initialization countryside: September 2012

Sunday, September 23, 2012

Saudi United Cooperative Insurance Co. hits multi-year high ...

G?rard Al-Fil, Financial Journalist
Saturday, September 22 - 2012 at 17:39 UAE local time (GMT+4)

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Source: http://www.ameinfo.com/saudi-united-cooperative-insurance-co-hits-312402

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Lowepro: Sal Cincotta #photoworkshop The Wedding Tour, St. Louis, MO October 22 - http://t.co/UorrRSgx

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Source: http://twitter.com/Lowepro/statuses/249524230402740224

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Sunday, September 16, 2012

Judge strikes down Wisc. law limiting union rights

SCOTT BAUER, Associated Press
5:18 p.m. EST, September 14, 2012

MADISON, Wis. (AP) ? A Wisconsin judge on Friday struck down nearly all of the state law championed by Gov. Scott Walker that effectively ended collective bargaining rights for most public workers.

Walker's administration immediately vowed to appeal, while unions, which have vigorously fought the law, declared victory. But what the ruling meant for existing public contracts was murky: Unions claimed the ruling meant they could negotiate again, but Walker could seek to keep the law in effect while the legal drama plays out.

The law, a crowning achievement for Walker that made him a national conservative star, took away nearly all collective bargaining rights from most workers and has been in effect for more than a year.

Dane County Circuit Judge Juan Colas ruled that the law violates both the state and U.S. Constitution and is null and void.

In his 27-page ruling, the judge said sections of the law "single out and encumber the rights of those employees who choose union membership and representation solely because of that association and therefore infringe upon the rights of free speech and association guaranteed by both the Wisconsin and United States Constitutions."

Colas also said the law violates the equal protection clause by creating separate classes of workers who are treated differently and unequally.

The ruling applies to all local public workers affected by the law, including teachers and city and county government employees, but not those who work for the state. They were not a party to the lawsuit, which was brought by a Madison teachers union and a Milwaukee public workers union.

Walker issued a statement accusing the judge of being a "liberal activist" who "wants to go backwards and take away the lawmaking responsibilities of the legislature and the governor. We are confident that the state will ultimately prevail in the appeals process."

Wisconsin Department of Justice spokeswoman Dana Brueck said DOJ believes the law is constitutional.

The ruling throws into question changes that have been made in pay, benefits and other work rules in place across the state for city, county and school district workers.

Walker's law, passed in March 2011, only allowed for collective bargaining on wage increases no greater than the rate of inflation. All other issues, including workplace safety, vacation, health benefits, could no longer be bargained for.

The ruling means that local government and schools now must once again bargain over those issues, said Lester Pines, an attorney for Madison Teachers Inc. that brought the case.

"We're back to where we were before the law was enacted," he said.

Pines predicted the case would ultimately be resolved by the state Supreme Court.

"What's going to happen in the interim is unknown," he said.

The state Supreme Court in June 2011 ruled that the law was constitutional after it had been blocked by a different Dane County judge on a challenge over its passage being a violation of open meetings law.

Walker introduced the proposal in February 2011, six weeks after he took office. It resulted in a firestorm of opposition and led to huge protests at the state Capitol that lasted for weeks. All 14 Democratic state senators fled the state to Illinois for three weeks in an ultimately failed attempt to stop the law's passage from the Republican-controlled Legislature.

The law required public workers to pay more for their health insurance and pension benefits at the same time it took away their ability to collectively bargain over those issues. Walker argued the changes were needed to help state and local governments save money at a time Wisconsin faced a $3 billion budget shortfall.

Anger over the law's passage led to an effort to recall Walker from office. More than 930,000 signatures were collected triggering the June recall election. Walker won and became the first governor in U.S. history to survive a recall.

Democrats and unions were ecstatic with Friday's ruling.

"As we have said from day one, Scott Walker's attempt to silence the union men and women of Wisconsin's public sector was an immoral, unjust and illegal power grab," said Phil Neuenfeldt, president of the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO.

The Democratic minority leader in the state Assembly called the ruling a huge victory for workers and free speech.

"This decision will help re-establish the balance between employees and their employers," said Rep. Peter Barca.

Republican Rep. Robin Vos, a staunch supporter of the law and the presumptive next speaker of the Assembly, called the ruling an example of the "arrogance of the judiciary."

"I'm confident it's a single judge out of step with the mainstream," Vos said. He said the law is working "and we'll continue to implement it."

Source: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sns-ap-us--wisconsin-union-20120914,0,6992765.story?track=rss

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iPhone 5 shipping times slip almost immediately to 2 weeks, early birds feel validated

When we suggested it would be a good idea to stay up late (or wake up early) to guarantee a launch day iPhone 5, we meant it. Those bent on pre-ordering through the Apple Store saw the company's online portal exhaust itself within an hour of the 3:01AM availability -- faster than the iPhone 4 and 4S, and no doubt crushing the hopes of North Americans who value their sleep. Individual US carriers weren't quite so quick to sell out, although they weren't far behind. AT&T is now quoting two to three weeks for any new orders, and Verizon doesn't see any new orders on their way until September 26th. Only Sprint is left taking pre-orders with the expectation that they'll arrive next Friday, and it's certain that the supply situation won't get better in the near future. We're curious to see just how many iPhones sell before the weekend is out, or even the day; given the briskness of pre-orders for the iPhone 4S last year, we wouldn't be surprised to see some braggadocio from Apple or the carriers by the time Monday rolls around.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile

iPhone 5 shipping times slip almost immediately to 2 weeks, early birds feel validated originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 14 Sep 2012 14:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/14/iphone-5-shipping-times-slip-almost-immediately-to-2-weeks/

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NASA eyes 3-D printing for self-building spacecraft

7 hrs.

Jeremy Hsu, InnovationNewsDaily Senior Writer

Spacecraft could build?themselves or huge space telescopes someday by scavenging materials from space junk or asteroids. That wild vision stems from a modest proposal to use 3-D printing technology aboard a tiny satellite to create a much larger structure in space.

The "SpiderFab" project received $100,000 from NASA's Innovative Advanced Concepts program to hammer out a design and figure out whether spacecraft self-construction makes business sense. Practical planning and additional funding could lead to the launch of a 3-D-printing test mission within several years.

"We'd like someday to be able to have a spacecraft create itself entirely from scratch, but realistically that's quite a ways out," said Robert Hoyt, CEO and chief scientist of Tethers Unlimited Inc. "That's still science fiction."

Using 3-D printers to build spacecraft parts in orbit would offer an easier way to construct huge space antennas or space telescope components 10 or 20 times larger than today's counterparts without having to fold them up and squeeze them inside a rocket ? missions could simply launch with the 3-D printers and raw materials. [NASA Looks to 3D Printing for Spare Space-Station Parts]

The idea could also cut space mission costs and boost mission capabilities by making much lighter and larger structures in space, Hoyt explained. That's because space manufacturing avoids the need to make heavier spacecraft components that can not only stand up to Earth's gravity, but can also survive the shaking and acceleration of rocket launches.

"The system could then morph in orbit into a very large system a dozen or hundreds of meters in size," Hoyt told InnovationNewsDaily. "It would be like launching a CubeSat that creates a 50 meter-length boom."

(Cubesats have a size comparable to a loaf of bread, whereas 50 meters (164 feet) is equivalent to the length of a track and field event.)

Hoyt even envisions the space manufacturing technology building space telescopes the size of ARICEBO ? a 1,000-foot telescope radio telescope in Puerto Rico. Or the technology could allow space probes to visit distant star systems and begin building sensor arrays and communications transmitters to send signals back to Earth.

The technology might even build upon DARPA's Phoenix idea of scavenging parts from old or broken spacecraft to build a new Frankenstein satellite, except that the space manufacturing could break down both spacecraft parts and materials from asteroid mining.

That futuristic vision will require a more intricate, automated cooperation between robot arms and 3-D printing technology.

"We're also working on robot arm systems, so we're hoping at some point to combine that project with our SpiderFab project," Hoyt said.

You can follow InnovationNewsDaily Senior Writer Jeremy Hsu on Twitter @ScienceHsu. Follow InnovationNewsDaily on Twitter @News_Innovation, or on Facebook.

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/futureoftech/nasa-turns-3-d-printing-self-building-spacecraft-1B5919522

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Friday, September 7, 2012

Microsoft Throws Down Bing Search Challenge

Microsoft is looking to attract new Web searchers to use its Bing search tool, with a new marketing campaign designed to break people?s Google search habits.

Microsoft?s catchy ?Bing It On Challenge? is aimed at growing Bing?s market share in the search wars.

Bing It On

The ?Bing It On? campaign was born out of a recent search study commissioned by Microsoft that looked at user opinions on the search engines they were using and the accuracy of the results they were getting, according to a post by Mike Nichols, chief marketing officer for Bing, on the Bing Search Blog.

?A while ago, we began to notice an interesting trend in our internal testing ? for the first time our testing showed that Bing?s Web search results were better than Google?s,? wrote Nichols. ?We continued testing our results in several different ways as part of our regular work to improve our quality, and along the way an interesting pattern emerged ? Bing was regularly beating Google in Web search results quality.?

Those early findings inspired Microsoft to dive deeper to find out what it meant.

?So, we asked an independent research company to do a statistically significant similar challenge test and our findings were confirmed ? people preferred Bing Web search results nearly 2:1 over Google in blind comparison tests,? wrote Nichols. ?Since relevancy of search results is the No. 1 driver of search engine preference, the time is right for a wake-up call for searchers ? better Web search results are available at Bing.com.?

With that, Microsoft is unveiling the ?Bing It On Challenge,? a Web page where users are being encouraged to see for themselves how their Web searches are being conducted side-by-side by Bing and Google. The key is that both visible searches are not identified with their Bing or Google logos. Once at the Website, users enter a search term and are asked to judge which of the two search screens gives them the best search results. After five ?rounds? of side-by-side, nonscientific, blind search comparisons, the site tells you which search engine you found most useful ? Bing or Google.

Breaking Habits

So what?s the point of this blind ?taste test??

?Our mission is to show people it?s time to break the ?Google habit? and that Bing has reached a quality level that will make it easy to switch,? wrote Nichols.

The Bing It On Challenge is part of a new advertising campaign that Microsoft will be pushing over the coming months, according to the company. The ads feature random users in San Francisco who participated in the challenge and shared their opinions on Bing and Google.

The search comparison research sponsored by Microsoft was conducted by independent research company Answers Research using a representative online sample of nearly 1,000 adults over age 18 across the United States, according to Microsoft. ?The participants were chosen from a random survey panel and were required to have used a major search engine in the past month,? states a 5 September Microsoft Bing Search Blog post.

In the survey, participants were shown searches of their choice in the side-by-side, unmarked search format. After the searches, the participant?s votes were tallied to determine the winner ? Bing, Google or a draw.

Of the nearly 1,000 participants, 57.4 percent chose Bing more often, 30.2 percent chose Google more often and 12.4 percent resulted in a draw, according to Microsoft. The overall sampling error rate for the study is plus or minus 3 percent.

Tough Challenge

Despite the new ad campaign, Bing sure has its work cut out for it to catch up to Google based on the latest search engine usage statistics for the United States, according to the Web analytics firm ComScore.

Though Microsoft?s search engine usage in the United States increased slightly by 0.01 percent since June, Google still dominates Web search with 66.8 percent of the US market, according to ComScore?s July figures. Bing captured 15.7 percent of users, and Yahoo sites captured 13 percent of users. They are trailed by Ask Network sites, capturing 3.1 percent of users, and AOL, with 1.5 percent of the market, according to the figures. The numbers are for what ComScore calls explicit core searches, or those that exclude slide shows and contextual links in text.

About 17.7 billion overall searches were conducted in July by US users, according to ComScore, which is an increase of 3 percent since June. Google search was used for 11.8 billion of those searches, an increase of 3 percent, while Microsoft search was used 2.8 billion times, for an increase of 4 percent. Yahoo search came in third with 2.3 billion searches, up 3 percent from June, while Ask Network was used for 548 million searches, an increase of 6 percent, and AOL was used in 264 million searches.

Are you fluent in the language of the Internet? Find out with our quiz!

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/eweekeurope/uk/~3/QAFYuL4Rhow/story01.htm

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Thursday, September 6, 2012

NBA Rumors: Tracy McGrady Would Be Smart Move for Charlotte Bobcats

With the start of the NBA season rapidly approaching, teams are still looking to make little moves to fill out their rosters and add depth in order to make it through a long 82-game season.?

One team that still needs a lot of help is the Charlotte Bobcats, who had one of the worst seasons in North American professional sports in 2011. They did add Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, probably the best athlete in this class, with the No. 2 pick in the NBA Draft, but there is still a long way to go.?

An interesting name that has popped up on their radar is Tracy McGrady, who, according to Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer, could be in line for an audition with the Bobcats.?

McGrady played in 52 games with the Hawks last season, averaging 5.3 points and 2.9 rebounds per game. He has come a long way in the last two years, showing that he is at least capable of making it on to the court.?

No one expects the T-Mac of old, when he was one of the most proficient scorers in the league. But as a player who can come off the bench, add valuable minutes and possibly contribute a handful of points, the Bobcats could do a lot worse.?

Should The Bobcats Sign Tracy McGrady?

Total votes: 38

This is a franchise in a state of flux, clearly. They finally found what they hope will be the franchise player in this year's draft. They just need pieces to get through this season before they can add more talent in next year's draft.?

That doesn't sound like a ringing endorsement for McGrady?it isn't?but it is far better for a team like the Bobcats to go after cheap solutions than trying to scour the market for players, either via free agency or trades, that will cost them a lot of money and merely add a couple more wins here and there.?

I compare the Bobcats situation to what the Houston Astros are doing in Major League Baseball. The Astros got rid of almost all their overpriced assets who were not going to be there next year, or were signed for far more money than they were worth. Essentially, the team blew the whole thing up.?

It is important for the Bobcats to not try anything drastic to win 20 games next season instead of, say, 16. They need to have a plan in place that will get them to compete consistently in a few years.?

McGrady doesn't offer much, but he also isn't going to cost much. He can fill out a roster that does need some help to make it through 82 games.?

Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1323797-nba-rumors-tracy-mcgrady-would-be-smart-move-for-charlotte-bobcats

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Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Creamy Chicken Caesar Sandwiches {An all NEW This Week's ...

Please make sure and check out the important news regarding This Week?s Cravings, right after the recipe.

Chicken Caesar Sandwich

When I cook chicken in my crock pot, I have a tendency to just dump some ?saucy? ingredient in there with the chicken. Sometimes it?s a ?cream of? something soup, sometimes it?s salad dressing. Ever tried a bottle of ranch dressing? AMAZING! Great for a quick and easy dinner ? serve over pasta or rice and you have a fast dinner for a busy night. After trying ranch dressing a number of times we expanded to include honey mustard dressing and then Italian and then other delicious dressings. Eventually we landed on Creamy Caesar Dressing and I was sold. Shred the chicken up before serving and you can put it right on a bun and serve great sandwiches anytime of year. Delicious. We haven?t made it in awhile and when I saw my friend Jen?s post?for her Chicken Caesar Sandwiches,?which are a bit more elaborate than mine, I decided I wanted to try her version, and try them I did. They were absolutely fantastic.

Creamy Chicken Caesar Sandwiches {An all NEW This Week?s Cravings}

Ingredients

2 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 1/2 cups of creamy caesar salad dressing
3/4 cup grated Parmesan
2 teaspoon dried parsley (we used fresh because that's what I had)
1 Tablespoon of garlic powder (I used more than what she used, I really love garlic)
1 teaspoon of black pepper
Lettuce
Tomato
Hamburger buns

Instructions

Put the chicken breasts in your crockpot with about a cup of water. Put the lid on and cook for 4-6 hours, or until the meat can be shredded.

Remove the chicken from the crock pot and drain the liquid. Shred the chicken and then return it to the crock pot.

Toss the chicken with the creamy caesar dressing, parmesan, parsley, garlic powder and pepper. Taste and see if you want more of anything. We started with Jen's numbers and used quite a bit more, but that's cause I love garlic and pepper. Yes. I do.

Once everything is all mixed together, cover it again with a lid and cook for 30 minutes or until everything is nice and hot.

We served it hot on a bun with tomato and lettuce and a side of fresh veggies sticks and some baked chips. FANTASTIC!

2.0

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THIS WEEK?S CRAVINGS is changing our linky party. You can now link up ANY recipe you?d like. Come one, Come all. No RULES, NO requirements, just link up any recipes (or food related craft items) and come hop around and visit all the great recipes.

If you are a regular to THIS WEEK?S CRAVINGS Linky party, then link-up we?re excited to see what you made this week. We are no longer sticking with ONE theme, so just link up any of your favorite recipes.

Please Grab Our Button!!!

Your hostess for this party are: Tina from MOMS CRAZY COOKING, Nicole from The Daily Dish and Kristi from Veggie Converter. We host this linky party every Monday (and the party stays open all week long)!

THE LINKY PARTY is opened ALL Week!

Source: http://dailydishrecipes.com/creamy-chicken-caesar-sandwiches-an-all-new-this-weeks-cravings/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=creamy-chicken-caesar-sandwiches-an-all-new-this-weeks-cravings

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'American Chopper' Premiere: Senior And Junior Start Slow Process Of Mending Relationship (VIDEO)

"The Bachelor"

"The Bachelor," ABC Status: Renewed Why: You really think we've seen the last rose handed out? Not in a million years. ABC has already tapped their next "Bachelorette," and we know they'll have their eyes peeled for a hot rejected man from that spinoff to be the next "Bachelor."

"The Bachelorette"

"The Bachelorette," ABC Status: Likely to be renewed Why: "Bachelor" Brad's also-ran Emily Maynard is getting her turn as the rose giver for the seventh season of "The Bachelorette" this summer. As long as there are people willing to look for love on reality TV, this show will keep on trucking.

"Body of Proof"

"Body of Proof," ABC Status: Renewed Why: "Body of Proof" has been falling below its timeslot competitor, CBS's "Unforgettable," but it still draws a decent audience and its fans are very vocal. ABC has decided it deserves a third season.

"Castle"

"Castle," ABC Status: Renewed Why: This show's ratings have definitely suffered without "Dancing With the Stars" airing beforehand, but it is a consistent performer. And now that Castle and Beckett's relationship is evolving, a fifth season of "oh yes they will" is a no-brainer.

"Charlie's Angels"

"Charlie's Angels," ABC Status: Canceled Why: Not really a shock for anybody, but "Charlie's Angels" is cooked. Flimsy story, bad remake, questionable casting.

"Cougar Town"

"Cougar Town," ABC Status: Renewed -- for TBS! Why: The Season 3 ratings weren't boosted much by holding this show until midseason, but ABC's wonky air schedule also didn't help ... which is why the news that TBS has picked up the show for a fourth season is huge. Cheers with your Big Carl!

"Dancing With the Stars"

"Dancing With the Stars," ABC Status: Renewed Why: "DWTS" may have lost its luster in the ratings, but if the viewers are still coming.

"Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23"

"Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23," ABC Status: Renewed Why: ABC's new bleep-worthy comedy starring Krysten Ritter, Dreama Walker and James Van Der Beek is a funny one, and definitely embraces the quirk (Beek Jeans!), so we're excited to see what they do with a second season.

"Desperate Housewives"

"Desperate Housewives," ABC Status: Canceled Why: After countless deaths, murders, betrayals and natural disasters on Wisteria Lane over the show's eight seasons, the ladies of "Desperate Housewives" will say goodbye forever this May.

"Extreme Makeover: Home Edition"

"Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," ABC Status: Canceled Why: After a whopping nine seasons, the do-gooding show came to an end in January. But worry not, it will continue to have a few specials to make viewers cry tears of joy.

"GCB"

"GCB," ABC Status: Canceled Why: This "Desperate Housewives"-esque dramedy premiered to less than 8 million viewers, and the phenomenal cast (Kristin Chenoweth, Annie Potts, Leslie Bibb) couldn't bring in a Texas-sized audience, so ABC canceled it.

"Grey's Anatomy"

"Grey's Anatomy," ABC Status: Renewed Why: Shonda Rhimes' medical drama is a ratings juggernaut, even in its eighth season, and with most of her <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/10/greys-anatomy-ellen-pompeo_n_1506113.html?ref=tv" target="_hplink">big stars signed on for more</a>, ABC gave the go-ahead for a ninth season.

"Happy Endings"

"Happy Endings," ABC Status: Renewed Why: This show is way too "ca-yute" to bubble it, and obviously someone high up at ABC agrees. After its first season was moved around and aired all out of order, the network still gave it another chance to find its audience in Season 2 ... and it has, and hopefully will continue to in Season 3.

"Last Man Standing"

"Last Man Standing," ABC Status: Renewed Why: Ratings for Tim Allen's return to sitcoms have been very strong, making it Tuesday's most-watched comedy. If you can beat "Glee" and "The Biggest Loser," a second season is a given.

"Man Up!"

"Man Up!," ABC Status: Canceled Why: ABC pulled the show after eight episodes.

"The Middle"

"The Middle," ABC Status: Renewed Why: Now in its third season, "The Middle" is still holding onto its middle position in the ratings on Wednesday nights, and that seems just about right. It doesn't do "American Idol" or "Survivor" numbers, of course, but with over 7 million viewers, it's a strong comedy for the network that easily beats anything NBC is offering.

"Missing"

"Missing," ABC Status: Canceled Why: Ashley Judd lead this drama about a former CIA agent whose son goes missing, kicking her back into action to find him. The series was only set to air 10 episodes, miniseries-style, with the potential for more, but a cancellation means that's all they're getting.

"Modern Family"

"Modern Family," ABC Status: Renewed Why: "Modern Family" remains ABC's biggest sitcom success story of the last decade, both in ratings and awards love. This critical darling is getting a fourth season of hijinks with the hilarious Pritchett-Dunphy clan.

"Once Upon A Time"

"Once Upon A Time," ABC Status: Renewed Why: "Once Upon a Time" has gotten praise for being one of the more family-friendly dramas on TV, and it's been pulling in close to 10 million viewers each week because of it. We're excited by the almost endless possibilities for new fairy tale-inspired stories to tackle in Season 2.

"Pan Am"

"Pan Am," ABC Status: Canceled Why: Poor "Pan Am" just never quite took off. The series' vintage look actually worked against it, much like NBC's swiftly canceled "Playboy Club" -- guess when you're being compared to award-winning shows like "Mad Men," it makes it more than a little tough to live up to the hype.

"Private Practice"

"Private Practice," ABC Status: Renewed Why: "Private Practice" has never gotten "Grey's Anatomy"-level ratings, and things got shakier when ABC bumped it to Tuesday nights to make room for creator Shonda Rhimes' other new show, "Scandal," but they've given the show a sixth season order.

"Revenge"

"Revenge," ABC Status: Renewed Why: With a clever mix of drama, mystery and serious revenge-ing, this is hands down one of the most addictive new shows on TV, and we can't wait to see where they take things in Season 2.

"The River"

"The River," ABC Status: Canceled Why: The promise of "Paranormal Activity"-like scares each week quickly fizzled after this show premiered, along with the ratings. The first season's eight episodes came and went, and ABC has nixed any plans for more.

"Scandal"

"Scandal," ABC Status: Renewed Why: Shonda Rhimes' latest show isn't about doctors at all -- and that's why we're glad it's sticking around. Kerry Washington is amazing as Olivia Pope, a Washington, D.C. fixer with a crack team of specialists helping make bad headlines vanish before they're ever written. Here's hoping for more than seven episodes in its second season.

"Shark Tank"

"Shark Tank," ABC Status: Renewed Why: Now in its third season, this reality competition show is unlike any other on network TV and ABC is keeping it around for more for that very reason.

"Suburgatory"

"Suburgatory," ABC Status: Renewed Why: It's smart, quick and not too cute -- "Suburgatory" is consistently named the sitcom you should be watching, but probably aren't. The great cast makes this one a no-brainer, and the ratings have stayed pretty consistent, too. We're thrilled it's getting a second season to shine!

"Work It"

"Work It," ABC Status: Canceled Why: Let us count the ways ...

"2 Broke Girls"

"2 Broke Girls," CBS Status: Renewed Why: At first, people balked at the racist supporting characters, but now it seems that audiences are all over "2 Broke Girls" -- it's ratings have seen a steady increase, and it won the People's Choice Award for Favorite New Comedy.

"A Gifted Man"

"A Gifted Man," CBS Status: Canceled Why: "A Gifted Man's" total viewer numbers were OK for a Friday night, but a 1.3 rating in the 18-49 demographic is especially bad for CBS. Another bad sign: star Patrick Wilson tweeted about the end: "I had a great time. Thanks to my fans. So happy it's done." And done it is.

"The Amazing Race"

"The Amazing Race," CBS Status: Renewed Why: Voted the best reality show on TV several times (albeit years ago), "The Amazing Race" isn't going anywhere. Ratings have dropped a bit, but are still solid.

"The Big Bang Theory"

"The Big Bang Theory," CBS Status: Renewed Why: Nothing seems to be able to make a dent in this show. With fantastic ratings (it beat "Idol"!) and a rabid following, we'll be seeing plenty more "Big Bang" before its run is over.

"Blue Bloods"

"Blue Bloods," CBS Status: Renewed Why: The anchor of Friday nights on CBS, "Blue Bloods" has performed well, pulling in around 11 million viewers an episode. The show might not have the youngest audience, but it's still enough for CBS to keep it on the schedule.

"Criminal Minds"

"Criminal Minds," CBS Status: Renewed Why: Paget Brewster might be checking out, but "Criminal Minds" is here to stay. In Season 7, the procedural is still a consistently strong ratings performer for CBS.

"CSI"

"CSI," CBS Status: Renewed Why: Whenever the time comes, the "CSI" mothership will end with a lot of fanfare, but not this year. With new faces Ted Danson and Elisabeth Shue around, there is going to be at least one more season.

"CSI: Miami"

"CSI: Miami," CBS Status: Canceled Why: Out of the three (!) "CSI" programs on the air, "CSI: Miami" is the one to say goodbye first. The one-time ratings giant has been affected by football overruns (just as "The Good Wife" has) and "CSI: NY" has the edge in terms of total viewers, meaning a "Miami" sunset was inevitable.

"CSI: NY"

"CSI: NY," CBS Status: Renewed Why: Of the two "CSI" spinoffs, "CSI: NY" is the stronger -- pulling in more than 10 million viewers on a Friday night is no easy task -- and with "CSI: Miami" canceled, "CSI: NY's" renewal was a no-brainer.

"The Good Wife"

"The Good Wife," CBS Status: Renewed Why: This critical darling suffered after its move from Tuesdays to Sundays thanks to sports overruns. The viewers are frustrated, but given its strong cast and Emmy love, the show is still coming back for more.

"Hawaii Five-0"

"Hawaii Five-0," CBS Status: Renewed Why: Despite the scheduling setback as Alex O'Loughlin seeks treatment, Season 2 is still doing well for CBS in a very competitive timeslot.

"How To Be a Gentleman"

"How To Be A Gentleman," CBS Status: Canceled Why: Not even having "The Big Bang Theory" as a lead-in could save this David Hornsby project, which only lasted three episodes.

"How I Met Your Mother"

"How I Met Your Mother," CBS Status: Renewed Why: CBS renewed "How I Met Your Mother" for two more seasons in March 2011, so fans can look forward to being strung along about the titular mother's identity for a bit longer.

"The Mentalist"

"The Mentalist," CBS Status: Renewed Why: Although the show hit a season ratings low in the middle of February, its fanbase and overall ratings were enough to have it return for another season.

"Mike & Molly"

"Mike & Molly," CBS Status: Renewed Why: Thanks to an Emmy win and Oscar nomination, Melissa McCarthy is a Hollywood power player and CBS is keen to keep her around. Just look at the multiple pilots she has in the works as a behind the scenes player! "Mike & Molly" will be back for a third season.

"NCIS"

"NCIS," CBS Status: Renewed Why: The long-running procedural has become a ratings juggernaut at a time when most shows start shedding viewers. Season 10 is now happening.

"NCIS: Los Angeles"

"NCIS: Los Angeles," CBS Status:Renewed Why: This show has gone up in the ratings over the last couple of years, and people can't get enough of L.L. Cool J and Chris O'Donnell.

"NYC 22"

"NYC 22," CBS Status: Canceled Why: This "Rookie Blue" clone from executive producer Robert DeNiro didn't really move the needle when it premiered midseason; CBS officially axed it with three episodes left to air.

"Person of Interest"

"Person of Interest," CBS Status: Renewed Why: With ratings matching juggernauts like "Grey's Anatomy" and fans popping up everywhere, we'll be seeing another season of "Person of Interest."

"Rob"

"Rob," CBS Status: Canceled Why: "Rob's" spot after ratings juggernaut "The Big Bang Theory" probably went a long way in helping it survive to see the end of its first season, but that's as far as it'll get.

"Rules of Engagement"

"Rules of Engagement," CBS Status: Renewed Why: This show has moved around so much it's hard to remember when it's on, and with six seasons under its belt it's had quite a nice run. Despite slipping ratings and the aforementioned constant switcheroos, there's still a future for "Rules of Engagement."

"Survivor"

"Survivor," CBS Status: Renewed Why: Of course we have "Survivor" coming back for another season. Where else are we going to see petty squabbles and insane behavior on some of the most beautiful beaches in the world?

"Two and a Half Men"

"Two and a Half Men," CBS Status: Renewed Why: Despite a less-than-favorable critical response, the revamped "Two and a Half Men" keeps pulling in respectable numbers every week. Ashton Kutcher, Jon Cryer and Angus T. Jones will all return for a Season 10.

"Undercover Boss"

"Undercover Boss," CBS Status: Renewed Why: The inherent addictiveness of this show has gone a long way in securing loyal viewers -- it has been on top of the ratings several times this season alone.

"Unforgettable"

"Unforgettable," CBS Status: Likely to be renewed Why: In its timeslot, "Unforgettable" keeps emerging on top, beating out "Parenthood" and "Body of Proof." Leading lady Poppy Montgomery has been called "the female version of 'The Mentalist,'" another top-rated show, so things are looking positive.

"90210"

"90210," The CW Status: Renewed Why: While its ratings have plummeted since last season, the Beverly Hills crew is still doing better than "Supernatural," "Hart of Dixie," "Nikita," and "Gossip Girl" on average.

"America's Next Top Model"

"America's Next Top Model," The CW Status: Renewed Why: Tyra Banks' reality show is in the early stages of its 18th cycle with a Brit vs. U.S. installment. Cycle 19 will be the show's inaugural "college edition."

"Gossip Girl"

"Gossip Girl," The CW Status: Renewed Why: Fans will get to say goodbye to the Upper East-Siders in a sixth and reportedly shortened final season.

"H8R"

"H8R," The CW Status: Canceled Why: Apparently, the opposite of MTV's former series "Fanatic" proved people don't love to hate Kim Kardashian and Snooki as much as we thought. It lasted four episodes.

"Hart of Dixie"

"Hart of Dixie," The CW Status: Renewed Why: Josh Schwartz and Rachel Bilson return for a sophomore season of "Hart of Dixie," hopefully so they can make more viral videos.

"Nikita"

"Nikita," The CW Status: Renewed Why: We're shocked the show is coming back for another season, but its hard-core fans will certainly be happy.

"One Tree Hill"

"One Tree Hill," The CW Status: Canceled Why: After nine seasons, it's time to say goodbye to "One Tree Hill." After subpar ratings, the network decided to pull the plug on its long-standing teen soap. Thankfully, the CW gave "One Tree Hill" a final 13 episodes to wrap up all of the drama.

"Remodeled"

"Remodeled," The CW Status: As good as dead Why: Not only has "Remodeled" already been replaced on the CW schedule, but it debuted with one of the CW's lowest-rated premiere ever, scoring a terrible 0.3 in the coveted 18-49 demo.

"Ringer"

"Ringer," The CW Status: Canceled Why: Sarah Michelle Gellar's double-life proved too complicated and poorly-produced for viewers to care much about.

"The Secret Circle"

"The Secret Circle," The CW Status: Canceled Why: Somewhat of a surprising development given its decent ratings, but it never quite lived up to its lead-in, "The Vampire Diaries."

"Supernatural"

"Supernatural," The CW Status: Renewed Why: This fan favorite will return for Season 8.

"The Vampire Diaries"

"The Vampire Diaries," The CW Status: Renewed Why: "Vampire Diaries" is The CW's golden child ... the vampires and witches and werewolves of Mystic Falls aren't going anywhere.

"Alcatraz"

"Alcatraz," Fox Status: Canceled Why: "Alcatraz" -- and almost every other recent J.J. Abrams TV project -- proves that slapping "from J.J. Abrams" on a show does not equal ratings success. The series debuted strong, but fizzled in the ratings, leading Fox to pull the plug.

"Allen Gregory"

"Allen Gregory," Fox Status: Canceled Why: Jonah Hill's animated series only lasted seven episodes. The Oscar nominee should probably just stick to movies for a while ...

"American Dad"

"American Dad," Fox Status: Renewed Why: Fox gave out early renewals to "American Dad" and "The Cleveland Show," keeping its Sunday night animation block intact.

"American Idol"

"American Idol," Fox Status: Likely to be renewed Why: The show's declining ratings have been widely reported this season, but it's hard to imagine TV life without "Idol."

"Bob's Burgers"

"Bob's Burgers," Fox Status: Too soon to tell Why: The sophomore season of this quirky animated comedy kicks off this month (Sun., Mar. 11), so don't expect to hear about a Season 3 just yet.

"Bones"

"Bones," Fox Status: Renewed Why: The show got a ratings boost thanks to its lead-in "The X Factor." With the floundering state of Fox's dramas (see ya, "House"), Fox is holding on to this one.

"Breaking In"

"Breaking In," Fox Status: Canceled Why: After a last minute revival, "Breaking In" returned for a second season with Megan Mullally in tow, but it wasn't enough to revive this D.O.A. comedy.

"The Cleveland Show"

"The Cleveland Show," Fox Status: Renewed Why: Fox gave "The Cleveland Show" and "American Dad" early renewals and this spinoff will be back for a Season 4, but no word on a fifth season.

"Family Guy"

"Family Guy," Fox Status: Renewed Why: Fox handed out early renewals to the Seth MacFarlane animated comedies.

"The Finder"

"The Finder," Fox Status: Canceled Why: "The Finder" hit the benches for a bit before moving to Fridays, and the numbers never improved. Averaging less than 6 million viewers an episode (not so hot for a Fox drama), it was only a matter of time ...

"Fringe"

"Fringe," Fox Status: Renewed Why: This fan favorite has struggled in the ratings, but Fox has agreed to give it a 13-episode order for a fifth and final season to wrap up all the mysteries of both universes.

"Glee"

"Glee," Fox Status: Renewed Why: The hit teen series is breaking records in music sales, but its overall viewership has slipped. After a bit of a PR debacle about graduating characters that ended with spinoff plans being squashed, "Glee" will get another season.

"Hell's Kitchen"

"Hell's Kitchen," Fox Status: Renewed Why: Last year at this time, Fox renewed the Gordon Ramsay series for two more seasons, so it's all set.

"House"

"House," Fox Status: Canceled Why: After eight seasons and countless unsolvable medical cases solved, this Fox medical drama is coming to an end.

"I Hate My Teenage Daughter"

"I Hate My Teenage Daughter," Fox Status: Canceled Why: As if getting panned by critics wasn't enough, "I Hate My Teenage Daughter's" shrinking ratings had the show marked for death, then Fox benched the sitcom for three months after only four episodes and then ... yep, buh-bye forever. No shock there.

"Kitchen Nightmares"

"Kitchen Nightmares," Fox Status: Renewed? Why: In early February, Fox signed on for a?16-episode fifth season of this other Gordon Ramsay series. They're in the Gordon Ramsay business, and they're not going anywhere.

"MasterChef"

"MasterChef," Fox Status: Likely to be renewed Why: No official announcement has been made regarding a third season, but there was a casting call issued during episodes throughout Season 2. And if Gordon Ramsay's track record with Fox is any indication, it's as good as renewed.

"Mobbed"

"Mobbed," Fox Status: On the bubble Why: It started with a ratings bang, but things have only gone down from there for Fox's flash mob reality show with Howie Mandel at the helm. It's not on the schedule in any regular timeslot though, so it's possible they'll continue producing a few episodes a year.

"Napoleon Dynamite"

"Napoleon Dynamite," Fox Status: On the bubble Why: After a decent debut, "Napoleon Dynamite" dropped about half of its audience to about 4 million viewers per episode. It could go either way.

"New Girl"

"New Girl," Fox Status: Renewed Why: "New Girl" was the first new Fox show to get a full Season 1 order and the show has continued to perform well in the ratings and in the 18-49 demographic. America loves that adorkable charm.

"Q'Viva: The Chosen"

"Q'Viva: The Chosen," Fox Status: Too soon to tell/Not their call Why: Shortly after the Latin American-based show -- starring J. Lo and her ex-husband Marc Anthony -- debuted on Univision, Fox picked up an English-language version that debuted in early March. Though the reality series underperformed in its Saturday night timeslot, it's not Fox's decision whether or not we'll see more "Q'Viva."

"Raising Hope"

"Raising Hope," Fox Status: Renewed Why: Thanks (or no thanks) in part to the success of "New Girl," the sophomore season of "Raising Hope" has moved around timeslots, but it has retained about a 2.1 score in the adults 18-49 demo.

"The Simpsons"

"The Simpsons," Fox Status: Renewed Why: After a very tense contract standoff, the voice actors of "The Simpsons" and the studio agreed to new terms and the show was renewed through Season 25.

"So You Think You Can Dance"

"So You Think You Can Dance," Fox Status: Too soon to tell Why: Season 9 of "So You Think You Can Dance" won't debut until this summer and when it does, there will be changes: Fox has nixed the results show entirely. If the fanbase is still there, the cheaper production could save the show for another few seasons.

"Terra Nova"

"Terra Nova," Fox Status: Canceled Why: Fox pulled the plug on this very expensive dinosaur drama, but reports indicate producers are looking to keep the show alive on a different network.

"Touch"

"Touch," Fox Status: Renewed Why: The Kiefer Sutherland drama had a sizable audience (about 12 million viewers) for its preview and has remained somewhat steady since its premiere. Fox showed faith in the series, giving it the post-"American Idol" slot, and it paid off.

"The X Factor"

"The X Factor," Fox Status: Renewed Why: Fox has already renewed the singing competition for a second season and boy will there be changes: two new hosts and two new judges will join Simon Cowell and L.A. Reid at the table.

"30 Rock"

"30 Rock," NBC Status: Renewed Why:"30 Rock" is showing its age, but the star power of Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin can't be denied -- NBC has renewed the show for a seventh and final season of 13 episodes.

"America's Got Talent"

"America's Got Talent," NBC Status: Likely to be renewed Why: NBC's top-rated summer show is moving to New York for this upcoming season, but it's most likely not going anywhere. Unless, of course, the new judge -- shock jock Howard Stern -- really messes things up somehow.

"Are You There, Chelsea?"

"Are You There, Chelsea?," NBC Status: Canceled Why: With just over 3 million viewers an episode, it wasn't not exactly a strong performer, even by NBC's standards. Even Chelsea Handler and NBC's fondness for funny ladies couldn't save this show.

"Awake"

"Awake," NBC Status: Canceled Why: "Awake" had gotten some great promotion, but its numbers were pretty middle of the road and only went down further -- genre shows with heavy serialized elements are always tricky.

"Bent"

"Bent," NBC Status: Canceled Why: The Amanda Peet comedy premiered in late March and had six episodes to prove itself, but NBC didn't give it much of a chance, airing them back-to-back.

"Best Friends Forever"

"Best Friends Forever," NBC Status:Canceled Why: The female buddy sitcom starring and co-created by Jessica St. Clair and Lennon Parham was yanked from the schedule and then axed for good.

"Betty White's Off Their Rockers"

"Betty White's Off Their Rockers," NBC Status: Too soon to tell Why: Even though Betty White isn't doing the pranking, "Off Their Rockers" could still make a comeback.

"The Biggest Loser"

"The Biggest Loser," NBC Status: Likely to be renewed Why: NBC's weight loss competition show has been around for years, and despite sagging overall ratings, its 18-49 rating (a recent episode got a 2.0) is still one of NBC's highest.

"Celebrity Apprentice"

"Celebrity Apprentice," NBC Status: Likely to be renewed Why: Series low ratings probably won't kill this franchise. But are there any D-listers left who haven't competed for Donald Trump's approval?

"Chuck"

"Chuck," NBC Status: Canceled Why: The Josh Schwartz spy dramedy ended its five-season run in January.

"Community"

"Community," NBC Status: Renewed Why: Beloved by (a very vocal) few, ignored by many -- that's "Community" in a nutshell. After getting benched in January, "Community" returned to NBC's schedule with a vengeance, getting it a fourth season pick-up for 13 episodes to air on Fridays. Cool, cool, cool -- you can pop, pop! that champagne now.

"Fashion Star"

"Fashion Star," NBC Status: Renewed Why: The high-style reality series with Nicole Richie, Jessica Simpson, Elle Macpherson and John Varvatos has certainly been confusing, but it's still a smart business model: The winning designs each week are for sale in stores the next day, and those stores just happen to be covering a large portion of production and advertising costs.

"Fear Factor"

"Fear Factor," NBC Status: Likely to be renewed Why: Despite the donkey semen scandal that cut this season of "Fear Factor" a bit short, <a href="http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/13/fear-factor-returns-and-makes-a-ratings-splash/" target="_hplink">"Fear Factor" boosts NBC's ratings</a> ... and can a scandal really compete with that?

"The Firm"

"The Firm," NBC Status: As good as dead Why: The show hasn't officially gotten the axe yet, but "The Firm" was moved to Saturdays after turning in an incredibly poor performance (less than a 1 rating in the 18-49 demo) on Thursday nights.

"Free Agents"

"Free Agents," NBC Status: Canceled Why: This show just didn't have much life in it. It was canceled after just four episodes, despite its awesome lead actors Hank Azaria and Kathryn Hahn.

"Grimm"

"Grimm," NBC Status: Renewed Why: The supernatural fairy tale drama has been doing well for NBC on Friday nights -- it hovers around the 5 million viewers mark, which is pretty solid by NBC standards and why the network gave the drama an early renewal.

"Harry's Law"

"Harry's Law," NBC Status:Cancelled Why: While earlier this year "Harry's Law" was one of NBC's top players, after a three-month break between January and March, the Kathy Bates drama saw mediocre ratings and failed to hold on to viewers.

"Law & Order: SVU"

"Law & Order: SVU," NBC Status: Renewed Why: The only "Law & Order" left, "SVU" has been an NBC power player for 13 years and will return for a 14th.

"The Office"

"The Office," NBC Status: Renewed Why: It's hard to imagine a long-running, fan-favorite show like "The Office" going away without a big promotional push. The numbers are still good (by NBC standards) and "The Office" will return for a Season 9.

"Parenthood"

"Parenthood," NBC Status: Renewed Why: The perpetual bubble show has done pretty consistent numbers for NBC this season, but three seasons in and no signs of growth is both a good and bad sign ... luckily for fans, NBC gave it a Season 4 all the same.

"Parks and Recreation"

"Parks and Recreation," NBC Status: Renewed Why: Just like the rest of NBC's Thursday comedy block, "Parks and Recreation" has serious ratings blues. Can critical acclaim keep "Parks" around for a Season 5? The answer is yes! "Parks" will return for Season 5.

"The Playboy Club"

"The Playboy Club," NBC Status: Canceled Why: Apparently fictional slutty bunnies and real-life homewrecker Eddie Cibrian do not a successful show make. It only lasted three episodes. "The Girls Next Door" did it better.

"Prime Suspect"

"Prime Suspect," NBC Status: Canceled Why: Maria Bello's gruff detective failed to capture the audience NBC hoped. At least we had all those hat jokes.

"Smash"

"Smash," NBC Status: Renewed Why: After a huge promo blitz, "Smash" debuted nicely, but started losing viewers quickly. A handful of episodes in, it stabilized, becoming NBC's #1 drama in the 18-49 demo, and NBC announced it was getting a second season.

"Up All Night"

"Up All Night," NBC Status: Renewed Why: The critical favorite of NBC's new comedy offerings, "Up All Night" debuted strongly to more than 10 million viewers, but has since dropped to less than 4 million viewers an episode. It will return for a Season 2.

"Whitney"

"Whitney," NBC Status: Renewed Why: The show is one of the better performing freshman offerings on the Peacock network -- and NBC chief Bob Greenblatt told members of the press at TCA that he is "hopeful Whitney will be a long-term player for us." Looks like Season 2 is a good start, with the show moving to Friday nights.

"The Voice"

"The Voice," NBC Status: Renewed Why: We may not even be at Season 2's live shows yet, but NBC is already up for more of "The Voice." Hopefully, Cee Lo's cat "Purrfect" will return for Season 3 as well.

"Who Do You Think You Are?"

"Who Do You Think You Are?," NBC Status: Likely to be renewed Why: The celebrity-centric family tree series has helped NBC on Friday nights and hit its ratings high in March.

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/04/american-chopper-premiere-mend-relationship-video_n_1853441.html

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Monday, September 3, 2012

DNC kickoff protest lively but largely uneventful

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) ? The kickoff protest ahead of the Democratic National Convention had the benefit of sunny skies, pent-up demand from demonstrators who were rained out in Florida and the perfect setting to decry the practices of big business.

But while Sunday's March on Wall Street South was spirited, it drew only a fraction of the turnout organizers were expecting and was as free of mayhem as protests a week earlier outside the Republican National Convention in Tampa. The march had been planned as the centerpiece of the week's protests.

Charlotte Police estimated that 800 people joined the march, but there was only one arrest. Taking their cue from police in Tampa, many officers were seen smiling and chatting with demonstrators. Two attempts to be disruptive outside of major corporate offices were largely ignored by officers. Charlotte hosts several Fortune 500 companies including the headquarters of America's largest electricity provider and second-largest bank.

The march's general purpose was to decry corporate influence in politics, but it drew people demonstrating for a variety of causes. Marchers carried signs and banners, banged drums and chanted in a louder and livelier display than Tampa protests that were lashed by the outer bands of Hurricane Isaac.

Police Chief Rodney Monroe said things went smoothly and there were few problems. At least one person was arrested for intoxication, but Monroe couldn't provide further details. Monroe also said police chased a man holding rocks off an overpass along the march route, but didn't apprehend him.

Overall, antagonism was all but absent between law enforcement and demonstrators, as evidenced by an exchange in front of Duke Energy's headquarters. Vermin Supreme, a Occupy organizer who had been shouting protest slogans through a large bull horn strapped over his shoulder, walked up to Charlotte Police Capt. Estella D. Patterson, who also had a bullhorn.

"How many watts is that?" asked the protester, who said he had legally changed his name to Supreme years earlier.

"I dunno," replied the police captain, smiling. "It's not as loud as yours."

Just in from the Tampa protests, Supreme was wearing a rubber boot on his head but no shirt. He and the police captain chatted for a few minutes, before parting with a friendly fist bump.

On two occasions, protesters attempted to be disruptive by sitting and locking arms outside of corporate headquarters, but police took no action. About two-dozen sat for about 10 minutes in front of Bank of America's skyscraper before moving on. They had the phone numbers of lawyers written on their arms.

A similar-sized group sat down in front of the headquarters for Duke Energy but eventually got up and left.

The route of the march also took demonstrators by a major office hub for Wells Fargo. It and Bank of America were beneficiaries of massive taxpayer-backed loans during the 2008 bailout of the financial sector. Both banks have also been criticized for roles in the home foreclosure crisis.

Hundreds of officers were on hand to monitor the demonstrators. Some walked along with the parade, carrying gas masks, wooden batons and plastic hand ties. Others stood at intervals of a few feet apart along the route. A police helicopter hovered so low that people on the ground could feel the wind off its rotors.

Demonstrators had anti-war signs as well as those promoting unionized labor and the plight of undocumented immigrants. One read: "Bankrupting America" with a font and logo that mimicked Bank of America. Another said: "OBAMA MURDERS CHILDREN WITH DRONES."

Participants ranged from young girls in cheerleading outfits and parents pushing strollers to Occupy Wall Street demonstrators in black shirts and red bandannas.

As they walked, some were chanting in unison: "Banks got bailed out, we got sold out."

While the turnout for Charlotte's march was well below expectations, protester David Williams said it still looked a lot better than the protests he attended in Tampa, where he thought the weather kept people away.

"Charlotte is a more powerful city than Tampa," said Williams, referring to the city's banking clout. "I'm glad we have more people here."

The march finished under sunny skies, but in an ironic twist rains from the remnants of Isaac rolled in about an hour later. Rain was also forecast for Monday, when a union march and street party are scheduled.

Occupy Charlotte organizer Ayende Alcala said he considered Sunday's turnout a success. He marched even though his pregnant wife was at home experiencing early signs of labor. Alcala wanted to be with her, but was spurred to protest out of concern for what he termed the "bleak future" he saw.

"The system is eating its own citizens," said Alcala, 31. "There's always been poor people, but it's gotten to the point where most people find it hard to survive. It's that crucial point where we have to stand up now."

Mark Bailey, 58, carried an anti-war sign in honor of his son, who has done two tours in Iraq and is currently in Afghanistan. Bailey came to Charlotte from Cleveland with about a dozen friends.

Bailey voted for Obama in 2008, but said he won't make the mistake this year. He said he is disgusted the president turned out more like Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush.

"He's willing to make war anywhere, just like they were," Bailey said.

___

Associated Press writers Gary Robertson and Jeffrey Collins contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/dnc-kickoff-protest-lively-largely-uneventful-220602688.html

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Open season: Will rebounding Wyoming wolves thrive without US protection?

The US Fish and Wildlife Service dropped federal protections for reintroduced wolves in Wyoming Friday, part of a?decades-long?plan to bring back the howling of wolves while allowing ?trophy hunts? for the apex predator.

By Patrik Jonsson,?Staff writer / September 1, 2012

A gray wolf in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming.

National Park Service/File

Enlarge

The decision Friday by the US Fish and Wildlife Service to lift endangered species protections for the gray wolf in Wyoming is a testament to the success of the 20-year federal wolf reintroduction effort.

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But the move also opens the door to a bloodier era in which Americans will be emboldened to challenge encroaching packs and lone wolves to protect property and livestock.

The return of the gray wolf continues to rivet the Mountain West, where some 2 million wolves roamed before settlers drove them to extinction by the 1930s. Nearly 2,000 animals and more than 100 breeding pairs ? a tiny fraction of their original numbers ? now traverse the ancestral valleys and ridegelines of their northern Rockies range.

Along with reintroduced animals in Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho, states like Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon, and Washington have also seen naturally migrating wolf populations growing steadily larger, even as hundreds of animals have been culled for intruding on domesticated herds.

?The return of the wolf to the northern Rocky Mountains is a major success story, and reflects the remarkable work of states, tribes, and our many partners to bring this iconic species back from the brink of extinction," Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe said in a statement.

Reintroduction of wolves into the heart of American ranch country became one of the defining dramas of the 1990s, pitting agriculture-controlled state legislatures against environmentalists and federal scientists. More deeply, it pitted the symbolism of the wolf as a reminder of a lost wilderness against the pragmatic reality of the intelligent animal?s predation of domesticated animals.

Today, ethicists and conservationists balk at lifting federal protections, especially in Wyoming, where the state will test a new ?dual status? designation. It means wolves in national parks, like Yellowstone, will be protected, while any animals that roam outside protected areas can be shot on sight as nuisance or as ?trophy game,? with no bag limits imposed on hunters.

The latest wolf count in Wyoming showed a total of 328 wolves, 224 of which have set up ranges outside Yellowstone National Park.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/mKpZ-3JUVcQ/Open-season-Will-rebounding-Wyoming-wolves-thrive-without-US-protection

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The Path to Success Is Through Internet Marketing

Posted by eri39070de on 14 hours ago

Is internet marketing part of what you use to promote yourself online? If not, you should definitely look into it more closely. Here, you will find a beginner-friendly overview of the most popular and effective Internet marketing techniques.

If you are not already on the internet marketing bandwagon, you are missing out. This article will give you an idea of how you can be successful with internet marketing.

If you intend for your business to have a substantial exposure to the worldwide web and its benefits, it is wise to give serious consideration to what internet marketing strategies can work for you. To create your online marketing scheme, read this article and use the advice that is given to you.

Internet marketing is a wonderful tool for online business promotion that should be considered by all business owners. This article discusses some of the more important concepts that you will need to know. Read on to educate yourself about the latest internet marketing tactics and get your own ideas flowing.

Business owners should look for better ways on how to advertise on the internet, which means that they should take time to research internet marketing. In this article, you will learn the basics of Internet marketing that will allow you to invent some marketing methods of your own.

Are you informing people about your business by promoting it online? Strong consideration should be given to this method if it has not been used in your marketing efforts. This article should provide vital insights on the subject of internet marketing and offer helpful advice on how to create the most effective marketing plans.

Having a business online is no different than having a business offline. It is all about promotion. If you have not started marketing your website, what is stopping you? Once you read the following article, you are sure to understand the basics of internet marketing and can begin developing your very own marketing plan.

The Internet is an essential tool in promoting your business. Online marketing provides many benefits. Here are some ideas for getting started in the field of internet marketing.

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Source: http://www.flippingpad.com/profiles/18557-eri39070de/blogs/30301-the-path-to-success-is-through-internet-marketing

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