NASA releases radar movie of asteroid 2012 DA14

Feb. 19, 2013 ? An initial sequence of radar images of asteroid 2012 DA14 was obtained on the night of Feb. 15/16, 2013, by NASA scientists using the 230-foot (70-meter) Deep Space Network antenna at Goldstone, Calif. Each of the 72 frames required 320 seconds of data collection by the Goldstone radar.

The observations were made as the asteroid was moving away from Earth. The asteroid's distance from the radar dish increased from 74,000 miles (120,000 kilometers) to 195,000 miles (314,000 kilometers). The resolution is 13 feet (four meters) per pixel. The images span close to eight hours and clearly show an elongated object undergoing roughly one full rotation. The images suggest that the asteroid has a long axis of about 130 feet (40 meters). The radar observations were led by scientists Lance Benner and Marina Brozovic of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. Additional Goldstone radar observations are scheduled on February 18, 19 and 20.

Radar is a powerful technique for studying an asteroid's size, shape, rotation state, surface features and surface roughness, and for improving calculations of its orbit. Radar measurements of asteroid distances and velocities often enable computation of asteroid orbits much further into the future than if radar observations weren't available.

NASA detects, tracks and characterizes asteroids and comets passing close to Earth using both ground- and space-based telescopes. The Near-Earth Object Observations Program, commonly called "Spaceguard," discovers these objects, characterizes a subset of them, and plots their orbits to determine if any could be potentially hazardous to our planet.

JPL manages the Near-Earth Object Program Office for NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington. JPL is a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena.

More information about asteroids and near-Earth objects is at: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/asteroidwatch . More information about asteroid radar research is at: http://echo.jpl.nasa.gov/ . More information about the Deep Space Network is at: http://deepspace.jpl.nasa.gov/dsn .

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Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/space_time/nasa/~3/f8Fw0plyMW0/130219163001.htm

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Canada's wholesale slump confirms bad ending to 2012

OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canadian wholesale trade shrank more than expected in December in the latest sign the economy is sputtering, adding pressure on the government as it seeks to strike a balance between spending cuts and growth-boosting measures in its next budget.

Wholesale trade fell 0.9 percent on a reversal of November's gains in the computer and communications equipment industry, Statistics Canada said on Tuesday.

Market players surveyed by Reuters had forecast, on average, a 0.4 percent drop in wholesale activity in the month.

Wholesale trade was down 0.9 percent by volume and inventories fell 0.6 percent.

The data all but confirms that the economy stalled or even contracted in December. Exports and factory sales were also weak and on Friday, Statscan will release retail sales, the final piece of the puzzle for the month.

"There is little that retail sales can do ... to offset what is likely to be a minor contraction in industry level real GDP for December," said Mazen Issa, a strategist at TD Securities.

"This is especially true when taken together against a backdrop of slowing housing and construction activity," he wrote in a note to clients.

Most economists agree the Bank of Canada's projection of 1 percent annualized fourth-quarter growth is too high. And with the weak hand-off from December, the bank's expectation of 2.3 percent first-quarter growth is also under question.

The central bank acknowledged last month that there was more slack in the economy than it had foreseen and any interest rate hikes were "less imminent".

The disappointing performance will likely weigh on Finance Minister Jim Flaherty as he prepares the Conservative government's 2013 budget, expected in March.

Flaherty has said he sees no need for additional fiscal stimulus and is undecided whether to increase spending on big infrastructure projects. He remains committed to eliminating a small deficit in time for 2015 elections.

The main opposition party, the New Democrats, is urging him to boost infrastructure spending and delay any further cutbacks to ensure the economic expansion continues.

"As federal and provincial governments prepare their budgets, they should invest in needed public services and infrastructure to spur output and employment," said Erin Weir, economist and president of the Progressive Economics Forum.

FOREIGN INVESTMENT

For the first time since June, foreign investors reduced their holdings of Canadian securities in December, Statscan said in a separate report that showed portfolio investments were down by $1.9 billion ($1.9 billion) from November.

Nonresidents unloaded C$6.7 billion worth of Canadian equities in the month due to cross-border acquisitions and sold C$655 million in Canadian bonds. They added C$4.8 billion in debt securities.

But overall, foreign appetite for Canadian debt remained strong as the country remains a safe haven for investors worried about U.S. budget troubles and uncertainty in Europe.

Charles St-Arnaud, economist at Nomura Global Economics, said the details of the report were much better than the headline, after taking into account special factors affecting equity and flows into some government-guaranteed bonds.

"Once those factors are removed, inflows into Canadian securities were about C$8.4 billion, higher than the average over the past 12 months," he said.

"There is evidence that Canadian assets have once again benefited from some ?safe haven' flows amid the fiscal cliff negotiations."

In 2012 as a whole, foreigners bought C$83.2 billion in Canadian securities, down from C$97.3 billion in 2011.

($1=$1.01 Canadian)

(Reporting by Louise Egan; Editing by Janet Guttsman and Grant McCool)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/canada-december-wholesale-trade-falls-0-9-percent-133142779--business.html

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Video: Steve Harvey on relationships: ?Keep it fresh?

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Source: http://video.today.msnbc.msn.com/today/50846610/

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An American Pope? Buzz Grows In Rome For Cardinal O?Malley

Audio report (above) is WBUR reporter Deborah Becker?s full conversation with John Allen, the National Catholic Reporter?s Vatican correspondent. Text report (below) by WBUR?s Newsroom.

Cardinal Sean P. O?Malley, left, speaks to reporters in 2008. (AP)

BOSTON ? As Catholic cardinals head to Rome next week to say goodbye to Pope Benedict XVI, some Italian commentators are suggesting that Boston Cardinal Sean O?Malley could be a candidate for the papacy.

Vatican reporter John Allen, with the National Catholic Reporter, says several Italian news reports mention O?Malley as a possible successor, praising his handling of the church sex abuse scandal despite criticism from victim advocates in Massachusetts.

Last week, O?Malley has made it clear that he is not interested in becoming pope, saying ?it?s a very, very challenging position and it?s a very lonely position. It?s a very difficult task.?

?I haven?t lost sleep about it and I have bought a round-trip ticket, so I?m counting on coming home,? O?Malley added.

Allen reported that before now, an American was rarely considered for the?position.

?For a long time, conventional wisdom held that an American could not be elected to the Throne of Peter because you can?t have a ?superpower pope,? ? Allen wrote for the National Catholic Reporter. ?In the early 21st century, however, some of the air has gone out of that bias, because the United States is no longer the world?s lone superpower.?

The Boston Archdiocese declined to comment on the news.

Source: http://feeds.wbur.org/~r/wbur_news/boston/~3/n0GL-fOmEAE/cardinal-omalley-pope

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Little audience for 'Zero Dark Thirty' in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD (AP) ? Pakistan stars in "Zero Dark Thirty," from early scenes at a detention site to the dramatic closing minutes as Navy SEALs assault the hideout of Osama bin Laden. But the Academy Award-nominated film about the hunt for the al-Qaida leader has sparked a controversy here about its portrayal of the country, and it will likely not be shown on the local big screen anytime soon.

Partly, the film taps into national discomfort that bin Laden was found to be living for years near Pakistan's equivalent of West Point, and anger over the U.S. decision to enter its airspace and raid the compound without giving advance notice. Doubts about whether bin Laden was really hiding out for years in the city of Abbottabad are also common across Pakistan, a country where conspiracy theories often have more weight than fact.

But Pakistanis who have seen the film on DVD or Internet downloads are also making much of what they say are factual errors.

Nadeem F. Paracha, a columnist for the English language newspaper Dawn and a cultural critic in Pakistan, noted that in some scenes characters speak Arabic, whereas Pakistanis in fact speak Urdu or Pashto or one of the tens of other languages found here.

In other scenes protesters get right up to the U.S. Embassy gates when in reality the embassy is situated in an enclosed diplomatic enclave that demonstrators can't access. Some scenes that were supposed to show the frontier city of Peshawar looked more like 19th century Delhi in India.

"How can you make a Hollywood blockbuster, put in so much money and get simple things wrong?" Paracha asked. "Instead of the film being taken seriously, it became a joke among Pakistanis."

The movie traces the arc of the CIA's decade-long hunt for bin Laden through the eyes of a young female analyst, who spends most of her time ostensibly in Pakistan. Screenwriter Mark Boal visited Pakistan to do research, but the movie scenes were not shot here.

One scene that also raises questions shows a vaccination worker going to the compound door as part of the American plan to get DNA samples from the bin Laden family. The U.S. did in fact run a fake hepatitis campaign, but in the movie it's portrayed as an attempt to vaccinate against polio. This could add suspicion to polio workers already facing attacks by militants in the tribal agencies.

Pakistan has only a few movie theaters that show English-language films, and none so far has aired "Zero Dark Thirty." All films shown at cinemas must be approved by a board of censors, and the head of the censor board, Dr. Raja Mustafa Hyder, said no distributor has applied for permission to show the film.

Whether or not it would actually make it past the censor board is another question, considering that a representative of the powerful Pakistani military sits on the board.

After it came out that bin Laden had been living in Abbottabad and that the military failed to detect the American raiding party coming to get him, the once-revered Pakistan army found itself on the defensive. The film also highlights the cooperation between the C.I.A. and Pakistan's intelligence agency during the early years after the Sept. 11, 2001 attack on the United States, a potentially embarrassing topic in a country with such vehement anti-American sentiment.

Jamshed Zafar, one of the leading importers and distributors of foreign films in Pakistan, said he decided after discussions with friends that it wasn't worth importing "Zero Dark Thirty."

"If you get into such controversy, you not only lose money but your reputation is also at stake," he said.

Any distributor or movie house that showed the movie might also be courting trouble with the public. Last year during demonstrations against an anti-Islam film crowds of right-wing Islamic hardliners burned some movie houses.

The fact that neighboring India ? Pakistan's archenemy ? substituted for many of the Pakistani street scenes has also raised concerns, said Rashid Khawaja, a Lahore-based film producer and distributor.

Until recently it was possible to purchase a DVD of the film in Islamabad. But at least two stores in the capital said in recent days that they stopped selling it because of rumors it had been banned. Another store was still selling the movie ? albeit under the counter.

In Abbottabad, the DVD is available at local video stores but hasn't sold particularly well.

"This movie is about Osama and Abbottabad, and still I honestly say people living here are not showing much interest in it," said Akhtar Hussain.

Even in the city where people could hear the Navy SEALs as they swooped in on helicopters and flew away with bin Laden's body, there's still disbelief he was living so close.

College student Raheel Ahmed said he watched "Zero Dark Thirty" and came away thinking the movie's intent was to praise President Barack Obama.

"I don't know whether Osama was here," he said, "but Americans have defamed us by producing the movie."

___

Associated Press writers Aqeel Ahmed in Abbottabad and Zarar Khan in Islamabad contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/little-audience-zero-dark-thirty-pakistan-204225370.html

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The Obama Administration's 10-Year Plan to Map the Entire Human Brain

The human brain is one crazy computer, and while it's been around for ages, there's still a lot to learn about how it works. To that end, the Obama Administration is revving up to announce at ten-year plan to create a comprehensive map of the human brain, just like the one we have of the human genome. To know thyself, right? More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/NH1peIVqJe4/the-obama-administrations-10+year-plan-to-map-the-entire-human-brain

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George Washington birthday parade in Alexandria

February 18, 2013 - 06:28 am

The nation?s largest George Washington birthday parade marches a one-mile route through the streets of Old Town Alexandria. With nearly 3,500 participants - the parade will include historical groups, equestrian units, bands, performance groups, youth from scouting groups and animals.

Continue reading

The parade starts at 1 p.m. at the intersection of Gibbon and S. Fairfax streets. The reviewing stand is located near City Hall?s Market Square, at the intersection of King and Royal streets, and ends at Wilkes and S. Royal streets.

See www.washingtonbirthday.net for maps and additional information.

Source: http://www.wjla.com/articles/2013/02/george-washington-birthday-parade-in-alexandria-85355.html

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World stocks mixed, Japan's Nikkei up as yen falls

BANGKOK (AP) ? Japan's benchmark stock index jumped Monday after Group of 20 finance officials refrained from directly criticizing Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's government for trying to force down the yen. Other stock markets were mixed.

Currency policy was center stage at the weekend meeting in Moscow of finance ministers and central bankers from the world's 20 biggest advanced and emerging economies. Japan's currency was of particular interest because Abe has repeatedly said that he wants a cheaper yen to help manufacturers compete. Japanese exporters have long been unhappy with the yen's rise due to its status as a safe haven.

The absence of criticism left Abe room to pursue his agenda, analysts said.

"The lack of specificity will mean that the G20 statement will allow further unobstructed" yen weakness in the months ahead, Mitul Kotecha of Credit Agricole CIB said in a market commentary.

Stock markets in Europe fell in early trading. Britain's FTSE 100 fell 0.2 percent to 6,314.92. Germany's DAX rose 0.1 percent at 7,601.67. France's CAC-40 lost 0.2 percent to 3,652.35. Stock markets in the U.S. are closed for the Presidents Day holiday on Monday.

The Nikkei 225 index in Tokyo surged 2.1 percent to close at 11,407.87. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.6 percent to 5,063.40. South Korea's Kospi was marginally higher at 1,981.91.

Mainland Chinese shares were mixed after a weeklong break for Lunar New Year. The Shanghai Composite Index fell 0.5 percent to 2,421.56. The smaller Shenzhen Composite Index rose nearly 0.1 percent to 970.09. Hong Kong's Hang Seng fell 0.3 percent to 23,381.94.

"Today there is some softening but not large selling pressure," said Linus Yip, strategist at First Shanghai Securities in Hong Kong. "The U.S. stock market will be closed, so maybe market sentiment may be a little more cautious."

Among individual stocks, BlueScope Steel soared 15.4 percent after the Australian steelmaker reported a $12 million loss for the first half of the fiscal year, an improvement from a $530 million loss a year earlier. The company said earnings were expected to continue improving.

Chinese banking shares wilted. Hong Kong-listed Agricultural Bank of China fell 1 percent, while Industrial & Commercial Bank of China fell 0.7 percent.

Last week, the yen fell to a near three-year low against the dollar and the euro. The yen has been steadily declining since December because of expectations that Japan's central bank would take action resulting in a weakening of the yen.

Since the start of the financial crisis, central banks around the world have been trying to stimulate their economies by keeping interest rates extremely low to encourage consumers and businesses to borrow and spend. One way central banks drive down rates is to use their power to print money to buy up large quantities of bonds.

Several developing economies have recently criticized the U.S. program of quantitative easing for pushing up the value of their currencies. By buying up bonds, the U.S. Federal Reserve has also increased the amount of money in circulation. This has had the side-effect of driving down the value of the U.S. dollar relative to others.

Benchmark oil for March delivery was down 24 cents to $95.62 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract fell $1.45 to close at $95.86 a barrel on the Nymex on Friday.

In currencies, the euro fell to $1.3340 from $1.3355 late Friday in New York. The dollar rose to 94.03 yen from 93.40 yen.

___

Follow Pamela Sampson on Twitter at http://twitter.com/pamelasampson

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/world-stocks-mixed-japans-nikkei-yen-falls-091345236--finance.html

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Birdman Celebrates His All-Star Birthday With Rich Gang Mixtape

'I treasure whatever I get from anybody, especially my family and my friends,' Birdman tells MTV News about his b-day.
By Rob Markman

Birdman
Photo: MTV News

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1702149/all-star-weekend-birdman-mixtape.jhtml

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Asus K55A-XH51 15.6 inch Intel Core i5-3210M 2.5GHz/ 4GB DDR3/ 500GB HDD/ DVD?RW/ USB3.0/ Windows 7 Professional Notebook Computer (Mocha)

		Part#: AS-K55AX51 Package: RETAIL Manufacturer: ASUS Manufacturer Part#: K55A-XH51 Shipping Weight: 8.00 lbs.(3.64 kg) ? ? Product Info: Specifications Mfr Part Number: K55A-XH51 Processor: Intel Core i5-3210M Processor (2.5GHz Clock Speed, 3.1GHz Max Turbo, 3MB Intel Smart Cache) Chipset: Intel HM76 Memory: 4GB DDR3-1600 SODIMM Memory, Max Capacity of 8GB Display: 15.6" HD (1366 x 768) Color-Shine (Glare-type) Display w/ LED Backlight Graphics Module: Intel HD Graphics 4000 Controller Hard Drive: 500GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive Optical Storage: Integrated 8x DVD?RW Dual Layer Drive Audio: Integrated Sound Card, Built-in Speakers and Microphone Connectivity: Integrated Gigabit Ethernet; 802.11b/g/n Wireless LAN Interface: 2x USB 3.0 Ports, 1x USB 2.0 Port, 1x VGA Port, 1x HDMI Port, 1x RJ45 LAN Port, 1x Microphone-in, 1x Headphone-out Card Reader: SD Card Reader Camera: Built-in 0.3MP Webcam Battery Pack: 6-Cell 4700mAh 50Whrs Battery, Up to 5.5 Hours Battery Life AC Adapter: Output: 19V DC, 4.74A, 65W Input: 100-240V AC, 50/60Hz Universal Color: Mocha Dimensions (WxDxH): 14.9 x 9.9 x 1.0 ~ 1.3 inch Weight: 5.8 lbs (w/ 6-cell battery) Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 64-bit ** This item is only eligible to be shipped using UPS Ground. ** ** This item must be shipped to the billing address if paid with Credit/Debit Card.** ** This item is eligible for replacement only and is NON REFUNDABLE. ** ** Product warranty is provided solely by the product manufacturer. ** * Product descriptions and part numbers are subject to change, and may not reflect manufacturer product changes. Please check the manufacturer's website and use the item's manufacturer part number to find the most up to date product description. There are no reviews for this product yet.

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Giambi getting in final swings with Indians

In this Feb. 15, 2013, photo, Cleveland Indians' Jason Giambi stretches during baseball spring training practice, in Goodyear, Ariz. After contemplating retirement and interviewing to be Colorado?s manager, Giambi signed a minor-league contract earlier this month with the Indians, who are confident the 18-year veteran can not only bring them some power as a part-time designated hitter but also help teach their younger players. (AP Photo/The Plain Dealer, Chuck Crow) NO SALES; MAGS OUT; INTERNET OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT

In this Feb. 15, 2013, photo, Cleveland Indians' Jason Giambi stretches during baseball spring training practice, in Goodyear, Ariz. After contemplating retirement and interviewing to be Colorado?s manager, Giambi signed a minor-league contract earlier this month with the Indians, who are confident the 18-year veteran can not only bring them some power as a part-time designated hitter but also help teach their younger players. (AP Photo/The Plain Dealer, Chuck Crow) NO SALES; MAGS OUT; INTERNET OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT

GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) ? Jason Giambi's days as a masher are mainly behind him. His muscular, tattooed arms are as carved as ever, but the hair around his temples is dusted gray. In the late innings of his career, he's a mentor.

The stately slugger. And at 42, Giambi knows he's down to his final swings as a major leaguer.

He'll try to make them count with Cleveland.

After contemplating retirement and interviewing to be Colorado's manager, Giambi signed a minor league contract this month with the Indians, who are confident the 18-year veteran can not only bring them some power as a part-time designated hitter but also help teach their younger players.

"He's not just a veteran guy. He's like THE veteran," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "I truly feel like it's an honor that he's in our camp. That's how strongly I feel about him."

The feeling's mutual. Giambi has known Francona since he played in the minors, which some days feels like a lifetime ago to the five-time All-Star, who may have lost some bat speed but not an ounce of his love for the game. He always wanted to play for Francona, who said the only time he didn't like Giambi was "when he was in the batter's box on the other side of the field."

Giambi took an unexpected route to the Indians.

Limited to just 89 at-bats during his fourth season with Colorado, Giambi entered the offseason facing an uncertain future, possibly one that didn't include baseball. With few options, Giambi considered calling it quits after hitting 429 homers and driving in 1,405 runs in 17 seasons for Oakland, the Yankees and Rockies.

"I have a 15-month-old girl. I finally grew up," he said, laughing. "I thought if it doesn't happen, it doesn't happen. I had some offers for a hitting-coach job and I thought maybe I would take a year and enjoy my family. But when I got the phone call from the Indians, I jumped right on it because it was Tito (Francona)."

Before the Indians contacted him, he nearly wound up as Colorado's manager.

The Rockies were so impressed with how Giambi naturally interacted and affected many of their youngsters that they interviewed him for the job before hiring Walt Weiss. Giambi didn't have any managerial aspirations, and he was shocked when the club approached him. He came away humbled by the experience.

"I thought I would probably get in the game as a hitting coach because I work really well with the young kids," he said. "I was very lucky when I came into the big leagues because I had Mark McGwire and Terry Steinbach and Dennis Eckersley. Those guys took me under their wing and taught me the game. I always felt that's how you pass it on to the next generation, that's your gift back.

"I always enjoyed that, so it was definitely an honor to be thought of that quickly that, 'Oh, he can handle this.'"

Giambi's deal with the Indians will pay him $750,000 if he's added to the 40-man roster. He can make an additional $200,000 if he stays on it.

As far as Francona is concerned, the payoff of Giambi in camp is immeasurable.

During the Indians' first full-squad workout on Friday, Giambi took grounders at first base with 23-year-old Mike McDade, claimed off waivers in November from Toronto. As McDade worked near the bag, Giambi stood to the side offering advice.

"I could hear Jason quietly telling him, 'Slow down, move your feet,'" Francona said. "It was a very calming influence, very friendly. He wasn't talking down to him. Jason just has that way about him. He has a track record, but he has a way of communicating that's natural and easy and you could see Mike relax."

For McDade, being with Giambi is a chance to work with one of his idols. While he was in high school, McDade often hit at batting cages in Las Vegas owned by Giambi. Now he's taking batting practice with a player he has long admired.

"It's just special," McDade said. "Anything he can offer is amazing. He doesn't have to do that, but he's taking the time and explaining things to me. It's huge. Just being able to talk to him is great. He's just a regular guy."

Without bragging, Giambi feels he can offer a lot to Cleveland's kids.

He's done it all in baseball, from playing in countless pressure-packed games with New York to being fingered by the FBI as one of the players who received steroids in the BALCO scandal.

"I've been on top of the world in this game and I've been in the gutter," he said.

The climb has brought him to Cleveland, a city he's always been fond of.

When he broke in with Oakland in 1995, the Indians ruled the AL, winning 100 regular-season games in a strike-shortened season with a terrifying lineup that featured Albert Belle, Jim Thome and Manny Ramirez. The Indians don't have that type of firepower any longer, but Giambi is thrilled to be part of a team replenished this winter by the hiring of Francona, a two-time World Series winner with Boston, and the signings of free agents Nick Swisher and Michael Bourn.

"This is a dream come true," Giambi said. "I always wanted to play for Tito and I've always been a huge fan of Cleveland. When I think of Cleveland, I think of the '90s when they were a powerhouse. I've always loved playing there and hitting there and when they called and said, 'We really want you to come out and give it a shot,' I was more than happy."

NOTES: Francona came away pleased after watching RHP Ubaldo Jimenez throw his second bullpen session this spring. The Indians need a big season from Jimenez, who lost an AL-leading 17 games last season and has been a major disappointment since Cleveland traded for him in 2011. ... Francona noted RHP Carlos Carrasco's "live arm" and said the 26-year-old has been impressive as he tries to lock down a starting job. Carrasco missed all of last season following Tommy John surgery.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2013-02-16-BBA-Indians-Giambi's-Last-Swing/id-5891266f515441efa54e8ed072593ed3

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PHOTO ONLY: Parks Canada

Parks Canada

February 16, 2013 15:39 ET

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Feb. 16, 2013) -

Editors Note: This photo will be available on the Canadian Press picture wire via Marketwire.

Source: http://www.marketwire.com/mw/release.do?id=1757721&sourceType=3

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Crane-Mauzy is top American at Women's Ski Half pipe at Sochi - Universal Sports

http://www.UniversalSports.com 2013, Sochi, Russia, FIS Freestyle Skiing World Cup Halfpipe, After going down in her first run, Jamie Crane-Mauzy (USA) put together a good second run to land her in 9th place. (Watch the full event at UniversalSports.com)

Universal Sports Network is the premier destination for fans of Olympic and lifestyle sports, delivering exclusive coverage of world class competitions, interaction with top athletes, and in depth sports news year round.

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Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2GYaMe6L2s&feature=youtube_gdata

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Maple Leafs coach Randy Carlyle shakes up lines after deplorable effort in Carolina

Unhappy with his team?s performance in Carolina, Randy Carlyle will make some line changes for Saturday night?s game against the visiting Ottawa Senators.

?Obviously, we weren?t real happy with the lines we had the other night to tell you the truth,? Carlyle said after the game day skate at the Air Canada Centre. ?For us, this is a bit of a reset because of the performance we had the other night.?

The top line remains intact for this season?s first installment of the Battle of Ontario, with Tyler Bozak between James van Riemsdyk and Phil Kessel.

But the other three lines are different from the ones that played poorly in Toronto?s 3-1 loss in Carolina on Thursday night.

The Leafs and the Senators each have 16 points and are tied for third place in the Northeast Division. In their last home game, the Leafs had one of their strongest games of the season in a 5-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers after winning just once in the first five games at the Air Canada Centre.

Carlyle?s lineup changes will see Jay McClement moving to the wing with centre Mikhail Grabovski and Nikolai Kulemin.

Winger Leo Komarov returns to the third line with centre Nazem Kadri and Clarke MacArthur.

Mike Brown returns from the injury list (he missed eight games with a shoulder strain) to play with centre David Steckel and Colton Orr on the fourth line, as Frazer McLaren sits for the first time since being claimed Jan. 31 on waivers from the San Jose Sharks.

Asked if it was a question of the team not competing against the Hurricanes, Carlyle had a simple answer.

?It?s hard to compete when you don?t skate,? Carlyle said. ?That was the No. 1 thing; we didn?t skate.

?One thing we?re trying to sell is that it?s a lot more fun to play offence than defence. If you can establish a forechecking game in the offensive zone then your team will feel real good about itself. You won?t see too many players complaining about playing in the offensive zone.

?But when you string yourself out (in the defensive zone) and make poor decisions, you don?t get into the offensive zone.?

Against the Hurricanes, the Leafs missed the speed, hitting and scoring of Matt Frattin, who remains out indefinitely with a knee strain, as does goalie James Reimer.

Source: http://www.thestar.com/sports/leafs/2013/02/16/maple_leafs_coach_randy_carlyle_shakes_up_lines_after_deplorable_effort_in_carolina.html

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INDUSA to Attend Microsoft Convergence 2013

Oakbrook Terrace, IL, February 15, 2013 --( PR.com )-- INDUSA Technical Corp. has planned to attend the annual 4-day Microsoft Convergence event this year. The glittering event is expected to be attended by more than 10,000 people and...

Oakbrook Terrace, IL, February 15, 2013 --(PR.com)-- INDUSA Technical Corp. has planned to attend the annual 4-day Microsoft Convergence event this year. The glittering event is expected to be attended by more than 10,000 people and will be held at New Orleans, LA. As the premier event for the Microsoft Dynamics community, the event lets partners and prospects make the most of the opportunity and innovation on display. One can create key business connections and leverage the full potential of Microsoft Dynamics solutions.

The premier Convergence event will be having a huge number of general and keynote sessions which would spell out the future path of the Microsoft Dynamics practice. The event will house several booths and vendors who would deliver knowledge for each of the solutions and insights to make optimum use of the Dynamics family of products. It has been disclosed recently that one of the keynote speakers for the event will be Kofi Annan, Former Secretary-General of the United Nations.

Microsoft partners and prospects get a great chance to network and collaborate with the top-of-the-line product experts from Microsoft. One can get to experience the latest solution innovations, and new products are expected to be launched, with Dynamics GP 2013 already up for release. Getting to know the extended solutions of the Dynamics family of products helps improve processes, remove inefficiencies and use the solution optimally.

The four-day event will have sessions organized concurrently with interactive discussions, user group sessions and deep dive sessions for the uninitiated. Each session, forum and discussion will have tracks covering each of the practice areas including AX, NAV, GP, CRM and SL. There will be cross-product discussions too which would include solutions and services that span multiple Microsoft products and their integration with each other. And what?s more, this year?s Business Leadership track would be hosted and organized by the famous Dale Carnegie Training Institute.

Along with the live event, partner companies can showcase their products and services to the visiting customers and partners from around the world. By promoting the services and products, one can expect to create a decent wave of curiosity about their own offerings. One can even advertise on the Dynamics community page or sponsor a booth and exhibit the offerings. An outreach program is organized with the event every year for community service too.

Event: Microsoft Convergence 2013
Where: Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, LA
When: March 18-21, 2013

Contact Information:
INDUSA Technical Corp.
Hemal Shrimanker
(630) 424 1800
Contact via Email
http://www.indusa.com/

Click here to read the full story: INDUSA to Attend Microsoft Convergence 2013

Press Release Distributed by PR.com

Source: http://news.brothersoft.com/indusa-to-attend-microsoft-convergence-2013-64312.html

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Apple seeking new blood to lead ?High Priority? next gen Apple TV development

Apple has posted a recruitment ad on its own site for a Software Engineering Manager specifically for the Apple TV team. It appears that Apple may be getting ready to move the Apple TV from the hobby stage into a full blown can?t do without living room necessity. According to the ad, Apple is seeking someone to deliver the next generation features for Apple TV.

The Apple TV team is looking for an experienced engineering manager to help deliver the next generation features for Apple TV. Bring your creative energy and engineering discipline, and help us bring the Apple experience to the Living Room.

Lead a team of engineers working on exciting new features and functionality - Drive releases from initial concept to completion

Work closely with cross functional teams, representing Apple TV across Apple - Develop the engineering plan for upcoming projects

Communicate status to key stakeholders and senior management

The rumors surrounding the Apple TV platform are always circulating with many believing that Apple will release its own actual television set. Each year we are told by analysts that it will arrive and so far we are still waiting. The other rumor and the one that is more likely in my opinion, is the release of an Apple TV SDK (Software Development Kit). This would allow developers to start creating apps for the Apple TV and could open it up to a whole new market. It had already been rumored that an event was planned for April however that has since been dismissed as incorrect.

The other option would be for Apple to continue with its content partner agreements where they strike deals with YouTube, Vimeo, Hulu, major league sports, etc. on a channel-by-channel basis. Either way, the fact that Apple is publicly advertising for Software Managers to deliver the next generation features for the Apple TV and also calls it a ?High Priority? is extremely interesting!

Source: Apple via 9to5 Mac

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheIphoneBlog/~3/4pdfb-j8Tac/story01.htm

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Canada's cred on climate change won't need much work: enviro minister

MONTREAL - Canada's environment minister says his government's reputation on tackling climate change won't need much work.

Peter Kent made the remarks today in Montreal ? a couple of days after the Obama administration challenged Canada to act more aggressively on climate change.

His comments come as Canada desperately tries to find ways to get Alberta's oilsands bitumen to markets, including the controversial Keystone XL pipeline project to pump oil though the U.S.

The future success of Canada's oil industry may hang in the balance, pushing climate change back to the political front-burner in Ottawa.

Kent says he's confident that Canada doesn't have to go very far to build credibility with the U.S. government.

He says Canada has worked closely with the U.S. on many joint projects to combat climate change and reduce emissions.

U.S. Ambassador David Jacobson said earlier this week that President Barack Obama's State of the Union message to move swiftly on climate change should be interpreted as a challenge to Ottawa as well.

Kent made the remarks at a news conference in Montreal, joined by Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver, where they announced 23 clean-technology projects.

The environment minister says it's a just coincidence that this $61.8-million announcement is being made so soon after Obama's climate-change challenge.

Source: http://www.capebretonpost.com/Canada---World/Society/2013-02-15/article-3178181/Canadas-cred-on-climate-change-wont-need-much-work%3A-enviro-minister/1

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Cricket: Bowlers Steal Spotlight in South Africa-Pakistan Test

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Source: www.nytimes.com --- Wednesday, February 13, 2013
The pacemen of South Africa are blowing away their opponents at a rate rarely seen, while Pakistan's Saeed Ajmal is the greatest active spinner. ...

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/14/sports/cricket/14iht-cricket14.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

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Heritage Parade starts 10 a.m. Saturday at Carver Middle School

From staff reports

Published: Wednesday, February 13, 2013 at 8:38 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, February 13, 2013 at 8:38 p.m.

Community Heritage Committee presents the annual Heritage Parade starting at 10 a.m. Saturday at Carver Middle School located at 467 S. Church St.

The theme for the 10th annual parade is "A Salute to our Children: They Are Our Future" the grand marshals will be community centenarians passing the torch to the younger generations.

Featured bands include Dudley High School Marching Band from Greensboro, N.C. and Harding University High School Band of Gold from Charlotte, N.C.

The parade route begins at Carver Middle School on South Church Street and travels north on Church Street ending at the Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium.

A battle of the bands will be held immediately after the parade at Carver. Fans are asked to bring a can good to be donated to the Spartanburg Soup Kitchen.

Source: http://www.goupstate.com/article/20130213/articles/130219854

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Today on New Scientist: 14 February 2013

Sweat mutation may have helped us colonise Asia

A mutation in a single gene produced extra sweat glands in Asian people's skin, perhaps to help them keep cool in the warm and humid climate

Success comes from sticking with your monkey lover

Each day is Valentine's Day for owl monkeys - these paragons of monogamy can count the rewards of fidelity in the number of their offspring

Do get mad: The upside of anger

We think of it as a negative emotion, but used in the right way anger can improve your health, job prospects, relationships - and whole societies

How Facebook makes breaking up hard to do

Getting over a lost lover just gets harder when when you have a digital record of your relationship distributed all over the internet

Runaway stars to fill in the blanks in Milky Way map

Like flares sent up over a dense forest, stars booted from their home clusters can help astronomers trace the true shape of our home galaxy

Bacteria boost fixes symptoms of autism in mice

Replacing missing gut bacteria in a mouse model of autism improved repetitive behaviour and immune system problems

Mosh pit physics could aid disaster planning

An analysis of rock fans dancing reveals how people in a crowd move when emotions are running high, and may help us make buildings easier to evacuate

Largest fake prime number holds 300 billion digits

The biggest known pseudoprime was discovered using an algorithm that could help keep online transactions secure

Threatwatch: What the North Korean nuclear test means

Understanding why a tiny state that struggles to feed its people wants a nuclear bomb might help head off further bomb development

What we really know about human courtship

Enjoy what two insightful books have to say about mating intelligence and relationships - but don't park your scepticism just yet

The computer that never crashes

A revolutionary new computer based on the apparent chaos of nature can reprogram itself if it finds a fault

Horsemeat scandal should make us rethink how we eat

Forget food taboos and veterinary drugs, what really matters here is how we produce meat - and what meat we're prepared to eat

Source: http://feeds.newscientist.com/c/749/f/10897/s/2892126e/l/0L0Snewscientist0N0Cblogs0Cshortsharpscience0C20A130C0A20Ctoday0Eon0Enew0Escientist0E140Efeb0Bhtml0Dcmpid0FRSS0QNSNS0Q20A120EGLOBAL0Qonline0Enews/story01.htm

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Michelle Jenneke Sports Illustrated Video: Australian Hurdler Jumps Into Swimsuit Modeling

When it comes to expanding her celebrity, Michelle Jenneke still has some wiggle room. The Australian hurdler now appears in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, and those interested in getting a behind-the-scenes look at her photo shoot can watch the video above.

Jenneke, 19, has used her killer smile, world-class bod and YouTube fame off her pre-race bouncing at the IAAF World Junior Championship last summer to overcome moderate cred as a competitor. (She's still more than a second slower than fellow Aussie and Olympic champ Sally Pearson.)

But at least for Jenneke's SI bikini shoot, the stopwatch is off.

"I looked at the pictures and I think, wow, is that really me?" Jenneke says in video.

In December, the young athlete appeared as a lonely man's fantasy object in a comedy short by The Chive. She did her well known gyrating dance in the skit, just as she did when the Internet took notice of her charms.

By the looks of her Sports Illustrated shoot, she's just getting warmed up.

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/13/michelle-jenneke-sports-illustrated-swimsuit-modeling_n_2677696.html

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Coca-Cola's profit climbs but obstacles loom

This Monday, Oct. 15, 2012 photo shows two cans of Caffeine Free Diet Coke on ice in Surfside, Fla. Coca-Cola is expected to report earnings, Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

This Monday, Oct. 15, 2012 photo shows two cans of Caffeine Free Diet Coke on ice in Surfside, Fla. Coca-Cola is expected to report earnings, Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

NEW YORK (AP) ? Coca-Cola is facing a tough time: people are drinking less soda in the U.S. and Europe and uncertain economic conditions around the world are weighing on the world's biggest beverage maker.

The Atlanta-based company said Tuesday that its profit rose in the fourth quarter, as it benefited from growth in emerging markets and a shift in the calendar that resulted in two extra selling days for the period. But sales volume fell in China and Europe, reflecting a pullback in consumer spending.

In North America, its biggest market by revenue, volume rose just 1 percent, boosted by its Powerade sports drinks and bottled teas. The company sold 2 percent less soda.

In a conference call with analysts, CEO Muhtar Kent said he expects 2013 will "once again be a year of challenges" but that the company nevertheless expects to hit its long-term target of 6 percent to 8 percent growth in operating income.

In the U.S., he said Coca-Cola is starting to see signs of improvement in consumer sentiment but that it was still waiting to see the impact of higher payroll taxes and gasoline prices. In China and Europe, the company said it expects volumes to start rebounding in coming quarters.

"Our view is that this is not the start of a trend," said Gary Fayard, the company's chief financial officer, noting that quarterly declines occasionally happen.

Coca-Cola, which also makes Fanta, Minute Maid and Dasani water, is increasingly looking for growth in countries where its drinks aren't yet as ubiquitous as they are in developed nations. In North America, the company is also relying on a shifting mix of beverages to boost sales amid intensifying criticism of sugary sodas.

The company is also facing tougher competition from PepsiCo Inc., which has significantly stepped up its marketing with major deals including a multiyear contract to sponsor the Super Bowl halftime show. When asked whether that push was having any effect, Kent declined to comment but noted that Coca-Cola's share of the soda market grew despite a broader industry decline.

"To be frank, we see competition as healthy. It keeps us on our toes," Kent said.

For the quarter, Coca-Cola said global sales volume rose 3 percent, helped by gains in countries such as Turkey and Russia.

In Europe, the company blamed an uncertain economy, bad weather and price competition for a 5 percent decline in volume.

In China, where U.S. companies of all stripes are looking for growth, volume declined 4 percent after growing 10 percent in the year-ago quarter. The company said the business in the region was impacted by a slowing economy, bad weather and a later Chinese New Year.

Even though Coca-Cola has quarters where volumes decline in regions such as Europe and China, Kent noted that the company's results have been insulated by its geographic diversity. The company sells drinks in every country but Cuba and North Korea.

For the October-to-December period, The Coca-Cola Co. earned $1.87 billion, or 41 cents per share. That's compared with $1.66 billion, or 36 cents per share, in the year-ago period. Not including one-time items, the company said it earned 45 cents per share.

Revenue rose 4 percent to $11.46 billion.

Analysts on average expected an adjusted profit of 44 cents per share on revenue of $11.53 billion.

For the full year, net income was $9.02 billion, or $1.97 per share, up from $8.58 billion, or $1.85 per share, in the year-ago period.

Looking forward, Coca-Cola expects prices for ingredients such as sweeteners, juice, metals and plastic to rise more moderately in the past year. The company expects foreign currency translation to hurt operating income by 4 percent in 2013, compared with a 5 percent impact in 2012.

Its shares were down 3 percent at $37.55.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2013-02-12-US-Earns-Coca-Cola/id-4f4daf8702ee400a8ef76a64d23d0f5d

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Asteroid that will buzz Earth worth $195 billion, miners say

The space rock set to give Earth a historically close shave this Friday (Feb. 15) may be worth nearly $200 billion, prospective asteroid miners say.

The 150-foot-wide (45 meters) asteroid 2012 DA14 ? which will zoom within 17,200 miles (27,000 kilometers) of Earth on Friday, marking the closest approach by such a large space rock that astronomers have ever known about in advance ? may harbor $65 billion of recoverable water and $130 billion in metals, say officials with celestial mining firm Deep Space Industries.

That's just a guess, they stressed, since 2012 DA14's composition is not well known and its size is an estimate based on the asteroid's brightness.

The company has no plans to go after 2012 DA14; the asteroid's orbit is highly tilted relative to Earth, making it too difficult to chase down. But the space rock's close flyby serves to illustrate the wealth of asteroid resources just waiting to be extracted and used, Deep Space officials said. [Deep Space Industries' Asteroid-Mining Vision in Photos]

"While this week's visitor isn't going the right way for us to harvest it, there will be others that are, and we want to be ready when they arrive," Deep Space chairman Rick Tumlinson said in a statement Tuesday (Feb. 12).

Deep Space Industries wants to use asteroid resources to help humanity expand its footprint out into the solar system. The company plans to convert space rock water into rocket fuel, which would be used to top up the tanks of off-Earth satellites and spaceships cheaply and efficiently.

Asteroidal metals such as iron and nickel, for their part, would form the basis of a space-based manufacturing industry that could build spaceships, human habitats and other structures off the planet.

The idea is to dramatically reduce the amount of material that needs to be launched from Earth, since it currently costs at least $10 million to send 1 ton of material to high-Earth orbit, officials said.

"Getting these supplies to serve communications satellites and coming crewed missions to Mars from in-space sources like asteroids is key if we are going to explore and settle space," Tumlinson said.

Deep Space Industries is just one of two asteroid-mining firms that have revealed their existence and intentions in the past 10 months. The other is Planetary Resources, which has financial backing from billionaires such as Google execs Larry Page and Eric Schmidt.

Deep Space aims to launch a phalanx of small, robotic prospecting probes called Fireflies in 2015. Sample-return missions to potential targets would occur shortly thereafter, with space mining operations possibly beginning around 2020.

Planetary Resources also hopes its activities open the solar system up for further and more efficient exploration. The company may launch its first low-cost prospecting space telescopes within the next year or so.

Follow SPACE.com senior writer Mike Wall on Twitter @michaeldwall?or SPACE.com @Spacedotcom. We're also on Facebook?and?Google+.?

Copyright 2013 SPACE.com, a TechMediaNetwork company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/earth-buzzing-asteroid-worth-195-billion-space-miners-040837560.html

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Senate panel approves Defense nominee Chuck Hagel

WASHINGTON (AP) ? A bitterly divided Senate panel has voted to approve the nomination of Chuck Hagel to be the nation's defense secretary.

The Armed Services Committee voted 14-11 to send the nomination to the full Senate. Tuesday's vote broke along party lines with all 14 Democrats backing President Barack Obama's choice.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is pushing for a full Senate vote by week's end, but some Republicans are threatening to filibuster the nomination.

Hagel, a former two-term Republican senator and Vietnam combat veteran, faces strong opposition from GOP senators. They have questioned whether he is sufficiently supportive of Israel and too tolerant of Iran.

Democrats have the votes to confirm Hagel on a majority vote. He would succeed Defense Secretary Leon Panetta.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

Chuck Hagel ? Republican, twice-wounded Vietnam combat veteran and former Nebraska senator ? faces his first major hurdle in his bid to become the nation's defense secretary as a bitterly divided Senate Armed Services Committee pushes toward a vote on his nomination.

The panel is scheduled to meet Tuesday afternoon to vote on President Barack Obama's choice to succeed Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, who is stepping down after four years as CIA director and Pentagon chief. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., is pressing for a full Senate vote later this week.

Hagel faces fierce opposition from Republicans who have challenged his past statements and votes on Israel, Iran, Iraq and nuclear weapons. Just hours before the vote, foes circulated a memo arguing for more information about Hagel's personal finances and highlighting past statements by Democratic senators demanding further disclosures when the Senate considered nominees by Republican presidents.

Committee Republicans forced a delay in the expected vote last week when they pressed Hagel for further data.

The panel's chairman, Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., said the GOP demands were beyond the scope of those traditionally asked of previous nominees, Republican and Democrat ? a point echoed by his Republican colleague, Sen. John McCain of Arizona. Levin set a committee vote that will probably break along party lines ? 14 Democrats for Hagel, 12 Republicans against their former colleague ? just hours before Obama's State of the Union address to Congress.

If Hagel is approved in committee, as expected, he faces GOP delaying tactics in the full Senate, with the panel's ranking Republican, Sen. Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma, insisting that any confirmation be based on 60 votes rather than a majority of the Senate.

But that effort has divided Republicans, with several longtime members opposed to the unprecedented step of filibustering a president's Cabinet nominee for defense secretary.

Late Monday, McCain met privately with several committee Republicans and urged them not to filibuster the Hagel nomination, pointing out that the roles could be reversed someday with a Republican president and GOP-controlled Senate.

"I'm encouraging my colleagues if they want to vote against Sen. Hagel that's one thing and that's a principled stand," McCain told a group of reporters. "We do not want to filibuster. We have not filibustered a Cabinet appointee in the past and I believe that we should move forward with his nomination, bring it to the floor and vote up or down."

McCain has not said how he would vote on the nomination, but has indicated he was learning against confirmation.

All 55 Democrats are expected to back Hagel, and two Republicans ? Sens. Thad Cochran of Mississippi and Mike Johanns of Nebraska ? have said they will vote for the nominee. At least five Republicans, including McCain, have said they oppose a filibuster despite their reservations or opposition toward the nominee.

More than a dozen Republicans have said they will oppose their former colleague, and several others have indicated they are likely to vote no. Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., a member of the Armed Services Committee, said Tuesday she would vote against the nominee, citing his performance at his confirmation hearing.

Hagel seemed ill-prepared under withering cross-examination from committee Republicans in nearly eight hours of testimony on Jan. 31. He was repeatedly pressed about past statements and votes on Israel, Iran and nuclear weapons, with GOP lawmakers suggesting he wasn't sufficiently supportive of Israel or anti-Iran.

In the memo, Republicans focused on the 2005 fight over President George W. Bush's nomination of John Bolton to be ambassador to the United Nations, and Democrats who tried to stop the nomination. The position is not Cabinet-level, however.

Faced with a Democratic filibuster, Bush circumvented the Senate and made Bolton a recess appointment.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., has signaled that he would block the nominations of Hagel and CIA Director-designate John Brennan if he doesn't get more answers about the deadly raid on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya, last September.

"I'm insisting that the president answer ... what he did that night. That's all. It would take five minutes to answer my question," Graham told reporters. "It's the only leverage I have."

The White House pushed back Monday, with spokesman Jay Carney insisting the administration had answered lingering questions about Libya and the president's actions on that fateful day.

"What is unfortunate here is the continuing attempt to politicize an issue, in this case through nominees that themselves had nothing to do with Benghazi, and to do so in a way that only does harm to our national security interests," Carney said. "Sen. Hagel, Mr. Brennan, they need to be confirmed."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/senate-panel-approves-pentagon-nominee-chuck-hagel-220653560--politics.html

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