Minn. man charged with murdering missing wife

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) ? A missing Minnesota woman's husband was charged Thursday with murder, after investigators found blood on the floor, furniture, walls and stairs of the couple's home as well as evidence of an extensive effort to cover it up.

Authorities said they have not found 30-year-old Kira Trevino's body, but they believe she's dead because of the amount of blood found in her car and in the couple's St. Paul home, and because it wasn't like her to disappear without telling anyone.

Jeffery Dale Trevino, 39, made an initial court appearance Thursday on two counts of second-degree murder in his wife's death, which investigators believe happened last Thursday or Friday. Bail was set at $1 million.

Trevino's attorney, John Conard, said he believes his client is innocent and that Trevino has no idea where his wife is.

According to police, Trevino called Sunday to report that he hadn't heard from his wife since Friday morning, when he said she went to run errands. He told officers she was going through a "mid-life crisis" and had been leaving for up to three days at a time and lying about where she was staying.

Kira Trevino didn't stop in at her job at the Mall of America on Friday or work her scheduled Saturday shift. Her car was found in the back corner of a parking lot at the mall.

According to the criminal complaint, investigators searched the couple's home and found "copious" amounts of blood evidence and signs of an extensive effort to clean it up. A carpet cleaner had what appeared to be blood and human tissue on it, and investigators also found bleach and bleach-stained towels in the kitchen, and a mop and bucket in the hall.

In the bedroom, forensic examiners found blood on the floor and wall, box spring, bed frame, closet, and book shelf, the complaint said. There was also blood evidence in the living room, kitchen, hallway, basement, and in the laundry area ? where authorities found freshly washed towels.

Investigators found a blood stain shaped like a human head and torso under the bedroom carpet. They said the amount of blood spatter is consistent with "more than one forceful blow."

Ramsey County Attorney John Choi said he is confident prosecutors can prove Kira Trevino was killed, even without a body.

"All the schemes and his efforts to cover up his crime have been foiled by a lot of hard work by the investigators involved in this case," Choi said.

Police in Bloomington recovered video from the Mall of America showing Kira Trevino's car entering the parking lot Friday morning. The video isn't clear enough to show who was in the car, but someone can be seen throwing what appears to be a trunk liner away from the car.

The person then got into a cab, which had a GPS tracker, and was dropped off near Trevino's home, the complaint said.

After her car was found in the mall parking lot, St. Paul police ordered it towed, and the tow truck operator saw what looked like blood around the trunk. Police also found a trunk liner near the car, which tested positive for blood, the complaint said.

Family members and friends told police that Kira Trevino had been unhappy and had talked about moving out over the past few months.

Kira Trevino's family members were in court Thursday, and her sister clapped as the bail was set. They left without passing by reporters. Her mother, Marcie Steger, told The Star Tribune that Jeffery Trevino's alleged role in the case was hard to understand.

"The fact that we trusted him to take care of (Kira), to be there for her. It's anger. It's shock. You just don't even want to go there," Steger said.

Jeffery Trevino's family members, many of whom traveled from Arkansas for the hearing, sobbed during the court appearance and had no comment as they left.

"They are grieving. His wife was like a daughter to them. ... They love her," Conard said. "They are hoping and praying that she will be found and found alive, and that if not, they hope the police go and find whoever did this."

Conard said Jeffery Trevino has no criminal record and he has served in the Army, where he was stationed in Germany.

___

Follow Amy Forliti at http://www.twitter.com/amyforliti

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/minn-man-charged-murdering-missing-wife-203500425.html

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Silver nanoparticles may adversely affect environment, researchers demonstrate

Feb. 27, 2013 ? In experiments mimicking a natural environment, Duke University researchers have demonstrated that the silver nanoparticles used in many consumer products can have an adverse effect on plants and microorganisms.

Fifty days after scientists applied a single low dose of silver nanoparticles, the experimental environments produced about a third less biomass in some plants and microbes.

These preliminary findings are important, the researchers said, because little is known about the environmental effects of silver nanoparticles, which are found in textiles, clothing, children's toys and pacifiers, disinfectants and toothpaste.

"No one really knows what the effects of these particles are in the environment," said Benjamin Colman, a post-doctoral fellow in Duke's biology department and a member of the Center for the Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology (CEINT).

"We're trying to come up with the data that can be used to help regulators determine the risks to the environment from silver nanoparticle exposures," Colman said.

Previous studies have involved high concentrations of the nanoparticles in a laboratory setting, which the researchers point out, doesn't represent "real-world" conditions.

"Results from laboratory studies are difficult to extrapolate to ecosystems, where exposures likely will be at low concentrations and there is a diversity of organisms," Colman said.

Silver nanoparticles are used in consumer products because they can kill bacteria, inhibiting unwanted odors. They work through a variety of mechanisms, including generating free radicals of oxygen which can cause DNA damage to microbial membranes without harming human cells.

The main route by which these particles enter the environment is as a by-product of sewage treatment plants. The nanoparticles are too small to be filtered out, so they and other materials end up in the resulting wastewater treatment "sludge," which is then spread on the land surface as a fertilizer.

For their studies, the researchers created mesocosms, which are small, human-made structures containing different plants and microorganisms meant to represent the environment. They applied sludge with low doses of silver nanoparticles in some of the mesocosms, then compared plants and microorganisms from treated and untreated mesocosms after 50 days.

The study appeared online Feb. 27 in the journal PLOS One.

The researchers found that one of the plants studied, a common annual grass known as Microstegium vimeneum, had 32 percent less biomass in the mesocosms treated with the nanoparticles. Microbes were also affected by the nanoparticles, Colman said. One enzyme associated with helping microbes deal with external stresses was 52 percent less active, while another enzyme that helps regulate processes within the cell was 27 percent less active. The overall biomass of the microbes was also 35 percent lower, he said.

"Our field studies show adverse responses of plants and microorganisms following a single low dose of silver nanoparticles applied by a sewage biosolid," Colman said. "An estimated 60 percent of the average 5.6 million tons of biosolids produced each year is applied to the land for various reasons, and this practice represents an important and understudied route of exposure of natural ecosystems to engineered nanoparticles."

"Our results show that silver nanoparticles in the biosolids, added at concentrations that would be expected, caused ecosystem-level impacts," Colman said. "Specifically, the nanoparticles led to an increase in nitrous oxide fluxes, changes in microbial community composition, biomass, and extracellular enzyme activity, as well as species-specific effects on the above-ground vegetation."

The researchers plan to continue to study longer-term effects of silver nanoparticles and to examine another ubiquitous nanoparticle -- titanium dioxide.

CEINT's research is funded by the National Science Foundation and the Environmental Protection Agency.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Duke University. The original article was written by Richard Merritt.

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

---

Journal Reference:

1. Benjamin P. Colman, Christina L. Arnaout, Sarah Anciaux, Claudia K. Gunsch, Michael F. Hochella, Bojeong Kim, Gregory V. Lowry, Bonnie M. McGill, Brian C. Reinsch, Curtis J. Richardson, Jason M. Unrine, Justin P. Wright, Liyan Yin, Emily S. Bernhardt. Low Concentrations of Silver Nanoparticles in Biosolids Cause Adverse Ecosystem Responses under Realistic Field Scenario. PLoS ONE, 2013; 8 (2): e57189 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0057189

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

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

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_environment/~3/EctQTz5Sylw/130227183528.htm

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World's largest turtle faces extinction in 20 years

Reuters/Ricardo Tapilatu/University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and the State University of Papua (UNIPA) in Indonesia/Handou

Turtle researcher, Ricardo Tapilatu tags a female leatherback turtle who just laid eggs on a beach in New Guinea in this 2012 photograph.

By Verna Gates, Reuters

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ? The giant Pacific leatherback turtle, known for its arduous 6,000-mile ocean trek from the U.S. West Coast to breeding grounds in Indonesia, could go extinct within 20 years as its population continues to plummet, scientists say.

"Sea turtles have been around about 100 million years and survived the extinction of the dinosaurs but are struggling to survive the impact of humans," said reproductive biologist Thane Wibbels of the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), a member of a research team studying the fate of these reptiles.

The leatherback ? the world's largest turtle ? can grow to six feet long and weigh as much as 2,000 pounds.

A study published this week in the Ecological Society of America's scientific journal Ecosphere estimates that only about 500 leatherbacks now nest at their last large nesting site in the Pacific, down from thousands previously. The study tracked the turtle's ongoing population decline since the 1980s.

"If the decline continues, leatherback turtles will become extinct in the Pacific Ocean within 20 years," Wibbels said.

The Pacific leatherback braves a transpacific journey that is one of the longest migrations in nature. Experts say its continued existence is imperiled by threats like climate change, plastic pollution, fishing methods, predation and human hunting.

In the past 27 years, the numbers of western Pacific leatherback turtles have dropped by 78 percent, making it critically endangered, said Ricardo Tapilatu, a turtle researcher at UAB and the State University of Papua in Indonesia. He has studied the turtles at their last remaining refuge, the remote Bird's Head Peninsula on New Guinea.

State University Of Papua / Reuters

Leatherback turtle hatchlings head into the sea on the island of New Guinea in this 2012 photograph.

More than 75 percent of all western Pacific leatherback nesting occurs there, numbering 489 turtles in the last breeding season, the researchers said. The turtles forage across the Pacific as far away as the U.S. coast of California, Oregon, and Washington state.

The research team also included scientists from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service and the World Wildlife Fund Indonesia.

The turtles can dive as deep as 4,000 feet. To survive the cold depths, the leatherback can control its temperature, staying warmer than surrounding waters. They feed on jellyfish, eating hundreds a day.

The leathery shell feels like tire tread and it is distinctively different from hard-shell sea turtles.

Their exact lifespan is unknown, but is believed to be up to 80 years. It is difficult to determine since males never return to the beaches, living their lives in the sea.

Of the four primary Pacific nesting places of the past century, the Malaysian population is extinct, and the Mexico and Central American populations have fallen 95 percent.

The leatherback is the only sea turtle that lives in open ocean, negotiating numerous dangers along the way.

"They migrate 6,000 miles in seven months, and then back, going through the territorial waters of at least 20 countries. There is constant danger of being caught and killed," said Tapilatu, a native of New Guinea.

For example, fishermen's drift nets and long-lines can snag the air-breathing turtle, drowning it. Humans also introduced wild hogs and dogs to the remote beaches where they nest. The hogs are especially voracious predators of turtle eggs.

Near the nesting site, local fishermen still capture and slaughter leatherbacks to consume the meat. A local tribe has historically harvested about 100 turtles per year, as well as eggs.

On some beaches, as few as 20 percent of the eggs hatch due to increased beach temperatures, which could worsen with climate change, Tapilatu said. Sand temperature determines the gender of hatchlings, with higher temperatures favoring females.

There is hope of restoring the population of the endangered reptiles, the researchers said. The Atlantic leatherback, which is genetically different from the Pacific turtles, has made a comeback through mutual country agreements to ban harvesting adults or eggs on beaches.

Tapilatu said he plans to return to New Guinea to help replicate that success story with the leatherback turtles struggling to survive in his Pacific home.

Copyright 2013 Thomson Reuters. Click for restrictions.

Source: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/02/27/17121197-famed-giant-pacific-leatherback-turtle-faces-extinction-in-20-years?lite

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Hands-on with the ASUS Padfone Infinity

At the conceptual level, the ASUS Padfone series has always sounded cool, but it's never managed to translate that into mainstream success. Previous Padfones, though technically impressive, have been too expensive to win over consumers and carriers en masse. On top of that, ASUS has yet to present a really compelling use case for combining a phone with tablet dock.

Nevertheless, the Taiwanese manufacturer is back with a third Padfone iteration, the Padfone Infinity. The Infinity boasts superior specs, a redesigned, brushed aluminum chassis an Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. But is that enough to justify this class of device? Check out our first impressions from Mobile World Congress after the break.

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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/u5DCqJff114/story01.htm

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Iceland's plan to ban Internet porn sparks uproar

REYKJAVIK, Iceland (AP) ? In the age of instant information, globe-spanning viral videos and the World Wide Web, can a thoroughly wired country become a porn-free zone? Authorities in Iceland want to find out.

The government of the tiny North Atlantic nation is drafting plans to ban pornography, in print and online, in an attempt to protect children from a tide of violent sexual imagery.

The proposal by Interior Minister Ogmundur Jonasson has caused an uproar. Opponents say the move will censor the Web, encourage authoritarian regimes and undermine Iceland's reputation as a Scandinavian bastion of free speech.

Advocates say it is a sensible measure that will shelter children from serious harm.

"When a 12-year-old types 'porn' into Google, he or she is not going to find photos of naked women out on a country field, but very hardcore and brutal violence," said Halla Gunnarsdottir, political adviser to the interior minister.

"There are laws in our society. Why should they not apply to the Internet?"

Gunnarsdottir says the proposals currently being drawn up by a committee of experts will not introduce new restrictions, but simply uphold an existing if vaguely worded law.

Pornography is already banned in Iceland, and has been for decades ? but the term is not defined, so the law is not enforced. Magazines such as Playboy and Penthouse are on sale in book stores, and more hardcore material can be bought from a handful of sex shops. "Adult" channels form part of digital TV packages.

Iceland's left-of-center government insists it is not setting out to sweep away racy magazines or censor sex. The ban would define pornography as material with violent or degrading content.

Gunnarsdottir said the committee is still exploring the details of how a porn ban could be enforced. One possibility would be to make it illegal to pay for porn with Icelandic credit cards. Another, more controversial, route would be a national Internet filter or a list of website addresses to be blocked.

That idea has Internet-freedom advocates alarmed.

"This kind of thing does not work. It is technically impossible to do in a way that has the intended effect," said Smari McCarthy of free-speech group the International Modern Media Institute. "And it has negative side effects ? everything from slowing down the Internet to blocking content that is not meant to be blocked to just generally opening up a whole can of worms regarding human rights issues, access to information and freedom of expression."

Despite its often chaotic appearance, the Internet is not a wholly lawless place. It is regulated, to varying degrees, around the world. Police monitor the net for child pornography and other illegal material, and service providers in many countries block offending sites.

Some governments also censor the Internet at a national level ? though the likes of authoritarian Iran, North Korea and China are not countries liberal Iceland wants to emulate.

European countries including Britain, Sweden and Denmark ask Internet service providers to block child pornography websites, measures that have met with only limited opposition.

But broader filtering has mostly been resisted. A few years ago, Australia announced it would introduce an Internet filtering system to block websites containing material including child pornography, bestiality, sexual violence and terrorist content. After an outcry, the government abandoned the plan last year.

Critics say such filters are flawed and often scoop up innocent sites in their net ? as when Denmark's child pornography filter briefly blocked access to Google and Facebook last year because of a glitch.

On the streets of Iceland's capital, Reykjavik, there was some support for a porn ban, but also skepticism about how it would work.

"I think this is a good idea, but I think it might be problematic to implement this," said shop assistant Ragnheidur Arnarsdottir. "It is difficult to fight technology."

Iceland's moves are being closely watched. It may be a tiny country of only 320,000 people, but its economic and social experiments ? like its active volcanos ? often have international impact.

For centuries economically dependent on fishing, Iceland transformed itself in the early 21st century into a pioneer of aggressive credit-driven banking. Then in 2008, the country's debt-burdened banks all collapsed, making Iceland the first and most dramatic casualty of the global financial crisis, and leaving a string of failed businesses around the world.

The economy is now bouncing back, aided by Iceland's status as one of the world's best connected countries, with one of the highest levels of Internet use on the planet. Recent initiatives to boost growth include plans to make Iceland a global center of media and technology freedom ? a status that advocates like McCarthy fear could be threatened by an online porn ban.

Anti-porn activists, however, are hailing Iceland as a pioneer. It is certainly not afraid to go its own way. Although the country has largely liberal Scandinavian values, it broke with most of Europe in 2010 by banning strip clubs.

"This is a country with courage," said Gail Dines, a professor of sociology and women's studies at Wheelock College in Boston and author of the book "Pornland."

"Iceland is going to be the first country with the guts to stand up to these predatory bullies from L.A. (in the porn industry)," she said. "It is going to take one country to show that this is possible."

But opponents say the project is both misguided and doomed.

"I can say with absolute certainty that this will not happen, this state filter," said Icelandic parliamentarian Birgitta Jonsdottir, a prominent advocate of online freedom.

She is confident those drafting the anti-porn measures will see the error of their ways. They may also run out of time ? Iceland is due to hold parliamentary elections in April, and the unpopular coalition government could be thrown out.

Jonsdottir said the key to protecting children and others from hardcore harm is for citizens to better inform themselves about the Internet and how it works.

"People just have to make themselves a bit more knowledgeable about what their kids are up to, and face reality," she said.

Gunnarsdottir, the political adviser backing the ban, just hopes the emotional debate around the issue will cool down.

"I think we should be able to discuss the Internet with more depth, without just shouting censorship on the one hand and laissez-faire on the other hand," she said.

"Is it freedom of speech to be able to reach children with very hardcore, brutal material? Is that the freedom of speech we want to protect?"

___

Lawless reported from London. Jill Lawless can be reached at http://Twitter.com/JillLawless

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2013-02-25-Iceland-Land%20Without%20Porn/id-d5e376b463284676bc8ac6bc7c7ff803

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Dell XPS 10 Windows RT tablet revisits the FCC with AT&T LTE onboard

We've already seen Dell's XPS 10 Windows RT slate torn open for an FCC-certified peek at its internals, but here it is in the filings again with an extra bonus: cellular connectivity. Thanks to its Snapdragon S4 CPU it was already LTE ready and this J42A tags on a W to its part number, packing LTE equipment for bands 4 and 17 which are compatible with AT&T's network. Dell originally mentioned an HSPA+/LTE model would appear after the WiFi version launched and that day is likely close at hand -- a good thing, if you're waiting for an alternative to the Tegra 3-powered ASUS VivoTab RT with LTE.

Filed under: Tablets, Wireless, AT&T, Dell

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Source: FCC

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/02/26/dell-xps-10-windows-rt-att-lte-fcc/

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McCarthy's 'Identity Thief' tops box office again

NEW YORK (AP) ? Hollywood's latest films performed tepidly at the box-office on Oscar weekend, with Melissa McCarthy's "Identity Thief" returning to the top spot in its third week of release.

The Universal comedy earned $14.1 million on the weekend, according to studio estimates Sunday, enough to regain the box-office title after losing it last week to 20th Century Fox's "A Good Day to Die Hard." The Bruce Willis action sequel faded domestically, but not overseas, where it took in $35.7 million.

With a cumulative total of $93.7 million, "Identity Thief" is the biggest hit so far in 2013. Though the film has been badly reviewed by critics, the road trip duo of McCarthy and Jason Bateman has proved popular at the multiplexes, where no other comedy has been around to challenge it.

More than anything, "Identity Thief" has proven the stardom of McCarthy, following her breakout performance in "Bridesmaids."

"The holding power of a film always gives you an idea of the strength of its concept or its star," said Nikki Rocco, Universal head of distribution. "In this case, it's both."

With the industry gathering for the Oscars on Sunday, it's always a weekend where moviegoers' attention goes more to the Academy Awards than the movie theater. For the fifth week in a row, the box office was down as compared to last year's business

One of the two new films in wide release, Lionsgate's Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson action film, "Snitch," opened with $13 million. That was a decent but not strong showing for "Snitch" in a year where action films have largely fared poorly.

Though "A God Day to Die Hard," the fourth film in the franchise, led the box office last week, it slid 60 percent in its second week to $10 million. But it continued to dominate internationally, bringing it to a three-week worldwide total to $184.8 million. (It opened a week earlier in some countries.)

Earlier action films from Arnold Schwarzenegger ("The Last Stand"), Jason Statham ("Parker") and Sylvester Stallone ("Bullet to the Head") performed far worse.

The other new wide release was the Weinstein Co.'s "Dark Skies," a PG-13 horror film starring Keri Russell. It debuted with $8.9 million.

The down weekend was unlikely to dampen the Oscar celebration. The nine best picture nominees have largely fared well at the box office. This weekend, eight of them are in the top 21 films.

For the first time since the category's number of nominees was extended in 2009, six of the nominees grossed more than $100 million domestically: "Argo," ''Lincoln," ''Les Miserables," ''Silver Linings Playbook," ''Django Unchained" and "Life of Pi." ''Zero Dark Thirty" missed narrowly with $91.6 million going into the Oscars.

"It's one of the best performing groups of nominees I've ever seen," said Paul Dergarabedian, an analyst for box-office tracker Hollywood.com. "Great night for Hollywood, tough day at the box office."

A box-office bump could follow for Sunday's big winners, though any benefit might be better found overseas, where some of the films are still expanding. The best picture favorite, Ben Affleck's Iran rescue thriller "Argo," is already out on DVD in North America.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Hollywood.com. Where available, latest international numbers are included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.

1. "Identity Thief," $14 million, ($170,000 international).

2. "Snitch," $13 million.

3. "Escape From Planet Earth," $11 million.

4. "Safe Haven," $10.6 million, ($1.4 million international).

5. "A Good Day to Die Hard," $10 million, ($35.7 million international).

6. "Dark Skies," $8.9 million.

7. "Silver Linings Playbook," $6.1 million, ($5 million international).

8. "Warm Bodies," $4.8 million, ($2.5 million international).

9. "Side Effects," $3.6 million.

10. "Beautiful Creatures," $3.4 million, ($4 million international).

___

Estimated weekend ticket sales at international theaters (excluding the U.S. and Canada) for films distributed overseas by Hollywood studios, according to Rentrak:

1. "A Good Day to Die Hard," $35.7 million.

2. "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey," $18.6 million.

3. "Les Miserables," $9.3 million.

4. "Django Unchained," $8.5 million.

5. "Wreck-It Ralph," $8 million.

6. "New World," $7 million.

7. "Miracles in Cell No. 7," $6.2 million.

8. "Mama," $5.5 million.

9. "Flight," $5.1 million.

10. "Lincoln," $5 million.

(tie) "Silver Linings Playbook," $5 million.

___

Online:

http://www.hollywood.com

http://www.rentrak.com

___

Universal and Focus are owned by NBC Universal, a unit of Comcast Corp.; Sony, Columbia, Sony Screen Gems and Sony Pictures Classics are units of Sony Corp.; Paramount is owned by Viacom Inc.; Disney, Pixar and Marvel are owned by The Walt Disney Co.; Miramax is owned by Filmyard Holdings LLC; 20th Century Fox and Fox Searchlight are owned by News Corp.; Warner Bros. and New Line are units of Time Warner Inc.; MGM is owned by a group of former creditors including Highland Capital, Anchorage Advisors and Carl Icahn; Lionsgate is owned by Lions Gate Entertainment Corp.; IFC is owned by AMC Networks Inc.; Rogue is owned by Relativity Media LLC.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/mccarthys-identity-thief-tops-box-office-again-174922022--finance.html

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Tech Support Pro Reports Record Visitors In January, 2013 After Windows 8 Release, Maintains Lead Over Competition

Tech Support Pro Reports Record Visitors In January, 2013 After Windows 8 Release, Maintains Lead Over Competition 11:19:57 - 22 February 2013
Remote tech support provider Tech Support Pro has achieved record-setting traffic last month, shortly after the latest Windows version was launched. The company reveals that Tech Support Pro is currently maintaining the lead over competitors, as more and

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) February 22, 2013 - Today Tech Support Pro announced record-setting traffic to their website in January, 2013, shortly after Windows 8 was launched. The figures have surpassed previous traffic records held by the company, such growth also signifying that Tech Support Pro maintains lead over competitors when it comes to reliable and prompt Windows 8 tech support services, announced the company.

?The traffic records for last month are a clear reflection of Tech Support Pro?s commitment to delivering reliable solutions to efficiently managing computer?s health and maintaining a fast-operating computer with minimum costs,? says Marketing Director for Tech Support Pro. ?Our dedication to providing straightforward, comprehensive and affordable remote IT support services will continue to reflect in our traffic reports, as we?ll continue to expand client database in 2013.?

Tech Support Pro has been one of the first tech support companies to offer Windows 8 assistance and remote IT support. Last month?s record-setting traffic was led by Tech Support Pro?s distinctive approach to offer support for the recently-launched Windows 8, software installation, antivirus update and registry scanning.

Tech Support offers to help users having trouble installing or using Windows 8, Microsoft?s operating system utilized by more than a billion computer users across the globe. Compared to its predecessors, Windows 8 has improved resource allocation to the system and its applications, allowing higher load and boot speed. Its innovative and highly dynamic desktop goes intuitively with touchscreen devices, interactions facilitated by the customizable grid layout. The enhanced search function is stronger than in previous versions, displaying results almost instantaneously, while the Windows Live Syncing makes OS migration to a new computer as simple as possible.

?For computer users who find it difficult to tinker with the newest Windows version, Tech Support Pro provides remote tech support from our trained and well-equipped technical consultants, who are able to address all OS issues and provide proper tech maintenance,? continues Marketing Director for the company.

For more information on the pricing structure and services of Tech Support Pro, please visit http://techsupportpro.com/.

About Tech Support Pro
Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, Tech Support Pro, along with its affiliated company Customer Focus Services (http://www.customerfocusservices.com) has reached out to millions of customers since its founding in 2000. The premier MCSE credentials earned by their team prove their skills in successful design, implementation and administration of the most advanced Microsoft Windows platform and Microsoft server products.

Contact Information

Tech Support Pro
Los Angeles
CA-90036

Source: http://www.hostreview.com/news/130222-tech-support-pro-reports-record-visitors-in-january-2013-after-windows-8-release-maintains-lead-over-competition

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Razzie Award Winners 2013: Twilight Wins the Worst

The Razzie Awards, in their 33rd year of "incinerating cinema sins," announced the recipients of the worst film achievements in 2012 on Oscar Eve, Saturday, February 23, 2013. This year, the winner of the Worst Remake, Rip-Off or Sequel category was chosen by our devoted Rotten Tomatoes readers by online ballot.

Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 swept the evening, "winning" Worst Picture, Worst Actress (Kristen Stewart) Worst Supporting Actor (Taylor Lautner) Worst Screen Couple (Lautner and 12 year-old Mackenzie Foy), Worst Screen Ensemble, Worst Remake/Rip-Off or Sequel and Worst Director (Bill Condon).

Earning his second consecutive Worst Actor award is Adam Sandler for That's My Boy. Here is the full list of recipients:

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1926902/news/1926902/

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Kerry takes case on Syria to Europe, Mideast

WASHINGTON (AP) ? John Kerry embarked Sunday on his first official overseas trip as secretary of state, hoping to bring new ideas to Europe and the Mideast about how to end nearly two years of violence in Syria.

Kerry's nine-nation, 10-day trip will take him to America's traditional European allies of Britain, Germany, France and Italy, along with Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. In addition to Syria, he will focus on conflicts in Mali and Afghanistan, and on Iran's nuclear program.

Kerry has said he is eager to discuss new ways of persuading Syrian President Bashar Assad to step down and usher in a democratic transition in the country that wracked by escalating violence that has killed at least 70,000 people.

Kerry, a former Democratic senator from Massachusetts who succeeded Hillary Rodham Clinton in President Barack Obama's second-term Cabinet, has not offered details of his ideas but officials say they revolve around increasing pressure on Assad and his inner circle.

Kerry's first stop is London, where he will hold talks with British officials on a range of issues, from Afghanistan to the status of the Falkland Islands. Britain is in a major dispute with Argentina over the Falklands.

In German, Kerry will discuss trans-Atlantic issues with German youth in Berlin, where he spent time as a child as the son of an American diplomat posted to the divided Cold War city. He also will meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in the German capital.

In Paris, Kerry plans to discuss France's intervention in Mali, while in Rome he'll attend a meeting with Syrian opposition leaders.

U.S. officials have said the trip will be primarily a "listening tour" when it comes to Syria and won't result in immediate shifts in U.S. policy that has until now stayed clear of military support for the rebels fighting Assad.

Despite the numerous Middle East stops. Kerry will not travel to Israel or the Palestinian territories. He will wait to visit them when he accompanies Obama there in March.

___

Online:

Trip details: http://www.state.gov/secretary/travel/2013/205086.htm

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/kerry-takes-case-syria-europe-mideast-081440189.html

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Red Wing's mayor resigns in face of pressure over his frac sand industry role (Star Tribune)

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

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They bailed on mortgage but want to buy again

Diana Olick , CNBC.com ? ? ? 20 hrs.

Home sales are slowly climbing back, thanks to investor demand, improving consumer confidence in housing, and the surprising return of former homeowners who once walked away from their commitments.

These so-called "strategic defaulters," some of them investors and some owner-occupants, are coming back to the market, despite damaged credit, and apparently the market is welcoming them back.

Read More: The Real Estate Recovery, in Your Neighborhood

A new survey of past clients by YouWalkAway.com, a website that assists borrowers in the legal pitfalls of strategic default, found that nearly 80 percent expressed a desire to buy a home again within the next 12 months. It also cites data by Moody's analytics, showing that the number of eligible home buyers who have had a previous foreclosure will be 1.5 million by the first quarter of 2014.

Crashing home prices and sketchy mortgage products caused millions of Americans to default on their loans and eventually lose their homes. For some, it was a tragic fight to the end to keep their single largest investment; for others it was a conscious decision to walk away from their mortgage commitments, given the real fact that they would likely not see home equity again for many years to come.

Some saw this as morally reprehensible, others as a sensible business decision.

Read More: Fewer Borrowers Are Behind on Mortgages, but for How Long?

While home ownership has fallen dramatically since the recent housing boom, from a high of 69.2 percent in 2004 to 65.4 percent at the end of 2012, according to the U.S. Census, the desire to own a home is still strong. About 70 percent of Americans surveyed by online real estate website Trulia.com said homeownership was still a part of the "American Dream." Of those surveyed by Fannie Mae in January of 2013, 65 percent said that if they had to move, they would buy a home, rather than rent.

Coming back to home ownership may not be as difficult as some think. Consumers who only defaulted on their mortgage during the recent recession were far better risks than those who went delinquent on multiple credit accounts, like credit cards and auto loans, according to a 2011 study by TransUnion.

"There appears to be a pocket of opportunity among mortgage-only defaulters that is not the result of excess liquidity, but rather the unique circumstances of the recent recession," said Steve Chaouki, group vice president in TransUnion's financial services business unit in the study release. "This new market segment that the recession created is an important one for lenders to understand. They have the potential, today, to be stronger and more reliable customers."

Not surprisingly, given this potential, YouWalkAway.com is launching the "AfterForeclosure.com Pass/Fail App," which claims to tell potential borrowers in just one minute, "if they have a shot at home ownership."

"We want people to know that it's possible and, in a lot of cases, it's advantageous," says Jon Maddux, former CEO and co-founder of YouWalkAway.com.

Read More: Americans Are Using Their Houses as ATMs Again

It is possible, but mortgage underwriting is far more strict today than during the housing boom, and there are varying waiting periods before former homeowners who went through foreclosure can qualify for a new loan. The Federal Housing Administration, the government insurer of home loans which now backs just over 20 percent of new loan originations, requires a three-year wait. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which own or guarantee the bulk of the remaining new loan originations, require up to seven years for a strategic defaulter to qualify again for a mortgage.

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/business/they-bailed-mortgage-now-want-buy-again-1C8496356

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Deal Alert: British Airways USA & Canada Deal

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Source: http://rss.money.co.uk/c/607/f/9430/s/28a0b4c0/l/0Ldeals0Bmoney0O0Cdeal0C120A9590Ebritish0Eairways0Eusa0Eand0Ecanada0Edeal0Bhtm0Dtrack0F1980A11/story01.htm

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Twitter to close down Posterous blogging service

Shockingly, Twitter has actually closed down?Posterous, the simple blogging and note-sharing service?bought by Twitter last year, for good, however, it won?t be forgotten. You?re still in our hearts, well, some of our hearts that is.

The blogging tool is loved across the world, although with competitors such as Tumblr?advancing, it has been almost impossible to keep up to date. The service will be completely shut down this April. Good-bye old?friend.

Twitter purchased the service for an?undisclosed?fee in March 2012, so it?s obviously been defecting since then, hence the reason for its closure. We will honestly miss it, but there are other options out there, so don?t threat.

Posterous founder and CEO Sachin Agarwal today confirmed Twitter?s?decision?to close the service on their official company blog, meaning that some jobs will be lost and accounts deactivated, but is this for the best?

Anyway, he also confirmed that the Posterous team would be working on other Twitter projects, so some people will be saved from the job axe. He reckons that Twitter?s purchase was nothing more than a talent raid. We agree.

Source: http://www.gadgetxpert.co.uk/twitter-to-close-down-posterous-blogging-service/

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Westwood champions Assange on London catwalk

LONDON (AP) ? Few designers so consistently mix fashion with politics, or manage to secure her fans' adoration with the same looks almost every season. But Vivienne Westwood is not any designer.

The flame-haired grand dame of British fashion on Sunday sent her models marching down the catwalk in her signature tight-fitting dresses and nipped-in jackets, then in the finale joined them wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with a giant image of her own face and a slogan that read "I am Julian Assange."

Westwood has been selling the Assange T-shirts to raise funds and support for the WikiLeaks founder, who is living in the Ecuador's Embassy in London. He is seeking asylum from the country to avoid extradition to Sweden to face sexual assault questions.

The designer recently wore the shirt when she went to visit Assange in October.

As always, Westwood was less interested in talking about her designs than about climate change, a subject she has long campaigned about.

"There's no latest thing, it's all rubbish," she said, brushing off questions about fashion. Instead, she patiently explained to reporters why she feels so passionately about her climate change campaign.

"Every small thing you do can really change your life," she said. "And the first thing they must do is inform themselves, believe the scientists ... then they'll stop being consumers and start being more interested in the world."

It's anyone's guess how many people attending the Vivienne Westwood Red Label autumn collection shared her enthusiasm, but the crowds were clearly taken by the designs shown on the catwalk, which was held at the Saatchi Gallery.

Although the makeup was startling - chalky white faces paired with eyes and lips outlined in stark, cartoonish lines - the clothes lived up to her legendary fame.

Jackets and blazers were beautifully tailored to accentuate the waist and hips, and dresses were draped in all the right places to draw the eye to the curves. The palette included a delicious plum, teals, and metallics.

There were dramatic pieces, for sure: a metallic zebra-stripe was printed on coats and a striking prom style dress with stiff underskirts, and an iridescent foil-like tight biker jacket that shimmered purple and green was paired with harem pants dripping in sequins.

Westwood isn't the first influential figure in the entertainment and fashion industries to declare their support for Assange. Pop singer Lady Gaga also paid a visit to the activist at the Ecuadorian embassy in London last year, though it wasn't clear what the paid discussed.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/westwood-champions-assange-london-catwalk-214124741.html

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Pistorius, girlfriend were planning future - uncle

As the stricken?Carnival Triumph?is towed back to port in Mobile, Ala., the 3,143 passengers and 1,086 crew members stranded aboard are understandably restless. They?ve been stuck on board the ship since Sunday morning, when a fire in the ship?s engine room knocked out its propulsion system, leaving it stranded in the Gulf of Mexico.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/pistorius-girlfriend-were-planning-future-uncle-141943222--sector.html

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Niners Nation :: 2013 NFL Draft: Ideal 5-Round Mock for San Francisco 49ers

With the NFL Combine approaching, we release a five-round mock draft for the San Francisco 49ers.

With the NFL Combine a week away, it's around that time everyone puts their draft caps on and keeps their stopwatches handy. For the San Francisco 49ers, it's the busiest time of year for general manager Trent Baalke and this personnel department.

The 49ers had a tremendous year, coming up 5-yards short of a sixth Lombardi Trophy. After the Super Bowl, a lot of people realized it's actually San Francisco's defense that needs to be upgraded. This was a unit that struggled to get after the passer late in the season and had occasional lapses in coverage.

They also had their issues on offense, though. The Niners depth at wide receiver came back to bite them for a second year in a row. After Kyle Williams and Mario Manningham went down with season-ending injuries, Randy Moss, Ted Ginn Jr. and A.J. Jenkins failed to step up.

For Super Bowl contenders and reigning NFC Champions, the 49ers could sure use some personnel upgrades.

After analyzing San Francisco's needs and becoming familiar with this year's draft class, I put together my first mock draft for the 2013 NFL Draft.

I used the projections from CBS Sports' draft analysts, so each one of the following picks corresponds with the player's draft stock.

DeSimone Mock 1.0:

First round: Own pick
Matt Elam, S - Florida

I think if the 49ers sit tight in the first round, Elam will fall right into their lap at No. 31. With the issues revealed in the secondary, it is a position group that needs to be addressed. The Niners have to take advantage of a strong group this year and nab their safety of the future.

He fits the identity of the 49ers and provides a great building block for a retooling secondary. San Francisco gets a marquee player at the end of the first in Elam.

CBS Sports:

Strengths: Athletic, instinctive and quite physical, Elam demonstrated the ability to walk up into the box and be a force near the line of scrimmage while also dropping back into coverage as a single-high safety when coaches called for it -- showing off the type of versatility NFL teams are demanding from today's hybrid safeties.

Drops down to cover slot receivers, getting a strong initial jam on them and riding them throughout the first few yards aggressively. Shows good vision and anticipation when fighting through blocks near the line of scrimmage and is generally a reliable, physical tackler. He brings his hips as a hitter, showing the closing speed and raw power to generate explosiveness.

Shows savvy to complement his physical talents, using his hands to knock away passes at the last moment and avoiding blocks with patience and vision rather than simply attempting to out-physical his opponents at every opportunity. High-effort player who seems to love the game. Quality special teams performer. Voted a team captain in 2012.

Weaknesses: Lacks preferred size for the position. Too often loses out on 50-50 balls, being forced to attempt to rip away at the hands of the receiver as he attempts to come down with the catch. Highly aggressive downhill tackler who can come in too hot and lose control, leaving cut-back lanes.

Tends to lead with his shoulder and will leave his feet to make the lights-out hit, resulting in some ugly lunges and misses. Good, not great lateral agility and can get left grasping at air. The same good, not great lateral agility shows up in coverage where Elam can lose positioning against slot receivers, though he does have a nice burst to close quickly.

Has twice had run-ins with police regarding minor in possession offenses involving alcohol (July 2010, July 2011).

Second round: Own pick
Jonathan Jenkins, DT - Georgia

Based on the density of the class, I think a very good defensive tackle is going to fall out of the first round. When that happens, I think it's in Trent Baalke's best interest to jump up in the second and secure one.

In 2010 and 2011, Baalke traded up for Anthony Davis and Colin Kaepernick, respectively. They have plenty of ammunition to move up to select a top-5 or top-10 defensive lineman and they have the brass to do it. Jenkins could be an impact player in the trenches for San Francisco and would be a steal in the early second.

With other defensive tackles like Star Lotulelei, Shariff Floyd, Sheldon Richardson, Jesse Williams and Johnathan Hankins all highly ranked prospects, there is a chance Jenkins drops.

CBS Sports:

STRENGTHS: Built like a Coke machine and is just as difficult to move. Has a wide frame with thick, strong limbs. Good strength and use of leverage (generally) to hold up to double-teams and create a pile. Surprisingly quick off the snap and can split gaps to destroy plays before they've even begun.

Good lateral agility, balance to slide laterally in pursuit of the ballcarrier to string out the play while fighting off blockers. Keeps his hands active, showing good effort, strength and technique to battle his ways towards the quarterback.

Good bull rusher. Can simply drive opponents backward. Locates the ball well and shows good effort to the flanks. Slips off of blocks to grab on and drag down ballcarriers attempting to slip past him. Very good strength for the drag-down tackle.

Versatile. Has lined up virtually all over the Georgia defensive line. Appears to possess long enough arms to potentially play the five-technique role, as well as at nose guard or defensive tackle.

WEAKNESSES: Provides little in terms of an interior pass rush. Is simply too wide to not get slowed down while squeezing through tight gaps in the interior line and has only phone booth quickness.

Wears down quickly and will need to be substituted often to be fully effective in the NFL. Allows his pad level to rise as he tires, which negates his strength.

Third round: Own pick
Justin Hunter, WR - Tennessee

The wide receiver position was another group that was exposed as a weakness. They were handicapped by injuries and did not have talented enough depth to endure them. The 49ers will likely draft a WR and when they do, it should be the 6'4" Hunter.

Hunter is projected as an early-to-mid round selection, and possesses the complementary skills this 49ers receiving corps needs. Now, with Colin Kaepernick behind center, Hunter has a chance to emerge as a threat in his rookie year. Kaepernick showed brief flashes of chemistry with Randy Moss (6'4"), indicating he could benefit from another big target with fresher legs.

If the Niners draft him, don't be surprised if he leaps the depth chart to the No. 2 opposite Michael Crabtree.

CBS Sports:

Strengths: Hunter is a tall, long athlete with an exception catching radius and reach. He is a fluid, gliding mover with long strides and deceiving speed to get vertical or make plays after the catch. He has strong footwork in/out of his breaks with sharp route quickness to sell patterns and create some separation. He tracks the ball beautifully, adjusting with outstanding body control.

Hunter does a nice job becoming a DB downfield to knock balls away and prevent the INT. He has the size/speed combination to attract defensive holding and pass interference penalties in his routes. Hunter has experience lining up as an X, Y and Z receiver, lining up all over the offense for Tennessee.

He had a productive 2012 season as one of only four SEC receivers to surpass 1,000 receiving yards, finishing third in receiving yards (1,083) and touchdown grabs (9). Despite just 17 career starts, Hunter finishes his Tennessee career ranked top-five in career 100-yard receiving games (8) and touchdown catches (18).

Weaknesses: Hunter has a lean body type from head to toe and needs to add more strength and bulk, but lacks the frame to easily put on weight. He isn't overly explosive after the catch and is a little straight-linish, lacking flexible ankles and needing a moment when changing his directions. Hunter plays rushed and needs to stay under control in his routes and when locating the ball.

He needs to eliminate some bad habits, playing wild at times, jumping when he doesn't need to and losing yardage when he reverses his field trying to do too much. Hunter lacks natural hands to corral fastballs and is too inconsistent catching the ball with a lot of body catches and double catches. He needs to secure grabs and doesn't always look the ball into his hands or locate, battling streaky hand/eye coordination.

Third round: From Carolina in trade-back during 2012 draft
David Amerson, CB - NC State

After this year, the team should be in a major transitional period in the secondary. The contracts of Carlos Rogers, Tarell Brown, Donte Whitner and Dashon Goldson are all going to be in question between now and then, and the Niners need to be prepared.

In the midst of the team's personnel changeover, Amerson could play a pivotal role. The 6'2" defensive back has the versatility to play corner or safety, which the 49ers could decide accordingly. But in the short- and long-term, he would be an asset, and could really reach his ceiling with secondary coach Ed Dontatell.

During his time with the Wolf Pack, Amerson was an instinctive and hawking playmaker for that defense. He is someone that is underrated but projects very well to the next level.

CBS Sports:

STRENGTHS: Amerson has rare height and length for the position and actually played primarily at safety in high school. He has the size and ballskills for the next level, but scouts are also impressed with his competitive drive to get better, showing vast improvement between his freshman and sophomore seasons. And the coaching staff says there is no problem keeping Amerson hungry, as he is one of the top practice players each week. Could prove a fit in a press-based scheme. Highly aggressive defender who intercepted many of his passes reading the eyes of quarterbacks and jumping short routes.

WEAKNESSES: Concerns about his fluidity and straight-line speed. Typically lined up in off-man and zone coverage in college, but his lack of elite speed would make that a difficult fit in the NFL. Aggression makes him vulnerable to double-moves. Amerson was beaten soundly in several-highly anticipated matchups in 2012, which contributed to losses to Tennessee and Clemson.

Third round: Likely compensatory selection
Quanteres Smith, DE/LB - Western Kentucky

In the third round, San Francisco gets a major chance to upgrade their pass rush with Quanteres Smith.

He is another raw prospect that has a high ceiling at the next level. The 49ers were able to successfully transition Aldon Smith from 4-3 defensive end to 3-4 rush linebacker, and they could do the same with Quanterus Smith. It will be essential for the Niners to bring in another pass rush specialist this offseason.

Aldon Smith was tapped out by the end of the season and could use some assistance from another skilled rusher. The 6'5" product from Western Kentucky is an ideal candidate for the job in San Francisco. And with him on board, Vic Fangio would have more flexibility and be able to introduce new blitz schemes.

CBS Sports:

Strengths: Possesses good strength at this time and the lanky frame to add more mass without a significant loss of quickness. Shows impressive burst off the snap to get the tackle on his heels, as well as the flexibility to dip under his opponent's reach and the lateral agility to counter back inside. Uses his hands well, showing a classic arm-over swim move, as well as a hard chop to break free from tackles latching onto his jersey.

Good lateral agility to slip blocks at the edge and shows good overall athleticism, speed and hustle in pursuit. Plays with good leverage to hold up better than expected in the running game. Has improved each year of his career.

Weaknesses: While the performance against Alabama was impressive, much of his production came against lower-level competition, including an eye-popping five sacks against Florida International. Relies on his agility and leverage to hold up against the run but is too often pushed off the line and/or sealed off from the action, which could necessitate a move to outside linebacker in the NFL, a position he has never played.

Fourth round: Own pick
Dion Sims, TE - Michigan State

The 49ers are expecting to be without Delanie Walker, who is an unrestricted free agent at the beginning of the new league year. The Niners will need to bring in a suitable replacement and can find one in the late rounds of this year's draft.

The big-bodied Sims would be an ideal candidate to fill the role opposite Vernon Davis. At 6'5", 285 pounds, he is a big powerful athlete that can fulfill blocking duties while also providing a reliable pass-catching threat. The 49ers add size and a red-zone threat here, as well as an asset in the run game.

In San Francisco's tight end-friendly offense, Sims could have a featured role as a rookie.

CBS Sports:

STRENGTHS: Excellent size, speed, agility combo for the position. Tough to bring down after the catch and can rack up yards. Improved technique, including stance, between sophomore and junior seasons. Offensive coordinator Dan Roushar complimented Sims' dedicated over the 2012 offseason to get into better shape and improve his focus.

WEAKNESSES: Significant durability concerns. Sims was limited by various injuries in 2010, including a broken wrist that resulted in him going the final seven games without a reception. Missed almost three full games as a junior due to an ankle injury, and seven games as a high school senior due to a knee injury. Appears to have matured, but will need to answer questions about the felony charge that led to missing the 2010 season.

Fifth round: Own pick
Dustin Hopkins, K - Florida State

It may seem early for some but the 49ers know they're getting a starter with this pick. The struggles at kicker were too much to have to deal with again, so the 49ers should invest a pick here.

Dustin Hopkins is the No. 1 available place kicker on the board in the 2013 draft. It really could not hurt for them to use a pick on a kicker nicknamed ?the golden toe.' After all, San Francisco drafted Andy Lee and that yielded positive results. The Niners get a potential All-Pro here, and stability at kicker is invaluable.

CBS Sports:

STRENGTHS: Possesses a lean, athletic build. Consistent approach, kick and follow-through which has resulted in reliable accuracy. Even when Hopkins misses, he's been close with kicks typically sailing within a foot or two of the uprights. Gets a high trajectory on his kicks and had zero blocked throughout his career. Has shown the ability to make high pressure kicks, including a 55-yard game-winner to beat Clemson in 2010... Played outside at Florida State and therefore shouldn't have any issues with footing outside at the next level. Consistently reached the endzone on kickoffs and won't have any problem doing so in the NFL. Willing defender with good athleticism and competitive spirit. Recorded 10 tackles (four solo) on kickoff returns over his career.

WEAKNESSES: A bit slim for the position. For all of Hopkins' success, he did miss some potential game-winners, including one from 40-yards out in the closing seconds against North Carolina one week prior to his big game-winning kick to beat Clemson in 2010 and a 42-yarder against Virginia in 2011. Hasn't played in many cold-weather games...

Fifth round: From Indianapolis in trade-back during 2012 draft
Tyrann Mathieu, CB - LSU

If Mathieu lasts till the 5^th round, the 49ers should absolutely add him. They have enough draft picks to bring him to camp and see what he's made of. After being exiled from the school he loves and the game he loves, Mathieu seems determined to turn it around.

He would have a tremendous opportunity to resurrect his career in San Francisco. Mathieu would be with a strong defensive team and be part of a great locker room. For a team upgrading their secondary and special teams, he could be a great value pick here as a nickel corner and return specialist.

CBS Sports:

Positives: Plays bigger than his size. Doesn't back from the physical challenge of lining up opposite taller wideouts and is actually more effective the closer he is to the line of scrimmage, demonstrating stellar instincts and awareness to avoid blocks and make plays in close quarters. Possesses excellent lateral agility and acceleration which gives him the ability to close quickly on the ball. Is a tenacious defender with strong, active hands to rip the ball away. Excellent ball skills. Minimizes his natural height disadvantage by timing his leap well in jump-ball situations and competing throughout the catch process, ripping away at the ball as he and the intended receiver are descending. Naturally plucks the ball out of the air and secures it quickly. Tracks the ball well over his shoulder. Quick feet, fluid hips and a legitimate second gear make him very effective in coverage, especially on shorter routes. Dynamic returner with a flair for the dramatic. Has demonstrated the ability to play well on the big stage against elite competition.

Negatives: Lacks ideal height for the position and is quicker than he is fast, making him susceptible on longer throws. Highly aggressive and will bite on underneath routes. Possesses the suddenness to make up for a miss-step but does not have the elite straight-line speed to recover against a well-executed double-move and accurate pass. Trusts his instincts too much and can put his teammates in difficult positions by drifting to where he anticipates the quarterback will be going with the football. As such, cerebral NFL quarterbacks will be able to manipulate him with their eyes and potentially beat him over the top with accurate deep passes. Has a well-documented history of poor decisions off the field that could result in even more struggles given the money and notoriety he'll receive as an NFL player.

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Coach's Corner: Cherry praises Penguins' defence

Watch as Don Cherry compliments the Pittsburgh Penguins' aggressive defence, discusses the Evander Kane controversy, and gives his opinion on Manny Malhotra's career-threatening eye injury.

In Friday night's edition of Coach's Corner, Grapes said the forecheck by Pittsburgh is the key to the team's success and urges other squads to put pressure on their defencemen.

Source: http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/story/2013/02/15/spf-hnic-coaches-corner-penguins-defence.html?cmp=rss

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Asteroid buzzes, misses Earth _ unlike meteor

This image provided by NASA/JPL-Caltech shows a simulation of asteroid 2012 DA14 approaching from the south as it passes through the Earth-moon system on Friday, Feb. 15, 2013. The 150-foot object will pass within 17,000 miles of the Earth. NASA scientists insist there is absolutely no chance of a collision as it passes. (AP Photo/NASA/JPL-Caltech)

This image provided by NASA/JPL-Caltech shows a simulation of asteroid 2012 DA14 approaching from the south as it passes through the Earth-moon system on Friday, Feb. 15, 2013. The 150-foot object will pass within 17,000 miles of the Earth. NASA scientists insist there is absolutely no chance of a collision as it passes. (AP Photo/NASA/JPL-Caltech)

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) ? A 150-foot asteroid hurtled through Earth's backyard Friday, coming within an incredible 17,150 miles and making the closest known flyby for a rock of its size. In a chilling coincidence, a meteor exploded above Russia just hours before the asteroid zoomed past the planet.

Scientists the world over, along with NASA, insisted the meteor had nothing to do with the asteroid since they appeared to be traveling in opposite directions. The asteroid is a much more immense object and delighted astronomers in Australia and elsewhere who watched it zip harmlessly through a clear night sky.

"It's on its way out," reported Paul Chodas of NASA's Near-Earth Object program at Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California.

Asteroid 2012 DA14, as it's called, came closer to Earth than many communication and weather satellites orbiting 22,300 miles up. Scientists insisted these, too, would be spared, and they were right.

The asteroid was too small to see with the naked eye even at its closest approach around 2:25 p.m. EST, over the Indian Ocean near Sumatra.

The best viewing locations, with binoculars and telescopes, were in Asia, Australia and eastern Europe. Even there, all anyone could see was a pinpoint of light as the asteroid buzzed by at 17,400 mph.

As asteroids go, this one is a shrimp. The one that wiped out the dinosaurs 65 million years ago was 6 miles across. But this rock could still do immense damage if it ever struck given its 143,000-ton heft, releasing the energy equivalent of 2.4 million tons of TNT and wiping out 750 square miles.

By comparison, NASA estimated that the meteor that exploded over Russia was tiny ? about 49 feet wide and 7,000 tons before it hit the atmosphere, or one-third the size of the passing asteroid.

As for the back-to-back events, "this is indeed very rare and it is historic," said Jim Green, NASA's director of planetary science. While the asteroid is about half the length of a football field, the exploding meteor "is probably about on the 15-yard line," he said.

"Now that's pretty big. That's typically a couple times bigger than the normal influx of meteorites that create these fireballs," he said in an interview on NASA TV.

"These fireballs happen about once a day or so, but we just don't see them because many of them fall over the ocean or in remote areas. This one was an exception."

As the countdown for the asteroid's close approach entered the final hours, NASA noted that the path of the meteor appeared to be quite different than that of the asteroid, making the two objects "completely unrelated." The meteor seemed to be traveling from north to south, while the asteroid passed from south to north ? in the opposite direction.

Most of the solar system's asteroids are situated in a belt between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, and remain stable there for billions of years. Some occasionally pop out, though, into Earth's neighborhood.

NASA scientists estimate that an object of this size makes a close approach like this every 40 years. The likelihood of a strike is every 1,200 years.

The flyby provides a rare learning opportunity for scientists eager to keep future asteroids at bay ? and a prime-time advertisement for those anxious to step up preventive measures.

Friday's meteor further strengthened the asteroid-alert message.

"We are in a shooting gallery and this is graphic evidence of it," said former Apollo astronaut Rusty Schweickart, chairman emeritus of the B612 Foundation, committed to protecting Earth from dangerous asteroids.

Schweickart noted that 500,000 to 1 million sizable near-Earth objects ? asteroids or comets ? are out there. Yet less than 1 percent ? fewer than 10,000 ? have been inventoried.

Humanity has to do better, he said. The foundation is working to build and launch an infrared space telescope to find and track threatening asteroids.

If a killer asteroid was, indeed, incoming, a spacecraft could, in theory, be launched to nudge the asteroid out of Earth's way, changing its speed and the point of intersection. A second spacecraft would make a slight alteration in the path of the asteroid and ensure it never intersects with the planet again, Schweickart said.

Asteroid DA14 ? discovered by Spanish astronomers only last February ? is "such a close call" that it is a "celestial torpedo across the bow of spaceship Earth," Schweickart said in a phone interview Thursday.

NASA's deep-space antenna in California's Mojave Desert was ready to collect radar images, but not until eight hours after the closest approach given the United States' poor positioning for the big event.

____

Online:

NASA: http://www.nasa.gov/topics/solarsystem/features/asteroidflyby.html

B612 Foundation: http://b612foundation.org/

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/b2f0ca3a594644ee9e50a8ec4ce2d6de/Article_2013-02-15-Closest%20Asteroid/id-4d8a5ba534f94f4c9fb8c27008163314

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