Source: http://the-gadgeteer.com/2013/04/27/deal-of-the-day-best-gear-for-multitasking/
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Monday, April 29, 2013
Deal of the Day ? Best Gear for Multitasking
Instead of a single product for Saturday’s Deal, LogicBUY has information about some of the Best Tech Gadgets for Multitasking. ?With increased work efficiency, we can get more done in less time, leaving more time to spend with our families and still have some time to work on our health. Check the above link for [...]
Grizzlies beat Clippers 104-83, tie series at 2
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) ? When Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph click together, the Memphis Grizzlies are very, very tough to beat.
Gasol and Randolph had 24 points apiece and led a strong rebounding effort by the Grizzlies in a 104-83 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday that evened their first-round playoff series at 2-all.
"Their synergy is pretty amazing you know what I mean," Clippers guard Chris Paul said. "Z Bo on the inside and big fella Marc, that's another guard the way he passes the ball and shoots the ball. You just got to run them. You got to run them. You got to try to get them tired. You can't just leave them in a rocking chair."
Gasol also contributed 13 rebounds and Randolph had nine boards as Memphis won its second straight to ensure another stop in Tennessee for Game 6. Mike Conley had 15 points and 13 assists, and Tayshaun Prince scored 15 in his best game of the series.
"Now we got to go out there and try to get a win," Memphis coach Lionel Hollins said.
Paul and Blake Griffin had 19 points apiece for the Clippers, and Griffin also grabbed 10 rebounds for his first double-double this postseason. Los Angeles' reserves outscored its counterparts again, 43-16. But DeAndre Jordan was the only other starter besides Paul and Griffin to score for the Clippers, and he had two points. Chauncey Billups and Caron Butler went a combined 0 for 10 from the floor in being shut out.
Game 5 is Tuesday night in Los Angeles.
"We got to go back, and we got to take care of business in Game 5 at home in front of our fans," Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro said. "But there's no question we're going to have to get back to playing the way we did the first couple games."
The team that controls the boards has won each game of the series so far, with Memphis owning a 45-28 advantage in Game 4. That led to a 22-2 difference in second-chance points, boosted by a 13-5 edge on offensive boards.
The Grizzlies used their prowess on the glass to beat the speedy Clippers when it came to fast-break points, 18-6.
Memphis' biggest advantage is its big men, and Randolph and Gasol each took turns helping the Grizzlies turn this into a best-of-three series. Gasol had six points at halftime, and Tony Allen said Hollins chewed out the 7-foot-1 Spaniard at the break, reminding him to score.
"The second half he was just phenomenal," Allen said.
Gasol said Hollins didn't tell him to try to score more because the center noted he had been trying to do just that in the first half.
"We had Zach going in the first half, so we played through Zach," Gasol said. "It doesn't matter who scores. At the end of the day, what matters is we win."
Randolph had 16 points and seven rebounds in the first half as Memphis got off to a quick start, leading 33-25 after the first quarter. Gasol scored 18 in the second half, using an effective jumper to avoid the paint after picking up his third foul with 7:54 left in the third. Randolph got his third 7 seconds later.
It didn't matter.
The Clippers never led by more than two, the last at 60-58 on a pair of free throws by Paul with 5:58 left in the third. Gasol then hit a 23-footer that beat the shot clock and made a pair of free throws to put Memphis ahead.
Ronny Turiaf's layup tied it for the sixth and final time. Gasol found Randolph for a layup that put the Grizzlies ahead to stay at 64-62 on the 10th and final lead change with 3:21 left in the third.
Memphis opened the fourth with a 19-5 surge and went up as much as 20, the first on a drive by Quincy Pondexter with 3:45 left at 96-76. The Grizzlies outscored the Clippers 33-16 in the quarter and 55-36 for the half.
Del Negro then subbed in from his bench with 3:02 remaining and had all his starters on the sideline for the final 2 minutes.
"They kind of blew us away in the fourth quarter," Billups said.
The Grizzlies set the tone from the start and led by as much as 12 in the first quarter. They went cold in the second when Paul scored nine of his 14 first-half points to help the Clippers to a 47-46 lead at halftime.
The Clippers wanted to be aggressive in what's been a physical series with lots of wrestling, especially between Randolph and Griffin. All the pounding appeared to take a toll in the second quarter as the Clippers had a chance to take their first lead only to have Griffin travel on back-to-back possessions. They couldn't even connect on a dunk as Prince tipped away a lob to Griffin.
Gasol was the key in the third. He even connected on a 23-foot jumper off an inbounds pass from Prince late in the shot clock. That tied it at 60 with 4:35 left and cranked new energy into the arena.
NOTES: The Grizzlies went 15-3 in the regular season when Gasol posted a double-double. ... Memphis improved to 17-1 when shooting at least 50 percent. ... The Grizzlies sold out their 12th straight postseason game. ... The Grizzlies played without veteran guard Keyon Dooling, who sat out with a strained muscle. ... Prince had only 10 points in the first three games combined. ... The Clippers shot 13 of 39 in the second half, compared to 20 for 35 for Memphis.
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Sunday, April 28, 2013
Obama and O'Brien Cast Their Versions of D.C. White House Correspondents' Dinner
Both President Barack Obama and Conan O'Brien decided to cast Hollywood versions of D.C. at the White House Correspondents' Dinner this year. Obama's version was directed by Steven Spielberg, O'Brien's starred "Tan Mom" as John Boehner.
With the celebrities having walked the White House Correspondents' Dinner red carpet and the crowd in the Washington Hilton having eaten and schmoozed, it came time for the key parts of the evening: remarks from President Obama and Conan O'Brien. Of particular interest was how the president was going to address the recent bombings in Boston, and, along those same lines, what tone O'Brien will take.
Obama came out swinging with jokes at the ready. One of his opening lines joked about his age: ?I?m not the strapping young Muslim socialist I used to be.? He made light of the frenzy over Michelle Obama's bangs, by explaining his strategy for a second term burst of energy showing a series of pictures with his new hairstyle:
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He riffed on topics ranging from his Jay-Z's trip to Cuba ("I?ve got 99 problems and now Jay-Z is one of them") to BuzzFeed ("I remember when Buzzfeed was just something I did at college around 2 a.m.") He even took aim at the much maligned NBC when he talked about how he made only two shots at the Easter Egg Roll: "The executives at NBC asked ?what?s your secret?" But his highlight was a video with Steven Spielberg, about Spielberg's new project: "Obama." Spielberg cast Daniel Day-Lewis as Obama, but in the video shown Obama played Daniel Day-Lewis playing Obama. Tracy Morgan played Joe Biden. Here's that clip:
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But Obama closed on a more serious note. "These have been some very hard days for too many of our citizens," he said. He also complimented the work of journalists during these days, specifically calling out the Boston Globe and NBC's Pete Williams.
Following Obama Conan O'Brien got his fair share of groans?both in the room and on Twitter?when he took aim at a variety of topics ranging from the Hilton, to dying print media, to Kim Jong-Un. He joked that Arianna Huffington made him watch a 30 second ad before he could say hello to her, and that Matt Drudge wasn't there because he had a "he had a prior commitment to teach a web design class in 1997." There were CNN jokes a plenty, including one about how they ?they replaced the popular Larry King with one of the scheming footman from Downton Abbey.? (That's Piers Morgan, of course.) He explained that the media landscape was like a high school cafeteria with NPR as the table for "kids with peanut allergies." There was also a joke about the time Al Roker soiled himself at the White House.
O'Brien then turned his attention to Republicans, saying that the party refers to Marco Rubio as "our black guy" and joking about Reince Priebus' name. (He was sitting between brothers "Lather Priebus and Repeat Priebus.") He went fairly easy on the president, asking why he was still asking for money, and joking about how old he looks.
Before his final joke he took a moment to address Boston, his hometown, and thank the president for going there, but he ended by casting his version of a dramatized version of the Beltway. There Joe Biden will be played by Bob Barker, Paul Ryan by Mr. Bean, and John Kerry by an Easter Island Head:
O'Brien's performance?in which he talked very loudly into the microphone and occasionally banged a gavel?did not go over entirely well on Twitter:
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/obama-obrien-cast-versions-d-c-white-house-234708035.html
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Thursday, April 25, 2013
Bangladesh factory building collapse kills nearly 100
By Serajul Quadir and Ruma Paul
DHAKA (Reuters) - A block housing garment factories and shops collapsed in Bangladesh on Wednesday, killing nearly 100 people and injuring more than a thousand, officials said.
Firefighters and troops dug frantically through the rubble at the eight-storey Rana Plaza building in Savar, 30 km (20 miles) outside Dhaka. Television showed young women workers, some apparently semi-conscious, being pulled out.
One fireman told Reuters about 2,000 people were in the building when the upper floors slammed down onto those below.
Bangladesh's booming garments industry has been plagued by fires and other accidents for years, despite a drive to improve safety standards. In November 112 workers died in a blaze at the Tazreen factory in a nearby suburb, putting a spotlight on global retailers which source clothes from Bangladesh.
"It looks like an earthquake has struck here," said one resident as he looked on at the chaotic scene of smashed concrete and ambulances making their way through the crowds of workers and wailing relatives.
People and rescuers gather after an eight-story building housing several garment factories collapsed in Savar, near Dhaka, Bangladesh, Wednesday, April 24, 2013. Dozens were killed and many more are ... more? People and rescuers gather after an eight-story building housing several garment factories collapsed in Savar, near Dhaka, Bangladesh, Wednesday, April 24, 2013. Dozens were killed and many more are feared trapped in the rubble. (AP Photo/ A.M. Ahad) less? "I was at work on the third floor, and then suddenly I heard a deafening sound, but couldn't understand what was happening. I ran and was hit by something on my head," said factory worker Zohra Begum.An official at a control room set up to provide information said 96 people were confirmed dead and more than 1,000 injured. Doctors at local hospitals said they were unable to cope with the number of victims brought in.
CRACKS IN BUILDING
Mohammad Asaduzzaman, in charge of the area's police station, said factory owners appeared to have ignored a warning not to allow their workers into the building after a crack was detected in the block on Tuesday.
Five garment factories - employing mostly women - were housed in the building, including Ether Tex Ltd., whose chairman said he was unaware of any warnings not to open the workshops.
"There was some crack at the second floor, but my factory was on the fifth floor," Muhammad Anisur Rahman told Reuters. "The owner of the building told our floor manager that it is not a problem and so you can open the factory."
He initially said that his firm had been sub-contracted to supply Wal-Mart Stores Inc, the world's largest retailer, and Europe's C&A. In a subsequent interview he said he had been referring to an order in the past, not current work.
Wal-Mart did not immediately respond to requests for comment. C&A said that, based on its best information, it had no contractual relationship with any of the production units in the building that collapsed.
The website of a company called New Wave, which had two factories in the building, listed 27 main buyers, including firms from Britain, Denmark, France, Germany, Spain, Ireland, Canada and the United States.
"It is dreadful that leading brands and governments continue to allow garment workers to die or suffer terrible disabling injuries in unsafe factories making clothes for Western nations' shoppers," Laia Blanch of the U.K. anti-poverty charity War on Want said in a statement.
November's factory fire raised questions about how much control Western brands have over their supply chains for clothes sourced from Bangladesh. Wages as low as $38.50 a month have helped propel the country to no. 2 in the ranks of apparel exporters.
It emerged later that a Wal-Mart supplier had subcontracted work to the Tazreen factory without authorization.
Buildings in the crowded city of Dhaka are sometimes erected without permission and many do not comply with construction regulations.
(Additional reporting by Andrew Biraj; Writing by John Chalmers; Editing by Andrew Roche)
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/garment-factory-building-collapses-bangladesh-25-dead-tv-051140268.html
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Android App Video Review: Into the Dead
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Into the Dead from PikPok is an endless first person runner game full of zombies, and ironically, in absolute defiance of all expectations and despite combining two of the most common tropes in mobile gaming, it's actually a very unique and stylish game unlike any other. That's probably due to the creativity of a developer like PikPok, though.
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Essentially, you're just dropped in the middle of a zombie apocalypse world, and immediately have to start running. As you run, you'll notice one or two zombies in your path, and then one or two hundred. The idea is to keep pressing onward, slanting your run left or run via tilt or touch controls to dodge any zombies directly in your path. You don't have to dodge them perfectly. Even if you hit one to some extent while dodging, you'll glance off the side and stagger for a bit before regaining your composure. You'll also bounce off trees and other such obstacles in the same fashion. It's while you're staggered that things can get tricky in a jiffy. Also, you'll jump over fences and logs automatically.
Also on Android Apps
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You aren't totally defenseless though. As you run, you'll see weapon crates marked by a glowing flare. As you complete mission objectives and reach higher levels of difficulty, you'll unlock cooler weapons, from shotguns and chainsaws to an eventual mini-gun. If you're having trouble picking up crates, they're also marked by a ring of birds in the sky, which you can see from a much greater distance. In the main mode, weapons serve to help you get through tricky choke points and corn fields, while in the massacre mode, they're the point of the game.
Everything is built around the coin and mission system. Coins earned through play and completed mission objectives can be used to buy starting perks, like extra ammo, a starting weapon, or a starting distance of 1,500 meters. They can also be used to get early access to weapons, and even to straight up bypass certain difficult mission objectives. Your gamer pride will probably keep you from doing this for a while, but believe me when I say that some objectives just aren't worth it, and will take too long to pull off. Naturally, you can buy coins in-app with real money. The game becomes repetitive and formulaic quickly, but what it lacks in variety, it excels with in style and presentation. No other runner has ever felt so atmospheric or tense, and the first time you run into a zombie that ends your run, it's kind of freaky. All in all, I can definitely recommend Into the Dead, as it's totally free.
The Best Educational Apps, Handpicked By Experts
Appolicious is pleased to introduce appoLearning.com, where parents, teachers and students find great education apps. Check out our introduction video here!
Source: http://www.androidapps.com/games/articles/13428-android-app-video-review-into-the-dead
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BitTorrent Sync Keeps Your Files In Sync, Skips the Insecure Cloud
If you've ever wanted a security-focused, Dropbox-like file and folder syncing option, BitTorrent decided to answer your wishes with BitTorrent Sync. Previously in private alpha, BitTorrent Sync is now available to the public for Windows, OS X, and Linux appliances.
Although BitTorrent Sync syncs your folders and files much like you'd expect from a service like Dropbox, you set it up a little differently. When you start for the first time, you choose where you want a folder to be and then BitTorrent Sync gives you a secret. When you install BitTorrent Sync on another computer, you can provide that secret and link the folders together. They'll synchronize with each other securely, peer-to peer. That means nothing goes to the cloud, but rather each computer syncs data with the other directly.
If you want to sync a different folder, regardless of its location, you can just add it to BitTorrent Sync and it'll work just like the folder you set up initially. The service is very easy to use, despite its security focus (which often involves sacrificing convenience), and doesn't cost you anything to use. If you're looking for a simple way to sync any folder and its contents on your computer for free?whether you care about security or not?give BitTorrent Sync a try.
BitTorrent Sync | BitTorrent Labs
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Wednesday, April 24, 2013
91% The Angels' Share
All Critics (66) | Top Critics (17) | Fresh (60) | Rotten (6)
The plot thickens, but the mood grows lighter.
Unexpectedly, and blithely, amusing.
The film itself vaporizes before your eyes, but it's likable. Given its unstable mishmash of thuggery and whimsy, that's something of an achievement.
Like the spirit it celebrates, "The Angel's Share" is a neat little jolt of pleasure - and guaranteed to leave you feeling just a mite warmer.
While a few farcical moments fizzle, it's mostly charming.
"The Angels' Share" leaves a warm glow.
The usual Loachian elements are all in place, but there is a gentle spirit at work here as well, and not just the alcoholic spirits around which the plot revolves.
The Angels' Share is a stellar bit of activist cinema with a light touch.
Sweet-natured and high-spirited, it's a fanciful fable with a wee dash of magical realism.
This is one of the most likable movies so far this year.
Although the English director Ken Loach has been making socially conscious movies for close to 50 years, this shaggy comedy unfolds like the work of a young man on a lark.
With The Angels' Share, Ken Loach expertly combines a handful of genres which congeal into an often funny, always charming affair that serves as a salute to whisky to boot.
Loach films have been funny while making their point before (see "Riff Raff"), but this one is imbued with a little bit of magic...Those offended by four letter words should be warned that even the voice of God slings a heavy dose of them here.
Ken Loach comedy about young Glaswegian reprobates fighting for a second chance has charm aplenty, but suffers from occasional portions of cheese and a hard-to-swallow premise (whisky-tasting as gateway to a better life).
I'm not suggesting The Angels' Share is a chock full of bellylaughs, but it's the first Loach film in some time that lacks the sensation of having a plastic grocery bag pulled over one's face.
Some good laughs and a passable air of bonhomie do nothing to cover up the fact that The Angels' Share is totally lightweight and distractingly underdone.
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Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_angels_share/
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Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Clashes at Sunni protest site in Iraq kill 23
BAGHDAD (AP) ? Clashes erupted in northern Iraq when security forces raided a rally site used by Sunni demonstrators early on Tuesday, killing at least 23 people and wounding dozens in an escalation likely to enrage protesters who have been rallying against the government for months.
The fighting broke out in the town of Hawijah, about 240 kilometers (160 miles) north of Baghdad. It is one of several overwhelmingly Sunni communities that have been the site of anti-government protests. The rallies began in December and are presenting a stubborn challenge to Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's Shiite-led government.
There were conflicting reports on the casualties.
Iraq's Defense Ministry said 20 people whom it described as "militants who were using the demonstration as a safe haven" were killed, along with an army officer and two soldiers. Another nine members of the military were wounded, the ministry said in a statement. It initially described those killed as members of al-Qaida and Saddam Hussein's outlawed Baath Party.
Sheikh Abdullah Sami al-Asi, a Sunni provincial official from Hawija, said the fighting began early in the morning when security forces entered the protest area and tried to make arrests. He said scores of people have been wounded or killed.
The provincial health director for the area, Sidiq Omar Rasool, said earlier in the day that 14 people were killed and more than 50 people were wounded.
On Friday, a checkpoint jointly run by the police and army near Hawija came under attack, and militants seized a number of weapons before retreating into the crowd of protesters, according to the Defense Ministry.
That led to a standoff, with security forces at times trying to negotiate with local and tribal officials the handover of those involved in the raid.
The Defense Ministry said it warned demonstrators to leave the protest area before moving in early Tuesday, and that large numbers of protesters left the site. As Iraqi forces tried to make arrests, they came under heavy fire from several types of weapons, and were targeted by snipers, according to the Defense Mininstry account.
Security forces detained 75 people and seized multiple weapons, including machine guns, hand grenades, knives, daggers and swords, the ministry said.
A United Nations spokeswoman in Iraq, Eliana Nabaa, urged both sides to avoid further violence.
"Stop immediately the use of weapons," she said.
Protests against the Shiite-dominated government began in western Iraq in December following the arrest of bodyguards assigned to Sunni Finance Minister Rafia al-Issawi. The rallies quickly spread to other areas that are home to Iraq's minority Sunni Arabs, including Hawijah.
Demonstrators are protesting alleged discrimination by the government, including the application of a tough anti-terrorism law that they believe unfairly targets their sect.
The protests have been largely peaceful, though there have been occasional incidents of violence. In January, at least five protesters were killed in clashes with security forces in Fallujah, west of Baghdad.
Calls went out Tuesday through mosque loudspeakers in Fallujah, urging residents to protest along a major highway to show solidarity with the people of Hawijah.
After the 2003 U.S.-led invasion, the Hawijah was considered one of the most dangerous areas for both American and Iraqi forces. They frequently faced deadly attacks by different groups of Sunni militants, particularly al-Qaida's Iraq arm.
Like in other Sunni towns, Hawijah residents accuse the Shiite-led governments in Baghdad of neglecting them and practicing sectarian agenda. They also oppose the Kurds' ambitions to annex nearby Kirkuk to their three-province autonomous region.
Also Tuesday, two bombs went off near a Sunni mosque in the southern Bagdad neighborhood of Dora, killing five worshipers and wounding 21, police and health officials said. The worshippers were leaving the mosque after morning prayers at around 5:00 a.m. when the bombs exploded simultaneously, two police officers said.
A medical official confirmed the causality figures. All officials spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to release information.
___
Associated Press writer Qassim Abdul-Zahra contributed reporting.
___
Follow Adam Schreck on Twitter at http://twitter.com/adamschreck and Sinan Salaheddin at http://twitter.com/sinansm
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/clashes-sunni-protest-iraq-kill-23-094928067.html
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3 Doors Down Cancel Shows As Bassist Remains Jailed On Vehicular Homicide Charge
Robert Todd Harrell is being held on $100,000 bond in the case and is due in court on Thursday.
By Gil Kaufman
3 Doors Down bassist Robert Todd Harrell's booking photo
Photo: Davidson County Sheriff
Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1706150/3-doors-down-todd-harrell-arrest-update.jhtml
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Saturday, April 13, 2013
Mobile computing no longer exists
Photo by Al Powers/Invision for Panasonic/AP Images
Anyone who has an interest in the future of computing and mobile should consider the following developments:
PC manufacturers, it is rumored, are collaborating with Google on notebook computers that will run the Android operating system. Yet Android is the ?mobile? OS that powers the majority of the world?s smartphones.
The gatekeeper between mobile and non-mobile computing is now largely psychological. When Schmidt says that Google will let the market decide the when and how of fusing of Google?s mobile and desktop operating systems, he is acknowledging that we all grew up with desktop operating systems, and learning how to interact with touchscreen mobile devices is still relatively fresh in our collective memory. (Not to mention the billions in the rising global middle class who have yet to purchase their first smart device.)
I believe the thesis but don?t find the evidence compelling. From Quartz.
Source: http://popwuping.com/technology/mobile-computing-no-longer-exists/
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Nicklaus: Never had a sit-down with Tiger Woods
Three of golfs greatest players, Gary Player, left, Arnold Palmer, center, and Jack Nicklaus smile after their ceremonial tee shots at the Masters golf tournament in Augusta, Ga., Thursday, April 11, 2013. (AP Photo/Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Custis Compton) MARIETTA DAILY OUT; GWINNETT DAILY POST OUT; LOCAL TV OUT; WXIA-TV OUT; WGCL-TV OUT
Three of golfs greatest players, Gary Player, left, Arnold Palmer, center, and Jack Nicklaus smile after their ceremonial tee shots at the Masters golf tournament in Augusta, Ga., Thursday, April 11, 2013. (AP Photo/Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Custis Compton) MARIETTA DAILY OUT; GWINNETT DAILY POST OUT; LOCAL TV OUT; WXIA-TV OUT; WGCL-TV OUT
Honorary starter Jack Nicklaus hits a ball on the first tee before the first round of the Masters golf tournament Thursday, April 11, 2013, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Jack Nicklaus makes his way along the eighth hole during the par-three contest before the Masters golf tournament, Wednesday, April 10, 2013, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Curtis Compton) MARIETTA DAILY OUT; GWINNETT DAILY POST OUT; LOCAL TV OUT; WXIA-TV OUT; WGCL-TV OUT
Gary Player, right, watches Jack Nicklaus' tee from the first hole during the par three competition before the Masters golf tournament Wednesday, April 10, 2013, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Tiger Woods waits to hit off the first fairway during the first round of the Masters golf tournament Thursday, April 11, 2013, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) ? Jack Nicklaus has shared his secrets and strategy about Augusta National with anyone who wanted to learn from a six-time Masters champion, a list that includes Rory McIlroy, Luke Donald and Nicolas Colsaerts. But not Tiger Woods.
Nicklaus said he's never had a sit-down with the man who is trying to break his records.
In fact, he said they hardly talk at all.
"I never really had a conversation with Tiger that lasted more than a minute or two ? ever," Nicklaus said Thursday morning after hitting the ceremonial tee shot. "He stayed away from me from a conversation standpoint. Never had a conversation on the Masters in general. I've said, 'Hello, how are you doing? Nice playing this year. You've played very well.' End of conversation. People ask me, 'Has Tiger ever talk to you about his record?' Never one word."
Nicklaus said he was surprised Woods hasn't talked to him about the Masters, though he's not the least bit offended. Woods, after all, figured out the course quickly. He won the Masters three times in his first six years as a pro.
"He's got his own focus and what he does, and I respect that," Nicklaus said. "I respect when somebody is involved in their deal. They concentrate on what they do and not what you did. That's OK. It's not my position to go talk to him about it. I respect that. I wouldn't intrude on that."
Even so, it offered some rare insight into the relationship between Woods and Nicklaus, with whom he has been linked ever since Woods was a youngster and kept a timeline of the milestones Nicklaus achieved in his career.
"We actually probably have more conversations in years at the Presidents Cup when he's captain," Woods said after opening with a 70 in the first round at the Masters. "I see him at Memorial. We'll have a chit-chat here or there. We have a few conversations here and there. But he's right. We haven't spent that much time. Here is a totally different week. It's a major championship. We're all in our own little world. He gets it. He was there himself."
Nicklaus was Presidents Cup captain four times. He runs the press conference for winners at Memorial, which Woods has won five times. Nicklaus shared one story from the Presidents Cup when he noticed Woods and Phil Mickelson spending time together. Nicklaus had ready plenty of stories about the tension between them.
"I said, 'You guys seem to get along.' And he said, 'Yeah, we get along fine.' I said, 'What all this about that other stuff?' He says, 'I don't know. Just press stuff.' So I said, 'You guys want to play together?' And he said, 'I'd rather not.'
"The point being, he's got a little bit of his number," Nicklaus said. "And he doesn't want anyone to get really close to him because he feels like he's got a little dominance over them. I understand that. You've got to respect that."
Nicklaus and Woods played together only once in the majors, the opening two rounds of the 2000 PGA Championship at Valhalla. They also were teammates in the old "Battle at Bighorn." Woods once told a story of asking Nicklaus about all the rivalries he faced during three decades, and how Nicklaus told him, "Just make sure you're always part of the conversation." Nicklaus said even that chat in South Africa didn't last very long.
"I get along fine with Tiger. I like Tiger. I don't have an issue with Tiger. There's always pleasantries and so forth," he said.
Woods moved from Orlando, Fla., to the West Palm Beach area last year after building a home along the ocean with his own miniature range. The speculation was which golf club Woods might join, and he settled on The Medalist. Several other pros are members at The Bear's Club, which Nicklaus built as his home course in Florida.
"I asked him when he came to Florida if we wanted to come to The Bear's Club," Nicklaus said. "He stayed away from it. He didn't want to intrude where I was. He never told me why, but other people told me, 'He says he didn't feel comfortable being there where I was because that was a record he was trying to break.' I said, 'I don't care about that. We'd like to have if you want to play and be part of it.' He comes out and plays quite often. I'd include him in everything
"But everybody has their own personality. That's not a fault. It's not a criticism. It just is what it is."
So what kind of golf talk is Woods missing out on?
Nicklaus spoke mainly about taking risks only when the percentages and the situation called for it, and realize that a shot into the middle of just about any green at Augusta National will leave a reasonable chance at birdie.
He still thinks about the 3-wood he hit into the water on the 15th hole that cost him in the final round of the 1971 Masters.
"One shot shouldn't be a shot that puts you out of the tournament," Nicklaus said. "I needed to make 4. I didn't need to make 3. I should have laid the ball up. Why put yourself out of the tournament on one shot? That's the thing I stress.
"I wouldn't take risks unless it was necessary to take risks," he said. "These guys that come to me and ask me about the tournament, basically what I tell them is there's a half-dozen shots on this golf course (where) you can put yourself out of the tournament."
He mentioned the tee shot on the par-5 second hole; the second shot into No. 11; the tee shot on the par-3 12th. The tee shot and the second shot on the par-3 13th; and the second shot on the par-5 15th.
"Think about what you're doing on them," Nicklaus said. "If you've got a 50-50 chance of doing it, certainly I wouldn't be doing it. If you've got a 90-10 chance, think real hard about it, and try to make sure you eliminate the 10. It's a golf course that when you make a mistake, it's really difficult to make up for it."
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Friday, April 12, 2013
ASUS FonePad ships April 26th in the UK, up for pre-order now
Back when ASUS first introduced that unorthodox FonePad to the masses at MWC, the Taiwanese company said the 7-inch device would be arriving in the European market at some point in March. Fast forward to today -- a couple of weeks late, no less -- and ASUS has announced that those in the United Kingdom can now start making pre-orders, with the Jelly Bean-loaded phone / tablet hybrid expected to ship on April 26th. Just as we'd heard in Barcelona, the FonePad's set to come with a £179.99 price tag, which, in return, gives folks a decent 1,280 x 800 IPS screen, an Atom Z2420 1.2GHz chip with 1GB of RAM, 16GB of built-in storage and a 4,270mAh battery -- plus, of course, the HSPA+ radio to boot. Online stores like Carphone Warehouse and Amazon are all set to take your money, just make sure you also buy some jeans with big pockets, because you'll certainly need a pair if you plan to use the PadFone FonePad to make calls in grandiose fashion.
Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, ASUS
Source: ASUS
Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/12/asus-fonepad-uk-availability/
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Surprising ability of blood stem cells to respond to emergencies
Apr. 10, 2013 ? A research team of Inserm, CNRS and MDC lead by Michael Sieweke of the Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille Luminy (CNRS, INSERM, Aix Marseille Universit?) and Max Delbr?ck Centre for Molecular Medicine, Berlin-Buch, today revealed an unexpected role for hematopoietic stem cells: they do not merely ensure the continuous renewal of our blood cells; in emergencies they are capable of producing white blood cells "on demand" that help the body deal with inflammation or infection. This property could be used to protect against infections in patients undergoing bone marrow transplants, while their immune system reconstitutes itself.
The details of the research is published in Nature on April 10th.
Cells in our blood feed, clean and defend our tissues, but their lifespan is limited. The life expectancy of a red blood cell rarely exceeds three months, our platelets die after ten days and the vast majority of our white blood cells survive only a few days.
The body must produce replacement cells in a timely manner. This is the role of hematopoietic stem cells, more commonly called blood stem cells. Nestled in the core of the bone marrow (the soft tissue in the center of long bones such as the chest, spine, pelvis and shoulder), they dump billions of new cells into the bloodstream every day. To accomplish this strategic mission, they must not only multiply but also differentiate, i.e. to produce specialized white blood cells, red blood cells or platelets.
For many years, researchers have been interested in how this process of specialization is triggered in stem cells. Michael Sieweke and his team previously discovered that the latter do not engage randomly in a particular differentiation pathway but "decide" their fate under the influence of internal factors and signals from the environment.
An important issue remains: how do stem cells manage to respond appropriately to emergencies? For example, are they able to meet the demand by producing white blood cells like macrophages to eat microbes during infection?
Until now, the answer was clear: the stem cells could not decode such messages and were content to differentiate randomly. Michael Sieweke's team has demonstrated that, far from being insensitive to these signals, stem cell perceive them and in return manufacture the cells that are most appropriate for the danger that is faced.
"We have discovered that a biological molecule produced in large quantities by the body during infection or inflammation directly shows stem cells the path to take," said Dr. Sandrine Sarrazin, Inserm researcher, co-author of the publication. "As a result of this molecule, called M-CSF (Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor), the switch of the myeloid lineage (the PU.1 gene) is activated and the stem cells quickly produce the cells that are best suited to the situation such as macrophages."
Now that we have identified this signal, it may be possible in the future to accelerate the production of these cells in patients facing the risk of acute infection," said Dr. Michael Sieweke, CNRS Research Director. "This is the case for 50,000 patients worldwide each year who are totally defenseless against infections just after bone marrow transplantation. Thanks to M-CSF, it may be possible to stimulate the production of useful cells while avoiding to produce those that can inadvertently attack the body of these patients. They could therefore protect against infections while their immune system is being reconstituted."
About the discovery
This seemingly simple discovery is quite original, both in its approach and by the technology it required. To reach their conclusions the team had to measure the change of state in each cell. This was a double challenge: the stem cells are not only very rare (there is only one stem cell per 10,000 cells in the bone marrow of a mouse), but they are also completely indistinguishable from their descendants.
"To differentiate the protagonists we used a fluorescent marker to indicate the status (on or off) of the myeloid cell switch: the protein PU.1. First in the animal, then by filming the accelerated cell differenciation under a microscope, we showed that stem cells "light-up" almost immediately in response to M-CSF," said Noushine Mossadegh-Keller, CNRS assistant engineer, co-author of this publication. "To be absolutely sure, we recovered the cells one by one and confirmed that the myeloid genes were activated in all the cells that had turned green: once they perceived the warning message, they changed identity."
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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by INSERM (Institut national de la sant? et de la recherche m?dicale), via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.
Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.
Journal Reference:
- Noushine Mossadegh-Keller, Sandrine Sarrazin, Prashanth K. Kandalla, Leon Espinosa, E. Richard Stanley, Stephen L. Nutt, Jordan Moore, Michael H. Sieweke. M-CSF instructs myeloid lineage fate in single haematopoietic stem cells. Nature, 2013; DOI: 10.1038/nature12026
Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.
Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_science/~3/T26vHf11rlE/130410131227.htm
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Trivia Night at Finnegan's! | Herndon Sports & Recreation and Art ...
Finnegan's Irish Pub, 2310 Woodland Crossing Dr, Herndon, VA | Get?Directions??
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Every Wednesday at 7PM, Finnegan's presents free trivia nights hosted by TriviaTryst! Topics range from Celebrities, TV, and Movies to Science, History, and Technology. Topics vary week to week and include the most up to date topics (except for History of course). Trivia champs only as this isn't for the weak.
Prizes go out to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place! Top team gets a $50 Gift Certificate!
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Source: http://herndon.patch.com/events/trivia-night-at-finnegans
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Innovative self-cooling, thermoelectric system consumes no electricity
Apr. 11, 2013 ? Researchers at the UPNA/NUP-Public University of Navarre have produced a prototype of a self-cooling thermoelectric device that achieves "free" cooling of over 30?C in devices that give off heat. It is a piece of equipment that acts as a traditional cooler but which consumes no electricity because it obtains the energy it needs to function from the very heat that has to be dissipated.
The researchers want to apply this system to power converters and transformers present in power stations that produce renewable electrical power employing, for example, wind, solar photovoltaic, solar thermoelectric and hydraulic energy.David Astrain-Ulibarrena, of the UPNA/NUP's Department of Engineering, Mechanics, Energy and Materials and head researcher in the project, explains what the system consists of: "When these devices are functioning, they heat up and need to be cooled down.In many cases, heat exchangers with fans are used which naturally need to be powered externally and consume a certain amount of electrical power. What we do is take advantage of the heat flow emitted by the power converter and transformer to produce the electrical power needed to make the fans work. That way we achieve the cooling of the device and control its temperature, but without any energy cost."
Taking advantage of residual energy
This self-cooling thermoelectric application is one of the lines of action of the GETER (Thermoelectric generation with residual heat energy) project, whose overall aim is to develop thermoelectric generators that allow the heat energy of a low thermal level to be converted into electrical energy; in other words, residual heat flows of temperatures of less than 250?C. "The best future perspectives regarding thermoelectric generation have to do with making use of free heat sources, like residual heat flows, " says ProfAstrain. These are very frequent heat sources (in Spain, 40% of primary energy is wasted in the form of residual heat) which are difficult to make use of with the conventional systems for producing electrical power, like steam and gas turbines."
Thermoelectric generation has been widely used for mid and high temperatures (from 250?C to 1,200? C) in military and aerospace uses. The thermoelectric generator that powers the rover Curiosity on Mars is a prime example because of its topicality. The GETER project of the Public University of Navarre aims to adapt this technology to low temperatures and to optimize its application for civilian purposes.
Within the framework of this project, the research team has developed and experimentally validated a computational model that has shown that it can obtain up to 1 kW of electrical power for every cubic metre of an industrial flue.
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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Basque Research.
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Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.
Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.
Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/~3/Ux2H9OwQG9w/130411075454.htm
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Thursday, April 11, 2013
US judge in Philly weighs NFL concussion suits
NFL lawyer Paul Clement speaks outside the U.S. Courthouse Tuesday, April 9, 2013, in Philadelphia after a hearing to determine whether the NFL faces years of litigation over concussion-related brain injuries. Thousands of former players have accused league officials of concealing what they knew about the risk of playing after a concussion. The lawsuits allege the league glorified violence as the game became a $9 billion-a-year industry. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
NFL lawyer Paul Clement speaks outside the U.S. Courthouse Tuesday, April 9, 2013, in Philadelphia after a hearing to determine whether the NFL faces years of litigation over concussion-related brain injuries. Thousands of former players have accused league officials of concealing what they knew about the risk of playing after a concussion. The lawsuits allege the league glorified violence as the game became a $9 billion-a-year industry. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Former NFL player Dorsey Levens, right, extends a hand as Mary Ann Easterling, the widow of former NFL player Ray Easterling, reacts as former NFL player Kevin Turner, left, looks on during a news conference, Tuesday, April 9, 2013, in Philadelphia, after a hearing to determine whether the NFL faces years of litigation over concussion-related brain injuries. Thousands of former players have accused league officials of concealing what they knew about the risk of playing after a concussion. The lawsuits allege the league glorified violence as the game became a $9 billion-a-year industry. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Former NFL player Kevin Turner, left, speaks as former players Dorsey Levens, center, and Bill Bergey listen during a a news conference Tuesday, April 9, 2013, in Philadelphia, after a hearing to determine whether the NFL faces years of litigation over concussion-related brain injuries. Thousands of former players have accused league officials of concealing what they knew about the risk of playing after a concussion. The lawsuits allege the league glorified violence as the game became a $9 billion-a-year industry. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Former NFL player Dorsey Levens listens to Mary Ann Easterling, the widow of former NFL player Ray Easterling, during a news conference Tuesday, April 9, 2013, in Philadelphia after a hearing to determine whether the NFL faces years of litigation over concussion-related brain injuries. Thousands of former players have accused league officials of concealing what they knew about the risk of playing after a concussion. The lawsuits allege the league glorified violence as the game became a $9 billion-a-year industry. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Attorney David Frederick listens to a question during a news conference Tuesday, April 9, 2013, in Philadelphia after a hearing to determine whether the NFL faces years of litigation over concussion-related brain injuries. Thousands of former players have accused league officials of concealing what they knew about the risk of playing after a concussion. The lawsuits allege the league glorified violence as the game became a $9 billion-a-year industry. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
PHILADELPHIA (AP) ? Senior U.S. District Judge Anita Brody has a billion-dollar problem on her hands.
Brody, of Philadelphia, heard arguments Tuesday on whether lawsuits that accuse the NFL of glorifying violence and hiding known concussion risks belong in court or in arbitration.
Brody could side with the 4,200 players and let them pursue lawsuits, or she could rule for the league and find that head injuries are covered under health provisions of the collective bargaining agreement.
Or she could issue a split decision, letting some of the fraud and negligence claims against the NFL move forward in court. Her decision could be worth more than a billion dollars ? and is expected to be appealed by either side, spawning years of litigation.
"There are people who aren't going to be able to be around long enough to find out the end of this case, and my husband is one of them," said Eleanor Perfetto, the widow of guard Ralph Wenzel, who played for Pittsburgh and San Diego from 1966 to 1973. "He died last June, and I'm here for him. He was sick for almost two decades and, in the end, had very, very severe, debilitating dementia."
In the closely-watched court arguments Tuesday, NFL lawyer Paul Clement insisted that teams bear the chief responsibility for health and safety under the contract, along with the players' union and the players themselves.
"The clubs are the ones who had doctors on the sidelines who had primary responsibility for sending players back into the game," Clement said at a news conference after the hearing.
The players argue that the league "glorified" and "monetized" violence through NFL Films, thereby profiting from vicious hits to the head.
Players' lawyer David Frederick also accused the league of concealing studies linking concussions to neurological problems for decades, even after the NFL created a Mild Traumatic Brain Injury committee in 1994. The panel was led by a rheumatologist.
"It set up a sham committee designed to get information about neurological risks, but in fact spread misinformation," Frederick argued.
In recent years, scores of former NFL players and other concussed athletes have been diagnosed after their deaths with chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, including popular Pro Bowler Junior Seau and lead plaintiff Ray Easterling. Both committed suicide last year.
About one-third of the league's 12,000 former players have joined the litigation since Easterling filed suit in 2011. Some are battling dementia, depression or Alzheimer's disease, and fault the league for rushing them back on the field after concussions. Others are worried about future problems and want their health monitored.
Brody honed in on whether the collective bargaining agreement specifies that head injuries are workplace safety issues and belong in arbitration.
"It has to be really specific. That's what I have to wrestle with," she said.
Frederick called the contract "silent" on latent head injuries, and said players therefore have the right to seek damages in court. Brody is not expected to rule for several months.
Players and family members on hand for the hearing included Kevin Turner, a former Philadelphia Eagles running back now battling Lou Gehrig's disease; Dorsey Levens, a veteran running back who made a 2012 documentary on concussions called "Bell Rung," and Easterling's widow, Mary Ann.
One wrinkle in the NFL's argument is what it calls the "gap year" players, who played from 1987 to 1993, when there was no collective bargaining agreement in place. The league, eager to avoid opening up its files in a court case, argues that those players were bound by previous contracts or contracts later in effect when they collected pensions.
"I certainly admit that the gap year players ... are the most difficult cases," said Clement.
However, he said very few people played only those years, and not before or after. For most, "there's no way to say the only hits that hurt you are the hits from those years," he said.
Tom McHale played in the NFL from 1987 to 1985, before the All-Ivy League athlete died of an accidental overdose in 2008. He was 45 and had battled depression and addiction toward the end of his life.
Lisa McHale, of Tampa, Fla., hardly recognized her once-gregarious husband. After his death, he was also diagnosed with CTE. She believes the player lawsuits, and the willingness of retired players to go public with their problems, will help her three teenage sons understand their father's illness.
"To know it wasn't his fault, that there was something neurological going on, it helps," she said.
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Stocks in the News: F, AA, JCP - Crista Huff - Townhall Finance ...
Welcome to John Ransom?s Stocks In The News, where the headline meets the trendline.???
Stock number one is: ???????
Ford Motor Company, (SYMBOL: F) and the headline says:
Ford Focus Tops Global Car Sales?????
The Ford Focus, manufactured by Ford Motor Company, topped 2012 auto sales as the world looks for smaller passenger cars.? Runners-up were the Toyota Corolla and the Ford F-Series pick-up trucks.? Ford CEO Alan Mulally is the driver behind the company?s effort to compete more effectively around the world.?????????
Earnings per share fell in 2012, and are expected to be down a fraction again in 2013, due to economic woes in Europe, a glut on the car market in South America, and margin pressures in China.??????????
Ford stock has been trading sideways for three years.???
Our Ransom Note trendline says: STAY ON THE SIDELINES.????
F data by YCharts
Stock number two is:? ??????
ALCOA Inc., (SYMBOL: AA) and the headline says:??????????
Alcoa Handily Beats First Quarter Earnings Estimates???????
Alcoa Inc., the largest U.S. aluminum producer, beat Wall Street estimates today with their first quarter earnings.? Analysts expected 8 cents per share, and Alcoa delivered 11 cents per share, excluding one-time gains.? The company has shifted its manufacturing focus toward more profitable products and solutions, filling an increased demand from? the aerospace and auto industries.?
Source: http://townhall.com/columnists/cristahuff/2013/04/10/stocks-in-the-news-f-aa-jcp-n1562983
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6 Surprising Facts You Didn't Know About Negotiating Your Salary ...
Are you making the seven deadly mistakes job seekers make online? Find out in our How to Get a Job online and on-demand bootcamp.
Want to get an edge on negotiating a raise at work?
You probably know you should prepare for the conversation, but what?s the best way to do that? Here are six surprising facts about negotiation that will help you walk out of your boss?s office with a raise in hand:
1. You actually have to ask
Negotiation is a conversation. But your manager is probably perfectly happy with things as they are, so to start that conversation, you have to ask.
Leaving things as they are saves your manager time and money, and she doesn?t have many incentives to give you what you may deserve or even initiate a discussion with you about what you want and need. You are the only person who?s motivated to change the status quo, so if you don?t ask for a change, it won?t happen.
2. Not asking means leaving real money on the table
We often don?t appreciate how much we might be leaving on the table over time by not asking or not asking for enough.
To illustrate this, consider the case of two 30-year-old candidates who are offered the same salary. Susy negotiates for $6,000 more, and Grace takes the original salary offer. If Susy stashes away just the additional $6,000 a year, she will have more than $350,000 more in savings than Grace (assuming a savings rate of 2.5 percent) at age 65. That?s a decent chunk of additional change Grace is missing out on!
See how much more you could be saving if you got a salary increase here. When you don?t negotiate, you?re leaving real money on the table.
3. You don?t have to assemble a broad array of arguments
Remember the phrase ?If the glove doesn?t fit, you must acquit?? While you don?t want to get yourself in that situation, this is a perfect example of how to get the result you want in a negotiation. Contrary to popular belief, you do not have to come up with 20 reasons why you deserve what you?re asking for. One or two strong arguments are actually more effective than throwing out four or five.
Do some thinking about the strongest reasons why you deserve what you want, and keep the focus of the conversation on those reasons.
Source: http://womanbizlife.com/2013/04/6-surprising-facts-you-didnt-know-about-negotiating-your-salary/
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Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Suicide car bomber kills 15 in central Damascus
By Oliver Holmes and Mariam Karouny
BEIRUT (Reuters) - A suicide car bomb killed at least 15 people and wounded 53 in the main business district of Damascus on Monday in what the Syrian prime minister said was a response to army gains against rebels around the capital.
The bomb near a school in the Sabaa Bahrat district, which also houses the Central Bank and Finance Ministry, set cars ablaze and damaged buildings, state television footage showed.
A Damascus resident who described the blast as the biggest she had heard in the capital during the two-year-old revolt against President Bashar al-Assad said large plumes of black smoke were rising from the Sabaa Bahrat district.
Car bombs and attacks on civilians are commonplace in the Syrian conflict, which the United Nations estimates has killed more than 70,000 people, without so far producing a winner.
Each side has accused the other of using chemical weapons, among other breaches of international law, although it remains unproven whether such weapons have actually been fired.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said an advance team of experts had gone to Cyprus and was awaiting permission from the Syrian government to investigate the conflicting assertions.
After the car bomb blast, Syrian television showed footage of seven bodies in the street, including at least two charred corpses in the wreckage of an overturned bus. Other vehicles were still on fire, lined up in what appeared to be a car park.
A woman with a blood-covered face was carried away on a stretcher. Panic-stricken women in long black dresses and headscarves ran towards the scene. Some children in school uniform were shown in bandages.
The state TV presenter described the attack as unprecedented and said: "We only have one choice, either win or die."
Angry and terrified residents interviewed by the channel called for decisive army action. "Look at Damascus. Is this Damascus? Look what is happening to it," said a weeping man.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, but each side blamed the other.
Russia said the blast occurred about a kilometer (half mile) from the Russian embassy and that Moscow "decisively condemns the latest cruel foray by terrorists whose criminal activity is killing and causing suffering among peaceful people".
A Russian Foreign Ministry statement said the bombing was the second major "terrorist act" near the embassy in about six weeks, "which creates a real danger to the lives and security of its employees".
It said "extremist groups in Syria that resort to terrorist explosions and mortar attacks on residential areas must receive a consolidated and uncompromising rebuff from all members of the international community".
GOVERNMENT OFFENSIVE
Syrian insurgents based in the outskirts of Damascus have pushed into areas near the government-held heart of the city, stepping up mortar and car bomb attacks in recent weeks.
But rebels said the army had intensified attacks on villages in the rebel-held Ghouta area to the east of the city since mid-March, besieging some of them under siege to pin rebels back.
"The entrance of Ghouta from the north is under siege," said a rebel commander in the area. The military, he said, was trying to disrupt rebel preparations for a "big battle" to break into central Damascus, the seat of Assad's power.
Osama al-Shami, an activist from southern Damascus said Assad's forces had launched a big tank-led assault on eastern Ghouta from the side of the International Airport to the south.
If successful, he said, the offensive would dislodge rebels from their footholds around the airport and cut their supply line to eastern Ghouta from the southern border with Jordan.
Syrian Prime Minister Wael al-Halqi said on state television that Monday's bombing was a response "to the great achievements of the Syrian army, especially in the Damascus countryside."
He said the Syrian army was "determined to go forward and will crush them", referring to Assad's foes.
In the divided northern city of Aleppo, where a military stalemate has lasted for months, government troops took the outlying village of al-Aziza, which sits next to the main highway and near the airport, opposition activists said.
They said the capture of the strategically important village could allow the army to push on into districts captured by insurgents in the south of the Syria's biggest city.
Syria's conflict started with peaceful protests against four decades of Assad family rule that were violently suppressed. An armed struggle ensued, forcing more than a million Syrians to flee abroad, and displacing millions more inside the country.
U.N. chief Ban, who met the head of the global chemical weapons monitoring body in The Hague on Monday, said the U.N. investigators only needed a green light from Damascus.
"We are ready," he said. The full team will consist of 15 experts, including inspectors, medical experts and chemists.
"All we are waiting for is the go-ahead from the Syrian government to determine whether any chemicals weapons were used, in any location," Ban said. He urged the Syrian government to be more flexible so the mission could deploy as fast as possible.
Syria has asked the United Nations to investigate an alleged chemical attack on Khan al-Assal village, near Aleppo, on March 19 which it blames on insurgents. The opposition, which says the government was behind the attack, wants the U.N. team's remit to include other alleged chemical attacks in Damascus and Homs.
Western powers back the opposition stance, but Russia has resisted broadening the U.N. inquiry. Ban said all serious claims about chemical weapons use in Syria should be examined.
"The use of chemical weapons by any side, under any circumstances, would constitute an outrageous crime with dire consequences and constitute a crime against humanity," he told delegates to a chemical weapons conference.
(Additional reporting by Anthony Deutsch in The Hague and Steve Gutterman in Moscow; Editing by Michael Roddy)
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/suicide-car-bomber-kills-15-central-damascus-133858716.html
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