Indonesia bridge collapses; 4 dead, scores missing (AP)

JAKARTA, Indonesia ? Rescue teams searched for survivors Sunday after a busy bridge collapsed in central Indonesia, sending a bus, cars and motorcycles crashing into the river below. Four people were killed and scores more were missing.

Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, a spokesman for the country's disaster management agency, said the sprawling concrete bridge on the remote island of Borneo was being repaired when Saturday's accident occurred.

Workers were tightening screws and bolts when a steel support cable snapped and the bridge, which was less than 10 years old, came smashing down.

Four bodies were pulled from the Mahakam river, including a 6-month-old baby, and 19 people were rushed to the hospital with injuries, said police Capt. Syafii Nafsikin.

Many people ? including six of the repair workers ? were missing.

The 770-yard (700-meter) structure ? built to resemble the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco ? linked the towns of Tenggarong and Samarinda in East Kalimantan province.

Syaiful, a witness, told local television station TVOne that he saw at least one bus and a dozen motorcycles plunge into the river. Several cars were badly mangled.

"Everyone was screaming," said Syaiful, who like many Indonesians uses only one name. "Survivors were swimming to the shore in panic."

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono ordered government ministers to the scene to oversee search-and-rescue operations. He also called for a full investigation into the cause of the collapse.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111127/ap_on_re_as/as_indonesia_bridge_collapse

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Mexico catches escapees from island penal colony (AP)

MEXICO CITY ? Six inmates from the last island penal colony in the Americas were recaptured at sea Thursday after they used buoyant containers and wood planks to try to swim to freedom in an escape reminiscent of the 1973 movie "Papillon."

The Mexican navy said the inmates used empty plastic gas or water tanks to help stay afloat as they swam about 60 miles (90 kilometers) south of the Islas Marias, a Mexican penal colony where inmates live in small houses and are normally not locked up. Prisoners can tend small gardens and raise food.

The six men were only about 60 miles from the Pacific coast resort of Puerto Vallarta when they were spotted by a passing boat early Thursday.

The boat called in a tip to a local naval base, and patrol boats were quickly dispatched to take the men into custody. Photos provided by the navy showed them men sunburned but alert ? and unhappy ? on the deck of the patrol vessel.

The men, who range in age from 28 to 39 years, were taken back to Puerto Vallarta for a medical check and to be turned back over to prison authorities.

Later, the federal Public Safety Department, which is in charge of Mexico's federal prisons, said the men had been found to be in acceptable health and would be returned to the penal colony "within hours."

The department said the prison oversight agency wasn't notified until Thursday that the men were missing from the prison ? the same day they were found at sea, suggesting that their absence had not been noticed when they set off on the escape bid.

The Islas Marias penal colony lies about 70 miles (110 kilometers) from the mainland, but the prisoners did not swim to the closest shore, which is due east. Instead they apparently swam south, either because prevailing currents carried them that way, they didn't know where they were going, or because they were aiming for Vallarta.

The Pacific ocean forms the main security barrier at the island. While dozens of prisoners are believed to have tried to escape since the penal colony was founded in 1905, local news media reports indicate few, if any, are believed to have made it to the mainland.

The escape bid drew comparisons to the movie "Papillon," in which the main character, played by Dustin Hoffman, uses a buoyancy device to swim away from a penal colony in French Guyana.

Islas Marias is the last island penal colony in the region.

Panama closed Coiba Island, the only other remaining island penal colony in the Americas, in 2004. That same year, Mexico announced it would spend $2 million to revive the crumbling prison at Islas Marias and increase the inmate population. Normally, about 1,000 to 1,200 inmates are held at the facility.

(This version CORRECTS that the Public Safety Department, not the Interior Department, released information about the men being returned shortly to the penal colony. )

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/latam/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111125/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/lt_mexico_penal_colony_escape

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UK's Ministry of Defence loses a ton of tech (Digital Trends)

From time to time, employees lose company laptops, accidentally leaving them in a bar or on a train. USB sticks go missing too, slipping out of pockets or sliding down the back of sofas, never to be seen again. And of course, some equipment gets stolen.

Workers at the UK?s Ministry of Defence, however, appear to be a particularly lax bunch, having lost possession of 287 computers, 72 hard disks, 73 USB sticks, 28 mobile phones and 194 CDs and DVDs in the last 18 months alone.

If this happened in any government department it would be bad enough, but the fact that it?s the Ministry of Defence, which of course deals with highly sensitive information, is sure to raise eyebrows among the British public.

The UK???s under-secretary of state for defence Andrew Robathan said that in Germany 21 laptops were stolen in a single incident. Another 20 laptops went missing in another incident but were later recovered.

Radios, 3G cards and cameras have also gone missing since the Conservative-led coalition government took office in 2009.

Robathan tried to calm fears that confidential material on the computers and storage devices could be accessed, saying that all data was encrypted.

In a parliamentary written answer, Robathan said, ?The MoD [Ministry of Defence] takes any loss and theft of communications and information systems and associated media storage devices very seriously. We have robust procedures in place to mitigate against such occurrences and to manage such losses when they do occur.?

He goes on to say that with a global workforce of more than a quarter of a million individuals and with devices being frequently on the move, ???it is almost inevitable that equipment will go missing.??

Despite constant reviews of ?processes, instructions and technological aids? to prevent the losses, it seems the MoD has made little progress in getting on top of the situation ? a report in 2008 said that over a four-year period more than 700 laptops had been lost or stolen at the MoD.

[Source: Daily Mail] [Image: bodhihillillustration / Shutterstock]

This article was originally posted on Digital Trends

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Survey: Ten percent of Brits include Internet passwords in will

YouTube?s online movie rental service launches in UK

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/personaltech/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/digitaltrends/20111124/tc_digitaltrends/uksministryofdefencelosesatonoftech

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OITE to organise Oman Islamic Banking and Finance Conference in ...

As the country moves towards embracing the modern concept of Islamic banking based on the recent affirmation of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, OITE Conferences is pleased to announce the Oman Islamic Banking and Finance Conference will be held on 26 - 27, March 2012 at the Al Bustan Palace, A Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Muscat under the theme, "Innovating the Future of Oman's Islamic Banking and Finance: Meeting Demands, Maximising Opportunities".

"In the struggle to drive long-term sustainability and accelerate economic growth, it is crucial to formulate strong banking reforms, diversify financial assets and execute appropriate investment mechanisms effectively," said Sherwin Sevillena, Senior Manager - Conferences at OITE, adding that: "The need to strengthen policies and legal principles intended for implementing Islamic banking for the Sultanate of Oman should seize decisive action by governments and key policy makers to obtain a competitive edge in the regional and global financial markets."

The conference aims to provide a platform for dialogue and discussions between top leaders, key policy makers and the brightest minds in the industry to formulate winning strategies that will revolutionise the Sultanate's current financial structure and investment climate. Besides, the event aspires to develop a concrete blueprint on how to meet the emerging challenges posed by the outcome of financial liberalisation including ways to leverage opportunities in introducing Shari'ah-compliant products and banking solutions.

Sevillena added, "The event will also discuss the need for a fundamental rethink on how to increase the level of sophistication in building techniques to raise awareness, optimise operation efficiencies and achieve a higher degree of accountability to the public at large. It will throw light on uncovering solutions and forward-thinking ideas to manage complex Islamic banking implementation in a highly volatile environment."

Source: http://www.ameinfo.com/282287.html

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Obama Campaign Rolls Out Merchandise (ABC News)

Share With Friends: | | Politics - Top Stories News, RSS and RSS Feed via Feedzilla.

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Handsome Articles ? The Benefits Of Real Estate Investing

Real estate investing is increasing at a staggering rate these days. More and more individuals are learning that real estate investments can offer wonderful earning potential. Real estate investing is a process which has many attractive qualities that make it a viable money-producing opportunity. There are a number of benefits that go along with purchasing real estate investments and the following paragraphs will highlight some of these benefits. As you will see these attributes make it quite apparent why individuals are becoming interested in investment opportunities of this type.

Build Equity in the Property For those individuals who are looking to invest in real estate on a long-term scale, there are certain benefits to doing so. When individuals purchase real estate and hold onto it for awhile, they are ultimately able to build a good deal of equity in the home they are purchasing as an investment property. Equity is a beneficial aspect for the homeowners as the more equity a property has, the more that it adds to the net worth thereof. This is an important and frequently cited reason why individuals do choose to invest in real estate and maintain the property as an investment for a long period of time thereafter.

Possible Tax Advantages Another benefit of purchasing real estate for investment purposes is the possible tax advantages that one may receive as a result of owning the investment property. Depending on a variety of factors, individuals who own investment property may just see some gracious tax advantages as a result. Therefore, individuals may be more than ready to invest in real estate once they have looked into possible tax advantages that result from engaging in a transaction of this type.

High Rate of Return on the Sale of the Property When the investment property is sold somewhere down the road, the homeowners will most likely see a high rate of return on the sale of the property. Depending on the market at the time of the purchase and sale, this rate of return may be more than generous when one looks at the profit margin. Some factors to consider if looking to purchase property and sell it within a short period of time after the initial purchase include current market for property sales, renovations and upkeep necessary to get the property ready for the sale and ability to hold on to the property longer if a sale does not come as quickly as one had expected. If one has considered all of these possibilities and still feels that they will be able to sell the property quickly, then this is a wonderful benefit of real estate investment.

Lease the Property to Tenants While some real estate investors choose to purchase the property and then sell it shortly thereafter, there are other individuals who have a different reason for purchasing investment properties and wish to obtain a profit by other means. These individuals are ones who prefer to purchase the property and then lease it out to tenants. By doing so, the homeowners are able to pay for any mortgage which may be present on the property plus receive any additional income from leasing the property to tenants.

Investing in real estate is a wonderful way to gain equity in a piece of property, take advantage of possible tax benefits and maybe even make a considerable profit from the sale of the property once the individual feels like doing so. These are some of the many reasons why individuals are purchasing real estate as investment property and current low interest rates make now a perfect time to buy. The benefits of real estate investing are difficult to pass up, so go ahead and find your first real estate investment property!

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Source: http://www.handsome-music.com/2011/11/the-benefits-of-real-estate-investing/

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Gender Roles

There are different expectations on women and men, from what personality traits one should have (so-called masculine ones for men, feminine for women), to what one's goals in life should be, all the way down to what compensation one should expect from one's work. To some extent, most people take up some or all parts of their role.

Two questions. First, are gender roles fundamentally a good thing, or a bad thing? And second, to what extent are these roles created by culture, versus inherent to our physiology?

I know this train of thought can lead into some unstable territory, so try your hardest to remain civil. If what someone writes offends you, try to assume first that any but the grossest sexism is accidental, or simply based on ignorance. As a preemptive measure: I'm not asking which sex is "better".

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RolePlayGateway/~3/PMZsiyT4SzM/viewtopic.php

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Restraining order extended in Selena Gomez case (AP)

BURBANK, Calif. ? A civil judge extended a temporary restraining order Wednesday but refused to issue Selena Gomez a lengthier order against a man accused of stalking the singer-actress.

Superior Court Judge William Stewart said he will not grant a three-year restraining order while Thomas Brodnicki remains on a psychiatric hold unless he has assurances the man had an opportunity to be represented at a hearing.

Stewart did extend a temporary order requiring Brodnicki, 46, to stay 100 yards away from the "Wizards of Waverly Place" star until a Jan. 6 hearing.

Los Angeles Police Detective Jose Viramontes told Stewart that Brodnicki is in a hospital on an involuntary psychiatric hold and efforts are under way to place him under a conservatorship. Viramontes said those proceedings, which would place Brodnicki under court supervision and could establish a treatment plan, could take 10 months.

The judge said allowing Brodnicki time to contest the restraining order is a basic due process issue.

Gomez's attorney, Blair Berk, argued that Brodnicki had an opportunity to contest the order and briefly had a public defender in another case who could have handled the issue.

Another judge recently dropped a felony stalking charge against Brodnicki after determining prosecutors hadn't proven he had caused fear for the star.

Berk argued that the civil order was the only court protection for Gomez.

Gomez, 19, did not attend the hearing. She wrote in a sworn declaration that she was in extreme fear after learning that Brodnicki had threatened to kill her while he was on a previous psychiatric hold.

Prosecutors accused him of traveling to Los Angeles and stalking the actress between July and October.

___

Anthony McCartney can be reached at http://twitter.com/mccartneyAP

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/tv/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111123/ap_en_tv/us_people_selena_gomez

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Navy to lay off 3,000 mid-career sailors

By Lea Sutton, KNSD

SAN DIEGO -- Imagine joining the Navy ten years ago with a career in mind. Now, sailors with that career plan are getting pink slips as the military looks for places to save money.

Since June, 16,000 mid-career sailors have been waiting to find out if they will be forced out early.

Last week, the Navy began its layoffs when the first of two rounds of personnel cuts were announced.

Read the original story at nbcsandiego.com

"Nobody ever wants to pass this sort of bad news to somebody," said Captain Winton Smith, Naval Station San Diego's commanding officer. "It's a very difficult thing for any commanding officer to sit down with a hard charger and to tell them to prepare for the next chapter of their life.?

Smith had to do that with two of his sailors last week. The Navy recently reviewed 16,000 sailors in 31 job categories where it had surpluses; all had served between 7 and 14 years. The Navy was looking for extra sailors to layoff.

"It can come down to a particular rating is simply over-manned, and we just have to reduce the number of people within that rating", said Smith.

These jobs range from aviation electricians to religious program specialists. In June, the Navy allowed sailors to apply to transfer to under-manned ratings, like medical professionals, to avoid being let go. But about 3,000 in the Navy will have to leave. To ease the transition, the Navy provides services including programs that help sailors translate their skills to public sector certifications.

"Our sailors have amazing leadership skills, and they've already started to make their own plans, and we're just here to help augment them and get them connected with all those resources that can help them with their goals", said Mary Kirby of Naval Station San Diego?s Fleet and Family Services.

The second round of lay-offs is expected to be announced near the end of this month, and those will affect the more senior sailors in the group up to the senior chief level.

The San Diego Fleet and Family Support Center is ready to help sailors who find their Navy careers ending early. Here is the contact information:

Phone: (619) 556-7404 Website: http://www.cnic.navy.mil/SanDiego/FleetAndFamilyReadiness/SupportServices/index.htm

Source: http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/11/22/8962737-navy-to-lay-off-3000-mid-career-sailors

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Tour operator Thomas Cook in financial trouble

LONDON?? Fears rose over the survival of venerable British tour operator Thomas Cook after financial problems worsened Tuesday for the company that took more than 22 million people on holiday in the latest year.

Shares in Europe's second-largest tour operator sunk 75 percent of their already depressed value after Thomas Cook said it was seeking new agreements with its main creditors. That announcement came barely a month after the company said it had negotiated new funding arrangements to carry it through the slow winter months.

The company insisted that flights would leave as usual and that it was taking new bookings, but Britons who bought vacations through the firm were worried.

"(I'm) praying it's going to be all right ... but I'm not confident," said Jamila Juma-Ware, 27, who had booked a holiday in Tenerife in the next three weeks for herself and her mother.

Several small British travel firms have gone under since the global economic crisis hit in 2008, but Thomas Cook is an industry giant and a fixture of Britain's main streets.

"There are a lot of small independent travel agents around here, but I said I'd rather just book it through someone like Thomas Cook because they're big and there's more of a guarantee they won't go bust," Juma-Ware said. "And then this week this happens. "

Thomas Cook is, like many airlines and tour operators, suffering from weak consumer demand as Europe's financial crisis has people worried about their jobs.

Unrest in Tunisia ? normally the top winter destination for French travelers ? and Egypt, flooding in Bangkok and disappointing sales in Russia have all added to the pressure on the company.

Analysts said the financial troubles could scare away customers, darkening the firm's prospects even more.

"Legitimate questions will be asked as to whether Thomas Cook can survive long-term," said James Hollins, analyst at Evolution Securities. He added that he believed the company could pull through on the strength of businesses outside Britain, but "a more flexible financial structure and massive turnaround are required."

Thomas Cook Group PLC shares closed down 75 percent in London trading.

Thomas Cook was due to report annual earnings for 2010-11 on Thursday, but it has put that off indefinitely "as a result of deterioration of trading in some areas of the business, and of its cash and liquidity position since its year end."

Sam Weihagen, Thomas Cook's interim chief executive, insisted it was business as usual: "Flights are leaving on schedule, shops are open and we're taking bookings."

Weihagen said people who booked package holidays with the firm would be protected by the Air Travel Organizers' Licensing insurance program, which is funded by contributions from travel companies. However, those who book only flights are advised to buy their own travel insurance.

Thomas Cook has previously announced plans to reduce its fleet of 41 aircraft to 35, and it hopes to raise 200 million pounds ($312 million) by selling assets including its stake in Britain's part-privatized air traffic control service.

Wyn Ellis, analyst at Numis Securities, said Thomas Cook's announcement could frighten new customers and alarm suppliers. The company, he said, "faces a difficult near-term future which could lead to significant loss of market share."

The news upset some prospective travelers near its shop in London's St. James neighborhood.

Tony Wright, 64, said he's had "nothing but good experiences" with the company and would not hesitate to use Thomas Cook again.

"We were devastated to hear the news this morning and we hope its not as bad as it sounds," he said.

Others were disappointed that the company's airfares had not dropped. Simon Ash visited the branch on Tuesday, hoping that the company's financial woes and a lack of tourist interest in Egypt because of unrest could help him find a cheap ticket to Cairo. He came away empty-handed.

"The prices they're giving me are not as good as the ones I'm finding on the Internet," he said.

Nadejda Popova, a tourism industry analyst at Euromonitor, said Thomas Cook's "great brand" identity could help it survive, especially because package holidays remain popular with travelers.

"We talk about the death of the package holiday, but we haven't completely seen (it)," she said. In uncertain times people "want the protection that comes with a package holiday."

The company takes its name from the cabinetmaker Thomas Cook, who had a flash of inspiration while walking to a temperance meeting in 1841 to use the railways to help promote abstinence from alcohol. Cook's first venture was to charter a train that carried about 500 passengers in open coaches on a 12-mile round trip.

"Thus was struck the keynote of my excursions, and the social idea grew up on me," Cook wrote.

He organized more trips for temperance societies and Sunday schools. He took his business a step further in 1845 by arranging a trip to Liverpool.

The International Exhibition in Paris in 1855 inspired Cook to organize a trip to the continent. Ten years later, he was organizing rail tours in North America.

___

Associated Press Writers Jill Lawless and Cassandra Vinograd contributed to this report.

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

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45399069/ns/business-us_business/

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Cricket-South Africa 266 & 229-3 v Australia 296 - close

JOHANNESBURG | Sat Nov 19, 2011 3:11pm GMT

JOHANNESBURG Nov 19 (Reuters) - South Africa were 229 for three wickets in their second innings, leading by 199 runs, at the close of the third day of the second test against Australia at the Wanderers on Saturday.

Scores:

South Africa 266 (Jacques Kallis 54, AB de Villiers 64, Ashwell Prince 50; Peter Siddle 3-69) and 229-3 (Hashim Amla 89 not out, AB de Villiers 70 not out) v Australia 296 (Shane Watson 88, Phil Hughes 88; Dale Steyn 4-64).

(Reporting by Ken Borland; editing by Toby Davis)

Source: http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/UKCricketNews/~3/-p_iwp-eH6g/cricket-australia-close-idUKB25519720111119

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TV broadcasters hope to dominate the second screen with ConnecTV

No one has quite figured it out yet, but there seems to be little doubt that tablet devices have their place on the couch to serve as a second screen while American's enjoy their favorite past time -- watching TV. In addition to many independent startups we've discussed in the past, the old guard, that already owns most of broadcast TV stateside, has a startup of its own called ConnecTV. In development for two years already, ConnecTV is currently in beta and has the hopes to go live in January. The idea is of course to put what you might want to see on your second screen while you watch the main action on the big screen. This includes sports scores, statistics, as well as what your friends may or may-not be saying on Twitter or Facebook -- and of course advertising. We'd be shocked if most tablet owners weren't already using their slate in front of the TV and can imagine how many more might if there was a great app that brought it all together.

TV broadcasters hope to dominate the second screen with ConnecTV originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 19 Nov 2011 05:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/jwBf3XnsGYI/

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First ladies' gowns return to view at Smithsonian (AP)

WASHINGTON ? Dresses, china and mementos dating back to days when Americans referred to the first lady as "lady presidentress" or "republican queen" will return to view Saturday at the National Museum of American History, along with Michelle Obama's dashing inaugural gown as a centerpiece.

The new exhibition "The First Ladies" features 26 dresses and about 160 other objects ranging from Martha Washington's White House collection to a first look at Laura Bush's china. It's the 10th version of the first ladies exhibit in nearly 100 years. The last one closed in October as the museum moves historic objects out of its west wing for a major renovation beginning early next year.

"We knew that it would be unacceptable during the renovation timeframe for the public to go two years without this popular and almost 100-year-old tradition at the Smithsonian," interim museum director Marc Pachter said.

When it first opened in 1914, the first ladies collection was the first time the Smithsonian Institution gave women a prominent place in history, he said. Every first lady since Helen Taft has followed the tradition of donating her inaugural gown to the collection. Last year, Obama gave the museum her dress designed by Jason Wu.

According to the Smithsonian, the term "first lady" was first used in 1849 by President Zachary Taylor in his eulogy of Dolley Madison. Before that, a variety of other terms were used over the nation's first 100 years.

The new exhibit examines how first ladies have shaped their roles as the influence of women in society has changed and ponders what will happen when a woman is elected president. Eight dresses and at least 10 other items, including Laura Bush's state china service, are on view for the first time or the first time in decades as the museum freshens its display and incorporates new stories.

"There is no job description for first lady of the United States," said Lisa Kathleen Graddy, curator of the collection. "Each one remakes the undefined and challenging position to suit her own interests, the needs of the presidential administration and the public's changing expectations of women in general and first ladies in particular."

Sections of the exhibition are devoted to the first ladies' impact on fashion, her role as the nation's hostess, inaugurations and formal events and the changing role over time. Madison, for example, got engaged in politics early by gathering information and talking about public opinion, and Mary Todd Lincoln was criticized for her attempts at patronage.

For decades, first ladies have influenced fashion, whether through popularizing colors like Nancy Reagan's red or setting trends as with Jacqueline Kennedy or Lou Hoover, who was first to appear in Vogue magazine in a bid to promote American-made clothes.

The public scrutiny of their fashion sense is an unexpected part of the job for many first ladies, Graddy said.

Curators refer to Caroline Harrison's evening gown, on display for the first time, as "early bling." The burgundy velvet and gray satin gown is embroidered with a floral gray pearls and steel beads.

For the first time, curators also mixed in mementos and other "secondary objects" along with gowns and china, Graddy said.

There's a scrap of fabric from Lincoln's redecoration of the White House parlor, a piece of burnt wood from when the British burned the executive mansion and a copy of the book "Treasure Island" that Edith Roosevelt gave to her son's friend Charley Taft, the next child who would occupy the White House. She signed it "Charley, from Quentin's mother," and Charley took the book to read during his father's 1909 inauguration ceremony, presumably to keep from getting bored.

"I really wanted it to be about memory," Graddy said of the revamped exhibit. "My word was always scrapbook. These are the things that people save. These are the things that women especially save, and this is so much a women's show."

As the museum plans its renovation of the 120,000 square feet of its west wing exhibit space, there will be a permanent home for the first ladies' gallery in a larger section devoted to American democracy, Pachter said. There will be floors devoted to the nation's economy and entrepreneurship, the underpinnings of the political system and culture ranging from music and entertainment to sports.

"We're going to give people a way to think about the whole of our society and who we are," Pachter said.

Construction is slated to begin in spring of 2012 and with the wing reopening in late 2014 for the museum's 50th anniversary.

___

National Museum of American History: http://americanhistory.si.edu

___

Follow Brett Zongker at https://twitter.com//DCArtBeat

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/obama/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111118/ap_on_re_us/us_smithsonian_first_ladies

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?DWTS? Star Ricki Lake Lands Daytime Talk Show

“DWTS” Star Ricki Lake Lands Daytime Talk Show

Ricki Lake will be returning to daytime television for a new talk show next year! The “Dancing With the Stars” contestant, who is currently in [...]

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Source: http://stupidcelebrities.net/2011/11/19/dwts-star-ricki-lake-lands-daytime-talk-show/

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Jobless claims at 7-month low, building permits jump (Reuters)

WASHINGTON (Reuters) ? New claims for jobless benefits hit a seven-month low last week, while permits for future home construction rebounded strongly last month, bolstering views the economy was gaining traction.

The improving economic picture was spoiled somewhat by other data on Thursday showing factory activity in the Mid-Atlantic region slowed this month on weak orders. However, employers hired more workers and increased working hours.

"Economic conditions are moving upward at an accelerating pace," said Joel Naroff, chief economist at Naroff Economic Advisors in Holland, Pennsylvania. "However, two major roadblocks stand in the way of solid growth: Rising oil prices and European debt issues."

Initial claims for state unemployment benefits fell 5,000 to 388,000, the Labor Department said. Economists had forecast claims rising to 395,000.

Separately, permits for residential construction rose 10.9 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 653,000 last month, the Commerce Department said. However, new home construction fell 0.3 percent to annual rate of 628,000 units.

Stocks on Wall Street had a weak tone as investors kept a wary eye on Europe, while prices for Treasury debt fell. The dollar was little changed against a basket of currencies.

LABOR MARKET CONDITIONS IMPROVING

The Philadelphia Federal Reserve Bank said its business activity index fell to 3.6 this month from 8.7 in October.

A reading above zero indicates factory activity is expanding in the region, which covers eastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and Delaware.

But a measure of factory employment in the region rose to a six-month high, taking some of the sting out of the report, and the average workweek index more than tripled.

The claims data covered the survey period for November's nonfarm payrolls. Claims dropped 16,000 between the October and November survey weeks, implying an improvement in nonfarm employment.

After wobbling in the second quarter, the labor market is regaining momentum, but not enough to cut into a 9 percent unemployment rate and promote faster economic growth.

Recent data such as retail sales and industrial production point to firming growth, further reducing the risk of a new recession.

Economists believe fourth-quarter growth could top an annual pace of 3 percent, stepping up from 2.5 percent in the July-September period.

But the crisis in Europe, which has caused bond market turmoil across the region, could derail the recovery.

St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank President James Bullard said the debt crisis in Europe probably would not hit the U.S. economy hard.

"If it blows up in a big disorderly way, which is what everyone is worried about, then that could come back to haunt the U.S.," Bullard told CNBC. "If it just tumbles along for a long period of time, which is the most likely outcome, then I'm not sure that you get much feedback to the U.S."

Initial claims have now held below the 400,000 mark that is normally associated with some healing in the jobs market for a second straight week.

The four-week moving average of claims, considered a better measure of labor market trends, hit its lowest level since April.

"We believe this decline could be heralding a pickup in the pace of job creation and we note that the increase in private payrolls in April was 241,000." said John Ryding, chief economist at RDQ Economics in New York.

"While we do not yet expect to see such a strong reading on job creation for November, we do expect the report to show a pickup in employment growth along with a continued pattern of upward revisions to the prior two months."

The number of people still receiving benefits under regular state programs after an initial week of aid dropped to a three-year low in the week ended November 5

(Additional reporting by Jason Lange and Tim Ahmann; Editing by Andrea Ricci)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/business/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111117/bs_nm/us_economy

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How to Make Alcoholic Ice Cream, the Greatest Dessert of All Time [Video]

You love booze. You love ice cream. Unfortunately, if you cram ice cream full of alcohol, it won't freeze. If only there were a way... THERE IS! Meet the ladies who cracked the code. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/Y6FRMrMAfnY/how-to-make-alcoholic-ice-cream-the-greatest-dessert-of-all-time

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This Week's Most Popular Posts: November 12-November 18 [Highlights]

This week we stocked our bags with must-have gear for getting things done on the go, calibrated our HDTVs for a much-improved picture, shared our favorite, time-saving Thanksgiving turkey recipe, and more. Here's a look back.

Top 10 Gadgets You Should Have In Your Go Bag

We share a lot of cool gadgets around here, but there are a few tech essentials we think should be in every geek's laptop bag. Here are the 10 coolest (and most useful) gadgets you should always have with you. More ?

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All About SOPA, the Bill That Wants to Cripple Your Internet

SOPA, or the Stop Online Piracy Act, is another one of those bills that sounds like it's going to do something mildly positive but, in reality, has serious potential to negatively change the internet as we know it. More ?

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How to Calibrate Your HDTV and Boost Your Video Quality in 30 Minutes or Less

Most HDTVs ship with default settings that are meant to look good in store showrooms, but more often than not, the default presets don't take into account how the TV will look in your home, how far away from it you'll sit, or what the normal lighting in your room will be like when you fire up a... More ?

This Is How You Should Cook Your Turkey Next Thursday (Or You Could Waste Hours of Your Life)

You cook a turkey, what, once a year? Maybe your go-to turkey-cooking method's been handed down from your grandmother; maybe you try a different recipe every year looking for a better way. More ?

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iTunes Remotes, Driving Posture, and Better Facebook

Readers offer their best tips for using your iOS devices as iTunes remotes, keeping good posture while driving, and customizing Facebook.
Don't like the gallery layout? More ?

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Avoid a Weekend of Boredom

We're always excited when the weekend rolls around and we finally get a break. Then we wake up on Saturday, watch some television, and realize we have absolutely nothing to do. More ?

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Easy and Cheap Ways to Increase Your Home's Security Based on Burglars' Habits

You want to protect your home, and the people and things within it, but a monthly home security system is outside your budget. Don't worry, there are several inexpensive ways to make your home less attractive to thieves. More ?

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Use the 20 Percent Payment Plan to Kill Debt Simply

Are you looking for a way to eliminate debt and start saving but dealing with interest rates and amortization schedules is way more in-depth than you'd like? More ?

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Increase Your Dating Success with Statistics

Dating isn't easy and love isn't a science, but the judicious application of statistics to your dating life may make the difference between a Saturday night alone and a fun night out. More ?

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In Defense of Windows

Despite being the world's most popular operating system, Windows gets a lot of flak from Mac users, Linux users, and even self-hating Windows users. It may not be perfect (after all, what is?), but Windows has a lot going for it-enough to win a spot as my main OS after years using both Mac OS... More ?

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Sing Your Desktop a Song with These Music-Themed Wallpapers

Music has inspired some of the most compelling visuals and it often goes unappreciated. This weeks wallpapers feature all things musical, from guitars to the formidable boom box. More ?

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Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/x50AU-Uzn8Q/this-weeks-most-popular-posts-november-12+november-18

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Scott calls for reforms to curb car insurance fraud | Naked Politics

Gov. Rick Scott and Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater called for major reforms Tuesday to reduce car insurance fraud in Florida. The two statewide officials appeared with nearly a dozen uniformed police officers at a Capitol press conference.

With car insurance premiums skyrocketing and fraud multiplying even as the number of accidents has declined, Scott said reform of the personal injury protection (PIP)?program is needed in four areas: fraud prevention, limiting lawsuits, provider reform and accountability. The governor held PIP?roundtables in five cities, including Tampa, the statewide leader in fraud from staged?car crashes,?exaggerated personal injuries and excessive visits to doctors, chiropractors and?massage therapists.?

"The charges per claim are above the national average. Procedures per claim are above the national average,"?Scott said. "There's clearly abuse by some providers."

Fixing?PIP?is easier said than done, because it will require lawmakers?to get tough with powerful interest groups including doctors, hospitals, lawyers, chiropractors and medical providers.?"Everybody's got their piece of the pie and they don't want to give it up,"?said Rep. Bryan Nelson,?R-Apopka, who chairs the House Insurance &?Banking Subcommittee. "It's not going to be an easy bill."

The subcommittee?will?workshop?its draft reform bill?Wednesday. Nelson says the House wants to change the law so?that only?doctors, dentists or chiropractors can prescribe medical care from car crashes and to limit treatments. He said the failure of a PIP?working group to reach any consensus on a solution was a sign of the challenge that lies ahead.?

-- Steve Bousquet

Source: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2011/11/scott-calls-for-reforms-to-curb-car-insurance-fraud.html

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Elisabeth Hasselbeck Goes After Bill Maher On ?The View? (VIDEO)

Elisabeth Hasselbeck Goes After Bill Maher On “The View” (VIDEO)

Stupid comments that Bill Maher made over a year ago were tossed in his face during his visit to “The View”. Elisabeth Hassebeck, a staunch [...]

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Source: http://stupidcelebrities.net/2011/11/16/elisabeth-hasselbeck-goes-after-bill-maher-on-the-view-video/

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Dramatic diversity of columbine flowers explained by a simple change in cell shape

ScienceDaily (Nov. 15, 2011) ? Columbine flowers are recognizable by the long, trailing nectar spurs that extend from the bases of their petals, tempting the taste buds of their insect pollinators.

New research at Harvard and the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) helps to explain how columbines have achieved a rapid radiation of approximately 70 species, with flowers apparently tailored to the length of their pollinators' tongues.

Bees, for example, enjoy the short spurs of Aquilegia vulgaris, whereas hawkmoths favor A. longissima, whose spurs can grow to up to 16 centimeters.

According to results published November 15 in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B, the dramatic diversity in the length of the columbines' spurs is the result of one simple change during development: the extent of cell elongation.

"The evolutionary importance of interactions between flowers and pollinators has been recognized for centuries," says co-lead author Sharon Gerbode, a postdoctoral fellow at the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS).

"Charles Darwin, observing orchids, recognized that the extraordinarily long nectar spur on the Angraecum must have evolved in concert with the equally long tongue of the moth that pollinated it, but the exact mechanism for this kind of adaptation has been a matter of speculation."

For more than 60 years, biologists have assumed that the length of columbine spurs was achieved primarily by cell proliferation. The new research reveals that proliferation plays almost no role at all in creating the vast diversity of Aquilegia species currently seen.

In fact, 99 percent of the variation in spur length can be attributed to changes in cell shape -- specifically, changing round cells into long ones.

The researchers made more than 13,000 measurements to count the number of cells along the spur, as well as the area and degree of elongation of each cell.

They found that cell division ceases early in the development of the spur -- when it is about 5 millimeters long. At that point, the general pattern for the spur has been established, and all species of columbine petals look the same. From that point on, the cells elongate to varying extents, creating diverse spur lengths across species.

"The controlled elongation of cells within the petal spurs was a critical evolutionary innovation for Aquilegia, a genus that is considered to be a textbook example of adaptive radiation," says co-lead author Joshua Puzey, a graduate student in Harvard's Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology (OEB).

The researchers confirmed their results through mathematical analysis and modeling, and through in vivo experiments to disrupt cellular structure. The next step will be to examine several major hormone pathways and cytoskeletal elements that are known to influence cell elongation and developmental timing.

"We want to understand the genes that are responsible for both the initial evolution of nectar spurs and their subsequent diversification," says co-principal investigator Elena Kramer, Professor of OEB at Harvard.

It is clear, she says, that the starting point for the spur is likely to have already been present in the last common ancestor of all the columbine species.

"Now that we understand the real developmental basis for the first appearance and diversification of spurs, we can make much more informed guesses about what genes contributed to the process," Kramer adds.

"Fundamentally, these studies will help us answer questions about the genetic basis for speciation and how developmental processes evolve."

Columbines show promise as a model organism for the study of evolution in plants because they have experienced such a rapid adaptive radiation within the past 3 million years.

"The fact that this occurred quite recently is incredibly useful," says Kramer, "because it means that the species are still very similar to each other at the genetic level."

Once researchers have identified the molecular signals that drive elongation in the spurs, the hope is that they will be able to recognize and understand speciation at all levels, from genes to populations.

"Aquilegia serve as a nice example of how environmental selective pressures may drive extreme morphologies -- as here the flower and pollinator strive for an exclusive relationship," adds co-principal investigator L. Mahadevan, the Lola England de Valpine Professor of Applied Mathematics at SEAS and Professor of OEB and Physics at Harvard.

"Given that we can now manipulate spur length using externally applied drugs, our study even raises the possibility of artificially tuning that process and studying the results from an ecological perspective."

The research was supported by the MacArthur Foundation, the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard, The Kavli Institute for Bionano Science and Technology at Harvard, the National Science Foundation (NSF), and the NSF-supported Materials Research Science and Engineering Center at Harvard.

UCSB faculty member Scott A. Hodges served as co-author for the research.

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.

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Journal Reference:

1. Joshua R. Puzey, Sharon J. Gerbode, Scott A. Hodges, Elena M. Kramer, L. Mahadevan. Evolution of spur-length diversity in Aquilegia petals is achieved solely through cell-shape anisotropy. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 2011; DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2011.1873

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://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111115191155.htm

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World stocks up as Europe stabilizes, Japan grows (AP)

BANGKOK ? World stocks rose Monday after Japan's economy grew for the first time in four quarters and Europe moved closer to resolving a debt crisis that threatens to hurl the region into recession.

Benchmark oil hovered near $99 per barrel while the dollar gained against the euro but fell against the yen.

European stocks were higher in early trading. Britain's FTSE 100 rose 0.1 percent at 5,551.35, while Germany's DAX gained marginally to 6,059.49. France's CAC-40 added 0.1 percent to 3,154.03.

Wall Street was headed for a higher opening, with Dow Jones industrial futures gaining 0.2 percent to 12,141 while S&P 500 futures rose 0.1 percent at 1,263.30.

Asian markets posted solid gains earlier in the day. Japan's Nikkei 225 index added 1.1 percent to close at 8,603.70. Hong Kong's Hang Seng surged 2 percent to 19,508.18 and South Korea's Kospi climbed 2.1 percent to 1,902.81

On mainland China, the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index gained 1.9 percent to 2,528.71 while the smaller Shenzhen Composite Index jumped 2.5 percent to 1,083.04. Benchmarks in Singapore, Australia, and Indonesia were also higher.

Hopeful signs emerged over the weekend from Europe after Silvio Berlusconi reluctantly bowed to market pressure and resigned as Italy's premier. His successor, economist Mario Monti, faces the monumental task of enacting profound reforms aimed at preventing Italy from defaulting on its huge debts.

Unlike Greece, Portugal and Ireland ? which have received emergency financial help from international lenders ? Italy is considered much too big to bail out. Its next government must push through austerity measures to deal with euro1.9 trillion ($2.6 trillion) in debt.

"There is a silver lining from the past two weeks of political uncertainties in Greece and Italy," analysts at DBS Bank Ltd. in Singapore said in a report. "Both countries now have leaders who are not only closer to the European Union, but are also moving towards forming technocratic governments better suited to implement much needed reforms."

Investment confidence was also boosted after Japan released data showing its economy ? sent into recession by a record earthquake ? had surged in the latest quarter. The economy jumped 6 percent, the first expansion for the world's No. 3 economy in four quarters.

The surge comes as Japan claws its way out of a crisis stemming from an earthquake and tsunami that decimated factories across the country's northeast on March 11.

Since then, the country has steadily restored its factories, helping the economy rebound despite the threats of a financial crisis in Europe, slowing global economy and a strong yen.

In Greece, there was good news Friday, as former central banker Lucas Papademos was sworn in as interim prime minister following a political crisis that jeopardized the country's ability to continue receiving emergency loans.

Papademos must now get his government to agree to a debt deal that will net the country billions of euros in acutely needed rescue money ? provided that it enacts painful austerity measures including tax hikes and sharp cuts in public spending.

Without the rescue money, Greece's faces insolvency and a massive default on its debts ? an event that experts believe could set off a banking crisis and eventually blow up into an all-out European recession.

But some analysts suggested Europe's crisis was already beyond repair and that no realistic amount of budget-cutting or aid could revive Greece's comatose economy or relieve Italy of the mountain of IOUs that it is sitting on.

"I am not very optimistic. All those who think the euro has stabilized or that Europe has stability, I think they are wrong," said Tom Kaan of Louis Capital Markets in Hong Kong. "The risk is still very much out there."

Rising energy prices helped lift resource shares. Hong Kong-listed China Coal Energy Co. rose 4.6 percent. China National Offshore Oil Corp. gained 2.3 percent.

High-tech shares also advanced. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing rose 3.4 percent and South Korea's Hynix Semiconductor, the world's second-largest memory chip maker, added 3.5 percent.

A resumption of service by bullet trains that had been recalled following a deadly crash in July sent Chinese rail shares bounding. Hong Kong-listed China Railway Group soared 8.6 percent and China Railway Construction Co. surged 9.3 percent.

State-owned Xinhua news Agency quoted a Ministry of Railways official as saying that the trains have been repaired and would start entering service on Wednesday.

Still, plenty of uncertainty hangs over financial markets as traders await U.S. economic data. Reports on October retail sales, inflation and housing data are due this week, starting Tuesday.

Despite its 2.5 percent growth rate last quarter, the U.S. economy remains fragile. The Federal Reserve recently lowered its economic outlook for 2012. The central bank predicted that the economy will grow at a rate of about 2.7 percent next year. That is a full percentage point below a forecast from June, and below the 3 to 5 percent annual growth rate that is considered healthy.

On Wall Street, stocks surged Friday after Italy and Greece moved closer to getting their financial crises under control.

The Dow Jones industrial average jumped or 2.2 percent to 12,153.68. The S&P 500 rose 1.9 percent to 1,263.85. The Nasdaq composite rose or 2 percent to 2,678.75.

Benchmark crude for December delivery was down 10 cents at $98.89 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract rose $1.21 to settle at $98.99 in New York on Friday.

In currency trading, the euro fell to $1.3726 from $1.3747 late Friday in New York. The dollar fell to 77.01 yen from 77.17 yen.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/japan/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111114/ap_on_re_as/world_markets

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Malaysia hosts symbolic trial against Bush, Blair (AP)

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia ? Malaysian-led activists plan to hold a symbolic trial this month against former President George W. Bush and British ex-leader Tony Blair on charges of committing crimes against peace in the Iraq war.

The Kuala Lumpur War Crimes Tribunal is an initiative of Malaysia's retired Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who staunchly opposed the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.

Malaysian lawyer Yaacob Hussain Marican says the tribunal will convene a four-day hearing starting Saturday to determine whether Bush and Blair committed crimes against peace and violated international law in the Iraq invasion.

Yaacob said Tuesday the effort is modeled after a 1967 Vietnam war crimes panel convened by philosophers Bertrand Russell and Jean-Paul Sartre.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/iraq/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111115/ap_on_re_as/as_malaysia_war_crimes

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Buffett's firm buys about $10.7B in IBM shares (AP)

OMAHA, Neb. ? Investor Warren Buffett says his company bought about $10.7 billion of IBM stock this year, giving it a stake of more than 5 percent stake in the technology company.

Buffett revealed the investment during an interview on CNBC on Monday. Buffett's company, Berkshire Hathaway Inc., will file a full quarterly update on its U.S. stock portfolio Monday afternoon.

Buffett has long refused to invest in high-tech companies because he has said it's too difficult to predict which technology businesses will prosper in the long run.

But he said he recently changed his view of IBM based on what he read in the company's annual reports and what he learned by talking to IT departments at Berkshire subsidiaries. He said he should have realized years sooner that the heart of IBM's business is providing service and equipment to information technology departments.

"There's a fair amount of presumption in many places that if you're with IBM, you stay with them," Buffett said.

So Berkshire bought about 64 million shares since March, or about 5.5 percent of IBM. Buffett says he believes IBM has a sound plan for the future.

IBM officials declined to comment on Buffett's investment Monday morning.

International Business Machines Corp., based in Armonk, N.Y., says it plans to continue growing its software business and invest about $20 billion in acquisitions between 2011 and 2015. IBM predicts that its operating earnings per share will top $20 by the end of 2015.

IBM shares gained $1.71 to $189.09 in morning trading, approaching its 52-week high of $190.53 reached in mid-October.

Buffett said Berkshire paid an average of about $170 per share for the IBM stock.

Berkshire's investments are closely watched in the market because of Buffett's successful record. Buffett has said that Berkshire has been buying aggressively during the recent market turmoil.

Buffett said Monday that Berkshire had been adding to its already sizeable stake in Wells Fargo, but he didn't say how many more shares had been bought recently. At the end of June, Berkshire held 352.3 million Wells Fargo shares. That was up from 342.6 million shares Berkshire held at the end of March.

Monday afternoon's filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission may not reveal a full picture of Berkshire's investments because regulators often allow the Omaha-based company to conceal new investments for a time while building a position.

Buffett said that the third-quarter report that will be filed Monday won't show all of Berkshire's new IBM stake because some of the shares were bought in the fourth quarter.

Besides investments, Berkshire owns roughly 80 subsidiaries including insurance, railroad and utility firms.

___

Online:

Berkshire Hathaway Inc.: http://www.berkshirehathaway.com

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/topstories/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111114/ap_on_re_us/us_berkshire_investments

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Tiger Woods has shot of the day at Australian Open

U.S. golfer Tiger Woods tees off on the 18th hole during the second round of the Australian Open golf tournament in Sydney, Australia, Friday, Nov. 11, 2011. (AP Photo/Rob Griffith)

U.S. golfer Tiger Woods tees off on the 18th hole during the second round of the Australian Open golf tournament in Sydney, Australia, Friday, Nov. 11, 2011. (AP Photo/Rob Griffith)

U.S. golfer Tiger Woods chips onto the 11th green during the second round of the Australian Open golf tournament in Sydney, Australia, Friday, Nov. 11, 2011. Woods started the second round at 4 under the card. (AP Photo/Rob Griffith)

U.S. golfer Tiger Woods plays a shot on the 11th fairway during the second round of the Australian Open golf tournament in Sydney, Australia, Friday, Nov. 11, 2011. Woods started the second round at 4 under the card. (AP Photo/Rob Griffith)

U.S. golfer Tiger Woods, right, and caddie Joe LaCava wait to tee off on the 18th during the second round of the Australian Open golf tournament in Sydney, Australia, Friday, Nov. 11, 2011. Woods started the second round at 4 under the card. (AP Photo/Rob Griffith)

U.S. golfer Tiger Woods looks into the early morning sun as he walks along the 10th fairway during the second round of the Australian Open golf tournament in Sydney, Australia, Friday, Nov. 11, 2011. Woods started the second round at 4 under the card. (AP Photo/Rob Griffith)

SYDNEY (AP) ? It was the shot of the day Friday at the Australian Open, and one that made the Tiger Woods of today look ominously like the one of yesterday.

Standing about 280 yards from the green on the par-5 eighth hole at The Lakes, Woods grabbed his 3-wood, flushed it with a slight fade into a brisk breeze and rolled it on to the green. Two putts later, his birdie helped him to a 5-under 67 and a one-stroke lead over Australian veteran Peter O'Malley going into the weekend.

That impressed one of his playing partners, Australian Robert Allenby, who missed the cut after rounds of 75-73, but who still seemed to enjoy the front-row seat to Woods' apparent resurgence.

"Probably in the last six months, that's the best I've seen him play," Allenby said in the scorers' area while Woods was mobbed by autograph seekers. "I've seen him at his absolute best ... that was a different human being. He's on his way back, that's for sure.

"I think where he is right now is good enough to win. I think you'll find if he keeps going the way he is going, he'll win over the weekend."

Woods, who was at 9-under 135, thought Friday's round might even have been better ? "it felt it could have been 8 or 9 deep."

Asked how it felt to be atop a leaderboard again, Woods appeared to take some satisfaction of saying that perhaps he shouldn't have been written off just yet.

"The headlines tell the whole story, don't they? ... They know all," Woods said. "It is one of those things, just being patient. I'm playing like I am playing at home. It has finally come to the golf course in a tournament setting. It takes a little time but once it starts coming, the confidence starts building."

That confidence just might see him end a two-year winless drought ? his last tournament victory came two years ago at Melbourne at the Australian Masters. Combined with his opening-round 68, Woods posted his best back-to-back rounds of the year.

It's the first time he has led a tournament since the third round of the Chevron World Challenge last year, and the first time against a full field since the Australian Masters. Woods was tied for the first-round lead at The Barclays last year.

O'Malley, who is a member at The Lakes and birdied his last two holes, shot a 66. He was the No. 64 seed who beat Woods in the opening round of the Match Play Championship at La Costa in 2002.

Jason Day, who played alongside Woods and Allenby, had a 68 and was two behind. Bubba Watson, among eight Americans to came to the Australian Open to get ready for the Presidents Cup next week at Royal Melbourne, birdied his last three holes for a 70 and was three shots behind.

American Nick Watney faded on the front nine and shot 73, although he remained tied for fifth at 5-under 139. First-round leader Jarrod Lyle, with a 74 Friday, was among five tied with Watney.

A large crowd that packed into the knolls and dunes became louder the longer Woods stayed atop the leaderboard, and even some of the tournament officials appeared to get wrapped up in the day. At one point, they had his name spelled simply "Tiger" on a leaderboard.

For Woods, it was a strange sight.

"It feels good," he said of his name listed first. "It feels good to be there playing properly."

Woods repeated that he has been hitting the ball this well in practice at home in south Florida, and based on the other times he has changed swings, he referred to the process of getting confidence in practice and eventually taking it to the golf course.

"That's progress. That's what happens," he said. "And once it starts coming, the confidence is building."

The Americans lost one of their players at the Australian Open when Hunter Mahan withdrew Friday morning because of pain in the back of his right shoulder that wouldn't go away. Rather than risking it, Mahan decided to take a few days of rest. He said he expects to be playing next week at Melbourne.

The Presidents Cup captains both made the cut. U.S. head Fred Couples shot 74 and was at 3-under, six behind Woods. International team captain Greg Norman also shot 74 and was at 1-over, 10 behind. Matt Kuchar, one of Couples' team members, failed to make the weekend, shooting 73 Friday to miss by one stroke.

Woods was among the controversial selections by Couples to the U.S. team, especially because he hasn't won in two years and rarely has put himself in contention. But it was a day like Friday, on the back of the opening round, that made any questions about him look moot.

"It's a great pick," Day said. "A few people questioned it. He was not playing that great a couple of months ago, but he has certainly turned it around. Overall, his game is looking good for next week."

Woods looked like he was enjoying himself Friday as he soaked up the adulation of thousands of Sydney golf fans who haven't seen him play a tournament in Australia's largest city since 1996.

"It was great," Woods said. "Yesterday and today, playing with two Aussies, that helps. Everyone is kind of into it. The crowds were just rooting for me. It was a fun atmosphere to be part of. "

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2011-11-11-GLF-Australian-Open/id-2474651dfb7e484aa4b0b008d30fd588

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