Macy's CEO testifies in fight over Martha Stewart

Macy's Chairman, President and CEO Terry Lundgren arrives to court in New York, Monday, Feb. 25, 2013. Lundgren is scheduled to testify in New York State Supreme Court on Monday in a trial that pits the department store chain against rival J.C. Penney Co. over a partnership with home diva Martha Stewart. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Macy's Chairman, President and CEO Terry Lundgren arrives to court in New York, Monday, Feb. 25, 2013. Lundgren is scheduled to testify in New York State Supreme Court on Monday in a trial that pits the department store chain against rival J.C. Penney Co. over a partnership with home diva Martha Stewart. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Macy's Chairman, President and CEO Terry Lundgren arrives to court in New York, Monday, Feb. 25, 2013. Lundgren is scheduled to testify in New York State Supreme Court on Monday in a trial that pits the department store chain against rival J.C. Penney Co. over a partnership with home diva Martha Stewart. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

NEW YORK (AP) ? Macy's CEO Terry Lundgren testified on Monday that he hung up on home diva Martha Stewart after she called to inform him on Dec. 6, 2011 that the company that bears her name had inked a deal with J.C. Penney to open shops within most of the chain's stores.

He hasn't spoken to her since, even though the two used to be good friends.

"I was sick to my stomach," Lundgren testified on Monday in New York Supreme Court. "I can't remember hanging up on anyone in my life."

The testimony comes as Macy's Inc. and J.C. Penney Co. duke it out over the partnership with Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. The trial, which began Wednesday, focuses on whether Macy's has the exclusive right to sell Martha Stewart branded cookware, bedding and other products. Other key witnesses expected to take the stand this week include Penney's CEO Ron Johnson and Martha Stewart.

Lundgren testified on Monday that Macy's had built the Martha Stewart brand to be the biggest in its home business. Under Lundgren's leadership, Macy's has focused on building exclusive brands that are not carried by rivals to get shoppers to the store. In the home area, exclusivity is key: Sales last year were up 8 percent, double the rate for the entire company.

Lundgren said Macy's has spent 40 percent of its overall marketing on the Martha Stewart brand even though the home category represents 17 percent of sales. He says that having Penney have access to the brand will not be good for the business and will confuse shoppers.

"I need the Martha Stewart business to be exclusive," Lundgren said. "I don't have a substitute."

The testimony is a culmination of a legal battle between the three companies that started in 2011. Macy's sued Martha Stewart Living in January 2011, saying the company breached a long-standing contract when it penned the deal with Penney, which invested $38.5 million in a nearly 17 percent stake. In a separate lawsuit, Macy's sued Penney claiming it had no regard for the Macy's contract and that Johnson had set out to steal the business that it had worked hard to develop.

The two suits were consolidated for the bench trial, which Supreme State Court Judge Jeffrey Oing is presiding over the trial. The trial is expected to last three weeks.

At issue seems to be a loophole in the agreement with Macy's. It's a provision that allows Martha Stewart to sell goods in categories like bedding in Martha Stewart Living's own stores.

According to Martha Stewart, because the Macy's agreement doesn't say the goods under dispute can be sold "only in "stand-alone" stores, the mini shops within J.C. Penney stores do not fall under the exclusive agreement.

Macy's Inc., based in Cincinnati, disagrees. Lundgren argues that a typical definition of a store is that it has a parking lot or is part of a mall. Macy's lawyers outlined in documents that it later found that Penney "knowingly and purposely demanded and received confidential information" from Martha Stewart Living about the contract of Macy's and crafted a deal that was more lucrative than the Macy's agreement.

Macy's claims in court documents substantial damages and said the maneuver by Penney "threatens to inflict incalculable further harm on Macy's. Billions of dollars of sales are involved." Macy's is also trying to stop Martha Stewart from providing designs to J.C. Penney even if it gets rid of the Martha Stewart moniker.

Last summer, Macy's won a preliminary injunction against Martha Stewart Living that would prevent it from selling housewares and other exclusive products at J.C. Penney. Judge Oing did grant Penney permission to open Martha Stewart shops, as long as the items under the exclusive contract with Macy's are not sold in them.

Penney, which is based in Plano, Texas, plans to open shops featuring designs from Martha Stewart on May 1, but Daphne Avila, a Penney spokeswoman, said that the products which include bedding and cookware have been stripped out of the home maven's moniker and instead feature the label "JCP Everyday."

According to a memo filed by Penney, Macy's rights to Martha Stewart aren't nearly as sweeping as it suggests. Under Macy's interpretation of the contract, according to J.C. Penney, Martha Stewart Living is "little more than an in-house designer for Macy's."

In court documents, Martha Stewart Living said it will prove that it was Macy's. that breached the contract because it didn't "use commercially reasonable efforts to maximize net sales of Martha Stewart Collection products."

The stakes are high for both retailers as well as for Martha Stewart. For Macy's, having another major department store sell Martha Stewart towels, pots and other merchandise could dilute its business.

Martha Stewart Living is trying to fatten merchandising revenue as it struggles to offset declines in its broadcast and publishing business, a segment that accounts for more than 60 percent of its total business. And the deal with Martha Stewart is part of Penney's plan to reinvent the struggling department store under Johnson, who became CEO of the company in November 2011.

Penney has struggled with mounting losses and sharp sales declines since early last year after shoppers were turned off by a new strategy that eliminated most sales in favor of lower prices every day. Penney began adding shops featuring new hip brands last year and plans to overhaul the home department this spring. Martha Stewart is at the center of that revamp.

The stakes are also high for the personalities involved in the suit. Lundgren said that while he used to be good friends with Stewart, he hasn't spoken to her since that 2011 after he hung up on her.

"''I was completely shocked and blown away," he testified on Monday. "It was so far from anything I could imagine."

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2013-02-25-Macy's-Penney-Trial/id-a6f57cf94d6b4c8e8f8ec58e62658369

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ASUS' MWC press event happens tomorrow at 7AM ET, get your liveblog here!

Regardless of how you feel about ASUS, we think we can all agree on this: the company knows how to put on a good show. The outfit's made it pretty obvious it's about to announce a new PadFone here at Mobile World Congress, thanks to teasers involving a Spanish-speaking statue and a spaceship landing atop La Sagrada Familia. Plus, chairman Jonney Shih has a little trouble controlling the volume of his voice, especially if you get him on the subject of ubiquitous cloud computing. So the keynote tomorrow should be fun -- and yeah, we're excited about that new PadFone, too. Follow our liveblog tomorrow at 7AM ET and all will be revealed.

February 25, 2013 7:00 AM EST

Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, ASUS

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Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/XNT0IRaq_68/

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Keselowski leading with 20 to go

Michael Annett (43), Johanna Long (70), Hal Martin (44), Mike Bliss (19), Jason White (00), Joe Nemechek (87), Jeffrey Earnhardt (79), Matt Kenseth (18), Danny Efland (4) and Kasey Kahne (5) collide and slide as Austin Dillon (3) escapes between Turns 1 and 2 during the NASCAR Nationwide Series auto race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla., Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Michael Annett (43), Johanna Long (70), Hal Martin (44), Mike Bliss (19), Jason White (00), Joe Nemechek (87), Jeffrey Earnhardt (79), Matt Kenseth (18), Danny Efland (4) and Kasey Kahne (5) collide and slide as Austin Dillon (3) escapes between Turns 1 and 2 during the NASCAR Nationwide Series auto race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla., Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Danica Patrick (10) and Jeff Gordon (24) lead the pack to start the NASCAR Daytona 500 Sprint Cup Series auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)

Danica Patrick competes during NASCAR Daytona 500 Sprint Cup Series auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)

Juan Pablo Montoya (42) and Kevin Harvick (29) collide while going into Turn 1 during the NASCAR Daytona 500 Sprint Cup Series auto race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla., Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Former Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis waves the green to start of the Daytona 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series auto race Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Defending Sprint Cup champion Brad Keselowski leads the Daytona 500 with 20 laps to go.

He's followed by Jimmie Johnson, Marcus Ambrose, Greg Biffle, Denny Hamlin and Danica Patrick.

? Paul Newberry ? http://www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963

___

KENSETH OUT: There won't be a repeat winner at the Daytona 500.

Defending champ Matt Kenseth had led more laps than anyone when, suddenly, his car began smoking on lap 149. He headed to pit road and it didn't take long for the crew to push him behind the wall, ruining any hopes of becoming the first back-to-back winner since Sterling Marlin in 1994-95.

Kenseth and his new teammates at Joe Gibbs Racing, Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin, were actually running 1-2-3 when Kenseth had some sort of engine or transmission problem. Just two laps later, Busch's car also went out, smoking as well, sending the driver of the No. 18 machine storming through the garage, ripping off his racesuit.

"It's really unfortunate," Busch said. "We were running 1-2-3 and it felt like we were dropping like flies. Something inside the motor broke that's not supposed to break. It's a little devastating when you're running 1-2-3 like that. Hopefully the No. 11 (Hamlin) can bring it home."

? Paul Newberry ? http://www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963

___

EDWARDS' TOUGH MONTH: No one will be more eager than Carl Edwards to get out of Daytona.

The No. 99 team had a brutal month leading up to the NASCAR season opener, wrecking four times.

Make it five.

Edwards was caught up in a crash heading into turn one at the Daytona 500, another case of simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Trevor Bayne bumped Brad Keselowski from behind, which sent the No. 21 car sliding sideways.

With nowhere to go, Edwards was sent into the outside wall.

? Paul Newberry ? http://www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963

___

SMOKE STEAMS: Tony Stewart has returned to the track at the Daytona 500.

But he's pretty much assured of going 0-for-15 in NASCAR's biggest race.

Stewart was 82 laps behind the leaders when he rolled out of the garage after an early crash. His frustration was never more evident than when he joined in the repair effort, banging on his No. 14 car with a hammer during the long stint in the paddock.

"To hell with the season," Stewart said. "I wanted to win the Daytona 500. We had a car that we could pass with today. We were passing cars by ourselves. I was so happy with our car, was just waiting for it to all get sorted out again. I don't know what started it, but we just got caught up in another wreck."

Stewart's misfortune came a day after he won the lower-division Nationwide race ? his 19th career triumph at Daytona.

None of them have come in the race he really wants.

? Paul Newberry ? http://www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963

___

FAMILIAR SPOT: Matt Kenseth is back in a familiar spot.

Leading the Daytona 500.

Kenseth was running out front at the 100-lap mark, halfway through the biggest NASCAR race of the season.

While there's nothing unusual about Kenseth leading at Daytona, where he's won two of the last three years, it's a bit jarring to see him doing it in the No. 20 car.

Kenseth had spent his entire Cup career driving the No. 17 machine for Roush Fenway Racing, but he switched to Joe Gibbs Racing this season. He's got a new car, a new number, a new sponsor and a new team.

But he still knows how to run strong at Daytona.

? Paul Newberry ? http://www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963

___

DANICAMANIA: Danica Patrick keeps making history.

The first woman to start from the pole at the Daytona 500 has become the first female to lead a lap in a NASCAR Cup race.

Patrick sent the huge crowd into a frenzy when she snatched the lead from Michael Waltrip on lap 90 after a series of pit stops under yellow. She led two laps before Denny Hamlin surged to the front.

But Patrick has shown her qualifying run was no fluke. She's got a strong car and has been in the top 10 all day as the 200-lap race approaches the midway point.

Patrick switched to NASCAR last year after becoming the first woman to lead laps at the Indianapolis 500, as well as being the first to win an IndyCar race.

Now, she's looking for a win in NASCAR's biggest event.

? Paul Newberry ? http://www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963

___

AWKWARD: Rapper 50 Cent wasn't content just chatting up Erin Andrews.

He went in for a kiss.

Rebuffed.

In the strangest part of the buildup to the Daytona 500, Mr. Cent brought back memories of Joe Namath's awkward attempt to plant one on Suzy Kolber when he tried the same move with Andrews on pit road.

She turned her head one way, then the other, only allowing the "Candy Shop" rapper to get a peck on the cheek.

? Paul Newberry ? http://www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963

___

BIG CRASH: We've had the first big wreck of the Daytona 500.

And a bunch of top contenders have seen their chances go up in smoke.

Former 500 winners Kevin Harvick, Tony Stewart and Jamie McMurray were caught up in the crash on lap 33. So was defending Sprint Cup champion Brad Keselowski.

The melee began coming through the tri-oval when Kasey Kahne's car began to slide across the track after appearing to get bumped from behind by Kyle Busch.

At least two other drivers also got caught up in the mess: Juan Pablo Montoya and Casey Mears. Joey Logano made a great move to dodge the spinning cars.

Pole sitter Danica Patrick made it through unscathed and remains near the front of the pack.

? Paul Newberry ? http://www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963

___

HANG ON TIGHT: From one defending champion to another, Brad Keselowski had a piece of advice for Daytona 500 starter Ray Lewis:

Don't drop the flag.

The retired Baltimore Ravens star served as honorary starter for the Daytona 500. Lewis waved the green flag without incident Sunday to start the "Great American Race."

Lewis, who said he was nervous, got a quick tip from Keselowski.

"Brad texted me on the way in, the one rule is, don't drop the flag," Lewis said before the race. "I'm going to squeeze the flag very hard. I want to watch this and be a part of it. To be here is an awesome experience."

Lewis was one of several stars at Daytona International Speedway. Rappers T.I. and 50 Cent attended NASCAR's season opener, which has Danica Patrick starting on the pole.

Oscar-nominated actor James Franco was the grand marshall and said, "Drivers and Danica, start your engines!" The Zac Brown Band played a pre-race concert in the Daytona International Speedway infield. Band member Clay Cook performed the national anthem.

Retired baseball pitcher Tom Gordon, comedian Drew Carey, and Wes Welker and Steve Spurrier also were in attendance.

Lewis called Keselowski on the eve of the 2012 season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway and left him an inspirational voice message. Keselowski also often listens to Lewis' motivational speeches before races.

"I caught a glimpse of how he always watched my videos and it really inspired him," Lewis said. "That's when me and him really started having conversations with each other, and from there it just turned into a friendship. I send him motivational things, and heads-up on what I am doing, that's where the relationship has gone."

? Dan Gelston ? http://twitter.com/APgelston

___

DANICA DROPS BACK: Danica Patrick made history by becoming the first woman to start from the pole in a NASCAR Cup race.

But in the beginning of the Daytona 500, she failed to pull off another landmark.

Choosing the outside spot on the front row, Patrick gave up the lead to Jeff Gordon on the very first lap, missing out on an early chance to become the first female to lead a Cup lap.

Over the first 10 laps, she settled in behind Gordon and held on to the second spot in the 43-car field.

Patrick went on the radio before the race to thank her crew for giving her such a strong car. "I'll do the best job I can to do my end of the deal today," she said. "All in all, thank you for everything. You guys are awesome."

Later, Patrick sent the huge crowd into a frenzy when she snatched the lead from Michael Waltrip on lap 90 after a series of pit stops under yellow. She led two laps before Denny Hamlin surged to the front.

? Paul Newberry ? http://www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963

___

FRANCO'S AUDIBLE: "Drivers ... and Danica!!! ... start your engines."

With that unique command, actor James Franco has ordered the 43 cars to fire up for the Daytona 500.

The duty is normally carried out with the most famous words in racing: "Gentlemen, start your engines."

Of course, this year is different. Danica Patrick is the first woman to start from the pole in a Cup race, and Franco hinted beforehand that he was planning an audible. As unpredictable as ever, he passed on a chance to copy the command that was used when Patrick raced in the Indianapolis 500, "Lady and gentlemen, start your engines."

Now, it's time to go racing at Daytona.

? Paul Newberry ? http://www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963

___

A HEARTY BUNCH: NASCAR FANS RETURN TO DANGER ZONE: Say this about NASCAR fans: They don't frighten easily.

One day after a harrowing crash injured dozens of fans in the stands, those same seats are filling up for the Daytona 500.

No one seems too concerned.

"These should be good seats," said Rick Barasso, as he settled into a spot that was right in the danger zone when Kyle Larson's car slammed into the catch fencing on the final lap of a Nationwide Series race Saturday. "I mean, what are the chances of it happening again?"

That seems to be the attitude of the fans heading into the Daytona 500, the season-opening Cup race and biggest event on the NASCAR schedule. Most people say it's worth the risk to sit next to the ear-rattling action ? no more than 20 feet away for those in the first row. They love to hear the engines, smell the exhaust, and feel the wind whipping in their face as 43 cars go by at nearly 200 mph.

Still, there are a few fans fretting about the location of their seats.

Raymond Gober returned to the same location where he was nearly struck by a bolt from Larson's car. He scooped up the debris as a souvenir, though he acknowledged being a little nervous about his seat on the back row of the lower level. He even considered wearing his motorcycle helmet to the 500, but figured "everybody would start laughing at me." Next year, he plans to buy an upper-level seat in the main grandstand.

"My dad called and said, 'You're sitting in the same seats? "' Gober said. "He couldn't believe it."

There are grim reminders of what happened Saturday: a bloody spot that had been washed down (not entirely, though), a tire mark on a seat, another seat that was partially bent from getting struck by that same tire.

? Paul Newberry ? http://www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963

___

EDITOR'S NOTE ? "Daytona 500 Watch" shows you the Daytona 500 and events surrounding the race through the eyes of Associated Press journalists. Follow them on Twitter.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2013-02-24-NASCAR-Daytona%20500%20Watch/id-038d06c5bd494a409d401d3bc70a66a2

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Quick-hit thoughts around NFL & Pats

INDIANAPOLIS -- Quick-hit thoughts from around the NFL and the Patriots:

1. Bill Belichick has yet to officially announce his 2013 coaching staff, but from what we saw at the NFL combine, there shouldn't be any major changes. It looks like the entire offensive staff returns intact, which means Belichick would have one additional offensive assistant over the course of 2013, with Brian Daboll having been added in the playoffs. As for where Daboll lands on the offensive staff, it could be in a roving capacity with perhaps a little added emphasis along the offensive line. The reason: Belichick knows every year that highly regarded offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia returns, it's a bonus because he's closer to retirement than the start of his career. Belichick is usually thinking a few steps ahead, and whenever the time comes to replace Scarnecchia -- which would be a major blow based on his excellence -- he has to be prepared.

2. When it comes to a potential landing spot for free-agent defensive end Dwight Freeney, I wouldn't be surprised if it's Denver, with quarterback Peyton Manning attempting to lure his former Colts teammate. On the surface, it wouldn't seem to make much sense because the Broncos already have two disruptive ends in Von Miller and Elvis Dumervil, but the sales pitch to Freeney could be that he'd be part of all passing downs (imagine Miller, Dumervil and Freeney playing at the same time) and could be the third man in a rotation at a time when cutting back his snaps might prolong his career by a year or two. Furthermore, the Broncos have a short-term window to win a championship with Manning, and Freeney fits in that sense, too. These are the types of things you hear at the local establishments late at night at the NFL combine and wonder if there might be fire where there is smoke.

3. Two years removed from the 2011 lockout, a clearer picture is starting to come into focus, and this is what it looks like: The teams that planned accordingly for a flat salary cap in consecutive years -- as Patriots owner Robert Kraft and team president Jonathan Kraft had warned at the time -- are putting themselves in position to capitalize on what looks like a flooded market that is flush with solid players who can be signed at reasonable prices. Those who didn't plan accordingly are over/tight to the cap and will have to cut some good players, which we've already seen happen with various teams, with more to follow in the coming weeks. Because of this, the majority of player agents I spoke with at the combine aren't expecting a lucrative free-agent period and have braced themselves for a depressed financial market -- both this year and next. As more time passes since the 10-year extension of the collective bargaining agreement in July 2011, it seems the chorus is growing louder among agents that it's not as good of a deal as the players thought they were getting.

4. Along those financial lines, I'd still be surprised if the Patriots use the franchise tag on any of their free agents, most notably cornerback Aqib Talib ($10.6 million), right tackle Sebastian Vollmer ($9.6 million) and receiver Wes Welker ($11.4 million). I think the team wants all three players to return, but if the projection is that it's going to be a down market leaguewide, my assumption is that the team's strategy will be to let the market ultimately determine the value of the contracts. There is risk with that approach -- the player could simply walk away if another team steps up with a big offer -- but the Patriots have always been comfortable with going that route if a compromise couldn't be reached beforehand. The financial dynamics in play this year, from this view, would seem to strengthen the club's resolve.

5a. Some of the best X's and O's chatter I heard over the past three days revolved around the Seahawks' defense, mainly because it's unique when compared to what most other clubs play. In a "copycat" league, it makes sense that other teams are studying it closely and considering implementing parts of it in their own schemes. With former Seahawks defensive coordinator Gus Bradley now in his first year as Jaguars coach, expect parts of it to spread there. A few things about the Seahawks' style of defense: They play mostly with a single-high safety (rangy, athletic Earl Thomas), which allows them to bring a second safety into the box (Kam Chancellor); they have the two big press corners (Brandon Browner, Richard Sherman); the key player up front is the "Leo" pass-rushing end (Chris Clemons, Bruce Irvin), who might be considered a linebacker in other schemes. With those crucial pieces in place, Bradley explained that it allows the defensive front to mix between 4-3 and 3-4 principles at any time, which helps simplify things against opponents' run games. Head coach Pete Carroll and personnel chief John Schneider deserve the bulk of the credit for putting together such a unique unit/scheme, which one opposing coach said was keyed by the length of the corners. With Russell Wilson at quarterback and this type of defensive approach, Seattle currently is viewed as one of the most exciting teams in the NFL.

5b. When I consider how an offense has to beat a Seahawks-type defense, the ability to get open against press coverage is at the top of the list. That's an area I think the Patriots could use some help, perhaps both in the draft and free agency. Cal receiver Keenan Allen, who is projected as a possible first-round talent, is the type of prospect who might help. Allen isn't running at the combine (knee), but plans to do so at his pro day on March 14. The plan here is to keep an eye on him.

6. I spoke with one scout who felt Harvard fullback Kyle Juszczyk (6-foot-3, 245 pounds) helped himself with a strong Senior Bowl, specifically with how well he caught the ball. The Patriots loaded up at the position in 2012 training camp, but things never panned out with Spencer Larsen, Tony Fiammetta and Eric Kettani. If there is the same commitment to adding a fullback this year, one of the best options could be with a prospect who played his college football 30 miles north of Gillette Stadium.

7. Random thoughts from the NFL combine: Eagles coach Chip Kelly has a presence about him that draws your attention even when he's just walking down the hallway ? I think Kelly appreciates the time he's spent with Bill Belichick, but my sense is that the perception of a strong bond between them might not be as accurate as has been portrayed in the press ? If we're talking about a strong bond, Belichick and Buccaneers Greg Schiano is probably the right place to start. They were joined at the hip in Indianapolis ? Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff is dynamic, and his ability to clearly articulate complex issues is impressive. People talk about coaching trees, but how about Dimitroff's executive tree? In consecutive years, he's had assistants go on to become general managers in Les Snead (Rams) and Dave Caldwell (Jaguars) ? From a first-impression standpoint, Jaguars coach Gus Bradley's passion and energy could be just the spark that the Jacksonville market needs. Bradley spoke for 15 minutes Saturday. I could have listened for 45. The defense he coordinated in Seattle in 2012 has piqued plenty of interest ? In the area of new ideas, it was interesting to hear from prospects about how they were given a new type of "test" to measure flexibility and knee bend. Just another piece of information for teams to consider ? A lot of questions were asked about the growing role of analytics in evaluations, and my biggest takeaway was that most teams use it in some form, mostly as a supplement to traditional, old-school scouting.

8. Packers coach Mike McCarthy knows that if his team is to win the NFC, the 49ers and Seahawks are two of the primary competitors, and they both use elements of the read option. Perhaps with this in mind, he revealed that his coaching staff has arranged a trip to Texas A&M to work with Aggies head coach Kevin Sumlin, who McCarthy feels can help his staff get a better handle and understanding on the unique approach. Just as players are always working to fine-tune their craft, so too are the coaches.

9. After Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o held a news conference Saturday, one thought was to write about the possibility of him still being on the board at No. 29 when the Patriots pick and pondering how the team might view the possibility. But to be honest, it seemed a bit forced. If the Patriots are looking to get faster and more athletic at linebacker, Te'o wouldn't appear to be a fit.

10. On Friday morning at the NFL combine when coaches, scouts, general managers and other team officials made their way through the halls of the Indianapolis Convention Center after the morning workout, Bill Belichick was spotted walking alongside his son Steven and assistant strength coach Moses Cabrera, and it led to this thought: It has to be pretty neat for Belichick to have Steven on staff as the next generation in the family coaching tree. I got the sense that the father was tutoring the son on what he looks for in players, just as Belichick's father used to do with him. If you're Belichick as you get toward the back end of your coaching career, who better could there be to share such a wealth of football knowledge with?

Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4740194/quick-hit-thoughts-around-nfl-pats-143

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Justices asked to void marriage law provision

WASHINGTON (AP) ? The Obama administration is asking the Supreme Court to declare unconstitutional a section of federal law that only recognizes male-female marriages.

In a filing with the court, the administration says Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act denies legally married same-sex couples many federal benefits that are available only to legally married heterosexual couples. Federal tax and Social Security survivor's benefits are among them.

In its brief, the administration said the provision "violates the fundamental constitutional guarantee of equal protection."

The brief was filed as the justices prepare to hear arguments next month in a challenge to the 1996 law.

President Barack Obama last year said he personally supports gay marriage. He said in last month's inaugural address that the law should treat gay people like anyone else.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/89ae8247abe8493fae24405546e9a1aa/Article_2013-02-23-Obama-Gay%20Marriage/id-0022e63bac504f539393e1b4b78febe9

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Iran Revolutionary Guard begins military exercises

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) ? Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guard has begun a three-day ground and air military exercise aimed at upgrading its combat readiness.

State TV says the drills involve ground forces of the Guard, Iran's most powerful military force, around the city of Sirjan in the country's south. It showed tanks and artillery attacking hypothetical enemy positions.

The broadcast says the aim of the exercise is to upgrade the capabilities of the Iranian forces. It did not elaborate.

The war games are taking place amid escalating tensions between Iran and the West over Tehran's disputed nuclear program. Israel has hinted that it may take military action if talks fail to get Iran stop its uranium enrichment program.

The U.S. and its allies accuse Iran of seeking nuclear weapons, a charge Tehran denies.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/iran-revolutionary-guard-begins-military-exercises-081519544.html

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Double funeral after husband dies on way to wife's wake

Norma Hendrickson / Reuters

Gwen and Norman Hendrickson pose for a photograph in their backyard in Cambridge, New York, in this undated family handout photo.

Norman Hendrickson was known for telling jokes and never wasting money. So when he died suddenly while en route to his wife's funeral, the couple's daughters knew there was only one thing to do: Hold a doubleheader service.

The 94-year-old World War II veteran's impromptu wake was held Saturday at the same eastern New York funeral home where his wife Gwen's funeral was already scheduled. She was 89 when she died on Feb. 8. After Norman died just steps from the funeral home, the daughters decided their parents would be mourned together at the same time.?

The daughters said it was a fitting way to say goodbye to a couple who had been together since meeting in Europe during World War II and who had been married for nearly 66 years.?

"After we had a little time to process the shock and horror, we felt we couldn't have written a more perfect script," Norma Howland told the Post-Star of Glens Falls. "My sister said the only thing he didn't do was fall into the casket."?

Norman, a former assistant postmaster in Cambridge, 35 miles northeast of Albany, was being driven in a limousine to the Ackley and Ross Funeral Home for his wife's service when he stopped breathing. After the limo pulled up, funeral director Jim Gariepy, who is also the local coroner, and funeral home owner Elizabeth Nichols-Ross helped move Norman to the sidewalk outside the business.?

Gariepy began CPR while Nichols-Ross and one Norman's sons-in-law raced across town to retrieve his do-not-resuscitate orders from the Hendricksons' refrigerator door. Once the orders were in hand, an emergency crew that had arrived ceased attempts to revive Norman. He died on the sidewalk.?

Nichols-Ross said daughter Merrilyne Hendrickson then requested that her father's body be put into a casket and placed in the viewing room with her mother's cremated remains, which had been placed in an urn. Mourners who started arriving soon after for Gwen's funeral were greeted by a note Merrilyne posted at the entrance: "Surprise ? It's a doubleheader ? Gwen and Norman Hendrickson ? Feb. 16, 2013."?

Nichols-Ross said she didn't charge the family for Norman's wake. On his prayer card, she jokingly wrote that Hendrickson got the idea to die in the limo headed to the funeral so he could get "a buy-one-get-one-free deal."?

"If it had happened with somebody else like this it would have been sad, but with Norm it wasn't," Nichols-Ross said. "It was just so much like Norm."?

Norman was overseas with the U.S. Army when he met Gwen, who was serving in the British Royal Air Force. She immigrated to the U.S. and they were married in May 1947.?

Howland said her parents had jokingly promised to never leave one spouse behind. After her mother died, Howland said she overheard her father say aloud, "We have had a good long life together. I love you. I'll miss you and watch for me."?

By The Associated Press

? 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/02/22/17055938-doubleheader-funeral-after-husband-dies-on-way-to-wifes-wake?lite

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Jobs Network Engineer With Firewalls Juniper Ssg Srx Checkpoint

Search job opportunities in world are highest paying jobs. List of jobs opportunties in world are top jobs in world 2013, search latest jobs and apply online free to all. The main keywords to this page are job opportunities, jobs opportunities, jobs opportunities in world, job opportunities by country, jobs by countries, jobs by country, jobs in country, jobs in 2012, jobs in 2013.

Source: http://www.jobsinworld.com/jobs-search.php?Jobs-Network-Engineer-With-Firewalls-Juniper-Ssg-Srx-Checkpoint-Buckinghamshire&jid=4235550

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Marian Wright Edelman: What Killed President Kennedy and Trayvon Martin?

February 26 will mark one year since 17-year-old Trayvon Martin was killed by a gun wielded by self-appointed neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman after he saw Trayvon walking home from a 7-Eleven with a bag of Skittles and bottle of Arizona iced tea.

Black children, youths, and families know first-hand that the killing of Black children by gun violence is not new but a relentlessly unreported and under-reported plague that has been disproportionately snuffing out Black child lives for a very long time. Fifteen percent of children and teens are Black but 45 percent of all children and youths killed by guns in 2010 were Black. Black boys 15 to 19 years old were 28 times more likely than White boys the same age to be killed in a gun homicide.

Shortly after President Kennedy?s assassination, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote that it was time for our nation to do some soul-searching, and while the question ?Who killed President Kennedy?? was important, answering the question ?What killed President Kennedy?? was even more critical. Dr. King believed the answer was that ?our late president was assassinated by a morally inclement climate?: ?It is a climate filled with heavy torrents of false accusation, jostling winds of hatred, and raging storms of violence. It is a climate where men cannot disagree without being disagreeable, and where they express dissent through violence and murder. It is the same climate that murdered Medgar Evers in Mississippi and six innocent Negro children in Birmingham, Alabama.? Dr. King further noted that the undercurrents of hatred and violence that made up this morally inclement climate were fueled by our cultural embrace of guns: ?By our readiness to allow arms to be purchased at will and fired at whim, by allowing our movie and television screens to teach our children that the hero is one who masters the art of shooting and the technique of killing, by allowing all these developments, we have created an atmosphere in which violence and hatred have become popular pastimes.?

The same winds of hatred, storms of violence, and easy access to and glorification of guns that Dr. King believed killed President Kennedy would soon also kill Dr. King. Fifty years after Dr. King described our morally inclement climate, the outward signs of racial intolerance and hatred have undoubtedly diminished but there are still far too many reminders of the dangers lurking everywhere that devastate us all ? like Trayvon?s senseless death for walking home while Black. Between 1963, when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, and 2010, nearly 60,000 Black children and teens were killed by guns, over 1,200 every year for 48 years. This is 17 times the number of reported lynchings of Black Americans of all ages since 1882 but we have not had an equivalent Black community anti-lynching movement to save our children from gun violence.

While there are troubling undertones of racial suspicion and fear in Trayvon Martin?s killing which must be addressed as justice is sought, the fact is that most Black young people murdered by guns are killed by Black shooters ? just as most White children and teens murdered by guns are killed by White shooters. Sadly the tragedies of Tucson, Aurora, Newtown and elsewhere made clear that none of us are safe anywhere or immune to the pervasive threat of gun violence.

We are all in the same boat and must act together to stop the plague of violence. Gun safety laws that only apply in one city or state can?t fully stop our national epidemic of gun proliferation and violence any better than we can stop a flu epidemic by vaccinating one family. We must struggle together to stop gun violence and to change the morally inclement climate that Dr. King warned about if we are going to protect all of our nation?s children everywhere.

?

Follow Marian Wright Edelman on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ChildDefender

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marian-wright-edelman/what-killed-president-ken_b_2746658.html?utm_hp_ref=denver&ir=Denver

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South Africa : Oscar Pistorius in Court – Vidéo -

In this picture, we can see Oscar Pistorius bow down his head and he is crying for what is happening to him because every day of the trial things change and they can't grant him bail of his offence

Oscar Pistorius in the dock prior to final arguments in his bail application on day three at the Pretoria Magistrate's Court.

Source: http://www.modernghana.com/sports/446996/2/south-africa-oscar-pistorius-in-court-8211-vido-.html

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News10 award-winning iPhone and iPad fun!

News10 has lots of fun in store for you as you get ready for the Academy Awards and our post show, which airs immediately after the live awards broadcast on Feb 24.

CLICK here to find out how to create and share your own award acceptance speech!

It's free and easy to do with your iPhone and iPad.

Check it out!

~~~~~
Follow along with?all the?Academy Award?action on Twitter by using #News10Oscars.

To News10's?Oscars page

Source: http://citrusheights.news10.net/news/fun/111094-news10-award-winning-iphone-and-ipad-fun

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Microsoft, NetApp and EMC back Oracle in Java copyright case

Microsoft, EMC, and NetApp have come out against the pro-Google verdict from Oracle's copyright case on the Java platform.

The firm's are up in arms over last year's court ruling which fond that Oracle is unable to claim a copyright on parts of Java code found in the Android mobile OS. Microsoft, EMC, and NetApp wrote in a co-sponsored legal brief that the ruling undermines current copyright law.

"The district court's holding that critical elements of the software platform at issue in this case are not copyrightable at all is the product of several significant errors of copyright law," wrote the firm's in the legal briefing.

"In particular, the court failed to appreciate the key distinction between the threshold question of what is copyrightable and the role of separate doctrines to determine when a valid copyright has been infringed. If ruling would upset settled expectations and harm incentives for innovation in the software industry."

Oracle sued Google for copyright infringement of its Java platform two years ago. The firm alleged that Google was illegally copying Java APIs for use in its Android OS.

Late last year, a US district shot down Oracle's case. The?judge ruled that Oracle could not own the copyright on pieces of code.

He found that while Oracle could own the rights to Java, it did not have the copyright on specific lines of code in the platform.

However, Microsoft, EMC, and NetApp disagree with the judge's assessment on the case. The trifecta reports that Google broke Oracle's copyright on Java by copying "non-literal" elements of the platform.

The argument finds that Google can still be held accountable for copyright infringement because its code shared a similar structure and organization to Java code.

The legal brief goes on to find that the pro-Google ruling would hurt the industry as a whole. The document says that by allowing Google to use Java code in its platform the courts are setting a legal precedent which will allow future firm's to copy protected software.

"[The] decision sets a dangerous and ill-advised precedent. Under established precedent, sufficiently original software packages like those in the Java platform certainly may be copyrightable, preventing free-riders from replicating their precise structure and suite of features," continued the brief.

"Yet the district court's reasoning leaves no room for that result-not only in this case but on virtually any facts."

Oracle has already appealed the case. The firm made its appeal on the API ruling earlier this month.

Source: http://feeds.v3.co.uk/c/554/f/464335/s/28d3b9f0/l/0L0Sv30O0Cv30Euk0Cnews0C224990A60Cmicrosoft0Enetapp0Eand0Eemc0Eback0Eoracle0Ein0Ejava0Ecopyright0Ecase/story01.htm

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Wednesday?s Link Attack: Japan?s Dokdo Event; Filmmaker Killed By Drunk Driver; Dodgers Pitcher Hyun-jin Ryu

Wednesday?s Link Attack: Japan?s Dokdo Event; Filmmaker Killed By Drunk Driver; Dodgers Pitcher Hyun-jin Ryu

South Korea Brushes Off North?s ?Final Destruction? Threat
Voice of America

South Korea?s top national security official, in an exclusive VOA interview, says there is no cause for alarm amid a fresh North Korean threat to destroy the South.

National Security Adviser, Chun Yung-woo, says he is disappointed but not alarmed by a North Korean diplomat?s bombastic threat.

Chun told VOA?s Korean Service Wednesday that Pyongyang routinely resorts to ?violent vocabulary and expressions? to issue threats of war and retaliation. So such rhetoric unleashed at an international conference is not surprising.

Survivors liken N.Korean prison camps to Holocaust horrors
AFP via Google News

North Korea?s prison camps are a closed-off world of death, torture and forced labour where babies are born slaves, according to two survivors who liken the horrors of the camps to a Holocaust in progress.

?People think the Holocaust is in the past, but it is still very much a reality. It is still going on in North Korea,? Shin Dong-hyuk told AFP through an interpreter on the sidelines of a human rights summit in Geneva.

Shin himself spent his first 23 years in a prison camp in the secretive country, where he says he was tortured and subjected to forced labour before making a spectacular escape seven years ago ? and giving the outside world a rare first-hand account of life inside the camps.

South Korea faces quandary over potential human rights probe of North
Washington Post

The United Nations? human rights chief declared recently that it was time for a ?long overdue? investigation into what she called unparalleled rights abuses in North Korea. The probe, unprecedented in scope, could help establish whether the North?s leaders are committing crimes against humanity.

Navi Pillay?s January proposal has already drawn support from the United States. But the decision has proved sensitive in still-undecided South Korea, where leaders remain divided over whether to confront the North or try to somehow reduce tensions with it, even after Pyongyang last weekdetonated an underground nuclear device.

S. Korea urges Japan to drop event claiming Dokdo islets
Yonhap News

South Korea urged Japan on Tuesday to cancel an event it plans to hold to promote Tokyo?s territorial claims to the Dokdo islets.

?The event is one that should not be held in the first place. I saw reports that a Japanese government figure will attend it. If that?s true, it is very regrettable,? Seoul?s foreign ministry spokesman Cho Tai-young told reporters during a regular briefing.

According to Japanese media reports, Tokyo is considering sending Aiko Shimajiri, a vice-ministerial official and a member of the upper house of parliament, as well as 18 other lawmakers to attend the event set to be hosted by Shimane prefecture.

South Korean Director Park Chul-soo Dies in Car Accident
Hollywood Reporter

Director Park Chul-soo, the South Korean auteur known for sexually explicit films like last year?s B.E.D., died following a car accident Tuesday. He was 64.

The filmmaker was crossing a street in the city of Yongin early Tuesday morning when he was hit by a man driving under the influence, according to police.

Park?s death follows road accidents that killed two international filmmakers last year. Legendary Japanese director Koji Wakamatsu was struck by a car in October, and Greece?s Theo Angelopoulos was killed by a motorcycle nine months earlier.

WBW: Korean-American Style
allkpop

It?s not a coincidence that more and more Korean-American singers are making their way onto these shows as K-pop has been recruiting internationally for years with America being a prime target. Even in the early years, there has always been a steady stream of talent from the States to Seoul. Today?s Way Back Wednesday will feature some of the most influential artists from back in the day who lived in America before making it big. Some were born in America, others only lived here for a few years, but they all helped make K-pop what it is today.

Newcomer Hyun-Jin Ryu seems all right to Dodgers
Los Angeles Times

While working with Hyun-Jin Ryu in the first week of spring training, pitching coach Rick Honeycutt was reminded of another top-heavy left-hander who used to pitch for the Dodgers: Fernando Valenzuela.

?He has a presence about him,? Honeycutt said of Ryu.

Honeycutt hasn?t seen enough of Ryu to draw any conclusions about how he?ll transition from the Korean league to the majors, but he?s certain of this: The 25-year-old?s oversized torso is bursting with self-belief.

Others see it too.

?He does seem confident,? Manager Don Mattingly said.

Eagles sign OT Ed Wang to two-year deal
Star-Ledger (N.J.)

The Eagles have signed offensive tackle Ed Wang to a two-year deal, the team announced on Friday.

Wang, 6?5?, 315 lbs, was the first Chinese player ever drafted in the NFL when the Buffalo Bills took him in the 5th round of the 2010 draft. Wang never started for the Bills but did play in six games.

?I?m excited to play here and be here with the tradition they have,? Wang said.

Korean Lunar New Year [SLIDESHOW]
San Francisco Chronicle

Simone Willets tosses an arrow while playing a game of tuho, with help from her classmate Adrien Stroumza (right), during a celebration of Seol Nal, the Korean Lunar New Year, at the Claire Lilienthal School in San Francisco, Calif. on Friday, Feb. 8, 2013. Students in the Korean-immersion program wore traditional hanbok outfits and participated in a variety of activities to celebrate the lunar new year, which begins Sunday.

Source: http://iamkoream.com/wednesdays-link-attack-japans-dokdo-event-filmmaker-killed-by-drunk-driver-dodgers-pitcher-hyun-jin-ryu/

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A look at Mandiant, allegations on China hacking

WASHINGTON (AP) ? A private technology security firm described in extraordinary detail efforts it blamed on a Chinese military unit to hack into 141 businesses, mostly inside the U.S., and steal commercial secrets. China denies the claim.

A look at the company, Mandiant, and why its report is significant:

?What is Mandiant?

Headquartered in Alexandria, Va., Mandiant was started in 2004 by Kevin Mandia, a retired Air Force officer who carved out a lucrative niche investigating computer crimes. Mandiant says it can detect and trace even quiet intrusions, such as the theft of employee passwords or trade secrets that a company otherwise might not be aware is happening.

Mandiant was most recently noted for its work in helping The New York Times trace an attack on its employees' computers to China, following a Times investigation into China's Premier Wen Jiabao. The newspaper publicly acknowledged Mandiant's role in the case.

?Are there other companies like Mandiant? Why not just call the FBI?

There are other companies that specialize in cybercrime response and forensics, including CrowdStrike, Kroll Advisory Solutions, and Stroz Friedberg in New York. Others specialize in establishing and testing a company's computer defenses and monitoring traffic to detect hackers or suspicious behavior.

Companies can be reluctant to call the FBI. Businesses don't want to hand over their most sensitive information ? including computers and proprietary data ? to the government and would rather maintain control of the investigation. Many companies are less concerned about tracing the origin of an attack than resuming business to make money. They also don't want their vulnerabilities discussed in a courtroom or leaked to news organizations or shareholders, which can happen if the government were involved. Companies like Mandiant have a big financial incentive ? and signed confidentiality promises ? to keep names of clients secret.

?What did Mandiant's report say? Why is it important?

Mandiant alleges that it has traced a massive hacking campaign on U.S. businesses to a drab, white 12-story office building outside Shanghai run by "Unit 61398" of the People's Liberation Army. The report contains some of the most extensive and detailed accusations on China's cybersnooping publicly available, including a timeline and details of malware used.

The U.S. government, including its intelligence agencies, almost certainly has similar and even more detailed information but it's regarded as highly classified. Being a private company, Mandiant doesn't have to keep its information secret, although it hasn't released the names of the companies attacked.

?Why did Mandiant publish its findings?

Mandiant says it was time to call out China for its systematic hacking and that releasing as many details as possible will help security professionals. It acknowledged in a statement that releasing the information was risky because it said the Chinese will change tactics now that some of its techniques are known. Mandiant also said it expects itself to be targeted, beyond what it described as an unsophisticated effort in April to trick some employees into installing malicious software disguised as a draft press release. "We expect reprisals from China as well as an onslaught of criticism," Mandiant wrote.

Mandiant has an obvious commercial interest in releasing the information, too. The company said its existing customers were already warned about and protected against the techniques it discovered, and it offered a free software tool to companies and organizations to detect suspicious activity. It puts Mandiant front-and-center at a critical time on a national debate about cybersecurity. Its founder testified earlier this month to the House Intelligence Committee on hacking threats. Last week, President Barack Obama signed an executive order aimed at improving government cooperation with industry, and Congress is weighing various legislative proposals on the matter.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/look-mandiant-allegations-china-hacking-185443417--finance.html

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Talk of more corporate deals sends stocks higher

Traders work on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange in New York, Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2013. . Talk of more merger and acquisitions is sending stock prices slightly higher in early trading, setting the market up to continue a seven-week rally. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Traders work on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange in New York, Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2013. . Talk of more merger and acquisitions is sending stock prices slightly higher in early trading, setting the market up to continue a seven-week rally. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Traders work on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange in New York, Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2013. . Talk of more merger and acquisitions is sending stock prices slightly higher in early trading, setting the market up to continue a seven-week rally. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Traders work on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange in New York, Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2013. Talk of more merger and acquisitions is sending stock prices slightly higher in early trading, setting the market up to continue a seven-week rally. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Traders work on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange in New York, Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2013. Talk of more mergers and acquisitions is sending stock prices slightly higher in early trading, setting the market up to continue a seven-week rally. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Traders work on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange in New York, Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2013. Talk of more merger and acquisitions is sending stock prices slightly higher in early trading, setting the market up to continue a seven-week rally. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

NEW YORK (AP) ? Talk of more deal-making sent the stock market higher Tuesday, putting the Dow Jones industrial average within close reach of its all-time high.

Reports that retailers Office Depot and OfficeMax are discussing a merger came after big corporate deals for Heinz and Dell were announced in recent weeks. Some investors are betting that more deals could be on the way as buyers pay premium prices for publicly traded companies.

The Dow rose 53.91 points to close at 14,035.67. All it would take now is one good day to push the average above 14,164, the record high reached in October 2007.

"It seems that investors are more comfortable with taking risk right now," said Jack Ablin, chief investment officer at BMO Private Bank in Chicago. That's despite the $1.2 trillion in automatic federal spending cuts that are scheduled to start March 1 unless Congress and the White House find a way to avoid them. Congress returns from vacation next week.

Previous budget battles in Washington have rattled financial markets. But this time out, many investors seem unfazed by the prospect that Congress won't stop the "sequester" from kicking in. One reason is that the cuts are spread across the board for a decade, instead of all at once.

"I think investors are actually comforted by it," Ablin said. "It's not ideal. But if Congress can't do it when left to their own devices, this is the next best thing."

In other trading Tuesday, the Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 11.15 points to 1,530.94. The technology-heavy Nasdaq composite index gained 21.56 points to 3,213.59. Google crossed $800 for the first time.

The gains were widely shared, if slight. Nine of the 10 industry groups tracked by the Standard & Poor's 500 index inched higher, led by energy companies. More than two stocks rose for every one that fell on the New York Stock Exchange.

Markets were also higher in Europe following news that the German economy is picking up steam. Indexes rose more than 1 percent in Germany and France.

Stocks of office supplies stores jumped following a report in The Wall Street Journal that OfficeMax and Office Depot were considering a deal to merge. The paper said an announcement could come as early as this week.

OfficeMax soared $2.25 to an even $13, a gain of 21 percent, and Office Depot shot up 43 cents to $5.02, a gain of 9 percent. Staples also rose as investors anticipated that more mergers could be on the way.

Analysts cautioned that antitrust regulators could block mergers in the office-supply business. Staples, for instance, tried to buy Office Depot in 1997, but was stopped by the Federal Trade Commission.

Health insurers fell after the release of preliminary government data that suggests rate cuts to Medicare Advantage plans for next year will be steeper than anticipated.

The two largest Medicare Advantage providers, Humana and UnitedHealth, sank. Humana had the biggest loss in the S&P 500, dropping 6 percent, or $4.98, to $73.01. UnitedHealth fell 66 cents to $56.66.

The government says it expects costs per person for Medicare Advantage plans to fall more than 2 percent in 2014. The government uses this figure as a benchmark to determine payments for these privately run versions of the government's health care program for the elderly and disabled.

In the market for U.S. government bonds, the yield on the 10-year Treasury note rose to 2.03 percent from 2 percent late Friday.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2013-02-19-Wall%20Street/id-4d770213123f47318bb5e80d72b1ea3f

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Play top bird cage for sale - Denver Classifieds - Kijiji

Sorry, Readability was unable to parse this page for content.

Source: http://denver.ebayclassifieds.com/birds/aurora/play-top-bird-cage-for-sale/?ad=26323283

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TV special shows glory, trauma of military dogs

This 2012 publicity photo provided by Animal Planet shows pre-deployment photos of Air Force Tech. Sgt. Leonard Anderson and a bomb-detecting dog, Azza, an 8-year-old Belgian Malinois at training in Las Vegas. After the Nevada training, Air Force Tech. Sgt. Anderson and Azza were sent to Kandahar Province, in Afghanistan. Animal Planet television special "Glory Hounds," included coverage of Air Force Tech. Sgt. Anderson, a military dog handler and his team, when they embedded four camera crews with front line troops for six weeks. (AP Photo/Animal Planet) ? AP

This 2012 publicity photo provided by Animal Planet shows Air Force Tech. Sgt. Leonard Anderson and a bomb-detecting dog, Azza, an 8-year-old Belgian Malinois, in Afghanistan. Animal Planet television special "Glory Hounds," included coverage of Air Force Tech. Sgt. Anderson and his team, when they embedded four camera crews with front line troops for six weeks. ?Glory Hounds" airs Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013 at 8 p.m. ET/PT and repeats on Feb. 24 at 9 a.m. ET/PT. (AP Photo/Animal Planet) ? AP

LOS ANGELES ? It's been almost seven months since a bomb exploded on a strip of dirt in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Leonard Anderson can only remember a reassuring voice.

He has seen the ambush and its aftermath on film, though: The man behind the voice putting a tourniquet on Anderson's leg as a medic tended to the other, listening to his own cries for help and his dog's whines of worry.

The blast that severely wounded the military dog handler was captured on film by one of four camera crews that were embedded with front line troops last year. The voice that reassured him belonged to Craig Constant, a cameraman for Animal Planet's "Glory Hounds" TV special, which airs Thursday.

It took the network a year to get permission to film the two-hour special, which followed the animals into combat zones where insurgents and buried explosives could be around any bend or under any pile of dirt.

Military dogs are prized targets for Taliban insurgents, Anderson said. They sniff out bombs, making safe passage for troops to follow and saving countless lives. The U.S. Department of Defense calls each dog a piece of equipment, but Constant says they're much more than that.

"They call them tools, and they are not. They are soldiers. They just have four paws instead of two feet. They walk in front of the platoons. It's a deadly game, and they die all the time. But they save lives by finding IEDs that technology can't find," said Constant, referring to the military terminology for improvised explosive devices.

Anderson became the handler for an 8-year-old Belgian Malinois named Azza when he asked for the job as kennel master at the base in Sperwan Ghar, said the 29-year-old who loves animals.

The breed is among four - including Dutch shepherd, German shepherd and Labrador retriever - that is commonly used by the military because they are of similar size and temperament, easy to train and enjoy working, said Ron Aiello, president of the U.S. War Dogs Association.

Azza became a military dog when she was 3 and detecting explosives was her specialty, said Anderson.

On the day of the blast, early morning on July 28, Azza and Anderson were about a mile from the base camp. They didn't need to go into the field - Anderson's job was to assess daily needs, plot routes and assign teams. But the self-described adrenaline junkie said he couldn't do his job if he didn't know where his men and dogs were headed and what they were facing.

Constant and his sound technician were about 10 feet behind them when the bomb went off. Military experts who examined the blast site said it was activated by remote control, not set off by touch.

But the dog bore the guilt: Constant remembers most vividly the anguished look on her face and her whines.

"Azza just looked at him. She had a human face. She was helpless. She was concerned. She was fixated on him," Constant said.

Source: http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/feb/19/tv-special-shows-glory-trauma-of-military-dogs/

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Fuel leak started fire on Carnival cruise ship: Coast Guard

BERLIN (Reuters) - Half a life-time ago, artist Yoko Ono lay in an Amsterdam hotel bed with husband John Lennon, staging a week-long "bed-in" for peace and feeling they were very alone in their activism. Today, Ono, whose own energy for campaigning has never tired, sees a world full of activists, maintaining her energy and faith in humanity. "When John and I did the bed-in, not many people were with us. But now there are so many activists, I don't know anyone who is not an activist," she told Reuters in an interview in Berlin on Monday, her 80th birthday. ...

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/fuel-leak-started-fire-carnival-cruise-ship-coast-210456944--finance.html

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UIC Debt Collection Totals: TENNESSEE

&nbsp&nbsp&nbspImplemented July 2, 2012

OFFSET COUNT	NET COLLECTION AMOUNT	TOTAL AMOUNT OF DEBT REFERRED	PERCENT OF DEBT COLLECTED
134	$91,012.98	$43,220,273.54	0.21%

&nbsp&nbspLast Updated:&nbsp February 14, 2013

Source: http://fms.treas.gov/debt/uic_tennessee.html

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NBA union seems in turmoil

Written by Philip Rossman-Reich on Sunday, 17 February 2013 14:56.

On Saturday, the NBPA is expected to fire Billy Hunter as its executive director after a careful review of his running of the union. Hunter's job is somewhat that of a trustee as he is tasked with handling a lot of the business aspects for the union while the players play. Negotiating collective bargaining agreements are not an NBA player's expertise.

Hunter though was accused of some improprieties in his running of the union after it was discovered he had put family members in positions of power and favored companies his children and other family members worked for.

It was not pretty and the union seems in complete turmoil after coming out of the lockout.

Maurice Evans may be pouring more salt into the wounds for this union. The former Magic forward was the vice president of the union during the lockout and has come out as critical of Fisher's leadership and his motives. Evans is in Houston this weekend, but only because he lives there. He is no longer in the league and no longer in the union. Fisher is still the president even though he is out of the league because he had a short sting with Dallas earlier in the season.

That seemed fishy to Evans and is among many of the fishy things Fisher has done as the union's head, as he tells Jason Whitlock of Fox Sports:

'I give (Derek) a round of applause for being able to pull off this stunt and pull the wool over everyone's eyes,' former NBA veteran Maurice Evans told me late Thursday night. 'If he wants the union that bad -- let him and Ron Klempner and Jamie Wior -- they can have it.'

Evans, 34, was an executive vice president at the NBPA. He was perhaps the player and union rep closest to Hunter during the 2011 lockout and its aftermath. Evans is Hunter?s staunchest defender. After nine NBA seasons -- he played last year with the Wizards -- the career-long role player couldn't find a job this season, which meant his role in the union ended.

'Without a doubt, I know me not being in the league has something to do with my support of Billy Hunter,' Evans said. 'I'm fully comfortable not playing in the NBA ever again.'

There is a lot still to sort out for the union. The Magic's union representatives are Glen Davis and Jameer Nelson, according to the NBPA's Web site. J.J. Redick is also involved in the union and there were reports that Andrew Nicholson would serve as the team's representative at the union's meeting this weekend. Chris Duhon served on the union's executive committee while he was with the Magic.

This stuff may not mean much to the casual fan. However, Hunter's likely ouster means that when the collective bargaining agreement is negotiated again in five years, it will be with two completely new negotiators as David Stern is set to step down next season.

Source: http://www.orlandomagicdaily.com/2013-articles/february/nba-union-turmoil-021613.html

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