I'm Ryan North, Creator of Dinosaur Comics, and This Is How I Work

Ryan North says he has "basically the best job ever," and we can't help but agree. As the creator of Dinosaur Comics, Ryan has been churning out the beloved webcomic nearly every weekday since 2003. He's also the guy behind the Adventure Time comic series and To Be or Not To Be, a choose-your-own-path version of Hamlet that recently became Kickstarter's most funded publishing project ever. When he's not comic-ing, Ryan uses his professional programming skills to build stuff like Project Wonderful, an online ad service, and Oh No Robot, a searchable text database for comics. We stole a few minutes of Ryan's busy schedule to chat about apps, gadgets, Patrick Stewart, and more. Did we miss something? Ryan is chatting live for the next hour?ask him yourself!

Update: the q&a is closed?thanks for all the great questions!

Current gig: Writer and programmer! Writing projects include Dinosaur Comics, the Adventure Time comics, and To Be or Not To Be. I'm also a computer programmer, and Project Wonderful is the advertising network I wrote after wishing there was one out there that didn't suck.
Location: Sunny, unseasonably warm Toronto, Canada
Current mobile device: I've got a Samsung Galaxy S III which is the first phone I don't hate. My previous phone was a Motorola abomination and before that an iPhone 3G. I don't really upgrade phones that often, but the past two died and I took the opportunity to upgrade.
Current computer: I have a Lenovo Thinkpad, mainly because they're one of the few laptops that support three monitors via a dock. My other machine is one that I built myself, parts being swapped out and upgraded over the years. It used to have a floppy drive in it that went way back to when I was six, but it never got use and eventually the motherboards didn't have connectors for it anyway.
One word that best describes how you work: Distractedly

Above: A Dinosaur Comic.

What's apps/software/tools can't you live without?

There's a few things that have changed how I work. Dropbox is great both for painless, automatic backup but also for keeping data in sync on different machines. I do most of my writing (both words and code) in Textpad?it's a pretty great text editor that supports regular expressions. I'd include my phone as one of the tools?I use it to jot down ideas wherever I have them. I used to email them to myself, but Evernote solved that problem nicely too.

I've been using Winamp for music for years and years, mainly because it supports global hotkeys, so I can pause, skip, rewind, etc. by pressing, say, CTRL+ALT+SHIFT+PAGEDOWN in whatever program I'm in. That sounds dumb but it's great?it means I can control the music without losing focus on what I'm doing. Sometimes I'll skip songs without even noticing it: it's like second nature. I'm all about efficiency. I have the task bar at the top of the screen on my Windows machine, because I mapped it out and if my hand is on the mouse, odds are it'll be closer to the top of the screen than the bottom, so by having the task bar at the top too I save valuable milliseconds.

Basically put me alone in a room with a computer and internet access and I can be happy for days. Weeks? I guess I'd need food and water at some point.

Above: Ryan's Winamp.

What's your workspace like?

I work mainly from home in my office, where I've got a desk (I'd love to get a standing desk just so I can move around more) and a fancy office chair that I spent a lot of money on. After my bed, it's the piece of furniture I spend the most time in, so I figured it was worth it. Sometimes I'll go into the Project Wonderful offices?there's a similar desk there, but there's other people too, if I'm craving social interaction. I am the #1 fan of multiple monitors: two is odd because it means you're always turning your head to the side the monitor is on, and three is a really nice sweet spot. Center screen for work, left screen for research/status stuff, and right screen for email and Twitter. If I'm really focused, I'll minimize the email.

I usually work to music, but if something's not working, I'll turn the music off. I've tried coffee shops once or twice but it's not exactly productive times for me. I work best alone, with distractions that I can manage and control.

What do you listen to while you work?

Music! Tons and tons of music. Here's the thing: anything with words or actual content will be distracting, so NPR/CBC/Savage Love podcasts are out if I'm trying to be productive. And music that is super awesome is out too, because it'll be distracting how good it is. I generally listen to "just okay" music when I have to focus, and save the awesome stuff where I don't have to be as productive. I really love mashups because I really love listening to more than one song at the same time I guess!

What's your best time-saving trick?

Multitasking. I have a dog which means at least one to two hours a day is spent outside walking, or standing around at the dog park. I used to think "Oh no, wasted time!" but now I use the time to work out plots, figure out jokes, that sort of thing. It's lower-intensity work and lets me recharge, but I also get to be productive while I'm recharging and playing with all the dogs at the park. I'll talk to myself while I'm walking too, because I like dialogue to sound natural, and saying it out loud helps with that. It makes me look a little crazy, but whatever. Really I guess my greatest life hack is to not care what strangers think about you!

What's your favorite to-do list manager?

I've tried a few, but I always come back to my tried-and-true "todo.txt" that lives on my desktop.

Besides your phone and computer, what gadget can't you live without?

Glasses! Otherwise I can't easily see my phone and computer and it's so sad.

What's everyday thing are you better at than anyone else?

I believe I can state with authority that I have spent more time thinking about the novelization of Back To The Future than any other alive human. My page-by-page review is my proof of this. I know you wanted an "everyday thing" but who among us can truly say they don't think about Back to the Future at least once per day?

Above: Part of an Adventure Time script.

What's your sleep routine like?

When I was a kid I had to get up at 6 to catch a 7 AM bus into school, and once I started grad school I relaxed that to 7 AM. So I'm usually up at 7 sharp (alarm set so I can hear the news) and then in bed when I start to get sleepy, which is normally between 11 and midnight. I really value my sleep. And I wish it were somehow super awesome to say "I really value my sleep."

Are you more of an introvert or an extrovert?

Oh, total introvert. But I love pals and that slides me more towards extrovert, I guess? I just want all my friends and I to live in a giant house which I call "Pal Mansion." Is that so wrong?

Fill in the blank: I'd kill to see ________ answer these same questions.

Patrick Stewart, but only if I'm the one asking the questions. And he invites me over to his place for the interview. And we start talking and he asks me in his stentorian voice about my hopes and dreams and we talk about our lives and loves and fears, and it's just?it's just so real.

What's the best advice you've ever received?

"Never stop learning." Also "if you find a job you like it won't feel like work." So let's assume at some point in the past my father pulled me aside and said "Never stop learning, also, on another topic, if you find a job you like then it won't feel like work. Randy out, yo."

Anything else you want to add for readers/fans?

I love getting email, but there's only so much time in the day to write back to it, so please don't hate me if I never do. I have such good intentions!

---

The How I Work series asks heroes, experts, brilliant, and flat-out productive people to share their shortcuts, workspaces, routines, and more. Every Wednesday we'll feature a new guest and the gadgets, apps, tips, and tricks that keep them going. Have someone you'd kill to see featured, or questions you think we should ask? Email Tessa.

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/ykRY5Yl4tNg/im-ryan-north-creator-of-dinosaur-comics-and-this-is-how-i-work

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Home Improvement Tips ? Five easy ways to make your garage ...

Whether you?re purchasing a new car or embarking on a DIY home improvement project, there are many reasons for revamping your garage into a more useful space. When it comes to renovating a garage, it helps to let its function drive its design. Here are some useful tips to create a garage that works for you:

Getting started
Of all the rooms in a home, the garage is among the first to become cluttered and disorganised. It?s the place where deflated footballs, boxes of Christmas decorations and various once-used cleaning products go to die. Step one is to de-clutter the room thoroughly, clearing out any items that no longer serve a purpose. Create a pile for items you wish to keep, items that can be donated to charity, and those that belong in the dump.

Budgeting for your needs
Before you get to work renovating your garage, it?s useful to map out a budget for the project. There are many ways to fund the project, such as selling items you no longer use or need, setting aside savings or taking out a loan. No matter how you choose to pay for the renovation, it?s wise to devise a detailed budget for all planned and potential expenses.
What to include? Five Top Tips?

The Basics:
Water and electricity are two of the first items to consider when renovating a garage. Having a water supply installed near or outside the garage can be handy for washing your car, or even for just washing your hands. Also essential is hiring an electrician to wire the room with plenty of conveniently placed power sockets, as well as ceiling lights for when small projects turn into all-nighters.

Essential Tools
Fill your garage with tools that you?ll use regularly, such as an air compressor for pumping up tyres and a quality electric drill for miscellaneous DIY projects. Specialty tools for one-off projects can be rented, saving you money to spend on others that you?ll get more use out of.

Smart Storage
There are plenty of creative ways to organise your tools that serves both function and design. Quality tool boxes are great for portability, while clear cabinets or a clearly-outlined tool wall with hooks are a great way to ensure items are stored in an easy-to-find place.

Between your growing tool collection and the value of your car, the contents of your garage can quickly add up. Investing in some solid padlocks, motion-sensor lights and perhaps even a CCTV camera could help protect your garage from break-ins.

Personalisation
Of course, the key to creating a garage that works for you is adding your own personal touch. Though the main purpose of a garage may be utility, that doesn?t mean it can?t also be beautiful. Hanging framed photos, painting a colourful feature wall or choosing a modern light fixture are all simple ways to add a bit of personality to the space.

With a bit of work and forward-planning, you can create a happy home for your car and an inspiring space for all your DIY endeavours.

This guest post was written by Andy Moore on behalf of Money Matters, the Sainsbury?s Bank blog. Though it may include tips and information, it does not constitute advice and should not be used as a basis for any financial decisions. Sainsbury?s Bank accepts no responsibility for the opinions and views?of external contributors and the content of external websites included within this post.?All information in this post was correct at date of?publication.

garage

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Source: http://www.homezine.net/five-easy-ways-to-make-your-garage-work-for-you/

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Suspect in deadly Vegas Strip shooting brags about fast life

LAS VEGAS (AP) ? Las Vegas triple murder suspect Ammar Harris has a smirk on his face in a ninety-second YouTube video that shows him flashing a thick stack of $100 bills.

The video provided by police is just one of many online displays of bravado that suggest a sinister side to Harris. The 26-year-old is the subject of a multi-state manhunt after a Maserati driver was shot dead on the Las Vegas Strip last Thursday and a taxi driver and passenger died in the fiery chain reaction crash that followed.

Wearing a red baseball cap and crisp white shirt with flashy sunglasses tucked in the collar, Harris asks nonchalantly whether viewers will "help me count something," and then fans out a stack of bills.

The video he took of himself in a bathroom cuts away to a pile of cash on the counter; Harris drops a bill and says "fifty."

"I could keep going, I could keep going ... but like, I don't feel like countin' anymore," he says. "I got another bag. But I think I proved my (expletive) point."

Las Vegas Police Officer Bill Cassell declined to comment on the video, saying it was open to the interpretation of individual viewers. But he said detectives are getting plenty of leads on Harris, whose face is splashed across billboards along Las Vegas freeways.

"I'm sure the widespread publicity, as well as the blatant, heinous nature of the crime, is motivating people to contact us," Cassell said.

Authorities believe Harris shot from a Range Rover he was riding in along with Tineesha Lashun Howard, a 22-year-old from Miami who has been arrested multiple times on charges including prostitution, trespassing, possession of a stolen vehicle and grand larceny. Police have named Howard, who also goes by the name Yenesis "Yeni" Alfonzo, a person of interest in the case.

Harris was arrested last year in Las Vegas in a 2010 prostitution case using the name Ammar Asim Faruq Harris. He was charged with robbery, sexual assault, kidnapping and coercion with a weapon, and police sought charges of pandering by force and felon in possession of concealed weapon. Court records show that case was dismissed last June.

But while the courts haven't convicted him of pimping, his bold social media persona suggests otherwise.

In Twitter postings attributed to Harris and reviewed by the Las Vegas Review-Journal (http://bit.ly/ZzEO2i ) before the feed was apparently disabled Tuesday, Harris brags that his house is full of women, and they're all paying him. In one August post quoted by the newspaper, he writes, "there's nothing wrong with paying for (sex)...as long as you paying one of my (women)."

Harris posts pictures of a Bentley and an Aston Martin, and mug shots from his own arrests. Harris was convicted in South Carolina in 2004 of felony possession with intent to sell a stolen pistol and convicted in Atlanta of a misdemeanor marijuana possession charge.

Harris also discusses plans for his own birthday party aboard a boat on the Atlantic Ocean, complete with a $1,000 bikini contest.

The fast life Harris boasts of is not unlike the online persona projected by 27-year-old shooting victim Kenneth Wayne Cherry Jr.

Cherry, who went by the stage name "Kenny Clutch," is seen in a YouTube video driving his luxury car down the Strip and rapping about a "Maserati, paid 120 for it."

Police say the two argued in the valet area of the Aria casino before dawn Thursday. The dispute took a deadly turn in the tourist corridor when shots were fired from a Range Rover and into Cherry's Maserati, which sped forward through a red light and slammed into a taxi.

The taxi exploded, killing 62-year-old driver Michael Boldon and 48-year-old passenger Sandra Sutton-Wasmund, a businesswoman visiting from Maple Valley, Wash. Four other cars crashed, injuring several other people and closing the intersection in the heart of Las Vegas for an entire day.

Police found the Range Rover two days later parked at the gated Las Vegas apartment complex where Harris lived, but there was no sign of Harris.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/vegas-murder-suspect-brags-online-fast-life-204307885.html

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Coast Guard investigates report of Gulf oil well leak

(Reuters) - The Coast Guard was responding to a report that a crewboat struck an inactive wellhead off the Louisiana coast, and that the platform was discharging an unknown quantity of an oily-water mixture, the agency said on Wednesday.

It said reports indicated a 42-foot (13-metre) crewboat, the Sea Raider, had struck a wellhead owned by Swift Energy on Tuesday evening, and that the energy company had said the wellhead was shut down in 2007.

A small sheen had developed, Ensign Tanner Stiehl said.

"We don't know the specific oil content," said Stiehl.

The Coast Guard was working with federal, state and local agencies plus Swift Energy on the response.

Swift Energy had no immediate comment but said it would issue a statement soon.

The incident occurred about nine miles southwest of Port Sulphur, a small town along the lower Mississippi River some 50 miles south of New Orleans.

There has been a heightened awareness of spills of any magnitude since the Deepwater Horizon disaster that killed 11 rig workers and spilled millions of barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico in 2010.

Oil giant BP is currently on trial in a civil case in New Orleans over the spill.

Potential liabilities stretch into the tens of billions of dollars if the judge determines BP or the other defendants were grossly negligent. Oil came ashore from Texas to Florida, threatening livelihoods and state economies dependent on seafood and tourism.

Fire boats battle a fire at the off shore oil rig Deepwater Horizon April 21, 2010 in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Louisiana. Multiple Coast Guard helicopters, planes and cutters responded to ... more? Fire boats battle a fire at the off shore oil rig Deepwater Horizon April 21, 2010 in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Louisiana. Multiple Coast Guard helicopters, planes and cutters responded to rescue the Deepwater Horizons 126 person crew after an explosion and fire caused the crew to evacuate. (Photo by U.S. Coast Guard via Getty Images) less? ?

(Reporting by Kathy Finn and Cynthia Johnston; Editing by Daniel Trotta and Bob Burgdorfer)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/u-coast-guard-responds-report-wellhead-leak-off-165710890--finance.html

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2013 Mayor's Small Business Award Winners | Maui Now

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Young Small Business Person of the Year:
David ?Boze? Kapoi (Pride Ink Tattoo).

By Sonia Isotov

A tattoo artist, two restaurants, a zip lining activity, and a transportation company were among the top winners at the annual 2013 Mayor?s Small Business Awards celebration held at the King Kamehameha Golf Club last week.

Sponsored by Maui County Office of Economic Development and produced by the Maui Chamber of Commerce, the event was attended by members of the Maui County small business community, representatives of key business organizations,

Exceptional Small Business (10 or fewer employees):
Paris Nabayi (Cilantro Mexican Grill).

government and friends and family of award nominees and winners.

?Small business is Maui County?s most important economic engine, and we should never forget the sacrifices that business owners make every day to keep their businesses operating,? said Mayor Arakawa, in a public statement yesterday.

?They [small business owners] take on risk, work long hours, and put their personal assets on the line while providing jobs, services and goods to our community. We are fortunate to have such a strong small business community in Maui County and are privileged to honor them.?

Exceptional Small Business (11-25 employees):
David & Ululani Yamashiro (Ululani?s Hawaiian Shave Ice LLC).

The winners in each category are as follows:

Outstanding Non-Profit Business:
Habitat for Humanity Maui.

Lifetime Achievement Award:
The Late Douglas Wayne ?Butch? Akina & Sandra Akina (Akina Aloha Tours).

Related Stories:

Source: http://mauinow.com/2013/02/26/2013-mayors-small-business-award-winners/

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Mary-Louise Parker Denies Threatening to KILL Antique Shop Owner, Using Gay Slur

Source:

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Editorial: Chief Justices Should Not Allow DNA Collection During an Arrest Booking

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The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments this week about whether law enforcement officials have a constitutional right to collect DNA after an arrest and before a person has been convicted of a crime. The argument in favor of this practice holds that it is no different than fingerprinting during a booking procedure. But DNA furnishes much more information than the fingerprint?s simple ID and thus raises a range of issues about whether gathering a sample upon arrest would violate the Fourth Amendment?s prohibition against ?unreasonable searches and seizures.? Scientific American urged that fingerprinting-upon-arrest not be allowed in an Agenda editorial that appeared in the December 2011 issue (reproduced, in part, below). More on the issues surrounding DNA databases maintained by law enforcement can be found in ?The U.S. Is Building Massive DNA Databases [Preview] by Erin Murphy in the March 2013 issue.

From Stop the Genetic Dragnet, from the December 2011 Scientifc American

In 2009 the San Francisco police arrested Lily Haskell when she allegedly attempted to come to the aid of a companion who had already been taken into custody during a peace demonstration. The authorities released her quickly, without pressing charges. But a little piece of Haskell remained behind in their database.

Haskell is one of hundreds of thousands who have had their DNA extracted as part of an enormous expansion of what were once categorized as criminal data banks. Police in about 25 states and federal agents are now empowered to take a DNA sample after arresting, and before charging, someone. This practice occurs even though many of those in custody are never found guilty. If they are cleared, their DNA stays downtown, and they must undergo a cumbersome procedure to clear their genetic records.

Courts nationwide are now wrestling with the civil-liberties implications. Some have held that the practice violates the Fourth Amendment protection against ?unreasonable searches and seizures.? Other courts, including one that heard a legal challenge brought by Haskell, have agreed with law-enforcement officials that lifting DNA is no different from taking a fingerprint, an established routine even for those not convicted. Ultimately the U.S. Supreme Court will probably decide this matter.

The ability of DNA technologies to match a tiny sliver of tissue left at a crime scene to a suspect gives them an undeniable allure to law enforcement. For critics, the unreasonableness of this ?search? relates to the information-rich nature of DNA. It does more than just ID people. It also has the potential to furnish details about appearance, disease risk and behavioral traits. The laws establishing DNA databases attempt to guard privacy by limiting inspection to only 13 relatively short stretches of DNA among the billions of ?letters? of code that make up the genome. Yet that protection may not be enough. Once those 13 markers are extracted, law-enforcement agencies continue to store the larger biological sample. Civil-liberties organizations worry that officials may eventually mine these samples for personal details or make them available for medical research without consent.

>> Click here to read the full editorial

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Source: http://rss.sciam.com/click.phdo?i=f93b55ea1b52be6ff3e7bb5e92bfaef3

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Source: http://software-coupon-code.pressdoc.com/39849-http-anysoftcoupon-com-has-launched-various-software-coupon-codes-for-their-customers

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Lew moves closer to confirmation with Senate Finance vote ? CNN ...

(CNN) - Jack Lew came one step closer to Senate confirmation as President Barack Obama's second Treasury secretary when the Senate Finance Committee approved his nomination Tuesday.

His nomination now goes to the full Senate where he is expected to be easily confirmed ? especially compared to Obama's nominee for Defense secretary, former Sen. Chuck Hagel, who faced a Republican filibuster of his nomination

But that isn't to say Lew's ride through the committee was easy. He faced tough questions from Republicans about his leadership of a Citigroup bank unit which made bets against the housing market ahead of that sector's collapse, which drove the 2008 financial crisis, as well as an investment program for employees that he participated in and was based in the Cayman Islands. He has also come under scrutiny for receiving a $900,000 bonus while taxpayers were bailing out the bank, and a more recently reported bonus upon leaving New York University where he was executive vice president.

Lew has said he did not make investment decisions at Citigroup and that he paid all taxes on the investment, which he sold when leaving the company for a loss.

But Sen. Chuck Grassley, an Iowa Republican and one of Lew's dissenters, said "Mr. Lew is very good at getting paid by taxpayer supported institutions"

"Mr. Lew's eagerness and skill at obtaining bonuses, severance payments and perks raise questions about whether he appreciates who pays the bill," Grassley said.

The ranking Republican on the committee, Sen. Orrin Hatch, and three other Republicans - Sens. Johnny Isakson of Georgia, Rob Portman of Ohio and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania - joined all 14 Democrats on the panel voting in favor of Lew. Five Republicans cast the only votes against Lew: Grassley, Mike Crapo of Idaho, Pat Roberts of Kansas, Michael Enzi of Wyoming, and John Cornyn of Texas.

Lew, 57, was Obama's chief of staff for approximately a year and was nominated in January to succeed Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner.

His nomination heads to the floor as Congress and the White House are staring down forced federal spending cuts which kick in at the end of the week. There appears to be little chance of passing a plan before then to avert them, and each side is placing the blame squarely on the other.

Source: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/02/26/lew-moves-closer-to-confirmation-with-senate-finance-vote/

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Armani racks up early fashion wins at Oscars

Jessica Chastain arrives at the 85th Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre on Sunday Feb. 24, 2013, in Los Angeles. (Photo by John Shearer/Invision/AP)

Jessica Chastain arrives at the 85th Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre on Sunday Feb. 24, 2013, in Los Angeles. (Photo by John Shearer/Invision/AP)

Jessica Chastain arrives at the 85th Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre on Sunday Feb. 24, 2013, in Los Angeles. (Photo by John Shearer/Invision/AP)

Actress Quvenzhane Wallis arrives at the 85th Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre on Sunday Feb. 24, 2013, in Los Angeles. (Photo by John Shearer/Invision/AP)

Actress Jennifer Lawrence arrives at the 85th Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre on Sunday Feb. 24, 2013, in Los Angeles. (Photo by John Shearer/Invision/AP)

Actress Jennifer Lawrence arrives at the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre on Sunday Feb. 24, 2013, in Los Angeles. (Photo by John Shearer/Invision/AP)

Giorgio Armani could claim some big wins at the Oscars on Sunday night: The designer dressed Jessica Chastain and Quvenzhane Wallis.

Chastain, in a glistening copper-tone strapless gown with mermaid hem, looked like an old-world glamorous movie star, especially with her oversized vintage Harry Winston diamond earrings and bright red lipstick. "I chose it because to me it was a throwback to old Hollywood," she said.

Meanwhile, she told E!: "It's a very 'Happy birthday, Mr. President' dress."

Naomi Watts was expected to wear a gunmetal beaded gown with a geometric cutout on the bodice, also by Armani. She and Chastain were both considered fashion "gets" for the Academy Awards in Los Angeles.

Quvenzhane, with a silver headband in her hair and carrying her puppy purse, wore an Armani Junior navy-blue dress with black, navy and silver jewels scattered on the skirt and a big bow on the back. She apparently has another Armani dress, a pink one, ready for the afterparty. "I liked it because it was sparkly and puffy."

Jennifer Lawrence was in a white strapless gown by Dior Haute Couture with sophisticated pulled-back hair, diamond-ball earrings and a delicate long necklace that hung down in the back.

Amy Adams wore a dove-gray Oscar de la Renta gown with a sweetheart neckline and tiers of frayed chiffon and tulle on the ballskirt, and Zoe Saldana wore a strapless gray gown with floral appliques. Reese Witherspoon's modern gown by Louis Vuitton was mostly electric blue with a strip of black at the bustline.

Kerry Washington wore a Miu Miu gown with a chunky beaded bodice and orange-red skirt with a delicate bow at the waist.

Other expected designer moments to unfold at the Dolby Theatre include Barbra Streisand in a black, bias-cut, asymmetrical Donna Karan gown that the designer dubbed "City Lights." Renee Zellweger was expected to wear a Carolina Herrera gown.

Headed to the Oscars herself, Nadja Swarovski, the head of corporate communications for the crystal company Swarovski that makes the beadwork for the majority of the red-carpet gowns, expected the collective fashion picture to be fairly minimalist looks in monochromatic colors.

Still, she said, there'll be sparkle. "It's more of a dot on the 'I' or cross on the 'T,' more than a whole of sparkle, but it makes a great palette for jewelry."

___

Associated Press Writer Beth Harris contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/4e67281c3f754d0696fbfdee0f3f1469/Article_2013-02-24-Oscars-Fashion/id-b50d403c2e8b4c588cd46c6564a1f3f4

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What the sequester means for most Americans

John W. Schoen , NBC News ? ? ? 36 min.

As the clock ticks down in another federal budget battle, warnings are growing more dire about the consequences of not reaching a deal by the end of the month.

The so-called budget sequestration would force about $85 billion worth of across-the-board spending cuts that would ripple through the federal government and broader economy.

Here?s a look at what caused the impasse and what it may mean for most Americans.

Is this the same as the ?fiscal cliff?? I thought they fixed that problem.

Not exactly, though we have seen this movie before. If "The Fiscal Cliff" was last year?s runaway Hollywood blockbuster disaster movie, "The Sequester" is this year?s sequel ? complete with the same plot line and your favorite politicians in starring roles.

The original script was written in July 2011 when, as part of that summer?s horror hit, "Debt Ceiling Debacle," Congress and the White House agreed to a set of tax hikes and spending cuts so onerous everyone assumed the shoot-ourselves-in-the-foot budget package would be replaced with a sensible plan by Jan. 1, 2013. In late December, a last-minute deal diffused the tax increases on all but the wealthiest households, but lawmakers punted the spending cut deadline to March 1.

So they?ll just do another last-minute deal again. This March 1 doomsday scenario is just hype, right?

Maybe. Recent dire warnings from the Pentagon to the Transportation Department are clearly aimed at putting pressure on Congress to come up with a deal.

But if the gridlock persists, and lawmakers don?t reach a deal soon, the spending cuts baked into the current law could indeed create havoc with some government services and popular programs. That?s because the law bars government agencies from making rational, considered decisions about which programs to fully fund and which ones to cut entirely. So it?s not the depth of the cuts so much as the way they?re required to be made that?s cause for alarm.

But don?t we need to cut federal spending?

Sure, but this is not the way to go about it. Say you took a pay cut and had to figure out how to cut your household spending by 10 percent. You?d probably gather the family around the kitchen table, review where the money goes each month and figure out what you can do without. No more ordering Chinese three times a week. Maybe you have to downsize to a mobile phone plan with fewer minutes. Belt tightening is always painful, but done carefully you can usually get back to a more or less normal life.

Now suppose there was a law that said ? instead of making careful, considered decisions ? you had to spend 10 percent less on every bill that comes in. If you pay the phone company only 90 percent of your bill, sooner or later they?ll shut off service. Try paying your landlord 90 percent of your rent and see how long before you get served with an eviction notice.

For that matter, try ordering just 90 percent of a new submarine for the Pentagon. It?s not like you can just lose the sunroof and skip the upgraded exterior trim package.

That?s what makes the process so disruptive ? even though the total cuts are relatively small.

This is insane. Why would anyone come up with a plan like that?

Because when it was written, the threat of a down-the-road disaster seemed like a better option than letting the U.S. Treasury default, an outcome that was just days away in July, 2011. To break that high-stakes deadlock, the sequester process was specifically (some say perversely) designed to create havoc with every single federal agency it applies to. The threat of the expected chaos, along with a six-month cooling off period, was supposed to bring Congress to its senses and usher in a more rational, orderly budget process before the chaos of sequester cuts took effect.

What kind of chaos are we talking about here?

Until we hit the March 1 deadline, it?s impossible to know for sure. Some agencies and departments, including the Pentagon, are already getting ready to furlough workers. Because they need to give 30 days? notice, those staff cutbacks aren?t expected to kick in until April 1.

By then, unless a new budget deal is in place, you could begin seeing the impact fairly quickly. With fewer TSA workers, travelers could see longer lines and delays in airport security checkpoint. Fewer FAA Air Traffic Controllers means fewer planes in the sky, which means ongoing flight delays or cancellations.

"It's going to be very painful for the flying public," warned Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood Friday.

Furloughed food inspectors could force some processors to shut down. The IRS has warned that your tax refund will be delayed if there are fewer workers to review and process your return. With fewer workers showing up at the FBI and Justice Department, criminal cases could take longer to investigate and prosecute.

Doctors would get paid less to see Medicare patients, and could have to wait longer to collect those fees. Households collecting federally-funded, extended unemployment benefits would get smaller checks. Farmers face cuts in crop subsidies.

No wonder they?re called ?across the board?cuts. Would any part of the government be spared?

Yes. Social Security checks and Medicare benefits to patients won?t be cut. (But some of the workers who process those checks could be furloughed, which would delay payments to recipients.) Programs for low-income households, including food stamps, Medicaid, children?s health benefits the earned income tax credit, would be exempt from cuts. Federal retiree and veterans? benefits would also be spared.

Military personnel are exempt, but the Pentagon has said some 750,000 civilian workers would face furloughs.

And for all the disruption, we?d get very little serious deficit reduction. That?s because these cuts apply largely to so-called ?discretionary? spending. The vast bulk of ?mandatory? Social Security and Medicare spending would be left untouched. Those are, by far, the biggest contributors to the federal deficit.

Won?t this hurt the economy?

It won?t help. Some jobs will be cut (the White House estimates about 750,000) which the economy can ill-afford with unemployment a 7.9 percent. But the roughly $85 billion in mandated cuts represents only about a half-percent of annual U.S. gross domestic product.

This is crazy. How did we get into this mess?

The federal deficit has been expanding for some time, through multiple administrations, but the 2007 recession and 2008 credit crash made the problem a lot worse. Social Security and Medicare ? largely off-limits to the sequester ? need to be reformed by raising more money, pare future benefits, or both.

The good news is that there are a number of credible proposals to fix these problems and plenty of time to get fiscal policy on track to help the economy continue to get back its feet.

Unfortunately, despite the sequester?s original goal of spurring Congress to act, there?s little evidence that lawmakers are any closer to getting to work on those big, broad solutions.

So if they do somehow come up with a deal March 1, are we through with all this nonsense?

Not necessarily. Because Congress hasn?t passed a formal budget in years, government spending is currently authorized only through late March. That creates yet another deadline for yet another disaster movie sequel. Unless yet another budget deal can been reached, look for "Continuing Resolution" to open in theaters Mar. 27.

And watch for the trailer on the next coming attraction, "Debt Ceiling Debacle II," due later this year.

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/business/economywatch/sequestration-just-latest-round-dc-fiscal-follies-1C8502787

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"Argo" wins Oscar for Best Picture

"I want to thank you for working on our marriage for 10 Christmases. It's good, it is work, but it's the best kind of work. There's no one I'd rather work with." ? Ben Affleck, thanking his wife, Jennifer Garner, as he accepted the best picture Oscar for "Argo."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/argo-wins-oscar-best-picture-045945405--finance.html

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NBA: Los Angeles Clippers 107, Utah 94

Published: Feb. 24, 2013 at 1:06 AM

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 24 (UPI) -- Caron Butler scored 11 of his 21 points during a big third quarter Saturday that vaulted the Los Angeles Clippers past Utah 107-94.

Blake Griffin joined him with 12 points during the decisive frame, in which the Clippers outscored the Jazz 36-20 to break open a close game and get back on the winning track following a Thursday loss to San Antonio.

Griffin finished with 18 points and seven rebounds.

Lamar Odom also scored 18 off the bench to go with six boards for LA.

Gordon Hayward went 13-of-14 from the free-throw line en route to 23 points and eight rebounds for Utah, which had its three-game winning streak snapped.

Paul Milsap (19 points), Al Jefferson (16) and Enes Kanter (15) also reached double figures for the Jazz.

Source: http://www.upi.com/Sports_News/2013/02/24/NBA-Los-Angeles-Clippers-107-Utah-94/UPI-17141361686010/

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UPDATE 1-Golf-WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship round 3 scores

Thomson Reuters is the world's largest international multimedia news agency, providing investing news, world news, business news, technology news, headline news, small business news, news alerts, personal finance, stock market, and mutual funds information available on Reuters.com, video, mobile, and interactive television platforms. Thomson Reuters journalists are subject to an Editorial Handbook which requires fair presentation and disclosure of relevant interests.

NYSE and AMEX quotes delayed by at least 20 minutes. Nasdaq delayed by at least 15 minutes. For a complete list of exchanges and delays, please click here.

Source: http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/INgolf/~3/-ASVTC6Cpdk/golf-wgc-scores-idINISS38177420130223

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long term romane/relationship

Hey. I just made a RP a while ago called Discord: love is war. It's a slice of life roleplay that takes place in a huge mansion that is used as a private, boarding scholarship for the gifted. But here's the thing, they are gifted talent wise. Not power or mutation wise. The student are each a prodigy when it comes to their separate talents. Their are only twelve students attending at one given time.

The main focus to this is story, romance and relationships. Love and friendship are the two main driving forces behind this story RP. The reason behind it being named discord is due to the cheating, revenge, backstabbing, and love triangles that are likely to(and will, mind you.) Take place. And everyone can agree that love is a battlefield.

What i need are experienced role players that don't mind participating in a long term role play and be consistent with posting. I don't want this RP to die. If you think you want to join please do, I have lots of open spots. Or if you know someone who would fit perfectly in this Story Role Play then please give them a link or something. I'ed be grateful. ^^

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RolePlayGateway/~3/yYU0UimoCEM/viewtopic.php

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Women's basketball: CSU at New Mexico

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

Source: http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20130222/SPORTS0202/302220051/1006/rss02

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Goldman Sachs sells 75% of Ariel Re reinsurance business to ...

by admin on February 22, 2013

According to a report in the Financial Times, Goldman Sachs has completed the sale of 75% of its reinsurance operations, Ariel Re, to investors through a private placement. Goldman Sachs only bought Ariel Re last year in an effort to profit more from reinsurance premiums and diversify away from its core investment banking business, but its said that regulatory requirements such as Basel III capital requirements provided the trigger for the sale.

We wrote about this back in January when it became clear on its Q4 earnings call that Goldman Sachs planned to sell its reinsurance operations and we discussed some of the potential ways it could achieve that. According to the FT, Goldman has sold 75% of its reinsurance operations in a private placement to investors and put the operations into a new corporate vehicle which will be called Global Atlantic.

Goldman Sachs will retain a non-controlling 25% share of the reinsurance business, which must be a small enough share for it not to impact the bank under Basel III as a non-core business operation. The FT quotes a source as saying that Goldman will provide hedging and investment services to the newly established Global Atlantic reinsurance business. The FT suggests that the 75% stake which was sold to investors had an asking price of around $1 billion.

In our article in January on the sale we discussed the possibility that Goldman Sachs could use the sale as a way to get into the collateralized reinsurance business. We can?t confirm this but it seems like if that was the desired business model then it could be achieved, with investors and Goldman backing a cash collateralized reinsurance company in Global Atlantic and Goldman Sachs investment and hedging arm utilising the resulting premiums to maximise profits. In that way the investors would benefit with profits from both premium income and investment income while Goldman Sachs could also profit from a fee income due to its investment services provided to the investors as well.

Of course the actual strategy followed by Global Atlantic could be a mix of the above or simply a typical reinsurance business with access to investment and hedging strategies provided by Goldman Sachs. Depending on the motivations of the investors and Goldman Sachs, the new Global Atlantic reinsurance firm could be traditional, fully collateralized or follow a hedge fund backed reinsurer approach. There is also, perhaps, an opportunity for Goldman to operate reinsurance-linked funds, managing the investment operations while Global Atlantic manages the underwriting, as well.

You can read the full Financial Times article here, but may require a login.

Tagged as: Ariel Re, collateralized reinsurance, goldman sachs, reinsurance, third party capital

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Source: http://www.artemis.bm/blog/2013/02/22/goldman-sachs-sells-75-of-ariel-re-reinsurance-business-to-investors-say-reports/

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Great Ideas! 6 Fun Ways to Celebrate Oscar Night with the Kids

Dress up! Hand out awards! Eva Shure from Red Carpet Kids shares her best ideas

Source: http://feeds.celebritybabies.com/~r/celebrity-babies/~3/H8GqftYXVXo/

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Magellan Debuts SmartGPS Apps for Apple and Android Mobile Devices to Help Users Discover Their World

Magellan to Demonstrate SmartGPS Apps During Mobile World Congress at ShowStoppers Media Event

SANTA CLARA, CA and BARCELONA, SPAIN--(Marketwire - Feb 21, 2013) - @ Mobile World Congress -- Magellan, a leader in GPS devices for vehicles, fitness, outdoor and mobile navigation, today announced Magellan? SmartGPS Apps for iOS and Android mobile devices.

Following the recent announcement of Magellan's award-winning SmartGPS device, the free Magellan SmartGPS Apps for iOS and Android devices are the next key elements in Magellan's Smart Ecosystem, a cloud platform that integrates social media and navigation content directly onto a navigation map. The SmartGPS Apps automatically deliver continually updating reviews and tips for local businesses from social media including Yelp, Foursquare, and other partners to create current, local and personalized driving and pedestrian experiences.

The Magellan SmartGPS mobile apps display location-relevant information "squares" that graphically flip to show reviews, tips and offers from Yelp and Foursquare for nearby restaurants, stores and services. Users can then navigate to those locations directly from the SmartGPS App without needing to open an additional application or device. The cloud architecture enables new monetization of end users' mobile search and navigation, and additional social media and content partners.

"We architected the Smart Ecosystem to integrate with automotive infotainment and mobile network service platforms so users can enjoy a truly mobile, connected car experience now," said Peggy Fong, President of MiTAC Digital Corporation. "SmartGPS mobile apps connect to the vehicle dash, allowing users to easily search social media and points-of-interest for destinations, and send the locations via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi to SmartGPS enabled vehicle navigation systems."

Magellan's free iOS and Android SmartGPS apps create a total-solution SmartGPS experience that is truly mobile. Magellan connects the smartphone to the vehicle dashboard, enabling location sync and sharing, hands-free operation and data connectivity. Users can pair their Magellan SmartGPS app with SmartGPS-enabled navigation systems. Using their SmartGPS App, SmartGPS enabled navigation system, or PC, users can search for a location, save the location in Magellan's Smart Ecosystem cloud, and sync and share the location to any SmartGPS enabled device via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.

The free Magellan SmartGPS Apps will be available in North America this Spring, and in Europe this Summer, from iTunes and Google Play. Premium versions of both apps featuring spoken turn-by-turn navigation will also be available.

About Magellan

Headquartered in Santa Clara, CA, MiTAC Digital Corporation, manufacturer of the Magellan (www.magellangps.com) brand of portable GPS navigation consumer electronics devices, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MiTAC International Corporation. Recognized as an industry pioneer, Magellan globally markets its award-winning portable navigation devices including the Magellan? RoadMate? series for autos, RVs, fleet and commercial vehicles, the eXplorist? PRO for mobile GIS applications and field data collection, the eXplorist outdoor series for hunting, fishing, hiking, marine and geocaching enthusiasts, Magellan Fitness Switch? series of crossover GPS watches, and mobile apps and accessories for smartphones. Follow Magellan on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Source: http://www.marketwire.com/mw/release.do?id=1760059&sourceType=3

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NBA trade deadline; Twitter comma fail and a table tennis trick shot

NBA trade deadline; Twitter comma fail and a table tennis trick shot

By Josh Furlong

February 21st, 2013 @ 12:16pm

SALT LAKE CITY ? Will they or won't they? That's all Utah Jazz fans will be wondering for most of Thursday.

Every season, it seems talking about the rumors are more fun than them actually taking place (or not for that matter). However, in Jazz history, when has there ever been a major trade that means something to the average fan?

Two trades immediately come to my mind. In recent memory, the Jazz trading their all-star point guard Deron Williams (you may have heard of him) to the New Jersey Nets sent shock waves through the state. The initial take was that then-General Manager Kevin O'Connor was throwing away the team. Who really trades away an all-star point guard anyway?

However, the trade netted then-rookie Derrick Favors and the draft rights to Enes Kanter and Alec Burks. All three have the potential to be the future for the Jazz. Not a bad trade in hindsight.

The second trade came in the mid-90s when the Jazz traded Jeff Malone for shooting guard Jeff Hornacek. The trade is arguably one of the biggest moves the Jazz have made because he was instrumental in helping the Jazz reach the NBA Finals in 1997 and 1998 against the Chicago Bulls. And while we're at it, Michael Jordan did push off, but that's a moot point now.

The Jazz need a point guard, but is now the time to make that move? Trade rumors have been reported on ksl.com and other sites saying the Jazz are in discussion with the Los Angeles Clippers to trade Paul Millsap for Eric Bledsoe, but how likely is the rumor to be true? I'm sure the Jazz have talked about it, but I doubt the Jazz will actually pull the trigger and make the trade.

Do you break up team chemistry and hope to get the No. 4 spot in the playoffs, or wait until the offseason to make some moves and stay in the lower end of the playoff picture? I'm guessing the Jazz will take the latter option, but we'll know soon enough.

#Commasforclicks

Undoubtedly, Wisconsin Badgers head coach Gary Andersen is gearing up for the start of spring practice; however, I don't think his plans involve hurting any Badgers fans ? at least not on purpose.

On Wednesday, someone from the Badgers' staff tweeted out what was meant to be a harmless tweet about spring practices coming up. "If you've got some time to kill #Badgers fans, check out our updated Football video playlist on YouTube."

As was quickly pointed out to the staff, the tweet failed to include a comma and completely changed the meaning of the tweet. Fortunately, the individual who sent out the initial tweet could have fun with it, tweeting later, "And please, if you're going to RT our #CommaFail, have the decency to include the YouTube link. #commasforclicks."

Table tennis trick shot

Yes, I'm writing to show you a table tennis trick shot. Honestly, it wouldn't take a lot to be a trick shot when playing against me, but for a professional, it's hard to be stunned by an opponent's shot.

At last weekend's Kuwait Open, France's Quentin Robinot pulled off an impressive shot that left Belarus's Kiryl Barabanov stunned. Barabanov stood there for a while dazed, but then congratulated Robinot on the shot.

Many could easily react differently in that situation, but at least Barabanov recognized the great shot and gave credit where credit was due.

Josh Furlong, ksl.com Managing Editor

Josh Furlong is the Managing Editor for ksl.com, writer and manager of the Statecraft: Government & Politics section on ksl.com.

?

Source: http://www.ksl.com/?sid=24151817&nid=294&s_cid=rss-extlink

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Lady Gaga 'Grateful' To Her Fans After Hip Surgery

'I thought to myself, 'I'm alive, I'm living my dream, and this is just a bump in the road,' ' Gaga says about Wednesday's procedure.
By Gil Kaufman

Lady Gaga
Photo: Getty Images

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1702309/lady-gaga-hip-surgery.jhtml

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Students replace models as Oscar trophy carriers

LOS ANGELES (AP) ? You know those tall, leggy beauties that normally carry the Oscar trophies so the stars can present them?

They've been replaced this year by aspiring filmmakers. Six college students from across the country won a contest to help present the Oscar statuettes this year.

"This tradition of the buxom babe that comes out and brings the trophy to the presenter to give to the winner seemed to be very antiquated and kind of sexist, too," said Neil Meron, co-producer of this year's Academy Awards. "They're just there to be objectified. Why can't we have people who actually care about film and are the future of film be the trophy presenters?"

So he and co-producer Craig Zadan developed a contest directed at college students that asked: How will you contribute to the future of film? More than 1,100 students submitted essays and videos, and six were chosen to appear on the Oscar telecast.

They attended their first rehearsal Wednesday.

"I'm still in shock," said ChaRon Brabham, 20, of Brooklyn, a theater major at State University of New York, Pottsdam. "I can't believe it, but it's real!"

The winning students each turned in an essay and a 30-second video about their aims in the film industry, and all said the opportunity to appear on the Oscar show is life changing.

"Hollywood has always been a dream that was so far away," said Hearin Ko, 19, a sophomore at Boston's Emerson College who hails from Seoul, Korea. "To finally be here and see everything, it brings the dream closer to me. This can really happen if I try hard. It's not as far as I thought it was."

Abe Diaz of DePaul University in Chicago is a chemistry major who always considered film a hobby.

"This is the fork in the road right now," said the 18-year-old son of two doctors. "It'll definitely help in making me more aware if this is something I can do."

All six winning students will walk on the Oscar stage during Sunday's ceremony. They're each getting a makeover and formal tuxedo or gown for the event as well.

"For a film student to be at the Oscars is huge," said Jennifer Brofer, 30, a Marine Corps veteran who is now a film student at the University of Texas at Austin. "This is where we aspire to be one day."

Other student presenters include AJ Young, from Columbia College Chicago, and Tatenda Mbudzi, a Zimbabwe native studying at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Meron said he hopes the student-presenters become an annual Oscar tradition.

"There's a legacy that we bring," he said. "And if we never do the show again, we would love for this to continue."

___

AP Entertainment Writer Sandy Cohen is on Twitter: www.twitter.com/APSandy .

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/students-replace-models-oscar-trophy-carriers-173532022.html

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The Culture Gabfest: Only Beyoncé Could Make Me Not Like Beyoncé Edition

Listen to Culture Gabfest No. 231 with Stephen Metcalf, Dana Stevens, and Julia Turner by clicking the arrow on the audio player below:

And join the lively conversation on the Culturefest Facebook page here:

The sponsors of today?s show are?Shutterstock.com?and?Stamps.com. Go to Shutterstock.com?and use the offer code ?SLATE1? for 30 percent off new accounts. Go to Stamps.com?and use the promo code ?CULTUREFEST? for your no-risk free trial and bonus offer.

Culturefest is on the radio! ?Gabfest Radio? combines Slate?s Culture and Political Gabfests in one show?listen on Saturdays at 7 a.m. and Sundays at 6 p.m. on WNYC?s AM820.

On this week?s episode, our critics discuss Life is But a Dream, the documentary about Beyonc? that is written, directed by, and starring ? Beyonc?. The Gabfesters then review the inaugural issue of Kindling Quarterly, the magazine that aims to fill the void of parenting-related content for the fathers of the creative class. Finally, continuing the conversation in the lead-up to the Academy Awards, they discuss Searching for Sugar Man, the captivating Oscar-nominated documentary about the obscure singer-songwriter Sixto Rodriguez.

Here are some links to the things we discussed this week:

Dana?s pick: Jack Prelutsky, the prolific children?s poet in the vein of (but preferable to) Shel Silverstein, specifically his books Something Big Has Been Here and It?s Raining Pigs and Noodles, both illustrated by James Stevenson.

Julia?s pick: The most Internet-y thing you?ll ever see: the viral video of goats yelling like humans.

Stephen?s pick: Following a recent monument tour of Washington D.C.: the Lincoln Memorial and Lincoln?s second inaugural address, which is inscribed in the memorial itself.

Outro: ?Sugar Man? by Rodriguez

You can email us at culturefest@slate.com.

This podcast was produced by Julia Furlan. Our intern is Sally Tamarkin.

Follow us on the new Culturefest Twitter feed. And please Like the Culture Gabfest on Facebook.

Source: http://feeds.slate.com/click.phdo?i=c835065f9dc9e9c00727cfa4d4b40836

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News media relations with Obama hit low ebb over golf weekend

By Steve Holland

WASHINGTON | Tue Feb 19, 2013 6:01pm EST

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Relations between the White House and the correspondents who cover it, always edgy and adversarial, have hit a low ebb in a dispute over whether the press should have access to the president during his downtime.

The news media are still demanding answers for a White House decision over the weekend to bar reporters from seeing any part of President Barack Obama's Florida golf vacation, including his first-ever round with Tiger Woods.

In a formal protest, the White House Correspondents' Association cited history and tradition in arguing that the public interest is ill-served by shielding the president from the press.

"There is a very simple but important principle we will continue to fight for today and in the days ahead: transparency," said Ed Henry, a Fox News correspondent who is president of the White House Correspondents' Association.

White House spokesman Jay Carney pushed back against questions about access during his daily news briefing on Tuesday.

Carney, a former White House correspondent for Time magazine who covered the presidencies of Democrat Bill Clinton and Republican George W. Bush, said he understood the concerns but doubted there had ever been a White House press corps completely satisfied with its access.

"We work very closely with all of you to try to provide access to the president. I would note that when I was covering President Bush, George W. Bush, I was on his first trip on Air Force One ... He came back and spoke to the pool. That was his first trip. For the next three years that I covered the president, he never came back again," Carney said.

The golf episode came as tension was already building between reporters and the White House press office about the flow of information as Obama begins his second term.

Obama has called his administration the most transparent in history, but the president himself has sharply reduced a fixture of White House press coverage, the brief question-and-answer session that reporters have used for decades to get the president's take on fast-moving daily events.

MORE GRUMBLING

Martha Joynt Kumar, a political scientist at Towson University in Maryland who studies the presidency, said Obama held only 107 brief question-and-answer encounters with the media in his first four years, compared with 354 by George W. Bush in his first term.

Instead, Obama has relied heavily on television and print interviews, many of them with media outlets that target certain audiences. He has granted 674 interviews, mostly television.

After the White House fielded press complaints about the inaccessible Obama-Woods golf round at a private Florida club, Obama did in fact speak to reporters on Air Force One on Monday night on his return to Washington.

But he touched off more grumbling because the press office stipulated that all of Obama's comments must be considered off the record and thus not usable.

Fox News anchor Greta Van Susteren lashed out against reporters for going along with the restrictive terms, writing on her "Gretawire" blog: "The press caved -Pathetic!"

"The press should have said when offered OFF THE RECORD face time with the president, ?thanks but no thanks ... we will wait until the president is willing to talk to the American people since that is our job. No secret conversations,'" she said.

Previous presidents have avoided the White House press corps, some more successfully than others. The Obama White House has been less reliant than other administrations on the major media because of its whitehouse.gov website and its use of social media like Flickr and Twitter to distribute content.

"Every administration tries to get the advantage in their relationships with news organizations," said Kumar. "With this administration you have a variety of new media and those organizations helped propel them into office. They had a good sense of how to use social media and they've tried to work it as they govern."

(Reporting by Steve Holland; Editing by Marilyn W. Thompson and Eric Beech)

Source: http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/PoliticsNews/~3/3aPkX_Xanlk/us-usa-obama-media-idUSBRE91I1BT20130219

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