012, the 47th annual meeting of the European Association for the study of the Liver, is being held at the Centre Convencions Internacional (CCIB) in Barcelona from April 18 22, 2012. The congress annually attracts over 8,000 clinicians and scientists from around the world and provides an opportunity to hear the latest research, perspectives and treatments of liver disease from principal experts in the field.
References
1. Coilly A, et al, EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF PROTEASE INHIBITORS FOR SEVERE HEPATITIS C RECURRENCE AFTER LIVER TRANSPLANTATION: A FIRST MULTICENTRIC EXPERIENCE. Abstract presented at the International Liver Congress 2012.
2. Mallolas J, BOCEPREVIR PLUS PEGINTERFERON/RIBAVIRIN FOR THE TREATMENT OF HCV/HIV CO-INFECTED PATIENTS: END OF TREATMENT (WEEK 48) INTERIM RESULTS. Abstract presented at the International Liver Congress 2012.
3. Zeuzem S, et al, TMC435 IN HCV GENOTYPE 1 PATIENTS WHO HAVE FAILED PREVIOUS PEGYLATED INTERFERON/RIBAVIRIN TREATMENT: FINAL SVR24 RESULTS OF THE ASPIRE TRIAL. Abstract presented at the International Liver Congress 2012.
4. Kowdley KV, ATOMIC: 97% RVR FOR PSI-7977 + PEG/RBV X 12 WEEK REGIMEN IN HCV GT1: AN END TO RESPONSE-GUIDED THERAPY?. Abstract presented at the International Liver Congress 2012.
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.
Drug interactions won't exclude HCV transplant or HIV co-infected patients from treatmentPublic release date: 19-Apr-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Travis Taylor easlpressoffice@cohnwolfe.com 44-789-438-6428 European Association for the Study of the Liver
Additional data provides hope for HCV non-responders
Barcelona, Spain, Thursday 19 April 2012: New data from a number of clinical trials presented for the first time at the International Liver Congress 2012 provides hope for previously difficult to treat hepatitis C (HCV) patient populations.
In the first multicentric study of the efficacy and safety of the protease inhibitors (PI) Boceprevir or Telaprevir in patients with severe HCV genotype 1 (GT1) recurrence after liver transplantation(1), results show that 57% of patients achieve undetectable hepatitis C viral loads 24 weeks after treatment (SVR24) with pegylated Interferon-alfa-2b (PegIFN-?-2b), ribavirin (RBV) and either Boceprevir or Telaprevir. Interactions between immunosuppressants and PIs were easily controlled.
Further new data shows that, in HCV GT1 and HIV co-infected patients, the addition of Boceprevir to PegIFN-?-2b and RBV results in higher rates of undetectable HCV RNA levels compared to treatment with only PegIFN-?-2b and RBV alone.(2) At the end of treatment (week 48), 63.9% of patients receiving Boceprevir, PegIFN-?-2b and RBV had undetectable HCV RNA, compared to 29.4% in the control arm. The study found the safety and tolerability profile of Boceprevir, PegIFN-?-2b and RBV was consistent with that observed in HCV-monoinfected patients.
The combination of these findings provides new hope for various difficult to treat hepatitis C populations. Professor Mark Thursz, EASL's Secretary General commented on the exciting new data: "Patients with HIV co-infection and patients who have been transplanted for HCV infection often have more aggressive disease and have been harder to treat. Worries about drug-drug interactions have caused concern about the use of protease inhibitors in these groups. The new trial data shows that the benefits of direct anti-virals can now be experienced by a wider group of patient populations."
In a study of chronic HCV GT1 patients previously unresponsive to treatment with PegIFN and RBV alone , new data shows TMC435 - an oral, once-daily, investigational HCV NS3/4A protease inhibitor - combined with PegIFN-alfa-2a and RBV achieves significantly higher SVR24 rates compared with placebo.(3) In the hardest to treat group of prior null-responders with cirrhosis, TMC435, PegIFN-alfa-2a and RBV treatment shows 61-80% SVR24 compared to 23% with placebo.
In other exciting data presented at the congress, the authors of a study on PSI-7977, a uridine nucleotide analog, propose that it may signal an end to response guided therapy in HCV GT1 patients.(4) Response-guided therapy is a paradigm for treating chronic HCV infections in which treatment decisions are based on how rapidly HCV responds to treatment.(5) With response-guided therapy, patients who rapidly clear virus from their bloodstream are eligible to receive a shorter duration of therapy, while slower responders receive standard or extended durations of therapy.(5)
In earlier studies, PSI-7977 has been associated with greater than 90% SVR (sustained virological response undetectable HCV RNA level 24 weeks after treatment) in HCV GT1, GT2, or GT3 patients, independent of predictors of poor responsiveness to interferon. In new data presented at the congress, the study authors show HCV GT1, GT4, or GT6 patients treated with PSI-7977 and PEG/RBV achieved 97% RVR (rapid virological response undetectable HCV RNA level after four weeks of treatment), with no viral breakthrough or relapse observed to date in subjects completing at least 10 weeks of PSI-7977.
###
Notes to Editors
About EASL
EASL is the leading European scientific society involved in promoting research and education in hepatology. EASL attracts the foremost hepatology experts and has an impressive track record in promoting research in liver disease, supporting wider education and promoting changes in European liver policy.
EASL's main focus on education and research is delivered through numerous events and initiatives, including:
The International Liver CongressTM (http://www.easl.eu/_the-international-liver-congress/general-information) which is the main scientific and professional event in hepatology worldwide
Meetings including Monothematic and Special conferences, Post Graduate courses and other endorsed meetings that take place throughout the year
Clinical and Basic Schools of Hepatology, a series of events covering different aspects in the field of hepatology
Journal of Hepatology published monthly
Participation in a number of policy initiatives at European level
iLiver iPhone app - a free medical app developed by EASL, with content fully authored, validated and accredited by 42 independent liver specialists
About The International Liver CongressTM 2012
The International Liver Congress 2012, the 47th annual meeting of the European Association for the study of the Liver, is being held at the Centre Convencions Internacional (CCIB) in Barcelona from April 18 22, 2012. The congress annually attracts over 8,000 clinicians and scientists from around the world and provides an opportunity to hear the latest research, perspectives and treatments of liver disease from principal experts in the field.
References
1. Coilly A, et al, EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF PROTEASE INHIBITORS FOR SEVERE HEPATITIS C RECURRENCE AFTER LIVER TRANSPLANTATION: A FIRST MULTICENTRIC EXPERIENCE. Abstract presented at the International Liver Congress 2012.
2. Mallolas J, BOCEPREVIR PLUS PEGINTERFERON/RIBAVIRIN FOR THE TREATMENT OF HCV/HIV CO-INFECTED PATIENTS: END OF TREATMENT (WEEK 48) INTERIM RESULTS. Abstract presented at the International Liver Congress 2012.
3. Zeuzem S, et al, TMC435 IN HCV GENOTYPE 1 PATIENTS WHO HAVE FAILED PREVIOUS PEGYLATED INTERFERON/RIBAVIRIN TREATMENT: FINAL SVR24 RESULTS OF THE ASPIRE TRIAL. Abstract presented at the International Liver Congress 2012.
4. Kowdley KV, ATOMIC: 97% RVR FOR PSI-7977 + PEG/RBV X 12 WEEK REGIMEN IN HCV GT1: AN END TO RESPONSE-GUIDED THERAPY?. Abstract presented at the International Liver Congress 2012.
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.
Citing documents from the Vatican Secret Archives, an Italian historian argues that 17th-century documents reveal Renaissance artist Caravaggio was assassinated by the Knights of Malta.
In one of his most graphic paintings, the rabble-rousing Renaissance artist Caravaggio?depicted his tortured face on the head of Goliath, slain and decapitated by the boy warrior David.
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An Italian historian thinks that Caravaggio may have met just such a grisly end ? at the hands of the Knights of St. John of Malta, the chivalric order founded during the Crusades.
Vincenzo Pacelli, a Caravaggio expert from the University of Naples, has unearthed documents from the Vatican Secret Archives and state archives in Rome that suggest the Knights ordered the artist to be assassinated in revenge for him attacking and wounding on one of their members during a brawl.
They then dumped his body in the sea at Palo, north of Rome, which would explain why there are no documents recording his death.
Until now, conventional wisdom said Caravaggio died either from an illness or lead poisoning from the oil paints he used.
The murder was ?commissioned and organized? by the Knights of Malta and carried out with the complicity of the Vatican, Mr. Pacelli says in his forthcoming book, "Caravaggio ? Between Art and Science."
The historian found strange discrepancies in correspondence between Cardinal Scipione Borghese, a powerful Vatican secretary of state, and Deodato Gentile, a papal ambassador, in which the painter?s place of death was cited as the island of Procida near Naples, ?a place that Caravaggio had nothing to do with,? according to Pacelli.
A document written by Caravaggio?s doctor and first biographer claimed that the painter died at the age of 38 north of Rome, but the place name was later scrubbed out and replaced by the name of a town in Tuscany.?Pacelli also found an account written 20 years after Caravaggio?s death in which an Italian archivist wrote that the artist had been ?assassinated.?
He believes it all adds up to evidence of an assassination plot by the Knights of Malta which was then covered up.
Not all experts are convinced by the new theory.?John T. Spike, a Caravaggio expert at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Va., is skeptical of the idea that the painter was murdered on the Knights' orders.
?The problem with the theory is that the Knights had ample opportunities to kill him sooner ? either when he was living in Malta, or when he then went to Sicily, which is very close,? says Mr. Spike. ?Why did they wait so long??
The academic sparring will continue, but more than four centuries after his death in 1610, the true fate of Caravaggio remains an enigma.
'He's a guy who loves challenges,' enthuses director Adam Shankman, as part of MTV News' Summer Movie Preview Week. By Amy Wilkinson
Tom Cruise in "Rock of Ages" Photo: Warner Bros
This summer, the city — and the cinema — will be built on rock and roll when "Rock of Ages" packs its ax, journeying from Broadway to a theater near you.
Set in Los Angeles and featuring the biggest jams of the '80s, the movie musical follows busboy/ aspiring rocker Drew Boley (played by Diego Boneta) as he falls for new-in-town Sherrie Christian (played by Julianne Hough) and lands a gig opening for rock legend Stacee Jaxx (Tom Cruise). All the while, greater forces are at work trying to convert the drug- and sex-fueled Sunset Strip into a safer, gentler piece of prime real estate, much to the chagrin of the bandannaed masses.
In anticipation of opening night (June 15), MTV News caught up with director Adam Shankman ("Hairspray") to chat about Tom Cruise's crazy work ethic, '80s nostalgia and the perils of working with a baboon.
MTV News: Movie musicals are nothing new for you. What is it about translating a work from stage to screen that is so compelling?
Adam Shankman: It's a matter of, I guess, finding a story you enjoy telling and a medium you enjoy. I grew up doing musical theater, so it's something that's in my bones, and I love it. I feel it's always informed a lot of the way I think and the way I approach material. It's just sort of a natural thing for me to be doing, given my history with music and dance and all that. All I ever wanted to be in my life was a chorus boy, so how things turned out couldn't be a bigger surprise to me.
MTV: What was it specifically about "Rock of Ages" that drew you in?
Shankman: I thought, "Holy moly!" Here's an opportunity to make a musical truly for straight men. I mean, straight guys walk into the theater and they know every word of the music. So it's a completely different experience from girls having to drag their boyfriends to boys dragging their girlfriends.
MTV: There's been a lot of '80s nostalgia in pop culture lately. Is that an era you're particularly nostalgic for?
Shankman: I mean, that was my time. I graduated high school in '82. My dad's office was on Sunset. I saw my first concert at the Roxy. I was choreographing music videos in '87 when, it happens, I actually choreographed a video for someone whose music is in the movie. It was, you know, the last time I remember everything being kind of innocent. Everything kind of shifted then, suddenly fun became drug addiction and crazy, casual sex became AIDS. It was the end of all of that.
MTV: Diego Boneta, who plays Drew, is a fairly under-the-radar talent right now. How did he land the role?
Shankman: His audition just sort of stopped me in my tracks. I saw it on my casting website. I've seen hundreds and hundreds of guys on there, and his stopped me because there was no acting — he just was that guy. And he also sang so great. In the best casting moments, you're looking at somebody and saying, "How much do I have to do with this person to get them there?" I just looked at him and he just dropped into it very easily and naturally. And then, of course, there's that face.
MTV: One of the film's many familiar faces is Tom Cruise, though I have a feeling this is a Tom Cruise we've never seen before.
Shankman: We have definitely never seen him do this before. A lot of the joy in this for him was just the adventure of trying something that was so foreign. I think part of the reason that he said yes to doing it was that he was so stunned that he was asked, and he thought, "Oh my god, of all the millions of things I've done in my career, nothing has ever been like this." He's a guy who loves challenges.
MTV: We did see him sing in "Top Gun."
Shankman: Not like this.
MTV: For fans of the original, how closely does the film hem to the Broadway musical?
Shankman: It's pretty close. I mean, I changed who the villains are. They were Europeans in the play, and I wanted them to be more L.A.-based so it had more of a local resonance. The character Lonnie, the Russell Brand character, isn't the narrator. I didn't think the movie should have a narrator. But in terms of spirit, the boy-meets-girl and what happens to the boy and girl is very close.
MTV: Is there a favorite musical number for you?
Shankman: I never cease to be in awe of "Pour Some Sugar on Me" because it was Tom on his first day of shooting, and he spent the day performing it for a giant crowd, and Def Leppard showed up on set and were there. That was an incredibly crazy, magical day.
MTV: Conversely, there's always a scene or two that give a director pause. Any particularly difficult moments for you on the set?
Shankman: Well, I have one of those that turned into one of the best scenes in the movie. There's a giant protest outside of the Bourbon, where Catherine Zeta-Jones and all the anti-Bourbon moms and all the rockers are fighting and they do a mash-up of "We Built This City" and "We're Not Going to Take It." Then, you know, we had the baboon there and the baboon got loose, and it was a nightmare and nobody could move because it was going to eat your face off. And then we were standing there for 20 minutes stuck on the street. Bizarre, bizarre day. On top of which, it was just really daunting because there was a lot going on. We had Sebastian Bach and Debbie Gibson and all these rockers there from that period. It was insane.
Attention Real Housewives fans: Atlanta is officially losing one of its cast members: Sheree Whitfield, who says she's tired of all the catty drama on the series.
Soccer player defects: A Cuban national soccer player disappeared while his team was playing in an Olympic soccer tournament in Tennessee.
Yosmel De Armas is a Cuban soccer player who has defected in order to seek asylum in the United States. While in Nashville, Tennessee last month for an Olympic qualifying soccer tournament, the Cuban midfielder was absent from his national team's final game against Canada, although he played on Saturday?s 4-0 loss to El Salvador.?
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When asked why the player skipped the game, the Cuban national coach said De Armas was sick and remained at the team's hotel. However, when the team left Nashville, the promising soccer player did not accompany his teammates on their return trip to the island nation.
Although US officials refused to comment about the player?s whereabouts, it was reported that De Armas was last seen in Miami.?
"We're preparing an asylum application to file with the Department of Homeland Security," attorney Alex Solomiany said, according to Reuters.?
The Miami-based lawyer, who?described his client as "nervous," said De Armas is "alone here"?and that he was on his way to Miami at the time of the game, contrary to the coach's allegations.
A rising number of Cuban athlete defections are explained by several factors: the continuous financial hardship the populace faces in Cuba, the plethora of defection precedents that make the process look easy, and the luring prospects of a better life, all coalesce to urge young athletes to follow this path.?
"This is another case of a Cuban sportsman trying to get a decent life, to try to take control of his own career," Omar Lopez told Reuters.? Lopez is general director of the Cuban American National Foundation, a Miami-based organization of Cuban exiles who seek political change on the island.
Four years ago, seven members of the Cuban under-23 national soccer team also sought political asylum after competing against its US counterpart in Tampa, Florida.?
"Of course, my heart will be in Cuba with my family, but I want to have the freedom to better my life, to play professional soccer, to be the best I can be, and for that we had to make this sacrifice," Yenier Bermudez told the Miami Herald, according to ESPN.
Since the 2002 CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central America, and Caribbean Association Football) tournament in Los Angeles, a total of 15 Cuban soccer players abandoned their teams and requested political asylum in the United States.
In a clip from her sister Khloé's show "Khloé & Lamar," she shared her political aspirations with her baby sister. "I decided ... I'm gonna run for the mayor of Glendale. You have to have full residency in Glendale, so Noelle's going to head my campaign, but it's going to be five years for Glendale. So I have to buy a house there," she said in a clip posted on Aceshowbiz.com. "You have to have residency, so Noelle and I are looking into all the requirements. It's [an] Armenian town. But I need to wait like five years."
While some people are scratching their heads at the thought of her calling the shots for the Cali town, it seems that those who currently live and work there are not against the idea. "I would support her. I think she would make an excellent mayor," city councilman Rafi Manoukian told E! News. And he's not the only one.
City councilman and former mayor Ara Najarian offered to make the reality starlet "honorary chief of staff to my office to help her get acquainted to Glendale," adding that he believes that her dream to run for political office is a "great idea."
Najarian noted that he knows that Kardashian is busy, but she can start small as she readies for her office run. "I know Kim is busy all over the world and all that, but if she's able to come in a few days a week or a few days a month to see how the city works and see all the great things we do," he explained, "if she wants to learn how Glendale runs, this is really the best way to do it."
Her run for office certainly wouldn't be the first time she's attempted to do something outside her comfort zone of posing on step-and-repeats in bandage dresses, selling diet programs and designing clothes. Last year, she tried a short-lived career as a pop star with her track "Jam (Turn It Up)." She even shot a Hype Williams-directed video for it, but, alas, it never saw the light of day.
Indoor pools are a great idea for those who live in cold climates and still want to enjoy an occasional swim. When you install an indoor pool, it becomes a very important part of your house for two reasons. Firstly, the pool can turn out to be the one place where the entire family can enjoy while relaxing and unwinding together. Secondly, your indoor pool can become an instant attraction with your friends and relatives.
An indoor pool is generally installed in a room that is used exclusively for swimming and swimming related activities. You can use your creativity to build an exceptionally good swimming pool and select pool features that will make it look exclusive.
One of the first factors that you will have to consider when you plan an indoor swimming pool is the room where you will have it built. In case a spare room is not available, then you will have to get an additional room built for the swimming pool. You should consult an architect before using an existing rooms or building an additional room to accommodate a pool. This is because you may have to get the addition of the swimming pool, approved by an architect in order to get a permit to proceed with such a construction.
When you use a spare room to add your indoor pool, you can consider an above ground swimming pool, as this way you will not have to make too many changes to your building?s integral structure. The height of your room ceiling will determine the depth of the pool you choose for your house. Unused basements can be ideal for installing indoor pools.
Select a room that has a concrete floor when you add a pool, as concrete floors will be able to uphold the additional weight of the indoor pool. In case the room where you intend to install your pool does not have a strong enough floor, you can ask your pool supplier for ways to reinforce the floor.
If you are building a new house, you can incorporate the indoor swimming pool into the plan and get it approved by your architect with ease. Generally indoor, in-ground pools are poured out along with the foundation. However, this is not the case with fiber glass indoor pools since they can be fixed into the floor as the house is being constructed. If your plan to incorporate an indoor pool after the initial house plan was drawn, you will have to ensure that your contractor is aware of the inclusion of the swimming pool.
The d?cor of the swimming pool room is very important since it can either enhance the presence of the pool or downplay it. If you have taken the trouble to install an indoor pool, you will also want to pick the right music to augment the effect. A water fall in one end of the room will increase the indoor swimming pool?s charm. Indoor pools can also look more appealing with the right kind of lighting.
?Things To Keep In Mind When Building An Indoor Pool Having your own indoor pool has many benefits - it?s fun, a great way to exercise and therapeutic for those suffering from arthritis, multiple sclerosis and other chronic conditions. Though indoor pools are common in gyms, clubhouses or community centers, having your own indoor pool is more convenient and fun. Here are a few things you should consider when building an indoor swimming pool. Consulting a professional Although it may seem easy, setting up an indoor swimming pool is a complex...
?Installing An Indoor Pool In Your Home Indoor pools have a number of benefits. It?s a great option for both recreational and fitness purposes, especially if you happen to live in an area where the mercury tends to dip often. Additionally, it adds considerably to the market value of your property. While building an indoor pool may be a welcome idea, it is important to take into consideration the baggage it tends to bring along with itself. Cost of construction and maintenance facilities are areas that need particular attention when...
?Concrete Vs Fiberglass Swimming Pools Swimming is a great way to relax after a tiring day and it is also a good form of exercise and fun. Up until the mid 20th Century, having swimming pools at home was a luxury only the very wealthy could afford. But that is not the case anymore. Having swimming pools at home is now affordable and homeowners can choose from fiberglass pools or concrete pools. This choice should be made wisely keeping in mind the advantages and disadvantages of both types. Assess Your Requirement If you only...
?Concrete Swimming Pools Landscape Design Ideas The landscaping around your concrete swimming pool deserves just as much attention as the design of the pool. There is no point in building a nice-looking pool if the pool landscape does not blend in. For instance, a natural shaped pool that offers a lagoon-type visual effect should have appropriate surrounding foliage, rocks and pebbles. If you are planning to use the pool during nighttime, then path light surrounding the pool or up-lights in trees are necessary. Pool decking, furniture, spas...
?Hot Tubs No Longer Just for the Rich and Famous If you have always thought that hot tubs were only for those who walk the Red Carpet or who are rolling in cash, then think again! The price of installing a hot tub in your home or backyard has never been more affordable. Hot tubs are not only great getaways for the home, they are also wonderful for entertaining friends and family. And not only have hot tubs become more affordable and within reach of the average Joe on the street, they have also become more technologically advanced; some of...
They starred together on That 70s Show and now a new report says they've reunited... in bed!
Tragically for men everywhere, Ashton Kutcher appears to have spent the weekend with Mila Kunis, going furniture shopping with the gorgeous actress and then dining with her in Studio City before returning - sigh... - to Ashton's mansion in the Hollywood Hills.
"Ashton was touching Mila's hand and Mila was all dressed up," a witness tells X17. "She looked hot; this was definitely more than a dinner between friends - this was a full-on date!"
If valid, this report would mark Kutcher's second sex romp with a famous beauty. He's also been linked, for one night at least, with Rihanna, leading us to ask a simple question:
Seek partnerships with fellow online merchants so that you can put together joint offerings that you can sell at competitive prices. This method is very efficient at linking many different markets, which will increase your sales. As an example, take online booking agents who negotiate lower rates for clients who purchase a hotel reservation, a plane ticket and a car rental at the same time. This is the perfect strategy for allying two or more companies which are related, but not competitors.
A blog will attract more traffic to your site. It?s crucial to have up-to-date content on your site at all times. Potential buyers are more likely to revisit your site if they can always look forward to reading new content that is relevant and interesting.
Discover the proper use of HTML tags. These tags mark up the important content of your website and display it accordingly. Search engines take emphasized text into account when determining rankings. It is important, then, to emphasize your essential keywords.
One of the best ways to ensure success with you business, would be to ?know your competition.? Figure out what they are doing and what?s working for them, and do the same thing, but better. By having an idea of what they are selling or offering, you can improve your business and reach a higher level of success. This is a key component in Internet marketing.
Use banner ads that stand out. Make your banner ad look more appealing and unique and people will be more likely to click.
Online business failure can open many doors for you as an entrepreneur. Employ the tips and tactics that you found above and you can be the next Internet marketing success story.
Marketing is very important for any business. It can make the difference between success and failure. Would you invest thousands on getting your business off the ground, developing your products and services, getting the right staff and infrastructure and let it fail due to lack of marketing?
It does not matter whether your business is a one-person-business or a large multi-national, it is important to get the word out. Ultimately, more leads mean more customers which in turn means, more income. And since it is all online with very little overheads, this means bigger profits!!!
With so many good Marketing Companies in cities like Glasgow and Edinburgh, all you really need is one good and reliable Marketing Company.
At Le Marketeer, we are one of the leading Glasgow Marketing Companies.
We specialise in Network Marketing and other online and offline marketing channels and also provide ongoing support to our clients.
We have worked with businesses of all sizes, types and with variety of budgets.
Contact Us if you are looking for more leads, more customers and bigger sales.
NEW YORK (AP) ? Quiara Alegria Hudes's play "Water by the Spoonful," about an Iraq war veteran struggling to find his place in the world, has won the 2012 Pulitzer Prize for drama, leaving its author in a "daze."
The drama, which was produced last fall at Hartford Stage Company in Connecticut, was called an "imaginative play about the search for meaning" by the Columbia University's prize board on Monday.
"I'm still kind of in a daze about it but I'm very excited," she said by phone from Middletown, Conn., where she is teaching a play writing workshop to undergraduates at Wesleyan University. "I'm really delighted that something that was a little off the beaten path was considered."
Hudes, 34, previously wrote the book for the Broadway show "In the Heights," which won the Tony Award for Best Musical in 2008. Her play "Elliot, A Soldier's Fugue" was a finalist for the Pulitzer in 2007.
She found out she's won the Pulitzer while checking her phone during a break in the class. Hudes says she yelped and some of her students asked her what was wrong. "I think I looked like the blood had drained from my face," she said. "They said, 'Is everything OK?' I said, 'Yes,' and they all applauded."
In "Water by the Spoonful," a soldier returns from war to Philadelphia and struggles to put aside the images that haunt him while his mother, a recovering addict, battles her own demons. It has characters from all around the world because much of it is set in an Internet chat room.
"The play was a new direction for me," said Hudes. "In a really exciting way, I felt like I had been writing for long enough that I really was very sure on why I was writing. But I also had been writing for long enough that I wanted to go in a new direction."
The drama award, which includes a $10,000 prize, is "for a distinguished play by an American author, preferably original in its source and dealing with American life," according to the official guidelines. The production also must have opened during 2011 to be eligible for this year's award.
Hudes graduated from public school in Philadelphia, got her bachelor's in music from Yale University and an M.F.A. in playwriting from Brown University, where she studied with Paula Vogel, the playwright of "How I Learned to Drive." Many of her works are set in north Philadelphia.
In "Water by the Spoonful," Hudes included characters far from Philadelphia ? from places like California and Japan. "As I was writing this play, I felt more at home than ever," she said. "I am myself of a mixed background. I'm half Puerto Rican and half Jewish and so, in some ways, living in many worlds at once is where I feel most at home."
Her other works include "Barrio Grrrl!," a children's musical about a 9-year-old who fancies herself a superhero and which premiered at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in 2009, and "26 Miles," the story of a mother and her sick daughter which premiered at Atlanta's Alliance Theatre in 2009.
"Water by the Spoonful" is the second of a planned trilogy that began with her "Elliot, A Soldier's Fugue," a play about a young Marine coming to terms with his service in Iraq and his father's service in Vietnam. The third part, "The Happiest Song Plays Last," is slated to make its world premiere next year at The Goodman Theatre in Chicago.
Hudes' play beat out two other finalists: "Other Desert Cities" by Jon Robin Baitz, a witty drama about an affluent California couple whose daughter has written a memoir that threatens to reveal family secrets, and "Sons of the Prophet" by Stephen Karam, a play about a Lebanese-American family that blends comedy and tragedy.
Last year's winner was Bruce Norris' "Clybourne Park," a play currently on Broadway that examines race relations and the effects of modern gentrification. Previous playwrights honored include August Wilson, Edward Albee, Eugene O'Neill, Arthur Miller and Tennessee Williams.
Hudes hopes the prize will extend the life of her play and get it mounted in New York and, of course, her hometown of Philadelphia, "which I love to bits."
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Online: http://www.pulitzer.org
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Follow Mark Kennedy on Twitter at http://twitter.com/KennedyTwits
Google is slowly but surely building out its movie rental service on YouTube. Less than two weeks ago, the company struck a deal with Paramount to bring about 500 of the studio's movies to YouTube and Google Play. Last night, Google announced that is also bringing about 600 movies from MGM to its movie rental service in the U.S. and Canada. This new deal with MGM brings movies like The Terminator, RoboCop, Rain Man and Rocky to YouTube's and Google Play's rental library.
In the last couple of weeks I?ve had a couple of readers point out to me that there are some sites available now that will do some aspects of your post processing for real estate photographers. The two specific sites that were pointed out were exposiohdr.com?(HDR processing) and pre-view.org?(360 stitching). I haven?t tried either of these sites and my whole point here is not about these particular services. These are just examples of services that will do you HDR processing or stitch your spherical 360 images. The point I want to make is more about the?philosophy of when it makes sense to outsource some part of your process like this.
My initial reaction to outsourcing post-processing is negative and it?s taken me a while to think about why I feel this way. Here are some of the reasons it doesn?t feel right for me:
It seems like a core part of any great business needs to be always looking for ways to continually improve your business process. If you outsource a piece of it, that?s one part you have less control over and are not likely to improve.
For people new in this business it seems like post-processing is a part of the business where you want to be in total control and totally involved because there are plenty of?opportunities?to learn and improve.
One of the reasons I got into real estate photography was that my wife was using bamboo.com (a 360 virtual tour vendor in the mid-1990?s) That was taking several days to schedule and shoot 360 virtual tours and I found I could cut that part of our process down to less than a day if I did it. My wife wanted to be able to commit to our listing customers exactly when their home would be on the market. The more people/companies we had in the loop to get a listing on the market the less we could predict how long the process took.
Admittedly post=processing is a part of the process I enjoy and am pretty good at so it?s not in my nature to give it away to someone else and let them have all the fun.
Post is frequently where you can give your work it?s own unique look and feel. You loose that if you have someone else do it.
Despite all these objections to outsourcing I realize there are some situations where if you are shooting 4 or 5 properties a day at some point in an effort to have a life, outsourcing some piece of your process to a?competent vendor can be an economic?benefit.? To me this is the only excuse and even then I?d rather train someone in the family or an assistant to help out full or part time.
What do others think about outsourcing post? Does it make sense for you?
Like any niche business, this one of Disaster Recovery Planning and Business Continuity Planning has its own jargon and terminology. Often for people new to thinking about and considering how their company can be best protected in the event of a disaster, this jargon becomes overwhelming.
So to help clear the air and keep things simple, lets review some of the key terms of our industry ??? hopefully making it easier for you to discuss Disaster Recovery Planning and Business Continuity Planning with your colleagues.
Disaster Recovery Planning(DRP): refers to the recovery of IT services following a major hit or service interruption.
Business Recovery Planning (BRP): a superset of DRP and refers to the recovery of IT and all other aspects of the business. This includes everything from finance to administration to engineering to manufacturing.
Business Continuity Planning (BCP): includes BRP and highlights vulnerabilities that might cause losses to your business and plans for the continued conduct of your business. These vulnerabilities can include things such as poor security procedures following a disaster or the lack of effective backup procedures.
Emergency Response Planning (ERP): includes all aspects of DRP, BRP, and BCP but adds evacuation planning, medical aid, and security issues.
Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP): refers to the preparations and institutions maintained by the United States government to ensure survival of federal government operations in the case of a catastrophic event.
This is a brief primer of some of the key terminology that is integral to understanding how you need to prepare your business in the event of a disaster. By clearly understanding this basic terminology, you are ready to take the next step and start considering how to best approach protecting your business.
About KingsBridge
KingsBridge offers private businesses and government organizations a unique combination of industry knowledge and cost-effective disaster recovery / business continuity solutions. KingsBridge products and seminars provide the tools to assess possible threats and create tailored plans which mitigate risks and minimize losses in the event of a disruption to business. Kingsbridge is headquartered in Ogdensburg, New York, with offices in Ottawa, Canada and Burlington, Vermont. For more information visit us at www.DisasterRecovery.com and visit our blog at http://blog.disasterrecovery.com.
Scientists unearthed remains of a new kind of dinosaur and its eggs in Patagonia recently. The fossil find provides fresh clues to the past.
New evidence suggests that mama dinosaur likely perished at the same time as her eggs.
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Researchers in Patagonia recently found skeletal remains of a newly designated genus of dinosaur ? Bonapartenykus ??near two broken eggshells. Examinations of the bones and eggs suggest that they may have been inside the creature at the time of her death.?
"So it looks like we have indirect evidence for keeping two eggs in two oviducts," Kundr?t told LiveScience. "They were close to being laid, but the female didn't make it."
Or maybe not. Other information gathered from shards of eggshells discovered later indicates that some of the eggs had been incubated, and therefore contained embryos at an advanced stage of development. In other words, some of the eggs may have been in the nest, not in the dinosaur.
Though the location of the eggs at the time of the mother's death remains uncertain, the 70-million-year-old fossils hold several more clues to the past.
The remains are from the birdlike dino which belonged to a group of dinosaurs known as the Alvarezsauridae. It's known as Bonapartenykus ultimus, named in honor of Jos? Bonaparte, discoverer of the first alvarezsaurid in Patagonia in 1991.
Measuring eight and a half feet long, it was one of the largest members of the family.?The feathered bipeds possessed birdlike skulls, small jaws with teeth, and strong but short arms that ended with a?sizable claw.
The eggs found with the mother's remains are unique, so researchers designated a new type of dinosaur egg?called Arraigadoolithidae,?named for Alberto Arraigada?the owner of the site where the specimen was discovered.
When Kundr?t, a dinosaur expert from Uppsala University in Sweden, examined the eggshells, he noticed what "turned out to be the first evidence of fungal contamination of dinosaur eggs."
Kundr?t told LiveScience of his discovery, "It looks like at the very late stage the eggs could suffer from the same contamination as in common birds."
These findings will be published in the June 2012 edition of the journal Cretaceous Research. The article is available online now.
A representative for Marilyn Manson has dismissed reports suggesting he is engaged to actress Seraphim Ward. Manson reportedly proposed to his girlfriend of just five [...]
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Google is slowly but surely building out its movie rental service on YouTube. Less than two weeks ago, the company 
In the last couple of weeks I?ve had a couple of readers point out to me that there are some sites available now that will do some aspects of your post processing for real estate photographers. The two specific sites that were pointed out were exposiohdr.com?(HDR processing) and pre-view.org?(360 stitching). I haven?t tried either of these sites and my whole point here is not about these particular services. These are just examples of services that will do you HDR processing or stitch your spherical 360 images. The point I want to make is more about the?philosophy of when it makes sense to outsource some part of your process like this.