Thursday, February 28, 2013

Harman Kardon SB 30


The more soundbars we test, it becomes more apparent that this particular category is all about compromises. The Harman Kardon SB 30 ($799.95 direct) is a high-end soundbar?speaker?that includes a small, companion wireless powered subwoofer. The SB 30 sounds better with music than most similar systems, and also delivers a satisfying home theater experience. True bass fiends looking to shake the living room with every passing plane or explosion should probably consider a model with a larger, more-powerful subwoofer, but otherwise, the SB 30 is one of the better soundbar systems we've tested.

Design, Connections, and Remote
The SB 30 soundbar speaker measures 3.9 by 45.7 by 3.1 inches (HWD) and weighs 8.4 pounds, while the unsually small subwoofer measures 13.9 by 10.5 by 10.5 inches (HWD) and weighs 19.2 pounds. Both components are finished in a classy black gloss plastic that looks rich. You can mount the SB 30 soundbar underneath or to the side of your HDTV; Harman Kardon also packs in the essential parts for wall mounting.

For connectivity, you get a coaxial digital input and a pair of stereo RCA analog inputs on the rear panel. There's no HDMI in or out, which is a disappointment at this price. There's also no on-screen display itself, which makes configuring the system unnecessarily difficult. Regardless, for testing, I had no problem connecting an Oppo BDP-103 Blu-ray player using the SB 30's optical digital input.

Six oval-shaped plastic buttons across the top of the speaker control Power, Volume, Mute, Input, Surround level, and Dolby Volume (more on that later). A small switch on the back of the speaker lets you customize the EQ for table or wall positioning. You can set the two units to pair wirelessly on one of four channels, although the system comes working just fine set to the first position from the factory.

The tiny credit card-style remote is made of black matte plastic. It contains membrane buttons for the same array of features: Power, Volume, Mute, Source, and a few different controls for surround effects. It's easy enough to use, although it isn't particularly flexible; there's no remote level control for the subwoofer, unfortunately. It's not backlit, either.

Performance and Conclusions
Inside the main speaker enclosure are 13 separate drivers?six 2-inch midrange cones and seven 1-inch dome tweeters. There's also an 11-channel amplifier; four channels deliver 40 watts each, while the other seven deliver 10 watts each. The separate subwoofer consists of a downward-firing, bass-reflex enclosure, and contains an 8-inch driver and a 100-watt amplifier. Harman Kardon lists the total system's frequency response as 40 to 20,000Hz, but without + or ? figures, those numbers are essentially meaningless.Harman Kardon SB 30 (inputs)

In testing, the SB 30 sounded clear and sharp, with a natural, if slightly bright timbre for movie dialog and effects. I tested the SB 30 with the Blu-ray version of Tron: Legacy?and appreciated the system's impressive clarity and soundstaging abilities, although explosions and laser effects had a bit less impact than they did with other systems that had larger subwoofers, such as the considerably less expensive (but not as sweet sounding) Sony HT-CT260. Stereo music sounded particularly good on the SB 30, though; The Knife's "Silent Shout" featured airy, well-separated synthesizers and tight, punchy bass, although the electronic 808-style kick drum didn't exhibit quite enough low-end extension. Simply put, this is a great-sounding system.

The SB 30 supports Dolby Digital and DTS surround sound encoding. It lets you choose between three settings for the simulated surround effect: Off, Low, and High, with blue circle LED lights appearing behind the speaker grille that correspond to each setting (one, two, or three). Meanwhile, Dolby Volume compresses the audio to maintain the same volume level in between programming sources, so that a commercial doesn't blow you out of the living room after watching a particularly quiet and subtle movie ending?which is also nice for watching at low volumes at night.

All told, the Harman Kardon SB 30 delivers exactly the kind of performance you'd expect from the company. It could use a bit more bass; I admire that the sub enclosure is so small and nicely crafted, but even with high-quality drivers, there's only so much you can do for bass extension without making it considerably larger. (You could also go the Sunfire route, and drive an 11-inch woofer and passive radiator with a 2700-watt amp, but that's in an entirely different price tier.)

If you want to save a lot money, our favorite low-cost system remains the $300 Sony HT-CT260, which doesn't sound as clear and detailed as the SB 30, but goes roughly as loud and packs a lot of bang for the buck. If price really is no object, give the $2,200 Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 2 a listen. It offers plenty of bass punch even without a sub, plus tremendous volume levels for a soundbar and beautiful, mirror-like style. But the Harman Kardon SB 30 strikes a nice balance between sound quality and volume for both music and movies.

More Speaker Reviews:
??? Sony HT-CT260 Home Theater Soundbar
??? Vizio SB4021M-A1 Home Theater Soundbar
??? Samsung HW-E550
??? Harman Kardon SB 30
??? Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 2
?? more

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ziffdavis/pcmag/~3/h3FDGVHQJkk/0,2817,2415778,00.asp

easter 2012 jeremy lin espn sassafras mardi gras 2012 the secret world of arrietty cee lo allen iverson

Quick Loans - Speedy Authorization For Urgent Cases | Winners ...

So don't need to be worried about personal loan sanction and quickly mortgage approvals plus the creditors are certainly rapid in providing for its customers. These loan companies are incredibly fast on account of the lack boring documentation and fax needed approach associated with their technique. These lenders will not require you to promise nearly anything like a protection from loan too. paydayloans uk Negotiating - or difficult negotiating - is often a displaced artwork. A lot of people keep away anymore because they imagine that providers don't have any room to bargain. It's not real! You'll want to bargain with each and every business generates an offer and discover if they can present you with even better loan terms, for example a reduce monthly interest. Bring these 5 points note so as to be eligible for a one hundred percent capital bad credit vehicle loans.

Unsecured loans bad credit - Get Loan with Bad Loans and devoid of Guarantee
Payday Loans No Files, Connect with Instant Cash Requirment
Your prospects will supply the heavier washing equipment: brush, cleaner and cleaner. Independent WorkerThere are lots of busy industry experts, and small businesses, who want various projects accomplished, but can not afford to hire a staff to do the job. That's where private individuals are available and help you save the afternoon. Freelance staff are capable of doing all kinds of things like: making web sites, planning art logos, article marketing or web site content, taxes, producing excel spreadsheets and data source, transcription, and so on.
Whichever your situation, its essential to know up front just how much you should be lent. You will get loans nearly Dollar15,000 now and again. In case your plan is to loan large amounts and you will have less than perfect credit score you may want to strengthen it initially. Listed here is a tiny tip that you can do to improve your credit ranking, the right way to have the loan's words rather less distressing. This gives you a good rating using your mortgage lender. Continue to keep enhancing the amount of money and paying it back unless you see affordable words. If paying back your loan quickly can not work relax a bit. You may be surprised by what we is capable of doing to fix your credit track record.
Fast Unsecured Loans - An Adequately Forking over Is All That's Necessary In anchored personal loans, you have to have some territory holdings, that you simply home loan with all the loan company and get your loan. But exactly what it to do, that don't have a property possessing to home finance loan? It appears like one particular smaller prerequisite, yet it's so very hard to fulfill. You can need pressing income to fulfill numerous demands, including to get shares, invest in a dwelling, and buy a business and the like. You are aware of you will have a reasonable and very well spending job and you happen to be capable of meeting while using economic, in due course, but it is a financial situation after all. Damaged whipped cream your short lived problem is fast unsecured loans.

While using the demonstration of two-salary family members escalating dramatically, the advantages of dependable daycares is additionally rising. Individuals with both mom and dad operating, or sole mother or father family members, desire a place wherever they are going to know there kids are risk-free and effectively-maintained as they simply can not be with him or her. This is often a complicated decision for most young families. By starting your very own child care business you won't just be using a big pattern in profits-escalating opportunities, but is likewise offering a valuable choice to these individuals. Important things about Owning a Childcare BusinessIf you are thinking about beginning a childcare business, it is actually less likely you are imagining just of money. There are plenty of other good things about these journeys to assist you make your decision. A child care is a great usage of a diploma when they are young instruction or boy or girl therapy. They let you compare unique car features inside of a kid's everyday living each day.

Source: http://www.winnerscircleofnorfolk.com/quick_loans_-_speedy_authorization_urgent_cases

kim kardashian flour bomb hunger games box office xavier joan crawford joan crawford john goodman kendall marshall

Taliban poison, kill 17 Afghans in attack in east

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) ? An Afghan official says Taliban insurgents poisoned and killed 17 people in an overnight attack on a post manned by a government-backed militia in eastern Afghanistan.

Ghazni deputy provincial council head Abdul Jamhe Jamhe says the militants somehow infiltrated the outpost and poisoned those inside the compound before launching the Tuesday night assault. He says the assailants then shot the incapacitated men.

Provincial Gov. Musa Khan Akbarzada says 10 of those killed in Andar district were members of the government-backed Afghan Local Police group and the remaining seven killed were civilians who were friends of the local police. He says there was a conspiracy of some sort but declined to confirm if there was poison involved.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/taliban-poison-kill-17-afghans-attack-east-110229450.html

the borgias shroud of turin warren sapp the masters i robot the big c the visitor

Bobby Brown gets 55-day jail term for drunken driving

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Singer Bobby Brown, the ex-husband of the late Whitney Houston, was sentenced to 55 days in jail on Tuesday after admitting to driving drunk last year.

Brown pleaded no contest, an admission of guilt under California law, to driving under the influence and driving on a suspended license in October in a Los Angeles suburb.

Police said they stopped Brown after seeing him driving erratically, and that he failed a field sobriety test. It was his second arrest for drunken driving in 2012.

Brown did not appear in court on Tuesday and his plea was entered by his attorney. He must report to jail on March 20

The New Edition singer was also sentenced to four years probation, ordered to install an ignition interlock device and to attend an alcohol counseling program.

Brown and Houston divorced in 2007 after 15 years of what Houston later described as a drug- and alcohol-fueled marriage. Houston drowned accidentally in a Beverly Hills hotel bathtub on February 11, 2012, from the effects of heart disease and cocaine.

(Reporting By Jill Serjeant; Editing by Doina Chiacu)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/bobby-brown-gets-55-day-jail-term-drunken-020811887.html

giuliana rancic giuliana rancic elie wiesel temptations work hard play hard tim ferriss wmt

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Adventure travel grows despite occasional disaster

NEW YORK (AP) ? When Carole Rosenblat was growing up in the 1970s, her parents' idea of an adventurous vacation was "driving cross-country from Michigan to California in a non-air-conditioned car with three kids."

Her idea of adventure is a little different: "Jumping out of planes ? things like that. Parasailing, hot-air ballooning. These things make you know you're alive!"

And the balloon accident in Egypt that killed 19 people Tuesday is not likely to deter her from future adventures. "It does not give me pause at all," said Rosenblat, a freelance writer and occasional tour guide based in Gilbert, Ariz.

Rosenblat's attitude is part of what's fueling worldwide growth in adventure travel. It's an $89 billion industry, according to the Adventure Travel Trade Association, and it has grown 17 percent in each of the past two years, according to the association's president, Shannon Stowell. That's four times the rate of the overall tourism industry, which grew about 4.6 percent in 2011.

But while travelers may think nothing of bungee-jumping or whitewater rafting as the perfect way to bring home bragging rights, these types of activities are not risk-free. Indeed, while statistically rare, accidents involving adventure vacations happen on a regular basis. To cite just a few recent headlines: This past weekend, a woman was swept away and drowned in Hawaii on a hiking trip with 55 people. Recreational diving deaths have been reported this month in both California and Florida. A woman parasailing in Florida last summer died when her harness gave way, one of 70 parasailing deaths in the past 30 years. And 54 skiers and snowboarders died in accidents on U.S. ski slopes last season, according to the National Ski Areas Association.

The industries that promote these activities are quick to note that driving is by far the most dangerous thing you're likely to do at home or on vacation. An estimated 36,200 people died in motor vehicle accidents in the U.S. in 2012.

In contrast, in the past decade, only 15 people have died in ballooning accidents in the U.S., according to the National Transportation Safety Board. Glen Moyer, spokesman for the Balloon Federation of American, noted that balloon operations in the U.S. are heavily regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration, including licensing and training for pilots, plus balloon inspections for every 100 hours of commercial flight time.

"When we hear about a dramatic event like a balloon exploding, it plumbs the depths of our fears, whereas when we hear about an automobile accident ? not so much," said Stowell, the Adventure Travel Trade Association head. "The reality is that with adventure travel overall, if you're going with a good operator who knows what they're doing, you are as safe or safer than when you're on your own in a vehicle."

Hot-air ballooning has been around for centuries, but many travelers still consider it as exciting as parasailing or bungee jumping.

Christopher Elliott, an editor at large for National Geographic Traveler, has spent the past year traveling with his kids for a project called AwayIsHome.com. He said that planning their itinerary every day involves asking, "Is this an acceptable risk?" ? most recently when snowshoeing on a frozen lake in Canada.

"It's a judgment call," Elliott said. "I would not have hesitated to get on that balloon and put my family on the balloon. It's not something ridiculously dangerous like feeding the lion raw meat with your hand from a Jeep. That's what makes it so troubling: We could see ourselves on that balloon and we'd be dead now."

But he added that sedentary vacations are, for many people, a thing of the past.

"People expect more from their vacations, and that sometimes involves high-risk activity," he said. "We want all our friends to think we took the most exciting vacation. And maybe some of it is driven by reality shows or the Travel Channel. Everyone wants that extreme experience."

Is there any way for consumers to protect themselves from unnecessary risks? For one thing, Stowell said, do your homework. Before signing up for an adventure, look on websites like TripAdvisor for consumer reviews, contact industry associations to learn about safety recommendations, and ask for referrals from trustworthy sources like travel agents, cruise operators or hotel concierges.

Experts also recommend travel insurance. Peter Greenberg, CBS News travel editor, says most Americans don't realize their health insurance does not protect them overseas. Make sure any travel policy you buy covers medical treatment, as well as evacuation and transportation to the facility of your choice, Greenberg said.

Pauline Frommer, the travel guidebook writer, noted that "many insurance policies specifically exclude injuries that arise from these sorts of adventure activities, which can be an ugly surprise for travelers. So, if you're planning on bungee jumping or canyoneering or some other type of adventure activity, be sure to get a policy that will actually cover you should something go wrong."

Linda Kundell, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Travel Insurance Association, said standard policies may cover ordinary recreation like hiking and skiing, but you can also buy policies for extreme sports. In either case, consumers should double-check what's covered.

While many of these types of activities require consumers to sign a waiver of liability in case of accident, as Elliott put it, "you sign that piece of paper and you don't even read it."

"People assume they're entitled to have the best of both worlds: Extreme adventure and complete safety," he added. "That does not align with reality."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/adventure-travel-grows-despite-occasional-disaster-222438156.html

paula abdul cinnamon challenge lou dobbs rock salt david letterman march of dimes james randi

Prague Day 1 | Travel Blog | JOSINARAHMAN

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

Source: http://josinarahman.blogspot.com/2013/02/prague-day-1-travel-blog.html

Time Change 2012 Marcus Lattimore news 12 world series giants Natina Reed Sandy Hurricane

Recently released market study: Ghana Food and Drink Report Q1 ...

Boston, MA -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/25/2013 -- We remain extremely optimistic about the performance of Ghana's economy in the coming years, on the back of domestic oil production. In line with this view, we expect per capita food and beverage consumption to grow strongly over our forecast period to 2017, boosted by rising incomes and wealth redistribution. However, the underdeveloped mass grocery (MGR) retail network will hamper faster uptake of premium goods, with the sector yet to attract foreign investment.

Headline Industry Data

- 2013 per capita food consumption (local currency) = +2.5%; forecast compound annual growth rate (CAGR) to 2017 = +11.16%.
- 2013 beer volume sales = +8.0%; forecast CAGR to 2017 = +8.40%.
- 2013 carbonated drinks volume sales = +8.0%; forecast CAGR to 2017 = +9.40%.

Key Industry Trends

Coca-Cola to Continue Emerging Markets Push: In September 2012, US soft drinks major The Coca- Cola Company was reported by Ghana Web as stating that it will continue investing in emerging markets and strive to build sustainable societies in these countries as part of its corporate social responsibility initiative. The company is particularly interested in pursuing opportunities for growth in African countries such as Ghana, where it said it will continue to develop products that meet local demand.

View Full Report Details and Table of Contents

Guinness Ghana Breweries Ltd Launches New Product: In December 2012, Guinness Ghana Breweries Ltd (GGBL) introduced a new product on the market. The home-grown beer, Ruut Extra Premium Beer, is reportedly Ghana's first beer made out of cassava, which is widely grown in the country. According to the GGBL's statement quoted by the local press, 'Ruut Extra Premium Beer has been developed specifically to satisfy Ghanaian men looking for a premium local beer'. The project also supports the local market and economy, given that all ingredients are locally sourced.

About Fast Market Research
Fast Market Research is an online aggregator and distributor of market research and business information. Representing the world's top research publishers and analysts, we provide quick and easy access to the best competitive intelligence available. Our unbiased, expert staff will help you find the right research to fit your requirements and your budget. For more information about these or related research reports, please visit our website at http://www.fastmr.com or call us at 1.800.844.8156.

Browse all Food research reports at Fast Market Research

You may also be interested in these related reports:

- France Food & Drink Report Q1 2013
- Greece Food & Drink Report Q1 2013
- Australia Food & Drink Report Q1 2013
- Bulgaria Food & Drink Report Q1 2013
- Hungary Food & Drink Report Q1 2013
- United Kingdom Food & Drink Report Q1 2013
- Vietnam Food & Drink Report Q1 2013
- Germany Food & Drink Report Q1 2013
- Colombia Food & Drink Report Q1 2013
- Croatia Food & Drink Report Q1 2013

Source: http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/recently-released-market-study-ghana-food-and-drink-report-q1-2013-209317.htm

euro 2012 Colorado Springs pga tour Nora Ephron mario balotelli mario balotelli espn3

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Maize in diets of people in coastal Peru dates to 5,000 years ago

Feb. 25, 2013 ? For decades, archaeologists have struggled with understanding the emergence of a distinct South American civilization during the Late Archaic period (3000-1800 B.C.) in Peru. One of the persistent questions has been the role of agriculture and particularly corn (maize) in the evolution of complex, centralized societies. Up until now, the prevailing theory was that marine resources, not agriculture and corn, provided the economic engine behind the development of civilization in the Andean region of Peru.

Now, breakthrough research led by Field Museum curator Dr. Jonathan Haas is providing new resolution to the issue by looking at microscopic evidence found in soil, on stone tools, and in coprolites from ancient sites and dated with over 200 Carbon-14 dates.

After years of study, Haas and his colleagues have concluded that during the Late Archaic, maize (Zea mays, or corn) was indeed a primary component in the diet of people living in the Norte Chico region of Peru, an area of remarkable cultural florescence in 3rd millennium B.C. Their research is the subject of a paper that appears in the online Early Edition issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) the week of February 25, 2013..

"This new body of evidence demonstrates quite clearly that the very earliest emergence of civilization in South America was indeed based on agriculture as in the other great civilizations of Mesopotamia, Egypt, India, and China," said Haas.

Haas and his team focused on sites in the desert valleys of Pativilca and Fortaleza north of Lima where broad botanical evidence pointed to the extensive production, processing and consumption of maize between 3000 and 1800 B.C. They studied a total of 13 sites. The two most extensively studied sites were Caballete, about six miles inland from the Pacific Ocean and consisting of six large platform mounds arranged in a "U" shape, and the site of Huaricanga, about 14 miles inland and consisting one very large mound and several much smaller mounds on either side.

The scientists targeted several areas at the sites including residences, trash pits, ceremonial rooms, and campsites. A total of 212 radiocarbon dates were obtained in the course of all the excavations.

Macroscopic remains of maize (kernels, leaves, stalks, and cobs) were rare.

However, the team looked deeper and found an abundance of microscopic evidence of maize in various forms in the excavations. One of the clearest markers was the abundance of maize pollen in the prehistoric soil samples. While maize is grown in the area today, they were able to rule out modern day contamination because modern maize pollen grains are larger and turn dark red when stain is applied. Also, modern soil samples consistently contain pollen from the Australian Pine (Casuarinaceae Casuarina), a plant which is an invasive species from Australia never found in prehistoric samples.

A majority of the soil samples analyzed came from trash pits associated with residential architecture. Other samples were taken from places such as room floors and construction debris. Of the 126 soil samples (not counting stone tools and coprolites) analyzed, 61 contained Z. mays pollen. (In fact, Z. mays was the second most common pollen found in the total of all samples, behind only pollen from cattails which have wind-pollinated flowers.) This is consistent with the percentage of maize pollen found in pollen analyses from sites in other parts of the world where maize is a major crop and constitutes the primary source of calories in the diet.

Haas and his colleagues also analyzed residues on stone tools used for cutting, scraping, pounding, and grinding. The tools were examined for evidence of plant residues, particularly starch grains and phytoliths (plant silica bodies). Of the 14 stone tools analyzed, 11 had maize starch grains on the working surfaces and two had maize phytoliths.

Coprolites (preserved fecal material) provide the best direct evidence of prehistoric diet. Among 62 coprolites analyzed of all types -- 34 human, 16 domesticated dog, and others from various animals -- 43 (or 69 percent) contained maize starch grains, phytoliths, or other remains. Of the 34 human coprolites, 23 (or 68 percent) contained evidence of maize. (The second most common grain in humans came from sweet potatoes.) Coprolites also showed that fish, mostly anchovies, did provide the primary protein in the diet, but not the calories.

The researchers concluded that the prevalence of maize in multiple contexts and in multiple sites indicates this domesticated food crop was grown widely in the area and constituted a major portion of the local diet, and it was not used just on ceremonial occasions. The research ultimately confirms the importance of agriculture in providing a strong economic base for the rise of complex, centralized societies in the emergence of the world's civilizations.

Share this story on Facebook, Twitter, and Google:

Other social bookmarking and sharing tools:


Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Field Museum, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.

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


Journal Reference:

  1. Jonathan Haas, Winifred Creamer, Luis Huam?n Mes?a, David Goldstein, Karl Reinhard, and Cindy Vergel Rodr?guez. Evidence for maize (Zea mays) in the Late Archaic (3000?1800 B.C.) in the Norte Chico region of Peru. PNAS, February 25, 2013 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1219425110

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

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

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0H8zr9vxlRc/130225153124.htm

cars Bacon Number Kate Middleton photos Chi Magazine Kate Middleton Nude Photos glee glee

Feds to probe Ford cars and SUVs for stalling

(AP) ? The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says it will investigate problems with stalling or surging engines in nearly 725,000 Ford cars and SUVs.

The probe affects Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner SUVs and Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan sedans from the 2009 through 2011 model years.

The vehicles can unexpectedly go into "limp home mode" at reduced power, the agency said in documents posted Monday on its website. NHTSA and Ford have received almost 1,500 complaints about the problem. There were three crashes and one injury.

NHTSA began looking into the cars and SUVs after getting a request from the North Carolina Consumers Council last year. Nonprofit safety groups and consumers can petition the agency to investigate vehicle problems.

The cars and SUVs haven't been recalled, but the investigation could lead to a recall.

The Fusion and Milan are nearly identical cars with the same engines, as are the Escape and Mariner. Ford scrapped the Mercury brand in 2010.

The North Carolina organization said it received two complaints about 2009 Escapes that had been diagnosed with throttles either stuck open or closed. The group said that owners reported repeated stalling and surging.

Ford told NHTSA that vehicles made from June 22, 2009, to Oct. 15, 2009, may have faulty printed circuit boards that control the throttles. Ford and its throttle body supplier, Delphi Corp., changed the circuit board manufacturing process after Oct. 15, 2009. That resolved the problem, NHTSA said in documents posted Monday on its website.

NHTSA said it analyzed 123 complaints about the cars or SUVs going into what's known as limp mode, in which vehicle speed was limited to 20 mph or 900 engine revolutions per minute. Drivers may interpret the limp mode as stalling, even though the engines still move the vehicles, the agency said. Vehicles usually go into limp mode when computers detect an engine problem. This allows drivers to get to a safe place while protecting the engine from damage.

Power surges appear to happen when the engine revolutions fluctuate to prevent stalling during limp mode, the agency said.

But even though Ford said the throttle problem with the Escape was resolved with the manufacturing change, NHTSA still decided to investigate vehicles from the 2010 and 2011 model years. The agency says it received 59 complaints of engine stalling in 2010 and 2011 Fusions. Eighty percent of the complaints were received starting in March of 2012, showing an increasing trend, the agency said.

In addition, Ford has received 27,505 warranty claims in which the throttle bodies were repaired or replaced, NHTSA said.

Ford said Monday that it's cooperating with NHTSA on the investigation.

Its shares rose 4 cents to $12.52 in morning trading. They have traded in a 52-week range of $8.82 to $14.39.

.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2013-02-25-Ford-Investigation/id-6c3acb0a4b174efebfff11e2cf1c8343

heidi klum red tails trailer joe pa dead laura dekker stephen colbert south carolina seal seal and heidi klum

Afghan president to expel U.S. special forces from key province

KABUL (Reuters) - Afghan President Hamid Karzai has given U.S. special forces two weeks to leave a key battleground province after some U.S. soldiers there were found to have tortured or even killed innocent people, the president's spokesman said on Sunday.

The decision by Karzai could further complicate negotiations between the United States and Afghanistan over the presence of Americans troops in the country once most NATO forces leave by the end of 2014.

Speaking at a news conference in Kabul, Karzai's spokesman Aimal Faizi said villagers in Wardak province had lodged a series of complaints about operations conducted by U.S. special forces and a group of Afghans working with them.

The decision was reached at a Sunday meeting of the Afghan National Security Council, chaired by Karzai, Faizi said.

"The Ministry of Defense was assigned to make sure all U.S. special forces are out of the province within two weeks," he said.

"After a thorough discussion, it became clear that armed individuals named as U.S. special forces stationed in Wardak province were engaging in harassing, annoying, torturing and even murdering innocent people," Faizi added.

A statement from the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan said: "US Forces Afghanistan is aware of the reporting of Presidential spokesman Aimal Faizi's comments today. We take all allegations of misconduct seriously and go to great lengths to determine the facts surrounding them.

"But until we have had a chance to speak with senior Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan officials about this issue, we are not in a position to comment further."

Sunday's announcement came days after Karzai issued a decree banning all Afghan security forces from using NATO air strikes in residential areas, in a bid to curb civilian casualties.

That was in response to an operation in Kunar targeting four Taliban members which resulted in the deaths of ten civilians, including five children, during an air strike.

Karzai has long warned his Western backers that the killing of civilians could sap support for the foreign troops in the country and fuel the insurgency.

(Reporting by Hamid Shalizi and Washington bureau; Writing by Dylan Welch; Editing by Stephen Powell)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/afghan-president-expel-u-special-forces-key-province-001404856.html

superpac steve appleton bishop eddie long madonna give me all your luvin video roseanne barr president green party day 26

Indiana stays No. 1 in AP Top 25, Gonzaga No. 2

Indiana is No. 1 in The Associated Press' Top 25 for the fourth straight week, while Gonzaga moved to No. 2 for the first time in school history.

While the West Coast Bulldogs made some news at the top of the poll Monday, Louisiana Tech, the Bulldogs from Down South, moved into the rankings for the first time since a 13-week run in 1984-85, their only appearance in the poll.

Louisiana Tech, which is 25th this week, was led back then to a ranking as high as No. 7 by a forward named Karl Malone. Gonzaga at that time had a point guard named John Stockton. They went on to become one of the greatest combinations in NBA history with the Utah Jazz, were members of the Dream Team and both were inducted in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

The Hoosiers, who have been ranked No. 1 for a total of 10 weeks this season, received all but one first-place vote from the 65-member national media panel.

Gonzaga, which got the other No. 1 vote, was ranked third last week. The Bulldogs were also that high in the poll for the final two weeks of 2003-04.

Duke moved up three spots to third and is followed by Michigan and Miami, which dropped from second after falling to Wake Forest, the Hurricanes' first Atlantic Coast Conference loss this season.

Kansas is sixth, followed by Georgetown, Florida, Michigan State and Louisville.

Saint Louis, which beat Butler and VCU last week, moved into 18th in the poll, the Billikens' first ranking since being in for one week last season.

Colorado State, which was 22nd and lost twice last week, and VCU, which was 24th, dropped out.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/indiana-stays-no-1-ap-top-25-gonzaga-174431698--spt.html

edgar rice burroughs dallas clark litter marinol flight attendant pau gasol trade michael madsen

Film of Austrian girl's hostage ordeal premieres

Austrian Natascha Kampusch poses for photographers before the premiere of the film "3096 Days" in Vienna, Austria, Monday Feb. 25, 2013. The film tells the story of Kampusch who was abducted as a schoolgirl and held prisoner in a cellar for almost nine years. (AP Photo/Ronald Zak)

Austrian Natascha Kampusch poses for photographers before the premiere of the film "3096 Days" in Vienna, Austria, Monday Feb. 25, 2013. The film tells the story of Kampusch who was abducted as a schoolgirl and held prisoner in a cellar for almost nine years. (AP Photo/Ronald Zak)

Director Sherry Hormann poses for photographers before the premiere of the film "3096 Days" in Vienna, Austria, Monday Feb. 25, 2013. The film tells the story of Natascha Kampusch who was abducted as a schoolgirl and held prisoner in a cellar for almost nine years. (AP Photo/Ronald Zak)

Director Sherry Hormann poses for photographers before the premiere of the film "3096 Days" in Vienna, Austria, Monday Feb. 25, 2013. The film tells the story of Natascha Kampusch who was abducted as a schoolgirl and held prisoner in a cellar for almost nine years. (AP Photo/Ronald Zak)

British actress Antonia Campbell-Hughes, and Danish actor Thure Lindhardt, right, pose for photographers before the premiere of the film "3096 Days" in Vienna, Austria, Monday Feb. 25, 2013. The film tells the story of Natascha Kampusch who was abducted as a schoolgirl and held prisoner in a cellar for almost nine years. (AP Photo/Ronald Zak)

British actress Antonia Campbell-Hughes, and Danish actor Thure Lindhardt, right, pose for photographers before the premiere of the film "3096 Days" in Vienna, Austria, Monday Feb. 25, 2013. The film tells the story of Natascha Kampusch who was abducted as a schoolgirl and held prisoner in a cellar for almost nine years. (AP Photo/Ronald Zak)

VIENNA (AP) ? The story of Natascha Kampusch, who grew from a 10-year old to a young woman as a captive of a sadistic abductor, is now a movie.

The film depicting her more than eight-year long ordeal premiered late Monday in Vienna. Titled "3096 Days," the English-language film is based on Kampusch's biography.

Thure Lindhardt, who played abductor Wolfgang Priklopil, says the role was "challenging," while Campbell-Hughes describes her portrayal of Kampusch as "a very great responsibility."

Prominent Austrians in the audience came away impressed. Former Interior Minister Karl Blecha said the film succeeded in depicting the horrors of Kampusch's torment.

Kampusch was snatched off a Vienna street when she was 10 and held prisoner until she fled in August 2006. Priklopil committed suicide within hours of her escape.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2013-02-26-EU-Austria-Hostage-Girl/id-cea4efa655034fb9930f50ebfdd02ae1

kevin love think like a man world peace world peace lakers colorectal cancer metta kashi

Monday, February 25, 2013

Video: Cardinal accused of mishandling sex abuse cases to take part in conclave

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

Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/newsnation/50945272/

julio jones j crew san francisco 49ers san francisco 49ers stan musial Mega 49ers

Helper mayor resigns following third DUI arrest

The mayor of Helper resigned Saturday morning following his arrest on suspicion of drunken driving the day before ? his second during his term.

The Helper City Council and Mayor Dean Armstrong, released from the Carbon County Jail, met Saturday and the mayor, after offering a prepared statement, resigned effective immediately. The council accepted his resignation, said city attorney Gene Strate.

The council had already given Armstrong a second chance following his 2011 arrest for driving under the influence. Armstrong was arrested again Friday afternoon after a minor accident on Main Street in Helper, in which no one was injured, said Utah Highway Patrol Trooper Lawrence Hopper. A field Breathalyzer test indicated Armstrong?s blood alcohol level was .169, Hopper said. Under Utah law, it is illegal to operate a motor vehicle with a blood-alcohol level above .08.

"I have determined that I can no longer adequately perform the duties of mayor," Armstrong, 51, wrote in his statement, according to Strate. "Instead, I will turn my focus toward taking care of my family, my health and my business."

Armstrong, who owns a market that specializes in meats and baked goods, noted in his statement that he?s saddened that he cannot complete his term, though he feels that the city administration has improved Helper in the past several years. "The people of this community are strong, and it has been my honor and privilege to have served you," Strate read from the letter.

Armstrong was elected to a four-year term in 2010. Strate said he still needs to review the process for replacing him, since this is the first resignation by a Helper mayor that he can recall. Helper is a town of about 2,000 residents roughly 120 miles southeast of Salt Lake City.

Armstrong started a lot of projects with the council, including big improvements to the water and sewer systems that the city has needed for 70 years, said council member Kirk Mascaro. Mascaro will serve as mayor pro tem, a position he already held so that he could act in Armstrong?s place if the mayor couldn?t attend a meeting.

"Mayor Armstrong has been, I feel, somewhat of an asset putting Helper City on the map, and we?ve got to move on right now. I?ve got to fill those shoes," Mascaro said. "We?re going to move on, move forward and it?s not just Mr. Armstrong, the whole council will be getting these projects completed."

Armstrong?s first DUI arrest in office was in November 2011, also by the UHP, court records show.

In May 2012, Armstrong pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charges of impaired driving, open container/drinking alcohol in a vehicle, and failing to stop or yield to a traffic sign, court records show. A judge suspended any jail time and placed Anderson on one year of probation. The terms of probation included a fine. Armstrong also was ordered to wear an ankle monitor for 60 days. The monitor was removed in September, jail records show.

story continues below

Helper?s council met following the 2011 arrest but took no action against Armstrong, Mascaro said.

Court records also indicate that Armstrong pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence in June 1991 in Salt Lake City. He received a suspended jail sentence and was ordered to perform community service, pay a fine and attend alcohol counseling, the records show. An additional charge of negligent collision was dropped.

mmcfall@sltrib.com Twitter: @mikeypanda

Copyright 2013 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/55886482-78/armstrong-mayor-helper-council.html.csp

stephen jackson ncaa tournament marchmadness mike d antoni nba trade rumors 2012 ncaa tournament schedule laurent robinson

Sunday, February 24, 2013

Indie Spirit Awards: Kerry Washington

Presenter Kerry Washington never disappoints with her penchant for bold styling, and this green floral-embossed Giambattista Valli sheath at the 2013 Independent Spirit Awards is no exception to the rule. The Django Unchained and Scandal actress let the girlie, albeit vibrant, ensemble take centre stage, only accessorising with a gold watch, a cream-coloured woven clutch, and matching beaded floral pumps. With so much pattern play at hand, Washington kept her hair down and casual with minimal makeup. Are you a fan?

Source: http://www.fabsugar.com.au/2013-Independent-Spirit-Awards-Style-Kerry-Washington-28272225

keratosis pilaris rock and roll hall of fame 2012 brandon rios oklahoma news nascar news doppler radar colorado rockies

Thousands protest in Armenia against re-elected president

YEREVAN (Reuters) - Thousands of people protested in Armenia's capital Yerevan on Friday against the re-election of President Serzh Sarksyan, asserting that an opposition party leader was the real winner.

International monitors said Monday's vote was an improvement on recent elections in Armenia but there was little competition as some of Sarksyan's most prominent rivals did not run, saying the result was likely to be skewed to deliver him victory.

The rally in Yerevan's Freedom Square was peaceful and there were no protests in other cities in the ex-Soviet republic. But analysts are concerned about instability in a region that is a key transit route for Caspian gas and oil deliveries to Europe.

Backers of Sarksyan's second-placed rival Raffi Hovannisian chanted "Raffi! Raffi!" and "Armenia! Armenia" at the rally, alleging that the vote was rigged in favor of the Sarksyan.

"We should carry on our fight calmly and according to the constitution. Our democratic movement will not stop and we will achieve victory," Hovannisian told the crowd, raising a clenched fist over his head.

"Welcome Armenia! You are the people, you have chosen your servant," U.S.-born Hovannisian, accompanied by his wife and son, said to the protesters, who were waving Armenian flags.

Hovannisian told protesters that the president, at a meeting on Thursday, rejected his demand for a rerun of the vote.

Official results showed Sarksyan winning 58.6 percent of the votes, compared to nearly 37 percent for Hovannisian.

Hovannisian said he would start touring cities and villages where he polled ahead of Sarksyan in the election, before staging another protest rally in the same square on Sunday.

"There is a 'tradition' in post-Soviet countries that those who scored second or third positions always question results of elections, no matter what," said analyst Sergei Minasyan.

"I think Raffi Hovannisian is aiming for a long march that would somehow unite the opposition to keep up the pressure and maybe benefit from it in the approaching elections for local governments, including for the Yerevan mayor."

The disputed result of the 2008 presidential election triggered violent unrest in which 10 people were killed.

Armenia, a South Caucasus country of 3.2 million that has a collective security deal with Russia, is also locked in dispute with neighbor Azerbaijan over the enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh.

About 30,000 people were killed in a 1990s war between the neighbors over Nagorno-Karabakh, an ethnic Armenian-majority enclave inside Azerbaijan, which Armenian-backed rebels wrested from Azeri troops.

(Writing by Gabriela Baczynska; Editing by Mark Heinrich)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/thousands-protest-armenia-against-elected-president-051654298.html

sacha baron cohen best picture nominees 2012 academy awards 2012 albert nobbs a star is born oscar nominees oscar nominations 2012

Acura comes roaring back with NSX supercar

These days, it?s common for automakers to display ?concept cars? on the auto show circuit that are thinly disguised versions of upcoming production models ? like the MDX Acura introduced at the Detroit Auto Show last month.

But the show car that drew the real crowds was a model that won?t hit the street for at least two years, the reincarnation of Acura?s once formidable NSX supercar.

The Japanese maker is desperately hoping that the re-born NSX will grab the high-line brand some much-needed attention and bring curious new shoppers into Acura showrooms even before it reaches production.

When it was launched more than a quarter-century ago, Acura transformed the way Americans thought about Japanese cars, proving that the Asians could challenge the well-established European and domestic luxury brands. But the initial success of the Honda Motor Co. subsidiary proved far too fleeting and in recent years, Acura has lagged in the back of the premium pack.

The Detroit Bureau: Despite Recent Price Spike, DoE Expects Gas to Level Off, Even Decline

?It was a brave experiment when it was first launched,? says automotive analyst George Peterson, of AutoPacific, Inc. And now, he adds, there are signs Acura ?has hit bottom and is on the upswing.?

That was clearly something the maker intended to prove when it invited automotive journalists to the race track in Sonoma, California, several weeks back, to check out the new Acura RLX and pit it against some of its most formidable competitors, including the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and BMW 5-Series.

?This is a big deal for us,? asserted Mike Accavitti, the marque?s head of marketing. ?It?s the best product we have ever built.?

What the Honda subsidiary has pronounced its new ?flagship? is the direct heir to the original Acura Legend, a stylish and technically sophisticated product that turned conventional wisdom on its head. Produced in both coupe and sedan body styles, the original Acura model quickly ran up the sales chart and, if anything, created a conundrum for Honda officials who feared the Legend nameplate was better known than that of Acura itself.

The Detroit Bureau: Ford Looking to Novel Way to Get Back into Compact Pickup Market

Their solution proved disastrous. They not only replaced the Legend but switched to a new, European-style alphanumeric nameplate strategy for its replacement ? and for the new models to follow. The problem is that the cache of the original products was lost and motorists became completely confused by the new names; was the new flagship the RL or TL was a frequently heard question.

?Internally, they believe that (name) change cost them $1.5 billion in lost sales,? says Peterson, who has worked with Acura strategists over the years to figure out how to regain lost momentum.

Compounding the situation, Acura faced a wave of new competitors, including the even more up-market Japanese upstarts Lexus and Infiniti, launched by Toyota and Nissan respectively, which looked at Acura as a ?case study,? says the analyst.

Acura seemed to be regaining its footing in the early days of the new Millennium with an assortment of products such as the downsized RDX crossover, sales climbing to a record 209,610 in 2005 and putting it within striking distance of the first-tier luxury brands.

The Detroit Bureau: VW to Build 261 mpg 2-seater

But then, industry observers suggest, the Honda subsidiary again shot itself in the foot with a series of new mistakes, such as the introduction of an oversized chrome grille shield that has been derisively dubbed the ?beak.?

The new RLX and upcoming MDX feature a significantly smaller version of that shiny proboscis, but Acura remains committed to the alphanumeric nameplate strategy despite senior officials admitting it still confuses many customers.

But they?re hoping that a broader product line that is receiving generally positive reviews will overcome such concerns. It should also help, said Accavitti, to have new products like the Acura RLX offered at prices ?$1000s less than comparably equipped competitors.?

In keeping with its roots, meanwhile, the new models will also put an emphasis on advanced technologies, from state-of-the-art infotainment systems to the electric Super-Handling All-Wheel-Drive Acura will launch in the coming year.

That technical mouthful, abbreviated as e-SH-AWD, is a hybrid drivetrain that can deliver excellent fuel economy in routine driving but transform a vehicle like the RLX into a serious performance machine when the driver stomps the throttle. The unusual layout, which uses a V-6 gas engine and three electric motors also can direct power to individual wheels to help improve handling in aggressive turns, a concept known as torque vectoring.

An even more aggressive version of the system will be the fast-beating heart of the NSX, which is expected to debut in late 2014 or early 2015, Acura officials hint.

The maker clearly needs the boost. Sales tumbled to just 105,723 in 2009, a notably sharper downturn that the overall U.S. automotive market. Last year, the maker posted a strong gain, but at 156,216 cars and crossovers it was still down nearly 25% from its all-time high.

The new year is off to a good start, January volume up about 13%, year-over-year, buoyed by other new models such as the entry-lux sedan the Acura ILX.

Acura still has some serious challenges to overcome, but the maker appears to be making inroads after what some have dubbed a lost decade. It helps to have new products at the top and bottom of the luxury range ? and a striking new NSX supercar in the offing that packs potential buyers in whenever it goes on display.

Copyright ? 2009-2012, The Detroit Bureau

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/business/acura-comes-roaring-back-nsx-supercar-1C8496355

mario manningham williams syndrome hoya casa de mi padre corned beef and cabbage diners drive ins and dives jeff who lives at home

Microsoft connects Apple, Facebook as target of Cyber Attack

Is it accurate?

Can you confirm that it is true?

Have you yourself verified some of the facts and observations in this story? If so, did you find that information to be correct? If not, are you confident that the information has been verified? To answer this question, you may want to do some of your own research, and look at how other publications covered this story. If you do not know anything about this topic and do not have time to research it, please do not answer this question.

Source: http://newstrust.net/stories/9139880/toolbar?ref=rss

dear john derrick rose torn acl pacers undrafted free agents braveheart earthquake california earthquake california

Saturday, February 23, 2013

Port Orchard, WA 2012 Nissan Altima Used Sedan Bremerton, WA Gig Harbor, WA Bruce Titus Port Orchard Ford for $18,999

  • Black
  • CC119922
  • 2.5L 4 cyls
  • 1N4AL2AP9CC119922
  • Continuously Variable (CVT)
  • 30,765 mi.
  • FWD Sedan (4 Door)

160393|4285

CARFAX# of Owners

160381|4285

?

  • Convenience

    • Tachometer
    • Power mirrors
    • Trip computer
    • Rear defogger
    • Cruise control
    • Air conditioning
    • Remote power door locks
    • Interior air filtration
    • External temperature display
    • Power windows with 1 one-touch
    • Speed-proportional power steering
    • Tilt and telescopic steering wheel
    • Overhead console - Mini with storage
    • Multi-function remote - Trunk/hatch/door
    • Center Console - Full with covered storage
  • Technical

    • 4 Doors
    • CVT Transmission
    • Front-wheel drive
    • Keyless Ignition - Ignition only
    • 2.5 liter inline 4 cylinder DOHC engine
    • Fuel economy EPA highway (mpg): 32 and EPA city (mpg): 23
  • Safety

    • Passenger Airbag
    • Stability control
    • 4-wheel ABS brakes
    • Traction control - ABS and driveline
    • Head airbags - Curtain 1st and 2nd row
  • Interior

    • Rear bench seats
    • Front seat type - Bucket
  • Exterior

    • Privacy/tinted glass
    • Intermittent window wipers
    • Speed sensitive window wipers
  • Not all issues are reported to CARFAX. The number of owners is estimated. See the full CARFAX Report for additional information and glossary of terms.

Payment $299.80

$18,999

$0

$18,999

10.0 %

0 %

100 %

8.0 %

0 %

12 %

72

12

72

?

Contact Us at (866) 996-6867

*The advertised price does not include sales tax, vehicle registration fees, finance charges, documentation charges, and any other fees required by law. We attempt to update this inventory on a regular basis. However, there can be lag time between the sale of a vehicle and the update of the inventory.

EPA mileage estimates are for newly manufactured vehicles only. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.

Before purchasing this vehicle, it is your responsibility to address any and all differences between information on this website and the actual vehicle specifications and/or any warranties offered prior to the sale of this vehicle. Vehicle data on this website is compiled from publicly available sources believed by the publisher to be reliable. Vehicle data is subject to change without notice. The publisher assumes no responsibility for errors and/or omissions in this data the compilation of this data and makes no representations express or implied to any actual or prospective purchaser of the vehicle as to the condition of the vehicle, vehicle specifications, ownership, vehicle history, equipment/accessories, price or warranties.

Source: http://www.olympiajeep.com/2012-Nissan-Altima-Port-Orchard-WA/vd/13589818

sopa and pipa bills censoring the internet blackout blackout congress censored jerry yang

Rush Limbaugh: Why is he 'ashamed' of US?

Rush Limbaugh, on his radio show Thursday, bemoaned how the political parties and media are portraying the impact of the automatic spending cuts that are set to take effect March 1.

By Peter Grier,?Staff writer / February 22, 2013

Conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh talks with guests in the East Room of the White House in January 2009.

Ron Edmonds/AP/File

Enlarge

Rush Limbaugh on his radio show Thursday said that for the first time in his life, he is ?ashamed? of his country. Why is Rushbo using such harsh language about the United States?

Skip to next paragraph Peter Grier

Washington Editor

Peter Grier is The Christian Science Monitor's Washington editor. In this capacity, he helps direct coverage for the paper on most news events in the nation's capital.

Recent posts

' + google_ads[0].line2 + '
' + google_ads[0].line3 + '

'; } else if (google_ads.length > 1) { ad_unit += ''; } } document.getElementById("ad_unit").innerHTML += ad_unit; google_adnum += google_ads.length; return; } var google_adnum = 0; google_ad_client = "pub-6743622525202572"; google_ad_output = 'js'; google_max_num_ads = '1'; google_feedback = "on"; google_ad_type = "text"; google_adtest = "on"; google_image_size = '230x105'; google_skip = '0'; // -->

Because the leadership of both political parties and the media are trying to sell the US on an over-the-top, untrue story about the allegedly dire effects of the coming ?sequester,? that?s why. At least we think that?s Mr. Limbaugh?s story.

?Ladies and gentlemen, for the first time in my life, I am ashamed of my country. To be watching all of this, to be treated like this, to have our common sense and intelligence insulted the way it?s being insulted? It just makes me ashamed,? said Limbaugh, according to a segment transcript posted on his website.

True, in recent days, the media have been full of stories from administration officials warning of the effects from the $1.2 trillion in automatic spending cuts known as sequestration, which is set to take effect March 1.

President Obama has talked about everything from effects on military readiness to delays at airports and closed sections of national parks. And GOP leaders have walked the thin line of insisting that big cuts in government spending remain necessary but sequestration would still be a bad thing.

?There is nothing wrong with cutting spending that much ? we should be cutting even more ? but the sequester is an ugly and dangerous way to do it,? wrote House Speaker John Boehner in a Wall Street Journal op-ed earlier this week.

Thus Limbaugh?s line: Watch out! The professional big-government class and its defenders are just scaring you so that Washington can keep spending more and more.

?Here they come, sucking us in, roping us in. Panic here, fear there: Crisis, destruction, no meat inspection, no cops, no teachers, no firefighters, no air-traffic control. I?m sorry, my days of getting roped into all this are over,? Rush said Thursday.

OK, notice anything in that quote? Such as ?no cops?? Yes, Limbaugh has set up an exaggerated straw man to build an outrage, and he can thump it with a rhetorical bat until it breaks apart in bits. Or something like that.

That doesn?t mean he?s without points here. Notice the reference earlier to $1.2 trillion in automatic cuts. That?s how much the cuts would amount to if they?re allowed to continue for a decade. Cuts the first year would be about $85 billion, according to Representative Boehner.

But Limbaugh also said this: ?Do you really think 800,000 people are gonna lose their jobs in the Pentagon because we cut $22 billion? Do you really think air-traffic control?s gonna shut down? Do you really think there aren?t gonna be any meat inspectors? Do you really think that all of these horror stories are going to happen? I don?t.?

He?s right the horror stories won?t happen, because nobody has said 800,000 Pentagon workers will lose their jobs. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta has said he?ll have to furlough that many Defense Department civilians if sequestration occurs, meaning that they will only be paid for working four days a week instead of five. So they?ll get a 20 percent reduction in pay, which isn?t fun. But it?s better than getting laid off.

Air-traffic control won?t shut. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has warned that travelers may face 90-minute delays at airports because of air-traffic restrictions. Meat inspectors will stay on the job, and so forth.

Yes, we know Limbaugh talks this way all the time, for calculated effect. He?s using it as a tool to try to make a larger point. Like many conservatives, he considers the federal government per se a huge, unproductive drag on the economy. But you?d be surprised how many people believe pretty much every word he says.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/Fp0Iabvp10A/Rush-Limbaugh-Why-is-he-ashamed-of-US

diane sawyer Cnn.com Colorado Marijuana Washington Election Results drudge report Presidential Election 2012 Incumbent

LaHood: Time for GOP to "wake up" to avoid "calamity" at airports (cbsnews)

Share With Friends: Share on FacebookTweet ThisPost to Google-BuzzSend on GmailPost to Linked-InSubscribe to This Feed | Rss To Twitter | Politics - Top Stories Stories, RSS Feeds and Widgets via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/286751079?client_source=feed&format=rss

etan patz obama dog doug hutchison larry brown thomas kinkade pat summit brewers