Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Tax-free online shopping may be coming to an end

WASHINGTON (AP) ? States could force Internet retailers to collect sales taxes under a bill that overwhelmingly passed a test vote in the Senate Monday.

Under current law, states can only require stores to collect sales taxes if the store has a physical presence in the state. As a result, many online sales are essentially tax-free, giving Internet retailers a big advantage over brick-and-mortar stores.

The bill would allow states to require online retailers to collect state and local sales taxes for purchases made over the Internet. The sales taxes would be sent to the states where shoppers live.

The Senate voted 74 to 20 to begin debating the bill. If that level of support continues, the Senate could pass the bill as early as this week.

Supporters say the bill is about fairness for businesses and lost revenue for states. Opponents say it would impose complicated regulations on retailers and doesn't have enough protections for small businesses. Businesses with less than $1 million a year in online sales would be exempt.

"I believe it is important to level the playing field for all retailers," said Sen. Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., the bill's main sponsor. "We should not be subsidizing some taxpayers at the expense of others."

In many states, shoppers are required to pay unpaid sales tax when they file their state income tax returns. However, states complain that few people comply.

"I do know about three people that comply with that," Enzi said.

President Barack Obama supports the bill, but its fate is uncertain in the House, where some Republicans regard it as a tax increase. Heritage Action for America, the activist arm of the conservative Heritage Foundation, opposes the bill and will count the vote in its legislative scorecard.

Many of the nation's governors ? Republicans and Democrats ? have been lobbying the federal government for years for the authority to collect sales taxes from online sales, said Dan Crippen, executive director of the National Governors Association. Those efforts intensified when state tax revenues took hit from the recession and the slow economic recovery.

"It's a matter of equity for businesses," Crippen said. "It's a matter of revenue for states."

The bill pits brick-and-mortar stores like Wal-Mart against online services such as eBay. The National Retail federation supports it. And Amazon.com, which initially fought efforts in some states to make it collect sales taxes, supports it, too.

"Amazon.com has long supported a simplified nationwide approach that is evenhandedly applied and applicable to all but the smallest volume sellers," Paul Misener, Amazon's vice president of global public policy said in a recent letter to senators.

On the other side, eBay has been rallying customers to oppose the bill.

"I hope you agree that imposing unnecessary tax burdens on small online businesses is a bad idea," eBay president and CEO John Donahoe said in a letter to customers. "Join us in letting your Members of Congress know they should protect small online businesses, not potentially put them out of business."

The bill is also opposed by senators from states that have no sales tax, including Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., and Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H.

"Supporters of this online sales tax bill are trying to muscle it through before senators find out how disastrous it would be for businesses in their states," Ayotte said. "I will fight this power grab every step of the way to protect small online businesses in New Hampshire and across the nation."

Baucus said the bill would require relatively small Internet retailers to comply with sales tax laws in thousands of jurisdictions.

"This legislation doesn't help businesses expand and grow and hire more employees," Baucus said. "Instead, it forces small businesses to hire expensive lawyers and accountants to deal with the burdensome paperwork and added complexity of tax rules and filings across multiple states."

But Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said the bill requires participating states to make it relatively easy for Internet retailers to comply. States must provide free computer software to help retailers calculate sales taxes, based on where shoppers live. States must also establish a single entity to receive Internet sales tax revenue, so retailers don't have to send them to individual counties or cities.

"We're way beyond the quilt pen and leger days," Durbin said. "Thanks to computers and thanks to software it is not that complex."

___

Follow Stephen Ohlemacher on Twitter: http://twitter.com/stephenatap

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/senate-bill-jeopardizes-tax-free-online-shopping-190904262--politics.html

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Apple's future: Chat with Yahoo! editors about the tech giant's earnings

April 22 (Reuters) - Pep Guardiola is not the only connection between Bayern Munich and Barcelona, who meet in their Champions League semi-final, first leg at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday. Both teams are dominating their leagues to an almost embarrassing extent, have won the Champions League four times apiece, share an acrimonious rivalry with Real Madrid, and owe part of their success to the flamboyant Dutchman Louis van Gaal. Both have also been in two Champions League finals in the last four years, though the Catalans won both of theirs and the Bavarians came out losers on each occasion. ...

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/appl-earnings--a-live-chat-about-the-future-of-apple-173717676.html

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Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Dramatic 'Real Housewives of NJ' Promo Decoded!

The Real Housewives of New Jersey may be set in the Garden State, but life there is no bed of roses. The promo for Season 5 (premiering June 2 at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo) says it all. Watch here:

Source: http://www.ivillage.com/dramatic-real-housewives-new-jersey-season-5-promo-decoded/1-a-534035?dst=iv%3AiVillage%3Adramatic-real-housewives-new-jersey-season-5-promo-decoded-534035

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IBM solar collector will concentrate the power of 2,000 suns, keep its cool

IBM alliance's HCPVT solar collector produces 25kW of power, keeps its cool

Modern solar collectors can concentrate only so much energy for safety's sake: too much in one place and they risk cooking themselves. An IBM-led group is working on a new collector dish that could avoid that damage while taking a big step forward in solar power efficiency. The hundreds of photovoltaic chips gathering energy at the center will be cooled by the same sort of microchannel water cooling that kept Aquasar from frying, letting each chip safely concentrate 2,000 times the solar energy it would normally face. The collector also promises to do more with sunlight once it's trapped: since the microchannels should absorb more than half of the waste heat, their hot water byproduct can either be filtered into drinkable water or converted into air conditioning.

As you might imagine, IBM sees more than just the obvious environmental benefit. When a receiver will generate about 25kW of energy while costing less to make through cheaper mirrors and structures, a fully developed solar array could be an affordable replacement for coal power that delivers greater independence -- picture remote towns that need a fresh water supply. IBM doesn't estimate when we'll see production of these collectors beyond several prototypes, but the finished work will likely be welcome to anyone frustrated by the scalability of current solar energy.

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Source: IBM

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/8ddIbc_g8uk/

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An Evidence-Based Approach to Managing Chemotherapy-Induced ...

Presented by: Carrie Stricker, PhD, RN, AOCN
The Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania
Last Modified: April 22, 2013

This continuing education activity is designed for nurses and nurse practitioners in clinical practice to learn about the assessment, prevention and control of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV). This activity has been approved for 1.0 contact hour by the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Department of Nursing Development and Education, an approved provider of continuing nursing education by the PA State Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.

To receive continuing education credits for this activity:

  • Watch the video presentation by Dr. Stricker, which will open in a new window.
  • Return to this page, click on the link to go to the posttest, fill in your contact information and complete the test.
  • If you do not achieve a passing score, you will return to the test and be able to retake the posttest.
  • If you achieve a score of 80% or higher, you can proceed to the evaluation form.
  • Once you submit the evaluation, the CE certificate will pop up. Please print this for your records.

The educational objectives of this activity are:

  • To describe the underlying mechanisms of chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting (CINV).
  • To discuss contemporary evidence for best practice in prevention and control of CINV.
  • To overview strategies for translating CINV evidence into clinical practice, including via development and implementation of institutional guidelines.

PROCEED TO VIDEO PRESENTATION

An Evidence-Based Approach to Managing Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting - Continuing Education Post-Test

Source: http://www.oncolink.org/resources/article.cfm?c=412&id=1097

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Tempers flare at immigration hearing

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Tempers flared at a Senate hearing on immigration legislation Monday as a Republican senator objected to a Democrat's criticism of attempts by some to link the Boston Marathon bombings to the immigration bill.

"I never said that! I never said that!" Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, interjected as Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., suggested that some were using the Boston bombings as "an excuse" to slow down or stop the bill.

Schumer said he wasn't talking about Grassley, who said last week that the bombings raised question about gaps in the U.S. immigration system that should be examined in context of the new bill.

Meanwhile Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., accused Schumer of "demeaning" several witnesses called to Monday's Judiciary Committee hearing by the GOP side. Schumer had complained about Sessions saying that business and labor officials backing the Democratic side on immigration were "special interests," noting that the immigration bill has widespread support and asserting that the three witnesses scheduled to testify against the bill were "far more special interest."

Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., banged his gavel to settle the proceedings.

The exchange came as the Judiciary Committee opened its second hearing on sweeping legislation to strengthen border security, allow tens of thousands of new high- and low-skilled workers into the country, and provide an eventual path to citizenship for some 11 million immigrants now here illegally.

As happened at the first hearing Friday, the Boston Marathon bombings cast a shadow over the proceedings. The attacks were carried out by two ethnic Chechen immigrant brothers; both arrived legally and one was a naturalized U.S. citizens.

Leahy used part of his opening statement to chastise those who would link the bombings to the legislation. "Let no one be so cruel as to try to use the heinous acts of these two young men last week to derail the dreams and futures of millions of hardworking people," Leahy said.

He said the bill would strengthen national security by focusing on border security and enforcement.

Grassley bridled at Leahy's comments, saying that when Leahy proposed gun legislation, "I didn't accuse you of using the Newtown killings as an excuse."

"I think we're taking advantage of an opportunity where once in 25 years we deal with immigration to make sure that every base is covered," Grassley said.

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., raised similar concerns in a letter Monday to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., telling him, "We should not proceed until we understand the specific failures of our immigration system." Paul also said that national security protections must be part of any immigration legislation to ensure the federal government does everything it can to keep immigrants "with malicious intent" from using the immigration system to enter the country to commit acts of terror.

House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, also weighed in on the matter Monday, telling an interviewer on Fox News' "American Newsroom", "I'm in the camp of, if we fix our immigration system, it may actually help us understand who all is here, why they're here, and what legal status they have."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/tempers-flare-immigration-hearing-193424675.html

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Monday, April 22, 2013

Anthony scores 36, Knicks beat Celtics in Game 1

New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (7) fends off Boston Celtics guard Jason Terry (8) and forward Paul Pierce, right, during the first half of Game 1 in the first round of the NBA basketball playoffs at Madison Square Garden in New York, Saturday, April 20, 2013. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (7) fends off Boston Celtics guard Jason Terry (8) and forward Paul Pierce, right, during the first half of Game 1 in the first round of the NBA basketball playoffs at Madison Square Garden in New York, Saturday, April 20, 2013. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony, left, listens as Boston Celtics forward Paul Pierce speaks about the Boston Marathon bombings in front of color guards from New York and Boston before Game 1 in the first round of the NBA basketball playoffs at Madison Square Garden in New York, Saturday, April 20, 2013. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (7) fends off Boston Celtics guard Jason Terry (8) and forward Paul Pierce, right, during the first half of Game 1 in the first round of the NBA basketball playoffs at Madison Square Garden in New York, Saturday, April 20, 2013. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

Boston Celtics forward Brandon Bass (30) grabs the ball in front of New York Knicks forward Kenyon Martin (3) during the first half of Game 1 in the first round of the NBA basketball playoffs at Madison Square Garden in New York, Saturday, April 20, 2013. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

(AP) ? Carmelo Anthony started fast, struggled through the middle, and finished with a flurry.

And the New York Knicks, after knocking the Boston Celtics from the top of the Atlantic Division, took the first step toward knocking them out of the playoffs.

Anthony scored 36 points, leading the Knicks to an 85-78 victory Saturday in their playoff opener.

"It's a wonderful feeling to know that we got our first win of the series here on our home court, took care of that business," Anthony said. "It was real important for us to come out and get this first win."

The NBA's scoring leader had 10 quick points and endured a tough shooting night from there before scoring eight points in the fourth quarter, helping New York take a 1-0 lead in a series for the first time since the 2001 first round against Toronto.

"Boston knows Melo and they know he's not going anywhere, but they're going to make it as tough as possible for him to score the ball," Knicks coach Mike Woodson said. "And he got off to a good start and then he had that slow middle, and then when he had to pick it up down the stretch, he made the plays that we needed him to make. And I mean that's what the great ones do. They figure it out and Melo's done that all season for our ballclub."

Anthony shot only 13 for 29 from the field but made consecutive baskets late in the final period, when the Knicks held Boston to three baskets and eight points.

Game 2 is Tuesday night before the Celtics host Game 3 on Friday in what will be their first home game since the Boston Marathon bombings.

Jeff Green scored 26 points and Paul Pierce added 21 for the Celtics, who badly missed injured point guard Rajon Rondo, committing 21 turnovers that led to 20 points. The Knicks got their hands on the ball at will in the fourth quarter, when Boston shot 3 of 11.

"We had some just bad turnovers tonight," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "If we had those turnovers in any game we probably should lose the game and we did. We were making post passes from the other side of the floor. I mean, those are just not good passes."

Kevin Garnett had eight points and nine rebounds but shot only 4 of 12 from the field. Jason Terry, another veteran on a young Celtics team, missed all five shots off the bench.

The Celtics led after three quarters and tied the game for the final time at 72 on Garnett's basket with 8:13 remaining. Anthony then made consecutive jumpers, and after the Celtics got back within three later in the period, he made a layup and a long jumper that gave New York an 83-76 advantage with 1:21 left.

Green made two free throws and the Celtics double-teamed Anthony, but he fired a pass to a wide-open Kenyon Martin under the basket to put it away with 40 seconds left.

"We just panicked a little bit. We don't have to do that," Celtics guard Avery Bradley said. "We have to keep our composure and play the right way. We didn't."

J.R. Smith scored 15 points and Raymond Felton had 13 for the Knicks, while Martin finished with 10 points and nine rebounds in huge minutes for New York with Tyson Chandler struggling through a scoreless 20 minutes after barely playing late in the season because of a bulging disk.

The Knicks ended the Celtics' five-year reign as Atlantic Division champions by going 54-28, winning their first division title since 1994 with their most victories since going 57-25 in 1996-97. The next step would be playoff success for New York, which hasn't won a postseason series since 2000 and couldn't even get a game against the Celtics two years ago.

The Celtics wore a special patch recognizing the difficult week in Boston following the bombings that killed three people at the Boston Marathon on Monday. Rivers said many players were calling home to check on their families Friday, when the Boston area was in lockdown while authorities searched for the suspect. That even affected the Celtics, as Rondo, out for the season with a knee injury, was unable to join the team Friday in New York because he couldn't get out.

The Boston Fire Dept. Color Guard and FDNY color guard carried the flags onto the court before the national anthem, and Anthony and Pierce addressed the crowd before the game, with a few fans booing Pierce before many others yelled "Shhh!" so he could speak.

"Boston will rise and run again," Pierce said.

Fans were supportive of Boston but not the Celtics, as Rivers expected. Garnett, whose clash with Anthony in a regular-season meeting resulted in a one-game suspension for Anthony after he attempted to confront Garnett outside the Celtics' team bus, was loudly booed.

The Knicks threw up airballs on their first two attempts ? Chris Copeland was woefully short on their first shot. But Anthony quickly got them untracked, hitting a pair of jumpers and then consecutive 3-pointers in a 12-2 spurt for a 12-6 lead. But Boston regrouped and rallied to take a 29-26 lead on Green's 3-pointer as the first quarter ended.

It was close throughout the second, but the Knicks' offense stalled late in the period, with too little ball movement and too much of Anthony holding the ball. Green scored 12 in the period and Boston led 53-49 at the break.

The Celtics opened a 70-63 lead late in the third, but New York got the final four points of the period, then opened the fourth with Felton's jumper and Martin's three-point play to go back ahead, 72-70.

The Knicks were without starting guard Pablo Prigioni because of a sprained ankle, and rookie Copeland was scoreless in his place. The Knicks were 16-2 with Prigioni in the starting lineup during the season.

Notes: The Knicks won three of four meetings in the regular season, winning the series for the first time since 2003-04. ... The Celtics announced multiple initiatives to support victims affected by the Boston Marathon tragedy. Their Shamrock Foundation has committed to raise $200,000 to support The One Fund Boston through a $100,000 pledge from the foundation and multiple team initiatives to raise an additional $100,000. ... Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez was at the game and loudly booed when shown on the overhead video screen. Even Sanchez appeared to laugh.

___

Follow Brian Mahoney on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Briancmahoney

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2013-04-20-BKN-Celtics-Knicks/id-38a5f09aeedf4f149ed8b575e7b4b952

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Sunday, April 21, 2013

Terrible Advice From a Great Scientist

In your analogy, you're talking about a very high-level split that can be done cleanly. One person does the creative work of coming up with a game design (storyline, play control, etc.) without worrying about the underlying implementation details. Then another person can certainly do the engineering and coding work to implement that.

But it should be obvious that for some other problems this won't work. For example, it doesn't make sense to try and split the coding into a "creative coder" (who knows nothing about programming) and an "implementation coder" who turns the creative's ideas into actual code. The creative would toss out nonsensical ideas (like "instead of using vectors, why not use genetic algorithms?"), and then the implementer would have to explain why all those ideas are silly... or else they would just have to ignore the creative type and simply code something that makes sense.

In other words, generating good source code requires someone who knows enough about programming that they can see creative solutions. Their intuition is not separate from their programming talent: their intuition is based upon years of training and experience with source code, math, engineering, and so forth. That's where the good ideas come from.

Coming up with good scientific ideas is similar. Analysing scientific data even moreso. It's only once you have a deep, subliminal understanding of the important concepts that you're going to make substantive progress. Whether a deep understanding of math counts as an "important concept" depends on the field, of course... but I would argue that for science generally, the more mathematical know-how you have, the more informed and powerful your ideas will be.

Source: http://rss.slashdot.org/~r/Slashdot/slashdotScience/~3/9M2q6uv0OX0/story01.htm

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Sarah Jessica Parker battles her twins for jewels

NEW YORK (AP) ? Sarah Jessica Parker loves her jewelry ? but so do a pair of 3-year-old thieves.

Parker's twin daughters Tabitha and Marion get to try on mom's baubles, and she said "they have walked away with many pieces."

"Nothing of enormous value and I've told them basically all of it's theirs with some set aside for my son," Parker said Thursday at Tiffany and Co.'s Blue Book Ball.

Parker joined actresses Jessica Biel, Kate Hudson, Gwyneth Paltrow and Michelle Williams for the celebration of Tiffany's Blue Book Collection, inspired by the New York Jazz Age in partnership with the film "The Great Gatsby," directed by Baz Luhrmann and starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Carey Mulligan.

Hudson said she has a more whimsical approach to her jewelry box.

"I have a theory about jewelry. If you lose it, it's supposed to be gone. I don't shed a tear if I lose something," she said. But if not, she says, "I hold on tight to it."

But when it comes to jewels and baubles, does size matter?

"Oh, that's a good question. No, I think workmanship matters more than size," said Paltrow.

Actress Alice Eve disagrees: "Yes. Size always matters," she said with a laugh.

Parker had a more meaningful response, as her modest-sized wedding ring from husband Matthew Broderick is from Tiffany's.

"Not to me, no. I have a beautiful ring that I love very, very much and it's from Tiffany's and it's my most, most favorite ring at all and it's not as you can see super robust or muscular but I think it's every bit as lovely as any big-dot rock," she said. "But it's great fun, don't get me wrong, to borrow the big stuff occasionally. I mean, it's a real privilege."

___

Follow Alicia Rancilio on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/aliciar

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/4e67281c3f754d0696fbfdee0f3f1469/Article_2013-04-19-US-Fashion-Sarah-Jessica-Parker/id-9b5724192bcf463081fdb2821b5acc79

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Southern Africa Zimbabwe Extends Poll Funding Appeal to South Africa Angola

  • All Africa - Friday 19th April, 2013

    POLICE will deal decisively with anyone involved in political violence regardless of political affiliation ahead of harmonised elections due this year, President Mugabe has said. Addressing tens of thousands of people gathered at the National Sports Stadium for the 33rd Independence Day anniversary celebrations yesterday, the President urged rival political party supporters to co-exist. He ...

  • Govt Mulls Mass Bus Transport System

    All Africa - Friday 19th April, 2013

    Government has adopted the mass bus transport system as the solution to meet growing public transport needs in urban areas, the Minister of Transport, Communications and Infrastructure Development Nicholas Goche has disclosed. Government wants excise duty on imported bus kits and spare parts reduced as an incentive to enhance fleet replacement and expansion. The new thrust is part of the new ...

  • Government Welcomes Wests Re-Engagement Efforts

    All Africa - Friday 19th April, 2013

    PRESIDENT Mugabe yesterday welcomed re-engagements efforts by Western nations that bought into the bilateral dispute between Zimbabwe and Britain, saying they should realise Zimbabwe was their equal at international law. Speaking at the 33rd Independence Day anniversary celebrations at the National Sports Stadium in Harare yesterday, President Mugabe said the conciliatory moves should be coupled ...

  • Survey to Assist Policymakers Zimstat

    All Africa - Friday 19th April, 2013

    ZimStat has said the Poverty Income Consumption and Expenditure Survey and the Poverty Datum Line analysis in Zimbabwe 2011/12 reports it has released are set to assist policymakers in coming up with appropriate measures towards poverty alleviation through the adoption of policies meant to address disparities unearthed. Addressing delegates who attended the dissemination workshop, ZimStat ...

  • Zimbabwe Celebrates 33rd Anniversary

    All Africa - Friday 19th April, 2013

    Hundreds of thousands of Zimbabweans thronged different centres countrywide to celebrate the country's 33rd Independence Day Anniversary with the main event being held in Harare at the National Sports Stadium. President Mugabe presided over the celebrations in Harare and presented the keynote address to the more than 60 000 people who thronged the event early morning to secure some seats. ...

  • Independence anniversary celebrated in Zimbabwe

    China Daily - Friday 19th April, 2013

    Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe lights the independence flame during a celebration activity marking the 33rd Anniversary of the country's independence at the National Sports Stadium in Harare, April 18, 2013. A celebration was held for the independence anniversary?on Thursday. Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe appealed for the end of political violence and a peaceful election later ...

  • Thousands Attend Uhuru Celebrations

    All Africa - Friday 19th April, 2013

    HUNDREDS of thousands of Zimbabweans thronged different centres countrywide to commemorate 33 years of Independence and sovereignty with the main celebrations being held at the 60 000-seater National Sports Stadium in Harare. Thousands had to be locked out after the stadium was filled to capacity by mid-morning. The three main parties in Government were all represented at the highest level. ...

  • Zinwa Clarifies Position On Bulawayo Water

    All Africa - Friday 19th April, 2013

    Bulawayo Bureau - The Zimbabwe National Water Authority will not charge Bulawayo for the bulk water that the parastatal has been pumping to the city from Mtshabezi Dam during its trial period that began in January. Zinwa chief executive Engineer Albert Muyambo said the authority will only start billing the local authority when Zesa connects power to the dam. Water is being pumped from Mtshabezi ...

  • Southern Africa Zimbabwe Extends Poll Funding Appeal to South Africa Angola

    All Africa - Friday 19th April, 2013

    Harare - The cash strapped Zimbabwean government has extended its appeal for election funding to South Africa and Angola, other than the United Nations. The poll budget has been reduced from 132 million U.S. dollars to 100 million U.S. dollars following the acquisition of some of the required vehicles and equipment ahead of the March 16 constitutional referendum. Minister of Finance Tendai ...

  • Water Cuts Leave Harare Dry

    All Africa - Friday 19th April, 2013

    Water supply problems in and around central Harare have left residents and businesses without access to running water for almost a week, as the problems continue to dog the City Council. The Council has been repeatedly blamed for allowing the water situation in the capital to keep deteriorating, with the authorities blaming old infrastructure and a lack of government funding to make the ...

  • Political Parties in Govt Ambassadors Hail President

    All Africa - Friday 19th April, 2013

    Political parties in the inclusive Government and dignitaries yesterday hailed President Mugabe's calls for peace during the forthcoming harmonised elections saying this is vital for a free and fair election in Zimbabwe. President Mugabe made the call in his address yesterday at the National Sports Stadium in Harare. He ordered police to deal decisively with all perpetrators of violence ...

  • Zimbabweans Cry Freedom As the Country Marks 33 Years of Self-Rule

    All Africa - Friday 19th April, 2013

    Zimbabweans across the country were widely expected Thursday to take part in celebrations marking the country's 33 years of independence from white rule. Since the first celebrations on April 18th 1980, Independence has always been marked by ceremonies, debates and discussions, with people expressing diverse opinions about this grand event in their history. This year was no different and ...

  • Zim Bound Helicopter Donation to Remain in SA

    All Africa - Friday 19th April, 2013

    A fleet of helicopters that were set to be donated to Zimbabwe's military by the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), will remain where they are for now. The North Gauteng High Court in South Africa on Thursday upheld an interdict against the delivery of the helicopters, meaning the donation will not happen in the near future. The Court also ordered the government to pay costs for ...

  • Rough estimates Millions of Zimbabweans abroad

    Mail & Guardian - Friday 19th April, 2013

    Despite increasing political tensions between the United Kingdom and Zimbabwe, the UK has been identified as a favourite destination by Zimbabweans who want to settle abroad permanently. ...

  • Zimbabwe Mugabe Marks Zimbabwean Independence as Elections Loom

    All Africa - Friday 19th April, 2013

    Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe marked the 33rd anniversary of his country's independence from the UK with a call to Zimbabweans to shun violence ahead of elections expected later this year. Speaking at a rally in Harare, 89-year-old Mugabe said Zimbabwe was now due to hold "harmonized elections" and he wished to urge the nation to "uphold and promote peace." ...

  • Bangladesh hit back in Harare

    Sportal - Thursday 18th April, 2013

    Bangladesh reached 1-95 at stumps on day two of the first Test against Zimbabwe in Harare on Thursday.The tourists looked relatively comfortable in reply to Zimbabwe's total of 389, losing just one wicket in 25 overs, with Shahriar Nafees the only man to depart for 29.Opener Jahurul Islam (38) and Mohammad Ashraful (23) were both unbeaten heading into the third day.Earlier in the day, ...

  • Tsvangirai Zimbabwe Independence Lacks Basic Freedoms

    VOA - Thursday 18th April, 2013

    WASHINGTON DC -- In his independence message, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai said April 18 is a day when Zimbabweans feel proud of their tenacity and resilience as a people. The only tragic news, he said, is that independence did not come with basic freedoms as we had all assumed. He said: "We still have a huge deficit when it comes to respect for human dignity and human rights ...

  • Dynamos Beat Highlanders Win Independence Cup

    VOA - Thursday 18th April, 2013

    WASHINGTON DC -- Dynamost beat highlanders 1-0 on Thursday in an independence cup tie at the National Sports Stadium to lift the independence trophy for the seventh time since its launch in 1983. Dynamos scored in the ...

  • Bulawayo Fuel Station Gutted by Fire No Casualties

    VOA - Thursday 18th April, 2013

    WASHINGTON DC -- A fuel service station in downtown Bulawayo, Zimbabwe's second largest city, was reduced to ashes late Thursday after it caught fire while taking delivery. Redan Service Station, located at the Main Street and 5th Avenue intersection, exploded into a fireball when two trucks unloading fuel caught fire that witnesses said was triggered by an ironsmith who was welding ...

  • Bangladesh fight back in 2nd Zimbabwe Test

    SBS - Thursday 18th April, 2013

    Captain Brendan Taylor scored 171 runs in Zimbabwe's total of 389 but Bangladesh hit back to be 1-95 after two days of the 1st Test in ...

  • Zim Mugabe warns against election violence

    Mail & Guardian - Thursday 18th April, 2013

    "The country is now due to hold harmonised elections, and I wish to urge the nation to uphold and promote peace," Mugabe told a rally in the capital to mark the 33rd anniversary of the former Rhodesia's independence from Britain. He told party leaders to avoid exhorting their followers to attack opponents and said he had ordered the police to get tough on perpetrators of ...

  • Zimbabwes President Mugabe in passionate plea for peace

    The Africa Report - Thursday 18th April, 2013

    Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe on Thursday made an impassioned plea for peace ahead of elections he wants held in June. Mugabe (89) who wants to stand for another term told thousands of people gathered at a stadium in Harare to celebrate the country's 33rd independence anniversary said political violence had soiled Zimbabwe's image. "We want peace, let the people vote in ...

  • Source: http://www.zimbabwenews.net/index.php/sid/213947189/scat/4a6d634cbccbbfe2

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    Saturday, April 20, 2013

    Fine-Tune Your Final School Requirement With The Help Of A ...

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    Source: http://articles.submityourarticle.com/fine-tune-your-final-school-requirement-with-the-help-of-a-thesis-editor-326040

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    Are you now or have you ever been a member of the Irish Republican Army? (Unqualified Offerings)

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

    Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/300297740?client_source=feed&format=rss

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    Atlanta's new Indian restaurants | Food and More with John Kessler

    Chai Pani

    Fathers, mothers and grandmothers still figure in the new wave of Indian restaurants showing up around metro Atlanta. But family tradition is a touchstone rather than a millstone, nowadays. And please don?t bring up those bad old memories of face-stuffing buffets set to wailing sitar soundtracks, or you just might elicit a bout of laughter mixed with embarrassment.

    What you?ll find at Bhojanic in Buckhead and Chai Pani in Decatur are creative takes on Indian food that offer brighter, fresher flavors in varied portion sizes, all kinds of current beer, wine and cocktail options, and settings that are decidedly contemporary.

    Read the full story here: myajc.com

    ? Bob Townsend, Food and More blog.

    Source: http://blogs.ajc.com/food-and-more/2013/04/19/atlanta%E2%80%99s-new-indian-restaurants/?cxntfid=blogs_food_and_more

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    Friday, April 19, 2013

    Report: One bombing suspect captured

    Police search for suspects in Watertown, Mass. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

    BOSTON?A late-night police chase and shootout has ended with one marathon bombing suspect being captured here, the Boston Globe reported. Meanwhile, an intense manhunt is underway for a second suspect in the terror case.

    Federal agents swarmed neighboring Watertown after local police were involved in a car chase and shootout with at least two suspects. During the pursuit, officers could be heard on police radio traffic describing the suspects as having grenades and other explosives.

    One reportedly escaped capture, and another was shot by police and taken to a local hospital. Another man was seen sprawled on the ground in footage shown on WHDH-TV.

    The FBI has not confirmed a connection between the events in Watertown to the twin explosions that killed 3 people and injured 170 others at the Boston Marathon on Monday. But according to an alert sent issued to fellow officers, the suspect who remained at large was referred to as the "one with the white hat" seen in the photos released by the bureau on Thursday.

    The suspect, described on scanner traffic as a "white male wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt with black curly hair, possibly with an assault rifle and explosives," as police in Watertown, Newton, Brighton and Cambridge were put on high alert.

    "We are aware of the law enforcement activity in the greater Boston area," Boston FBI spokesman Greg Comcowich said in a statement to Yahoo News. "The situation is ongoing. We are working with local authorities to determine what happened."

    [Related: FBI releases photos of suspects in Boston Marathon bombings]

    Worried residents in Watertown, a suburb about 10 miles from downtown Boston, were ordered to stay indoors and turn off their cell phones out of fear that they could trigger improvised explosive devices.

    "Suspect 2" (FBI.gov)

    Dozens of police officers, many of them off-duty, searched backyards in search of the second suspect, and a police perimeter of several blocks was established. K9 units and SWAT teams searched homes on Spruce Street as officers searched an SUV the suspects had abandoned.

    The Watertown shootout occurred after a shooting at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology late Thursday. A police officer was shot and taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. The campus was placed on lockdown for several hours, and students were told to remain indoors.

    Shortly before 2 a.m. Friday, MIT issued a statement on its website saying that the suspect "in this evening's shooting is no longer on campus. It is now safe to resume normal activities. Please remain vigilant in the coming hours."

    At approximately 3:30 a.m., Massachusetts State Police issued a plea on Twitter for residents of Watertown to lock their doors and not open them for anyone as they searched backyards and exteriors of houses there.

    "Residents in and around Watertown should stay in their residences," the alert read. "Do NOT answer door unless it is an identified police officer."

    Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/boston-mit-shooting-explosion-suspect-watertown-064355149.html

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    Image leads to hunt for Boston bombing suspect

    Marathon runner Nathan Finney of Boston and his daughter Mckenna, 5, gather with others ahead of an interfaith service with President Barack Obama at Cathedral of the Holy Cross, held in the wake of Monday's Boston Marathon explosions, which killed at least three and injured more than 140, Thursday, April 18, 2013, in Boston. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

    Marathon runner Nathan Finney of Boston and his daughter Mckenna, 5, gather with others ahead of an interfaith service with President Barack Obama at Cathedral of the Holy Cross, held in the wake of Monday's Boston Marathon explosions, which killed at least three and injured more than 140, Thursday, April 18, 2013, in Boston. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

    President Barack Obama attends an interfaith healing service at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston, Thursday, April 18, 2013, for victims of Monday's Boston Marathon explosions. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

    Lizzie Lee of Lynnwood, Wash., pauses near the finish line of Monday's Boston Marathon explosions, which killed at least three and injured more than 140, Thursday, April 18, 2013, in Boston. Lee said she almost completed the marathon before the blasts. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

    Investigators inspect the area between the two blast sites near the Boston Marathon finish line, Thursday, April 18, 2013, in Boston. Boston remained under a heavy security presence, with scores of National Guard troops gathering among armored Humvees in the Boston Common. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

    Mourners attend a candlelight vigil in the aftermath of Monday's Boston Marathon explosions, which killed at least three and injured more than 140, Wednesday, April 17, 2013, at City Hall in Cambridge, Mass. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

    BOSTON (AP) ? The painstaking work to identify a bombing suspect from reams of Boston Marathon footage yielded a possible breakthrough as investigators focused on a man seen dropping off a bag, and then walking away from the site of the second of two deadly explosions.

    The discovery of the image ? found on surveillance footage from a department store near the finish line ? was detailed by a city politician two days after the attack that left three people dead, wounded more than 170, and cast a dark shadow over one of this city's most joyous traditions. The footage hasn't been made public.

    President Barack Obama attended the interfaith service honoring the victims Thursday in Boston, and closed his eyes at times while listening to speakers. There was a heavy police presence around the city's main Roman Catholic cathedral as residents lined up before dawn, hoping to get one of the roughly 2,000 seats inside. By 9 a.m., they were being turned away.

    Streets were blocked off around the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston's South End.

    Among the hundreds in line was 18-year-old Eli Philips. The college student was a Marathon volunteer and was wearing his volunteer jacket on Thursday morning.

    He said he was still shocked that "something that was euphoric went so bad."

    Ricky Hall, 67, of Cambridge, showed up at 8 a.m. but was turned away from the line to get inside that was already stretching down at least two city blocks, so decided just to stay outside.

    "I came to pay my respects to the victims," he said, but was also angry that someone would desecrate the marathon and urged maximum punishment for the perpetrators.

    Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said Thursday the FBI wants to speak with individuals seen in at least one video from marathon, but she says she isn't calling them suspects.

    Without providing details of the men's appearance or what the video shows, Napolitano told the House Homeland Security Committee on Thursday that "there is some video that raised the question" of individuals the FBI would like to interview. She said the investigation is continuing "apace."

    Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick said he shared the frustration that the person or people responsible were still at large, but he said solving the case will not "happen by magic."

    "It's going to happen by doing the careful work that must be done in a thorough investigation," Patrick said. "That means going through the couple of blocks at the blast scene square inch by square inch and picking up pieces of evidence and following those trails, and that's going to take some time."

    The bombs were crudely fashioned from ordinary kitchen pressure cookers packed with explosives, nails and ball bearings, investigators and others close to the case said. Investigators suspect the devices were then hidden in black duffel bags and left on the ground.

    As a result, they were looking for images of someone lugging a dark, heavy bag. Investigators had appealed to the public to provide videos and photographs from the race finish line.

    City Council President Stephen Murphy, who said he was briefed by Boston police, said investigators saw the image of the man dropping off a bag and matched the findings with witness descriptions of someone leaving the scene.

    One department store video "has confirmed that a suspect is seen dropping a bag near the point of the second explosion and heading off," Murphy said.

    Separately, a law enforcement official who was not authorized to discuss the case publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity confirmed only that investigators had an image of a potential suspect whose name was not known to them and who had not been questioned.

    Several media outlets reported that a suspect had been identified from surveillance video taken at a Lord & Taylor department store between the sites of the bomb blasts.

    At least 14 bombing victims, including three children, remained in critical condition. Dozens of victims have been released from hospitals, and officials at three hospitals that treated some of the most seriously injured said they expected all their remaining patients to survive. A 2-year-old boy with a head injury was improving and might go home Thursday, Boston Children's Hospital said.

    On Wednesday, investigators in white jumpsuits fanned out across the streets, rooftops and awnings around the blast site in search of clues. They picked through trash cans, plastic cup sleeves and discarded sports drink dispensers.

    Marian Wilson said she tried not to notice the men slowly pacing and looking for evidence on the street behind her as she ate a tuna sandwich at Stephanie's on Newbury, a restaurant a block from the site of the bombings.

    "I just go in and out of being completely freaked out," she said.

    Boston remained under a heavy security presence, with scores of National Guard troops gathering among armored Humvees in the Boston Common.

    Kenya Nadry, a website designer, took her 5-year-old nephew to a playground.

    "There's still some sense of fear, but I feel like Boston's resilient," she said. "The fine men in blue will take care of a lot of it."

    Dr. Horacio Hojman, associate chief of trauma at Tufts Medical Center, said patients were in surprisingly good spirits when they were brought in.

    "Despite what they witnessed, despite what they suffered, despite many of them having life-threatening injuries, their spirits were not broken," he said. "And I think that should probably be the message for all of us ? that this horrible act of terror will not bring us down."

    Obama and his challenger in the last election, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, planned to visit Boston on Thursday to attend the vigil.

    The blasts killed 8-year-old Martin Richard, of Boston, 29-year-old Krystle Campbell, of Medford, and Lu Lingzi, a Boston University graduate student from China.

    ___

    Associated Press writers Jay Lindsay, Pat Eaton-Robb, Steve LeBlanc, Bridget Murphy and Meghan Barr in Boston; Eileen Sullivan, Julie Pace and Lara Jakes in Washington; and Marilynn Marchione in Milwaukee contributed to this report.

    Associated Press

    Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2013-04-18-Boston%20Marathon-Explosions/id-8592a83dfc5a43bc849a32f5b4614dee

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    Kepler Telescope Spots 3 New Planets In The 'Goldilocks Zone'

    The small squares superimposed on this image of the Milky Way galaxy show where in the sky the Kepler telescope is hunting for Earth-like planets. Kepler, which launched in 2009, has identified more than 100 planets.

    NASA

    The small squares superimposed on this image of the Milky Way galaxy show where in the sky the Kepler telescope is hunting for Earth-like planets. Kepler, which launched in 2009, has identified more than 100 planets.

    NASA

    Astronomers have found three planets orbiting far-off stars that are close to Earth-sized and in the "habitable zone": a distance from their suns that makes the planets' surfaces neither too hot nor too cold, but just right.

    One of the three planets orbits a star with the prosaic name Kepler-69.

    "Kepler-69 is a sun-like star," says Thomas Barclay, a research scientist at the Bay Area Environmental Research Institute who uses the Kepler space telescope, which is on a mission to search for Earth-like planets. It finds planets by looking for tiny dips in the light coming from a star. The dips come when a planet passes in front of a star. By measuring the interval between dips, astronomers can figure out how long it takes a planet to orbit its star.

    ? Back in the good old days, you'd find one or two crappy, Jupiter-like planets, and you'd be on the cover of 'Time' magazine. But those days are long gone.

    The planet around Kepler-69 is "around 70 percent bigger than Earth, so what we call super-Earth-sized," says Barclay. "This represents the first super-Earth-sized planet in the habitable zone of a star like our sun."

    Twenty five years ago, if you had asked astronomers if there were planets around other stars, they'd probably say maybe, but they'd admit they were just speculating.

    Boy, have times changed. In the past two decades, using some innovative measurement techniques, astronomers have confirmed the existence of lots of planets ? 697, in fact ? according to the Exoplanet Orbit Database.

    "Back in the good old days, you'd find one or two crappy, Jupiter-like planets, and you'd be on the cover of Time magazine. But those days are long gone," says Paul Butler, a planet hunter at the Carnegie Institution for Science. Most new planets barely elicit a yawn these days.

    The Kepler mission is partly to blame for that. The spacecraft, which launched in 2009, has been wildly successful, having found more than 100 planets, most of which have been the nasty Jupiter-sized planets Butler talks about. But the three planets being announced today are different.

    In addition to the one orbiting Kepler-69, there are two around Kepler-62 that are even closer to Earth-sized. Kepler-62 is a dimmer star than Kepler-69, so the planets' orbits must be closer to the star to keep them in the habitable zone. The planets around Kepler-62 are described in the online edition of the journal Science.

    William Borucki, an astronomer with the NASA Ames Research Center and the principal investigator for Kepler, says the mission's goal is to find how many Earth twins are out there.

    "If they're frequent, then there may be lots of life throughout the galaxy," says Borucki. "They may just be waiting for us to call and say, 'Hello, we'd like to join the club.' Or if we don't find any, the answer may be just the opposite. Maybe we're alone, there isn't anybody out there; there will never be a Star Trek because there's no place to go to."

    And that's a sobering thought.

    Source: http://www.npr.org/2013/04/18/177774505/kepler-telescope-spots-three-new-planets-in-the-goldilocks-zone?ft=1&f=1007

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    ABC delays bomb-themed ''Castle'' episode after Boston bombings

    LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A bomb-themed episode of U.S. television crime drama "Castle" has been rescheduled because of its close timing to Monday's deadly bombings in Boston.

    Broadcaster ABC said on Thursday that the April 22 episode of "Castle," which follows a crime novelist and New York police detective, will switch dates with the April 29 episode.

    Series star Stana Katic said on Twitter that the move was made "out of respect" for the victims from the twin blasts near the finish line of the Boston Marathon. The bombings killed At least three people and injured 176.

    Broadcaster Fox on Tuesday pulled a recent episode of animated series "Family Guy" from rebroadcast because it had an unconnected storyline of the Boston Marathon and a bombing.

    ABC is owned by Walt Disney Co and Fox by News Corp.

    (Reporting by Eric Kelsey; Editing by Sandra Maler)

    Source: http://news.yahoo.com/abc-delays-bomb-themed-castle-episode-boston-bombings-185319257.html

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    Thursday, April 18, 2013

    Worst Gaming Community - Forum - Garena

    ? Garena Interactive Holding Ltd. Trademarks belong to their respective owners. ? 2011 Riot Games, Inc. "Riot Games" and "League of Legends" are trademarks, service marks and/or or registered trademarks throughout the world. All rights reserved. Operated in the Philippines by Fofo Distribution Inc., a Philippine domestic corporation with appropriate NTC license / registration. Garena Philippines Inc. ceased value added services operations as of September 30, 2011.

    Source: http://forum.lol.garena.ph/showthread.php?43584-Worst-Gaming-Community

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    Tuesday, April 2, 2013

    How the US oil, gas boom could shake up global order

    As energy production in North America climbs, NBC News' Chief Foreign Correspondent Richard Engel explores what it will mean to oil-producing countries in the Middle East.

    By Richard Engel and Robert Windrem, NBC News

    Without fanfare, China passed the United States in December to become the world's leading importer of oil ? the first time in nearly 40 years that the U.S. didn?t own that dubious distinction. That same month, North Dakota, Ohio and Pennsylvania together produced 1.5 million barrels of oil a day -- more than Iran exported.

    As those data points demonstrate, a dramatic shift is occurring in how energy is being produced and consumed around the world ? one that could lead to far-reaching changes in the geopolitical order.

    U.S. policy makers, intelligence analysts and other experts are beginning to grapple with the ramifications of such a change, which could bring with it both great benefits for the U.S. and potentially dangerous consequences, including the risk of upheaval in countries and regions heavily dependent on oil exports.?


    But many experts say the U.S. would be the big winner, in position to reshape its foreign policy and boost its global influence.?

    "People already are looking at the U.S. differently, seeing the U.S. as much more competitive in the world,? said energy analyst and author Dan Yergin, saying that he first noticed the change in the world view of the U.S. at the World Economic Forum in January in Davos, Switzerland.

    Jim Seida / NBC News

    Watch a drilling crew at work near the small town of Garden City, Texas, as they drill an oil well that eventually will extend more than a mile deep and a mile sideways in the Permian Basin.

    As detailed in the first two installments of Power Shift, an NBC News/CNBC special report, the United States is reaping the benefits of an energy boom created by new drilling technologies that have unlocked vast domestic oil and natural gas reserves. Coupled with decreasing demand due to energy efficiency and continued cultivation of alternative energy sources, an increasing number of experts believe the U.S. could achieve energy independence by the end of the decade ? realizing a dream born during the gas crisis of 1973.

    But who would be the global winners and losers in such a scenario?

    Most U.S. policy makers and experts agree that the U.S. and its allies ? particularly its North American neighbors -- would be the biggest beneficiaries.

    Boom helps Iran sanctions stick
    In fact, they say, the West already has realized one major benefit: the success of international sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program.

    Carlos Pascual, the State Department?s coordinator for international energy affairs, noted last month at the CERAWEEK energy conference in Houston that increased U.S. oil production, coupled with a boost in exports from Iraq and Libya, has kept oil prices stable despite the loss, because of sanctions, of up to 1.5 million barrels a day in Iranian exports.

    ?What this has taught us, and helped underscore, is that within the world we live in today, hard security issues and energy policy issues have become fundamentally intertwined,? he said.

    NBC News

    Interactive map: Where the US produces its energy. Click to enlarge.

    Yergin, who also is a CNBC energy consultant and author of the energy-focused nonfiction best-sellers "The Quest" and "The Prize," put it this way: "People talk of the future impact. The increase in U.S oil production has already had an impact: Sanctions wouldn't have been effective without U.S. oil production. ?? We've added (within the last year) almost as much as Iran was exporting before sanctions.?

    Hossein Moussavian, a former Iranian ambassador to Germany and nuclear negotiator who's now a fellow at the Woodrow Wilson School at Princeton University, said "the radicals" in Tehran failed to foresee the changing energy picture, believing that sanctions wouldn't be imposed and that, if they were, they wouldn't work because oil prices would surge.

    "The Iranian mistake was to believe ?? the threats of referring Iran to the United Nations Security Council, imposing sanctions, was just a bluff," he said.

    In the longer term, observers say that the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and many of its member nations are likely to be the biggest losers if the U.S. continues to cut oil imports, likely decreasing oil prices in the process.

    "A dramatic expansion of U.S. production could ? push global spare capacity to exceed 8 million barrels per day, at which point OPEC could lose price control and crude oil prices would drop, possibly sharply," the U.S. intelligence community's internal think tank, the National Intelligence Council, said in its ?Global Trends 2030? report in December. "Such a drop would take a heavy toll on many energy producers who are increasingly dependent on relatively high energy prices to balance their budgets."

    With some analysts predicting that oil prices could drop as low as $70 to $90 a barrel ? down from the current price of nearly $110 per barrel of Brent crude oil ? a ?scramble? among OPEC members for market share could ensue, said Edward Morse, an energy analyst with Citigroup and co-author of a recent report on titled ?Energy 2020: Independence Day.?

    An International Monetary Fund analysis indicates that many major oil-producing states need more than that lowest price level to meet their budgets and would be forced to increase output or reduce spending, which could trigger unrest. Among them, according to the report: Iran, Libya and Russia, at $117 a barrel; Iraq, $112; Yemen, $237; and the UAE, $84.

    Iraq, which has had production from its rich oil fields curtailed by war or sanctions for half of the 53 years of OPEC?s existence, poses another challenge to the organization.

    Now that it?s finally free of such interference, its production is increasing by between 500,000 and 900,000 barrels a year, making it the second fastest growing oil-producing country in the world after the U.S.?

    ?And, by God, no one?s going to impose any quota limitations on them,? said Morse, referring to Iraq?s OPEC partners. ?So part of the challenge to OPEC is internal as well as external.?

    Can Saudis maintain market-maker role?
    Analysts say OPEC heavyweight Saudi Arabia, which controls vast reserves of oil and needs $71 a barrel to meet its budget, according to the IMF, will do everything it can to remain the market-maker. But in that role, it will face new challenges, they say.

    ?Over time, it should become increasingly challenging for Saudi Arabia to ?overproduce? and bring down prices to punish wayward OPEC members; without this disciplinary mechanism, it is unclear whether OPEC can remain cohesive,? according to the Citigroup report.

    For its part, OPEC professes to be not unduly alarmed by the U.S. oil and natural gas boom. It highlights the "considerable uncertainties" surrounding wells drilled using hydraulic fracturing, or ?fracking,? and associated technologies.

    Yergin said he believes that the Saudis will be able to withstand the turbulence, and that they will provide a buffer for the organization?s lesser producers.

    ?It's too quick to write the obit for OPEC,? he said. ?? The Saudis will figure it out. They are re-orientated to Asian markets, turning left instead of right.?

    New technology is creating a boom in energy extraction in the Permian Basin. For most residents, it's a welcome boost to the economy.

    But some members of the oil cartel -- particularly Nigeria and Angola -- already are feeling the impact of the U.S. production surge, according to the Citigroup report. U.S. imports from the two countries dropped to 700,000 barrels a day at the end of 2012, down from 1.6 million barrels in 2007. That?s because U.S. production of light, sweet crude -- the kind of oil the West African nations produce -- has burgeoned in recent years. Citigroup forecasts that by the end of 2013, the market for Nigerian oil at Gulf Coast refineries could entirely dry up.

    Longer term, say by 2020, cheaper heavy oil from Canada, freed from the so-called oil sands by new recovery technologies, could push similar oil from Venezuela out of the U.S. Gulf Coast market,? (assuming the Obama administration approves construction of the Keystone XL pipeline to carry it), according to forecasts.

    Mexico also is expected to increase production, offering the U.S. access to another convenient and friendly provider.

    "The Eagle Ford formation in Texas extends into Mexico and if you look at the Gulf, you'll see thousands of black dots marking oil platforms on the U.S. side but nothing on the Mexican side,? said Yergin. ?That's changing. There is a political consensus among the three major parties on energy. You will see less immigration from Mexico. Mexico could become more of a BRIC (the term used for fast-developing economies like Brazil, Russia, India and China) than Brazil."

    Besides guaranteeing a stable domestic energy supply, those energy resources add tools to the U.S. diplomatic toolbox, said David L. Phillips, director of the Peace-building and Human Rights Program at Columbia University.

    "Why permit ourselves to be held hostage to regimes hostile to our national interests and who give safe harbor to those who would do us harm?" he asked. "? The glaring example is Venezuela. (Hugo) Chavez was so strongly anti-American and he was providing energy to our enemies. They should pay the price for non-cooperation."

    Current and former diplomats note that the U.S. also could use its increased natural gas production to weaken rival Russia?s near monopoly on natural gas exports to Europe, via its state-controlled energy giant Gazprom. Already, declining prices fueled by the U.S. boom have benefited the European market.

    "What has emerged is a competitive market that allowed the utilities of Western Europe to renegotiate their contract with Gazprom, affecting both prices and financing terms," said the State Department?s Pascual.

    Adding to the pressure, the U.S. firm Cheniere Energy last month signed a 20-year deal to export enough liquefied natural gas to the British utility Centrica PLC to heat 1.8 million homes starting in 2018 ? the first pact of its kind.

    Growth slowing in China, India
    As for China and India, both of which are expected to import increasing amounts of energy for years to come, analysts see indications that economic growth is slowing in both countries.

    ?In a pattern similar to the abrupt slowdown in demand growth seen in the Asian Tigers in the 1990s, Chinese demand growth has slowed to a more tepid 3 (percent) to 5 percent rate as compared to the double-digit growth seen in the early 2000s,? said a Citigroup report by analyst Seth Kleinman released last week.

    That slowdown is in part due to the diminishing competitive edge that China enjoys over the U.S., Yergin said.

    ?Chinese wages are going up 20 percent a year. U.S. energy efficiency and increased production helps the U.S. in the mix on the global competitive landscape, he said, noting that Dow Chemical recently announced it will invest $4 billion in U.S. petrochemical production. ??That doesn?t happen without the U.S. advantage in energy.?

    Citigroup's Morse and other analysts said the slowing Chinese economy and?energy insecurity could prompt China to more militarization in the Far East -- a dangerous development in a region already beset by nationalist disputes and where the U.S. is expected to focus increasing attention. But none suggests that the Chinese are likely to challenge the United States as a global power, saying Beijing has neither the military assets nor the desire. Its strategy remains regional and attuned to "short-range engagements," Morse wrote.

    The impact of the rebalancing of global energy production could be more severe in other nations.

    Trevor Houser, a former energy analyst?in the Obama administration State Department, worries about the prospect of failed states.

    "If you look at the consequences of more U.S. production and reduced sales from OPEC, some would see that as a benefit," said Houser, now a partner with New York-based Rhodium Group, a global market analysis firm. "But starving those economies of oil revenue will surely have disruptive effects. It is definitely not a good development for U.S. foreign policy and geopolitical stability in general."

    AP file/Hassan Ammar

    A U.S. F-18 fighter jet, left, lands on the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln as a U.S. destroyer sails alongside during exercises in the Persian Gulf in 2012.

    Houser also said that U.S. energy independence could lead to isolationist policies, but will not insulate Americans from global price disruptions.

    "The price Americans pay at the pump will still be determined by events in the global oil market, yet falling U.S. oil imports (are) going to reduce political support for safeguarding those global markets, and no one is willing or able to step up to the plate to replace us,? he said. ?... The U.S. economy will still be vulnerable if someone blows up a Saudi pipeline."

    More from Power Shift, an NBC News/CNBC special report:

    Part 1: Energy boom dawning in America

    Part 2: ?Oil, gas sector fuels US economy

    That issue ? specifically, ?Do we leave the Middle East once our energy needs are secure?? ? came up at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in January, said Yergin, recalling that ?an oil minister came up to me and said, ?Please don?t leave us.??

    Pascual, the State Department official, argues that such fears are overblown.

    "These changes in no way change the U.S. commitment to global security, to peace and stability in the Middle East and to security in the transit lanes,? he said, referring to oil shipping routes. ?Some people have asked is the United States going to become disinterested. The answer is no. It is absolutely in our self-interest to stay engaged.?

    Richard Engel is NBC News' chief foreign correspondent; Robert Windrem is a senior investigative producer.?

    Coming next Monday: Digging into the environmental consequences of 'fracking'?

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