Monday 31 December 2012

Samsung Sells 10 Million Galaxy Devices in India


New Delhi: South Korean company Samsung Electronics today said it has sold more than 10 million Galaxy devices in the Indian market since the launch of the first Galaxy device, 'Galaxy S', in June 2010.


"Innovative devices like the Samsung Galaxy S, Galaxy SII and SIII, Galaxy Note, Galaxy Note 2 and Galaxy Y have caught the imagination of customers and helped us democratize the Smartphone experience in the Indian market," Samsung VP (Mobile) Asim Warsi told PTI.


More: Acer To Launch A Cheaper Android Tablet


This has helped Samsung sell more than 10 million Galaxy devices in the Indian market since June 2010, when the first Galaxy device was launched, he added.


The Galaxy series comprises a portfolio of devices like Galaxy Y (launched in October 2011), Galaxy SII (May 2011), Galaxy Tab (November 2011), Galaxy Tab 2 310 (May 2012) and Galaxy SIII.


Though the company declined to comment on individual contribution of a particular device, Galaxy Y series, Note series and SIII together contributed more than 50 percent of the sales.


"Through our series of consistent Smartphone launches, Samsung has fuelled the growth of the Smartphone market in India and has been a category leader since last year. Samsung's portfolio of 13 Galaxy devices in the Indian market are priced between Rs 6,790 to Rs 39,990," Warsi said.


According to CyberMedia Research (CMR) India Mobile Handsets Market Review, India shipments of mobile handsets were recorded at 102.43 million units during January-June 2012.


More: Samsung Unveils Galaxy Grand Smartphone


Of the Smartphone market of 5.50 million units, Samsung had a 41.6 percent share, while Nokia and Research in Motion had 19.2 percent and 12.1 percent share, respectively.


Source: PTI

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/si-techproduct/~3/-4BKHnrsOUk/Samsung-Sells-10-Million-Galaxy-Devices-in-India-nid-137407.html

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Wannabe policeman is illegally ripping off London comedy show posters

The bike, after the attack by the representative of The Law

The bike, after the attack by the representative of ?The Law?

In joke-telling, there is ?The Rule of Three?.

Sometimes, this spills over into real life and overlaps with the saying ?It never rains but it pours?.

In my blog three days ago, I mentioned that comedian Martin Soan had broken a rib in a bicycle accident and that a comedian who double-booked himself for two simultaneous shows had caused problems for Martin?s Pull The Other One comedy club in January.

In the last year, Pull The Other one has featured top comedy acts like Omid Djalili, Stewart Lee and Arthur Smith.

On Friday, as an end-of-year thankyou to locals, Pull The Other One staged a free comedy show in Nunhead, Peckham. As normal, Martin and Vivienne Soan publicised it widely locally ? as they have done for over five years ? with flyers and posters. Some of the posters were on bicycles which were ridden round the area.

The show was a success ? despite what appear to be illegal actions by a local wanna policeman.

To save money on paying the police, England and Wales are now blessed with cheaper ?Community Support Officers? to back-up the ?real? police. I suspect (with no evidence, m?lud) that these are often wanna policemen and wannabe policewomen with over-developed superiority complexes.

?It seems we now have a special constable,? Martin Soan told me yesterday, ?who has taken it upon himself to tear down our posters and most disturbingly rip them off our bikes? I?m not sure that?s within his powers or even if it?s legal.?

I would have thought it was most definitely not legal. This guardian of ?The Law? appears to have decided to remove a piece of private property attached to a private vehicle without the owner?s permission which I would think, in legal terms, must be pure vandalism and damaging private property ? perhaps even theft.

?This bloke,? says Martin, ?rides around on a bike with a ?Comunity Warden? sticker on it?. Am I within my rights to rip that off?? Or deface a Sainsbury?s lorry?? Or paint over shop signs?? He also told me that he would remove my bike if I put a poster on it again.?

The offensive poster for free comedy show

The offensive poster for a free comedy show

Martin?s wife Vivienne, who co-runs Pull The Other One, says: ?The community policeman has systematically taken down all our publicity, telling us that we are making money from free advertising at the council?s expense. He says we are no longer allowed to put our poster on local notice boards and even took down a poster from British Rail property on which we have placed posters over the last five years!?

To my mind, this seems to be, again, a case of the ?Community? wannabe policeman damaging private property which stands on private land and removing property without the owner?s permission.

An interesting mindset for a guardian of ?The Law?.

?Mind you,? Vivienne told me yesterday, ?it has saved Martin a job, as he usually takes down all the posters the day after the show. And Martin?s rib is obviously greatly improved, as he wants to punch the guy in the face !!!!!?

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Source: http://thejohnfleming.wordpress.com/2012/12/30/wannabe-policeman-is-illegally-ripping-off-london-comedy-show-posters/

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Vikings RB Peterson finishes 9 yards shy of record

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) ? Adrian Peterson's remarkable comeback season now has a magic number to punctuate it.

Peterson became the seventh player to rush for 2,000 yards in a season, plowing through the Green Bay Packers for a 20-yard gain that put him over the top in the third quarter Sunday. He finished with 199 yards and a touchdown in the 37-34 victory, leaving him nine yards shy of breaking Eric Dickerson's single-season record.

Peterson needed 208 yards when the day began to break Dickerson's record of 2,105 yards set in 1984. His 26-yard run late in the fourth quarter set up Blair Walsh's winning field goal, a kick that clinched a playoff berth for the Vikings. He'll have to settle for the second-best total ? 2,097 yards ? and a trip to Lambeau Field for a playoff rematch next week.

"Ultimately we got the 'W,'" Peterson said after carrying the ball a career-high 34 times. "We said during the week, if it happens, it happens. Don't focus on it."

Peterson came in 102 yards shy of joining O.J. Simpson, Dickerson, Barry Sanders, Terrell Davis, Jamal Lewis and Chris Johnson in the 2,000-yard club. Peterson is the only one to do it after reconstructive knee surgery.

The Vikings punted a few plays after Peterson's big run, and the crowd gave him a standing ovation when the achievement was announced. Peterson took it all in stride, waving politely, but otherwise not making anything special out of it in a game the Vikings needed to win to make the playoffs. He simply didn't have time to reflect on the long, arduous path it took for him to get there after tearing the ACL in his left knee.

It was only last December when Peterson crumpled to the turf in Washington, two ligaments torn, leaving many to wonder if his career would ever be the same.

Well, it hasn't been.

Peterson vowed from the very beginning to return better than ever from an injury that has ended the careers of so many before him. There weren't many believers, including in his own locker room.

But a combination of uncommon genetics, unshakable determination and a smart rehabilitation plan from Vikings athletic trainer Eric Sugarman had Peterson back in the starting lineup on opening day.

Peterson scored two touchdowns in the opener, but didn't top 100 yards in a game until Week 4 when he went for 102 against the Lions. As the season went on, the scar tissue in his knee started to break up and Peterson took off like a purple rocket.

His cuts are sharper, his vision better and his patience is making the difference between a 4-yard plunge through the line and a 40-yard dash down the sideline.

He went on a breathtaking eight-game run, amassing 1,313 yards and topping 200 yards twice in four games to vault into the MVP discussion and make 2,000 yards a possibility.

When asked this week to describe his running style in one word, Peterson replied: "Vicious."

That certainly sums it up.

He got off to a fast start with 61 yards and a touchdown on the first two drives, hearing chants of "MVP! MVP!" just before he surged into the end zone for a 7-yard score and a 10-0 Vikings lead. He also had runs of 12 and 21 yards early to get the Vikings going in this win-and-they're-in game.

The Vikings have followed Peterson's lead in what most observers expected to be a rebuilding year. Peterson has carried the offense on his broad shoulders, turning the Vikings into a throwback attack that relies almost exclusively on the run for its big plays.

With second-year quarterback Christian Ponder going through some highs and lows, and the Vikings missing top receiver Percy Harvin with an ankle injury, the passing offense has ranked last in the league. Peterson is averaging more yards per rush than Ponder does per pass and his seven rushes of 50 yards tied him with Sanders in 1997 for the NFL record.

All the while, Peterson has said he'd take the first postseason berth in three years over 2,000 yards any day. But it was no secret that the individual achievement was important to him.

Unlike baseball, the NFL has few numbers that immediately grab the public's attention. One of those is 2,000 yards, especially in this new pass-happy league. Peterson entered the game with 1,898 yards, more than 400 better than Seattle's Marshawn Lynch, who was in second place.

"I definitely want to keep the running backs highlighted," Peterson said this week. "It's started to turn into more of a spread, quarterback-friendly NFL. But just keep letting them know that there are going to be running backs that can do this."

___

Online: http://pro32.ap.org/poll and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/vikings-rb-peterson-finishes-9-yards-shy-record-010103385--nfl.html

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2013 NFL Draft: Kwame Geathers' decision doesn't hinge on coaching hire

Kwame Geathers won't worry about when, or whom, Georgia picks as its new defensive line coach when deciding whether or not he'll enter the 2013 NFL Draft.

Georgia Bulldogs defensive tackle Kwame Geathers is still undecided on whether or not he'll enter the 2013 NFL Draft, but says that his decision will be independent of who the team hires as its new defensive line coach, according to Marc Weiszer of the Athens Banner-Journal.

Defensive coordinator Todd Grantham has hinted that the hire could come soon after Georgia's meeting with the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the Capital One Bowl, but is still looking at several "quality candidates," he told Weiszer. Grantham is tasked with replacing former D-line coach Rodney Garner, who held the position for 15 years and coached All-American linemen Richard Seymour and David Pollock, in addition to current UGA standouts Geathers and John Jenkins, who will miss the Capital One Bowl after being ruled academically ineligible.

Geathers, a 6'6, 346-pound junior from Georgetown, S.C., has 37 tackles, five of which resulted in lost yardage, and one sack on the season.

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Source: http://atlanta.sbnation.com/georgia-ncaaf/2012/12/29/3814738/kwame-geathers-2013-nfl-draft-decison

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Sunday 30 December 2012

Rational units (Unqualified Offerings)

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Snoqualmie Real Estate: Move-Up Home Buying Opportunities in ...

This guest piece is by local real estate agent, Tony Gilbert, who originally wrote the article for his real estate website blog, The RealFX Group.? The interesting information highlights statistics currently seen in the Snoqualmie real estate market as it recovers from the housing market recession.? Although, Tony uses Snoqualmie Ridge real estate statistics for his article, the information might be useful for other Valley areas.

Currently own a smaller home at Snoqualmie Ridge and feeling a bit ?squeezed?? Thinking of buying a bigger house? Move-up home buyers have a great opportunity going into 2013 at Snoqualmie Ridge due to the VERY strong demand for homes priced at, or near $400,000, compared to the somewhat weaker demand for homes priced above $500,000.

To demonstrate the move-up opportunity compared to years past, let?s compare the number of sold homes on Snoqualmie Ridge in 2006 and 2012.

snoqualmie-ridge-sales-2006snoqualmie-ridge-sales-2012

Notice the statistics have completely flip-flopped. Affordability and loan qualification standards are among several reasons for this ? but many home buyers are now uncomfortable buying a larger home as in years past, unless they truly need the space. In 2012, it?s clear that the majority of home buyers in Snoqualmie Ridge were looking for homes priced at, or below $500,000, and this will likely continue into 2013. We do expect to see continued improvement in higher price brackets, but the rate of increase will obviously be slower.

By Comparison, Lower Priced Homes Often Sell at a Premium

I had a conversation today with a friend of mine who is a resident of Snoqualmie Ridge. She indicated their family would like to move into a larger home sometime in 2013. They own a smaller home in excellent condition which presently fits into a $375K ? $400K price range. With demand being exceptionally strong in that price range, they are in a prime position to both sell their current home at a potential premium (compared to other price ranges), and ?move-up? by buying a pre-owned home of $500K or greater at a potential ?discount? by comparison, since the pace of the market is clearly slower in the higher price brackets.

More Affordable Home Inventory Needed

Home buyers are looking on Snoqualmie Ridge in impressive numbers ? and they?re especially attracted to more affordable new construction. But, this is partly due to thelack of affordable resale homes for sale on The Ridge in a comparable price range ? roughly between $400,000 ? $475,000. For several months, new home builders have been filling the demand in this price range ? and building activity is picking-up steam as I write this. However, when a pre-owned home comes up for sale under $450,000, if it?s priced according to recent market activity, there should be strong buyer interest.

Margins for Negotiation Will Decrease in 2013-2014

All buyers looking for homes over $500K will find more homes to choose from, and likely a wider margin for negotiation. However, as more move-up buyers return to the market in 2013 and beyond, homes in the upper price ranges will also likely begin to enjoy increasing values. Accordingly, the window of opportunity for buyers to get the elusive ?good deal? is definitely shrinking.

Screen Shot 2012-12-29 at 10.08.18 AMAnthony Gilbert REALTOR? is a Real Estate Agent with Windermere Real Estate, serving the communities of Issaquah, Sammamish, southern Bellevue, Snoqualmie, North Bend & Fall City.?? Have other questions for Tony regarding the local real estate market?? You can contact him HERE.

Source: http://livingsnoqualmie.com/2012/12/29/snoqualmie-real-estate-move-up-home-buying-opportunities-in-2013/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=snoqualmie-real-estate-move-up-home-buying-opportunities-in-2013

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Good Measure 1.0 - A New Solitaire Game for iPad & iPhone from Sprightly

[prMac.com] Gibsons, BC, Canada - Sprightly Software has announced the release of Good Measure 1.0, the latest in Sprightly's series of solitaire games for iOS. Good Measure is a new, very challenging card game that is sure to give users hours of fun game play. Good Measure is one of the hardest solitaire games Sprightly Software has ever made. This game takes lots of planning and strategizing to overcome the difficult odds of winning.

Users can earn Game Center achievements while they play. Users work their way through the Rookie and Veteran ranks to become a Good Measure Solitaire Master!

Featuring:
* Large print high-definition graphics
* Intuitive game play
* 3 Game Center Achievements
* True-to-life card sound effects
* Fun winning animation
* Undo button with unlimited undos
* Mute button to disable sound effects
* Easy to understand instructions

Device Requirements:
* iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad
* Optimized to work on iPhone 5
* Requires iOS 4.3 or later
* 40.0 MB

Pricing and Availability:
Good Measure 1.0 sells for $1.99 (USD) and is available worldwide exclusively through the App Store in the Games category. This app makes a perfect holiday gift! Sprightly Software has eight other iOS solitaire games that are also available on the App Store.

Founded in 2009, Sprightly Software is a energetic, enterprising software developer based on the Sunshine Coast in British Columbia, Canada that develops business, entertainment, and design software for iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, and Mac. Copyright (C) 2009-2012 Sprightly Software. All Rights Reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, iPhone, iPod, iPad and Macintosh are registered trademarks of Apple Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries.

###



Source: http://prmac.com/release-id-52982.htm

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Web-based info may not increase cancer screening

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Offering women information on colon cancer screening via the web does not get them to take up screening any more effectively than printed materials, according to a new study.

"It's disappointing that the web didn't have more effect," said Dr. David Weinberg of Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, the report's lead author.

Although the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that adults between ages 50 and 75 get screened regularly for colorectal cancer, about 40 percent of people don't follow those guidelines.

To raise awareness of the recommendations and encourage people to go get screened, researchers have developed a variety of approaches, Weinberg said, including videos and printed materials. But none of these "have been tremendously successful," he added.

Dr. Hemant Roy, director of gastroenterology research at NorthShore University HealthSystem in Evanston, Illinois, said one method that has been shown to be effective is simply having doctors spend time with their patients to talk about the cancer tests.

"But one of the issues is they have to see more and more people with less and less time, so it gets really hard to have these discussions with patients," said Roy, who was not involved in the new study.

To see whether the web might provide an easily accessible and inexpensive alternative for getting people to comply with screening recommendations, Weinberg and his colleagues asked 865 women who were coming in for routine gynecology appointments to participate in the study.

Of those, 171 saw their doctor as normal, 349 also received printed materials about colon cancer screening at the time of their visit and 345 were offered access to a web site that contained the same information as the printed matter.

Included in the materials was information about the benefits of screening and harms of going unscreened, as well as background on the various types of colon cancer screen available: a stool test once a year, a sigmoidoscopy every five years or a colonoscopy every 10 years.

All the women were eligible to get screened for colon cancer based on their age and health status.

Four months after the doctor visit, however, roughly 12 percent of the women - regardless of whether they received the extra information or not - had gotten a colon cancer screen.

Roy called the numbers "dismal."

"At the end of the day, something is better than nothing," he said, but compared to screening rates for breast cancer, the uptake for colorectal cancer screening was quite low.

Among the women in the study, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, 73 percent had received a mammogram in the past year.

On the other hand, Weinberg said, "you might argue their participation in the study did manage to raise their interest level enough" to get screened.

Not enough, however, to get most of the women to even access the website Weinberg's group had developed.

Only 24 percent had logged on, according to the researchers' records, and just 16 percent of the women remembered going to the website.

Weinberg still thinks there might be ways that the web could be helpful.

"I think that the web has great promise...the question is, how do you get people to look at it in the first place?" he said.

Perhaps following up with people to ask them about their experience on the website might improve their participation, he suggested.

Roy agreed that it would be premature to toss out the web as a potential tool for increasing screening rates.

"It seems like the energy to get people over the hump to get colorectal screening is higher than simply passively going to a website. I think the website is maybe helpful, but there needs to be more help to get them over the edge," he said.

SOURCE: http://bit.ly/VizaRR Archives of Internal Medicine, online December 17, 2012.

(This Dec. 26 story was corrected to fix the spelling of Hemant Roy in the fourth paragraph)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/based-may-not-increase-cancer-screening-190236910.html

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Haiti travel warning issued by US due to violent crimes

By The Associated Press

The State Department has issued a revised Haiti travel advisory, warning Americans planning to travel to the Caribbean island nation about robbery, lawlessness, infectious disease and poor medical facilities.

"U.S. citizens have been victims of violent crime, including murder and kidnapping, predominantly in the Port-au-Prince area. No one is safe from kidnapping, regardless of occupation, nationality, race, gender, or age," the department said.

The new travel warning was released Friday to replace a less strongly worded advisory issued in June.


In recent months, travelers arriving in Port-au-Prince, the capital and largest city, on flights from the United States have been attacked and robbed after leaving the airport. This year, at least two U.S. citizens were shot and killed in robbery and kidnapping incidents, the State Department said.

"Haitian authorities have limited capacity to deter or investigate such violent acts, or prosecute perpetrators," the department said.

The State Department also noted that while the incidents of cholera have declined, the disease persists in many areas of Haiti. Medical facilities, including ambulance services, are particularly weak.

"Thousands of U.S. citizens safely visit Haiti each year, but the poor state of Haiti's emergency response network should be carefully considered when planning travel. Travelers to Haiti are encouraged to use organizations that have solid infrastructure, evacuation, and medical support options in place," the department said.

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? 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/29/16235370-haiti-travel-warning-issued-by-us-after-kidnappings-killings?lite

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Physicists creates 'recipe book' for building new materials

Dec. 28, 2012 ? By showing that tiny particles injected into a liquid crystal medium adhere to existing mathematical theorems, physicists at the University of Colorado Boulder have opened the door for the creation of a host of new materials with properties that do not exist in nature.

The findings show that researchers can create a "recipe book" to build new materials of sorts using topology, a major mathematical field that describes the properties that do not change when an object is stretched, bent or otherwise "continuously deformed." Published online Dec. 23 in the journal Nature, the study also is the first to experimentally show that some of the most important topological theorems hold up in the real material world, said CU-Boulder physics department Assistant Professor Ivan Smalyukh, a study senior author.

The research could lead to upgrades in liquid crystal displays, like those used in laptops and television screens, to allow them to interact with light in new and different ways. One possibility is to create liquid crystal displays that are even more energy efficient, Smalyukh said, extending the battery life for the devices they're attached to.

The research was funded in part by Smalyukh's Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, which he received from President Barack Obama in 2010. And the research supports the goals laid out by the White House's Materials Genome Initiative, Smalyukh said, which seeks to deploy "new advanced materials at least twice as fast as possible today, at a fraction of the cost."

Smalyukh, postdoctoral researcher Bohdan Senyuk, and doctoral student Qingkun Liu set up the experiment by creating colloids -- solutions in which tiny particles are dispersed, but not dissolved, throughout a host medium. Colloids are common in everyday life and include substances such as milk, jelly, paint, smoke, fog and shaving cream.

For this study, the physicists created a colloid by injecting tiny particles into a liquid crystal -- a substance that behaves somewhat like a liquid and somewhat like a solid. The researchers injected differently shaped particles that represent fundamental building-block shapes in topology. That means each of the particles is distinct from the others and one cannot be turned into the other without cutting or gluing. Objects that look differently can still be considered the same in topology if one can be turned into the other by stretching or bending -- types of "continuous deformations."

In the field of topology, for example, an object shaped like a donut and an object shaped like a coffee cup are treated the same. That's because a donut shape can be "continuously deformed" into a coffee cup by indenting one side of the donut. But a donut-shaped object cannot be turned into a sphere or a cylinder because the hole in the donut would have to be eliminated by "gluing" the sides of the donut back together or by "cutting" the side of the donut.

Once injected into a liquid crystal, the particles behaved as predicted by topology. "Our study shows that interaction between particles and molecular alignment in liquid crystals follows the predictions of topological theorems, making it possible to use these theorems in designing new composite materials with unique properties that cannot be encountered in nature or synthesized by chemists," Smalyukh said. "These findings lay the groundwork for new applications in experimental studies of low-dimensional topology, with important potential ramifications for many branches of science and technology."

The study was co-authored by Sailing He of Zhejiang University in China; Randall Kamien and Tom Lubensky of the University of Pennsylvania, and Robert Kusner of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of Colorado at Boulder.

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


Journal Reference:

  1. Bohdan Senyuk, Qingkun Liu, Sailing He, Randall D. Kamien, Robert B. Kusner, Tom C. Lubensky, Ivan I. Smalyukh. Topological colloids. Nature, 2012; DOI: 10.1038/nature11710

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/_buPorzyybE/121228133734.htm

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Saturday 29 December 2012

Obama Still Hopeful in Final Days Before 'Cliff'

Three days remain for Congress to pass a federal budget agreement that would avoid the so-called "fiscal cliff" and today President Obama said he believes the House and Senate leadership can squeak out a deal in time.

In his weekly address, released this morning, the president said allowing the package of perilous tax increases and budget cuts set to take effect in the New Year "would be the wrong thing to do for our economy."

"Congress can prevent it from happening if they act now," he said. "Leaders in Congress are working on a way to prevent this tax hike on the middle class, and I believe we may be able to reach an agreement that can pass both houses in time."

The president was referring to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who were attempting to quickly fashion a deal that can pass both chambers of Congress. Although not mentioned specifically in the video, the two leaders and their House counterparts, Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, and Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., met with the president and his staff at the White House Friday that left both parties' leadership cautiously optimistic in public statements following the meeting.

INFOGRAPHIC: Fiscal Cliff: Why It Matters

Largely repeating remarks he made following the meeting, the president noted that should the last-minute wrangling fail he has asked Reid to deliver a basic proposal to the Senate floor for a simple up-or-down vote.

"We believe such a proposal could pass both houses with bipartisan majorities -as long as these leaders allow it to come to a vote. If they still want to vote no and let this tax hike hit the middle class, that's their prerogative - but they should let everyone vote. That's the way this is supposed to work," he said. "We just can't afford a politically self-inflicted wound to our economy."

Reid's backup legislation would reflect the Democrats' side in this quagmire, demanding a tax boost for household incomes greater than $250,000 and an extension of unemployment benefits for roughly 2 million Americans that is set to expire without their reauthorization.

Fiscal Cliff: By The Numbers

"You meet your deadlines and your responsibilities every day," Obama said. "The folks you sent here to serve should do the same."

The president's statement came a day before what could be a critical turning point in the "cliff" ordeal. On Sunday, the House of Representatives returns from holiday recess, the same day McConnell and Reid could offer up a hypothetical deal for a vote. Meanwhile, NBC's "Meet the Press" will air a televised interview with Obama that morning.

Also Read

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/president-obama-still-hopeful-final-days-cliff-110211610--abc-news-politics.html

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travel & leisure: Super Camping Suggestions For Making A Great Trip

Going camping? Stay tuned for some information about a few of the challenges you may encounter. Although in general camping is pretty simple and safe, it is still important to take some time to prepare yourself for such an adventure. Keep reading for smart tips.

You should be sure you have survival and first aid kits. These can be useful for any situation and can extend your trip. Your kit can also prevent situations from becoming worse and make it easier to get an individual in need to safety. Always make sure that your cell phone is with you when you get to your campsite, and it should be fully charged. You might want to bring an extra battery as well just in case your original runs low. A cell phone will be your best friend in the event of an emergency, so keep it charged and available.

Bring some entertaining items for your trip. Of course, if you bring too many electronics, you may defeat the purpose of the trip, but there is nothing better than sitting beside a lake reading, or listening to music beside a camp fire at night. Bring duct tape with you since it can help you in many situations. This can help to seal and protect your tent and even protect your body.

Duct tape is a valuable item to carry for many different situations. You can use to help seal leaks and rips and hold together important things that break. It can hold your shoes together if they fall apart, and you can even use it in case of emergencies for a temporary bandage or sling. Be certain you are prepared for any event when you're camping. While it's crucial to plan ahead for things, sometimes things don't go according to plan. Weather can change, situations can arise, injuries or illness can strike. Try not to take unnecessary risks that can yield injury or illness. Remember that you, your possessions and your family members are inevitably going to get dirty. Don't stress out when it inevitably happens. Enjoy your time and don't afraid to be messy. You can go back to normal when you go home.

Take some preventative steps in order to avoid inadvertently draining the batteries in your flashlights during your next camping adventure. You can easily press the "on" switch on a flashlight when digging in your camping bag. To prevent draining the batteries, place them in your flashlight backwards. That way, the flashlight cannot possibly drain the batteries if the ON button is bumped. Carry a handkerchief or bandanna while camping. This single fabric piece can be used as a carrying bag, hand towel, paper towel, potholder, and blotter. As you can see, a handkerchief can serve many different purposes on a camping trip.

Before you head out on a long camping expedition, pack and then unpack your bags a few times first. This way, you can find the way that all of your gear fits into the bags and help reduce the chances that you have forgotten to pack anything. Bring along an emergency survival kit, and keep it on you for the duration of your camping trip. A survival kit should include items like a flare gun, matches that are waterproof, a knife and other items you think you may need. For any life threatening situation, these items may be the only thing standing between you and disaster. Your kit should not be left behind at the camp site, but should be carried with you wherever you go.

Consult your physician if you plan to go camping with a significant medical issue. There could be issues that you aren't aware of. You may need to take some extra precautions that you didn't consider. Duct tape is an interesting item to be included in your inventory while camping. It is nearly as useful while camping as it is around the house. You can slap a piece of it on a leaking air mattress. Also, it can help to seal any tears, which can make your item usable for the duration of your trip. If you plan to take a long hike, be sure to place some on feet to avoid developing blisters. In a pinch, it can even serve as a bandage for injuries. Figure out how to use a compass and read a map in advance. Even if you are familiar with your intended campsite, you could still get lost because many areas look the same. This skill can potentially save your life.

A utility knife can serve you well on your camping trip. The versatility of a utility knife makes it priceless when you are out camping. Bring one to slip into your pocket and throw a backup knife into your bag. You never know when your utility knife will come in handy!

Though you should already understand this, you are a visitor to natural surroundings. Do not leave your campsite filthy or throw trash around. When you're done camping, leave your campsite looking as it did before you got there. If you respect nature, it will last for years. When you go camping, check to be sure there are restrooms available. There might not be a portable toilet. All you need is a secluded area to relieve yourself. Always pack enough toilet paper, or you may learn about leaves the hard way.

An orange peel can help to avoid insect bites. Don't worry if you forget the bug spray. Seasoned campers suggest that you can rub your skin with the inside of an ripe orange peel. Mosquitoes hate the smell and will fly away for a few good hours; and you will be free of the nuisance. Camping is a timeless pastime, popular with people of all ages. You can make your next camping trip pleasurable for all who participate when you have the right knowledge. After reading this article, you now have insights for how to make the most of your next camping trip.

Source: http://bidding-travel.blogspot.com/2012/12/super-camping-suggestions-for-making.html

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Source: http://jurassic-snippy.blogspot.com/2012/12/travel-leisure-super-camping.html

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India rape victim in Singapore; PM pledges action

NEW DELHI (AP) ? Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh pledged Thursday to take action to protect the nation's women while the young victim of a gang rape on a New Delhi bus was flown to Singapore for treatment of severe internal injuries.

The Dec. 16 rape and brutal beating of the 23-year-old student triggered widespread protests, including a march on Thursday, demanding a government crackdown on the daily harassment Indian women face, ranging from groping to severe violence. Some protesters have called for the death penalty or castration for rapists, who under current laws face a maximum punishment of life in prison.

Rape victims rarely press charges because of social stigma and fear they will be accused of inviting the attack. Many women say they structure their lives around protecting themselves and their daughters from attack.

Singh's government set up two committees in response to the protests. One, looking into speeding up sexual assault trials, has already received 6,100 email suggestions. The second will examine what lapses might have contributed to the rape ? which took place on a moving bus that passed through police checkpoints ? and suggest measures to improve women's safety.

"Let me state categorically that the issue of safety and security of women is of the highest concern to our government," Singh said at a development meeting. He urged officials in India's states to pay special attention to the problem.

"There can be no meaningful development without the active participation of half the population, and this participation simply cannot take place if their security and safety is not assured," he said.

The rape victim arrived in Singapore on an air ambulance Thursday and was admitted to the intensive care unit of the Mount Elizabeth hospital, renowned for multi-organ transplant facilities.

On Thursday night she remained in "extremely critical condition" as a team of specialists worked to stabilize her, Dr. Kelvin Loh, the hospital's chief executive officer, said in a statement. Before arriving in Singapore, she had already undergone three abdominal surgeries and suffered cardiac arrest, he said.

India's Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said in a statement that the government, which is funding and overseeing the victim's treatment, had decided to send her abroad on the recommendation of her doctors.

"Despite the best efforts of our doctors, the victim continues to be critical and her fluctuating health remains a big cause of concern to all of us," he said.

Her family was also being sent to Singapore to be with her during her treatment, which could last weeks, he said.

Meanwhile, hundreds of protesters demanding safer public transportation for women and the resignation of Delhi's police commissioner tried to march to the major India Gate traffic circle in central Delhi before being stopped by police in riot gear manning barricades. Protesters carried signs reading, "Immediately end rape culture in India" and "Zero tolerance of violence against women."

Protests have shut down the center of the capital for days since the rape. Police quashed some of the demonstrations with tear gas, water cannons and baton charges.

One police officer died Tuesday after collapsing during a weekend protest. Police said an autopsy showed the officer had a heart attack that could have been caused by injuries suffered during violence at the protest. An Associated Press journalist at the scene said the officer was running toward the protesters with a group of police when he collapsed on the ground and began frothing at the mouth and shaking. Two protesters rushed to the officer to try to help him. Police charged eight people with murder in the death of the policeman.

Police said the rape victim was traveling on the evening of Dec. 16 with a male friend on a bus when they were attacked by six men who gang-raped her and beat the couple with iron rods before stripping them and dumping them on a road. All six suspects in the case have been arrested, police said.

Also Thursday, Ratanjit Singh, a junior minister in the home ministry, said the government would create a database of convicted rapists and publish it, along with their photos, on the ministry website to shame them, according to the Press Trust of India.

___

Associated Press reporter Heather Tan contributed reporting from Singapore and Saurabh Das contributed from New Delhi.

___

Follow Ravi Nessman at twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ravinessman

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/india-rape-victim-singapore-pm-pledges-action-114553062.html

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A solution to this scourge in our society - Guyana Times International ...

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Source: http://www.guyanatimesinternational.com/?p=22738

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Self-Improvement Chapter 1: The Addiction of Depression ...

Posted by support | Posted in Life transformation stories | Posted on 28-12-2012-05-2008

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I just talk about the difficulties behind being depressed and being too familiar with being depressed. There is a way to become addicted to the feeling of depression, and it?s as hard to deal with as any street drug.

Read the original: Self-Improvement Chapter 1: The Addiction of Depression

Source: http://massivevaluegiveaway.com/blog/life-transformation-stories/self-improvement-chapter-1-the-addiction-of-depression/

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Source: http://ibuniv.posterous.com/self-improvement-chapter-1-the-addiction-of-d

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Applicant-Initiated Interviews at Tuck School of Business | Stacy ...

Tuck School of BusinessDid you know that Dartmouth?s Tuck School of Business offers applicants the chance to initiate an interview with admissions? Unlike it?s peer schools, which typically maintain an invitation-only policy, Tuck?s Open Interview Policy means that any applicant who wants to visit the school and interview with the admissions committee may do so.

In a video message posted to the Tuck School website, Director of Admissions Dawna Clarke explains that interviews are so helpful for the admissions committee in order to assess those valuable interpersonal skills, team skills, leadership skills, and of course, communication skills.

Applicants want the opportunity to be heard, and Tuck is proud to be able to offer that opportunity to any applicant who requests it, Clarke says, noting that ?An interview really helps us get a sense of your personality and softer skills that are a little harder to assess on the basis of a written application.?

The interviews are with either second-year students or a member of the admissions committee, and applicants have the opportunity to sit in on a class, have lunch with a second-year student, tour the facilities, and participate in an information session with an AdCom member during their visit.

For applicants unable to visit Tuck and take advantage of the open interview option, Clarke says that they would need to briefly explain the reason on their application and wait for the admissions committee invitation to interview, which is issued after an initial review of a candidate?s application.

According to Tuck, on-campus interviews are conducted by admissions committee members and selected second-year students. Off-campus interviews are conducted by admissions committee members, admissions associates, or alumni interviewers. All interviews are evaluated equally, regardless of interviewer, location, or how initiated.

Applicants should note that with the exception of the January round, interviews must be completed by the published deadline for the round in which you are applying. Because the January round deadline is 1/3/13, the applicant-initiated interview deadline is January 31st.

Source: http://www.stacyblackman.com/2012/12/27/applicant-initiated-interviews-at-tuck-school-of-business/

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Friday 28 December 2012

Sony Stops Shipping PlayStation 2 Consoles to ... - Geekosystem

People, people, please, we all knew this day was coming eventually. 13 years after making its debut in Japan in 2000 and becoming the most overwhelmingly popular game system of that decade, Sony is no longer shipping PlayStation 2 units to Japanese retailers. It?s definitely the end of an era in the gaming industry, but take solace in the fact that not since the olden days of the original Nintendo Entertainment System has a video game console endured for so long.

Though the PS2 will soon become a relic of the past, the game system is leaving behind a commendable legacy: Nearly 22 million units sold domestically within Japan and over 150 million units sold worldwide. That?s a whole lot of people playing Final Fantasy X and Katamari Damacy.

Sony ceasing production of the PS2 hasn?t stopped developers from creating games for the retired system, however. Among other titles, Square Enix is currently working on an expansion for Final Fantasy XI entitled Seekers of Adoulin, expected to be released sometime in 2013 as a Japanese exclusive. Sure, it?s an MMO, but it totally still counts.

(Famitsu via Polygon, image via PseudoGil)

Relevant to your interests

Source: http://www.geekosystem.com/sony-stops-shipping-ps2/

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Nissan upgrades US Leaf warranties, will 'restore' batteries that lose too much charge

Nissan Leaf to go farther and cost less in 2013

Nissan has thrown down the warranty gauntlet to other EV makers by announcing it would be the first to "restore" battery capacity if a Leaf's full charge fell below 9 out of 12 "bars" within 5 years or 60k miles. The new clause was announced by VP Andy Palmer and will go into effect in spring of next year on all models, including those sold in 2011 and 2012. The company stressed it would only "repair or replace the battery under warranty with a new or remanufactured unit to restore capacity at or above a minimum of nine bars," and not a full charge -- saying a gradual, but not excessive loss of charge was normal. Nissan added that it'd look to improve the accuracy of the battery gauge, since the aforementioned bars on the dash were computer managed and not exactly scientific. All of this applies to US-only vehicles for now, but similar policies will soon be applied worldwide, according to the statement. So, if you've been starting to get range anxiety, check the PR below for all the details.

Continue reading Nissan upgrades US Leaf warranties, will 'restore' batteries that lose too much charge

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Via: Autoblog Green

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/28/nissan-will-now-restore-leafs-battery-charge/

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AP: Hanabusa, Schatz, Kiaaina HI Senate finalists (The Arizona Republic)

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Netflix Confirms It Will Add Social Sharing Features In 2013, Once Obama Signs New Bill

NetflixBuilding4Netflix has confirmed to Talking Points Memo that it will introduce social sharing features for U.S. users in 2013, following the passage of a bill that will make it easier for users of the on-demand video streaming platform to share what movies they have seen with friends on their social networking accounts. The legislation, passed last week, just needs President Obama's signature.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/ecs4qtzXhaM/

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Thursday 27 December 2012

California meteorite reveals secrets thanks to crowdsourcing (+video)

Recently published research describes a collection of meteorite pieces that landed in California in April. The study came about through a group effort dubbed "crowdsourcing" by the lead scientist. ??

By Elizabeth Howell,?Space.com / December 20, 2012

Barely eight months after a fireball lit up California and Nevada skies, the first scientific paper is out examining the meteorites it left behind.

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"It was done very quickly," said Peter Jenniskens, a meteor researcher who suddenly found himself managing a small army of volunteers when the Sutter's Mill meteor broke up April 22.

Dozens of scientists jumped to Jenniskens' aid as he?searched for meteorite fragments. But less publicized will be the volunteers who phoned in reports of meteorites, or sent in?pictures and video of the fireball?by e-mail.

Jenniskens' team?commandeered an airship?to search for fragments. Meanwhile, the team caught a lucky break ? Doppler radar information from nearby weather stations showed the track of the meteorite. Adding this data to the pictures and video sent in by volunteers, the scientists could reconstruct the impacting asteroid's early history. [Photos: Fireball Drops Meteorites On California]

According to Jenniskens, the paper, to be published Friday (Dec. 21) in the journal Science,?was made possible by the mass crowdsourcing effort that enabled a large amount of data to be collected in a short time.

"It's all very important, and it's fantastic how this came together," said Jenniskens, a meteor astronomer at the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI). "For me, it was personally very exciting."

Peeling back the years

The Sutter's Mill meteorite turned out to be a rare type ? a?carbonaceous chondrite?that contains information about the early stages of the solar system. The meteorite pieces originated in a space rock that was perhaps as much as 3.3 yards (3 meters) across.

A space rock is called an asteroid or meteoroid until it hits the Earth's atmosphere. The resulting fireball is then called a meteor until it hits the ground, at which point it is dubbed a meteorite.

The asteroid that would later impact California orbited the sun in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, making about three trips around our star in the time it takes Jupiter to orbit once. Such a ratio, known as a resonance, is common in the solar system ? some of?Jupiter's moons are in resonance?with each other, for example.

The asteroid's resonance was a little "off" from a perfect 3 to 1 ratio. At some point, Jupiter's strong gravity muscled the asteroid out of its normal orbit and sent it on a trip to the inner solar system. This pushed the asteroid into a new orbit that brought it in as far as Mercury's orbit when it got closest to the sun.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/science/~3/2uF_M25U_-Y/California-meteorite-reveals-secrets-thanks-to-crowdsourcing-video

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Social Media Trends from the Nielsen Social Media Report 2012

Last updated 1 hour 14 minutes ago

Nielsen?s State of the Media: The Social Media Report 2012 reflects on various social media trends of 2012, as well as the potential impact they will have on the coming year. There is no denying that social media is more popular than ever with consumers, and that having a social media presence is critical for SMBs? online marketing strategies in 2013.? Here are a few highlights from the report.

Mobile Usage Is Not Slowing Down

As you might have guessed, the amount of time consumers spent on PCs and Smartphones increased between July 2011 and July 2012.? Time spent on these devices grew by 21%, while time on apps rose 120% in that same period.? While PCs still remain our primary source of Internet access, the usage of mobile Web and apps are increasing at a significant rate. Small businesses can?t afford to ignore mobile any longer, and should invest in mobile-friendly advertising and sites to reach this growing audience.?

Time Spent on Social Networks Grew 37%.

From July 2011 to July 2012, the time consumers spent on social media sites grew from 88.4B minutes to a whopping 121.1B minutes. Nielsen attributes this substantial growth in part to the rise of mobile apps, which enable us to stay connected to our favorite sites while on the go. In fact, we spent seven times more minutes on apps than on the mobile Web. Time spent on these sites means social media access is not only on the rise, but also that we are more engaged when we do visit them. For small businesses, this means being active on social media is more important than ever in order to reach consumers spending a large portion of their time there.?

Consumers Value Social Customer Service

For more and more consumers, social care, also known as social customer service, is becoming an increasingly important, and valuable social media trend for SMBs to leverage. Nielsen reports that one in three social media users prefer social care to contacting a company by phone. That means that more consumers are using social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and the company blog to reach out to businesses and brands in the hope of resolving a customer service issue. SMBs are not immune to this trend, and many will see an influx of customer complaints through these channels, which can impact their online reputation. As a result, it?s vital for businesses to monitor their social media pages regularly and respond to customer questions, complaints, and more as soon as possible.?

As we?ve seen throughout the year, mobile and social media continue to top consumers? online behavior. And as 2012 winds down, it?s important for small businesses to think about whether they have successfully taken advantage of some of these social media trends, and how they can incorporate them in the future. You can read the entire Nielsen social media report here.?

How do mobile and social media fit into your online marketing strategy? Let us know in the comments!

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About the Author

Tamara?Weintraub?helps equip small business owners with information about local online advertising, social media, and content marketing as a writer for?the?ReachLocal?blog.

Source: http://blog.reachlocal.com/616785/2012/12/26/social-media-report-2012-top-trends-smbs-need-to-know.html

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Chicago parking meters will be US's most expensive (Providence Journal)

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The Pope Isn't Likely to Get His Christmas Wish for Peace This Year

During his annual Christmas address at the Vatican this year, the Pope prayed for peace in Syria, something that doesn't look likely any time soon. Pope Benedict XVI specifically called for an end to the violence on Syria's "defenseless" people, who have been caught in the middle of the fighting throughout this conflict. Like two days ago, for example, when Syrian troops bombed a line of people waiting for bread, during a food shortage the civil war has brought. "I appeal for an end to the bloodshed, easier access for the relief of refugees and the displaced, and dialogue in the pursuit of a political solution to the conflict," he said, also asking?for "freedom" in China.?

RELATED: The Assad Family Tradition

In addition to the increasing violence, recent peace efforts have failed. The special U.N. envoy that met with President Bashar al-Assad yesterday reported no progress in halting the conflict, report The Los Angeles Times's?Ned Parker and Lava Selo. And unfortunately, sources described it to?The New York Times's Kareem Fahim and Hala Droub?as a "final proposal" to end the conflict, leaving Assad now to decide his fate for himself. No matter the path he chooses, that sounds like a bloody end, too, as The New York Times's?Anne Barnard and Hwaida Saad?describe it.

RELATED: Five Best Friday Columns

He can either stay, and fight for his cause, which leads to more of what we've seen, as the conflict has escalated. (Including possible gas-attacks.) If he tries to escape, it doesn't look likely that he will make it out without capture from either side. His own generals will want him to rally troops. Or, it could go the other way, and he will face death at the hands of his people. As Assad plots his next move, however, it doesn't look like the "defenseless" people will get respite from war, with reports of the?bloodshed continuing.?

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/pope-isnt-likely-christmas-wish-peace-150900455.html

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Lakers beat Knicks 100-94 to get to .500

Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, right, shoots against New York Knicks center Tyson Chandler, left, during the second half of their NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2012. The Lakers won 100-94. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, right, shoots against New York Knicks center Tyson Chandler, left, during the second half of their NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2012. The Lakers won 100-94. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, left, is fouled by New York Knicks guard J.R. Smith, right, as forward Carmelo Anthony, center, watches during the first half of their NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2012. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

Los Angeles Lakers guard Steve Nash (10) drives between New York Knicks guards Jason Kidd (5) and Raymond Felton (2) during the first half of their NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2012. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) shoots a reverse lay up between New York Knicks center Tyson Chandler, left, and forward Carmelo Anthony, right, during the first half of their NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2012. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

New York Knicks center Tyson Chandler (6) battles Los Angeles Lakers forward Pau Gasol (16), of Spain, for a rebound during the first half of their NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2012. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

(AP) ? The pieces of the puzzle that have been the Lakers' confounding season so far are starting to fall into place.

Kobe Bryant engineered a second-half comeback, the defense stepped up, and Los Angeles beat the New York Knicks 100-94 on Tuesday, extending its winning streak to five games.

"We're .500," a smiling Dwight Howard said. "We did it on Christmas, too. I knew this day would come."

Bryant scored 34 points in his NBA-record 15th Christmas Day game and Metta World Peace added 20 points and seven rebounds while defending Carmelo Anthony, whose 34 points led the Knicks. Anthony said he hyperextended his left knee, but expects to play on Wednesday in Phoenix.

Bryant, the league's leading scorer, has topped 30 or more points in nine straight games.

"If you're going to play on Christmas, it's always better to win. Makes it all worthwhile," said Bryant, who would soon hop a flight to Denver, getting there ahead of the Nuggets, who played the Clippers in the other half of the holiday doubleheader at Staples Center.

The Lakers improved to 14-14 ? 9-9 under new coach Mike D'Antoni ? and upped their holiday record to 21-18, including 13-9 at home. They returned to .500 for the first time since they were 8-8 on Nov. 30.

"It's so early in the season to have turned a corner," Bryant said. "We have everybody in the lineup and we're starting to see how we want to play."

The Knicks controlled most of the game behind Anthony and J.R. Smith, who had 24 points. But they struggled offensively in the fourth, when Anthony was limited to seven points and Smith had five as the Lakers' defense clamped down. World Peace fouled out with 1:58 to play and the Lakers ahead by four.

World Peace credited his defense on Anthony to "old-school basketball."

"I'm back in shape and it's a little tough to guard me," he said.

Steve Nash said: "This is what he's been doing all year. He gets his hands on a lot of balls, pounds on the other team's best guy. You can't win without that type of effort."

Smith's 3-pointer pulled New York to 96-94. After Pau Gasol made one of two free throws, Smith missed another 3 that would have tied the game at 97 with 32 seconds left.

"We missed a lot of easy shots, a lot of little chippers around the basket, shots that we normally make," Anthony said. "There were some plays that we thought should have went our way down the stretch, but for the most part, we fought. I'll take this effort any night. If we continue to play with this effort, we'll win a lot of games."

With Bryant double-teamed, Nash passed to Gasol, who dunked with 12 seconds to go, punctuating a win that sent Lakers fans, frustrated by the team's struggles and coaching change, home happy. The Lakers avenged a 116-107 loss in New York on Dec. 13.

A smiling Howard called Gasol's driving slam "a submarine dunk because he was very low to the ground."

Gasol responded, "I don't dunk as often as I used to so it felt good. I took it right down the lane and finished strong."

Nash had 16 points, 11 assists and six rebounds in his second game in nearly two months. He missed 24 straight games while recovering from a small fracture in his lower left leg. Howard had 14 points and 12 rebounds, and Gasol had 13 points and eight rebounds.

"It was an important win for us as we were a little bit desperate," Nash said. "We've gone through a lot since Mike Brown ? new coach, new offense. It's been a difficult transition."

Bryant had eight of the Lakers' first 10 points to open the fourth during a run that provided their first lead since the opening quarter in a game matching the two teams that have played the most on Christmas Day.

They took the lead for good on Bryant's basket with 7:38 remaining. Anthony and Tyson Chandler were in foul trouble in the fourth, with Chandler fouling out late.

"They just were a little bit more aggressive," Anthony said. "Kobe got it going and Steve Nash hit some big shots down the stretch. When you have a guy like Nash doing that, it's kind of tough. Those guys know how to play. They've been waiting for Steve Nash to get back, so it's just a matter of then sticking it out until he did."

The Knicks opened the third on a 15-5 run, with Anthony setting up on the perimeter and hitting two 3-pointers as part of his 10 points that stretched their lead to 61-53. His jumper provided the Knicks' largest lead of the game, 69-60.

Bryant and Nash ignited the quiet atmosphere by leading a 17-9 run that drew the Lakers to 78-77 going into the fourth. They combined to score 15 points, although Bryant missed two free throws to end the third that would have given the Lakers their first lead since early in the game.

The Knicks' earlier roll dissolved in missed shots and a technical on Chandler for arguing a call.

"We were more determined, fought for everything," Nash said about the second half.

World Peace scored 16 points in the second quarter, including eight in a row, when the Lakers played catch-up most of the way. His 3-pointer gave the Lakers their first lead of the period with 1:10 remaining. Smith tied it up with a free throw before Nash's jumper sent the Lakers into halftime leading 51-49.

"We're playing really well together," World Peace said. "Kobe is really playing excellent now. He's still being aggressive on the offensive end, but he's giving everybody a chance to be aggressive. Pau is making strong, aggressive moves."

Bryant scored the Lakers' final nine points of the first quarter to give them a 25-23 lead. D'Antoni's plan of having Darius Morris guard Anthony didn't last long after he scored five of the Knicks' first seven points.

"I thought he'd get warmed up before he started firing," World Peace said.

NOTES: Bryant surpassed Oscar Robertson as the league's all-time Christmas Day scorer with 383 points. Robertson had 377. ... Knicks F/C Amare Stoudemire shot some before the game. He's been out all season after left knee surgery. "I'm not quite there yet, but I'm making progress," he said. "I've just got to stay patient and stay ready. We've been doing extremely intense work, as far as cardio." ... Knicks C Marcus Camby had four points and four rebounds in 8 minutes. He's been sidelined by a sore left foot and barely played this season. ... Asked about Bryant as an MVP candidate, D'Antoni said, "You can't put anybody MVP if you're below .500." ... In their only other Christmas Day meeting in 1963, the Lakers beat the Knicks 134-126 behind 47 points by Jerry West and 27 from Elgin Baylor. ... Nash said the gift bags in their lockers with the tag, "From Kobe Merry Xmas 2012" contained headphones. "Can't ever have enough," he said. ... The Lakers were all in white, while the Knicks were all in orange down to their socks in a color similar to Syracuse. ... Among the celebs holidaying at Staples Center were Rihanna and Chris Brown, Adam Levine, Samuel L. Jackson, George Lopez and Richard Lewis. Vanessa Bryant and her two young daughters sat courtside opposite the Lakers bench.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2012-12-25-Knicks-Lakers/id-644c5e2e40ee4337beabbc10cc45dad9

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