Cricket-Boucher axed as South Africa make ODI changes

JOHANNESBURG | Fri Dec 30, 2011 7:02pm GMT

JOHANNESBURG Dec 30 (Reuters) - Wicketkeeper Mark Boucher was one of three players dropped on Friday when South Africa named their squad for next month's one-day internationals against Sri Lanka.

Boucher, 35, who holds the world record for most test dismissals (540), batsman David Miller and leg-spinner Imran Tahir have paid the price for the limited-overs series defeat at home to Australia in October.

Dean Elgar, a left-handed batsman and part-time spinner, and all-rounder Rory Kleinveldt were called up as Cricket South Africa (CSA) announced a 14-man squad for the first two games of January's five-match series against Sri Lanka.

Kleinveldt, 28, is in line for his ODI debut after two Twenty20 internationals while Elgar, 24, impressed in South Africa's domestic limited-overs competition.

The team will be led by wicketkeeper-batsman AB de Villiers for the first time since he was appointed as ODI captain.

"Elgar fully deserves his opportunity," CSA selection convener Andrew Hudson said in a statement.

"He was the leading run-scorer in the (domestic) one-day cup and also had the best average. In addition he gives us very useful bowling options as a left-arm spinner.

"Kleinveldt played an important role with the ball in helping the Cobras to win the one-day cup and he also has a lot of potential as a lower-order power hitter."

The first game of the series takes place in Paarl on Jan. 11 with the final match scheduled for Jan. 22 in Johannesburg.

South Africa squad: Hashim Amla, Johan Botha, AB de Villiers (captain), JP Duminy, Francois du Plessis, Dean Elgar, Jacques Kallis, Rory Kleinveldt, Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Robin Peterson, Graeme Smith, Dale Steyn, Lonwabo Tsotsobe. (Reporting by Jason Humphries, editing by Stephen Wood)

Source: http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/UKCricketNews/~3/Oe5LZf833hs/cricket-safrica-squad-idUKB38942420111230

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Utah Utes football: Kyle Whittingham relishes opportunity to coach his son

Published: Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2011 9:31 p.m. MST

EL PASO, Texas ?

Utah coach Kyle Whittingham recalls, with great fondness, the last time he played football for his father. Fred Whittingham was BYU's defensive coordinator when Kyle capped off his collegiate career with MVP honors in the 1981 Holiday Bowl.

"It was very emotional in a lot of ways," Kyle acknowledged.

Now, 30 years later, roles have been reversed.

Saturday's Sun Bowl against Georgia Tech marks the final game that Kyle will get to coach his son, Tyler. The younger Whittingham is a special teams contributor for the Utes.

"First of all, I'm proud of him for what his contribution has been to our team. He's an extremely hard worker, does whatever is asked of him," Kyle said. "It's been a great experience for me. I know what he's going through because I did the same thing. It's not easy. It's not the easiest thing in the world to be the coach's son."

There's some extra responsibilities that come with it, explained the coach, because his expectations of him are very high ? just like they are for all of the players.

"But you don't want to be the coach's son that screws up," Kyle said. "You don't want to be that guy."

Tyler has never been that guy.

The former starter at Brighton High and state power-lifting champion joined the team as a walk-on in 2009 after serving an LDS Church mission in Brazil. Folllowing a redshirt year, Whittingham has appeared in 20 games over the past two seasons ? making seven tackles (five solo).

"It's been a good ride the whole time ? even though I knew coming into it that I wasn't going to play much," Tyler said. "My goal was to make the kickoff team and I'm grateful for every chance that I got."

The mass communication major considers it all a bonus, of sorts.

"Actually everything after high school for me has just been a nice little bonus," Tyler said. "I've been able to spend some time with my dad, with the family, with my team and it's been a really good learning experience."

Part of the educational process has been getting to know how his father operates at work.

"I never knew 'Coach Whit' until I played," Tyler said. "But I'm just proud of him and he's proved to me that hard work pays off."

Tyler used to be his dad's "cord guy," back when coaching headsets weren't wireless. He also visited practice regularly and went to the games while growing up, giving him an idea of what it might be like to play for his father.

"He's got a tough job but I think he handles it well," Tyler said while praising his father's hard work and dedication.

Football, though, isn't something Kyle brings home. Tyler insists his dad is just a "regular guy" away from work.

Source: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700210784/Utah-Utes-football-Kyle-Whittingham-relishes-opportunity-to-coach-his-son.html?s_cid=rss-38

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Woody Guthrie archive to land in his native Okla. (AP)

OKLAHOMA CITY ? Woody Guthrie's writings, recordings and artwork will land in his native state after an Oklahoma foundation bought the collection, with plans for a display that concentrates on his artistry rather than the populist politics that divided local opinion over the years.

Guthrie, known for the anthem, "This Land is Your Land" and his songs about the poor and downtrodden, is remembered mostly as a musician, composer and singer, but was also a literary figure and an artist, said Bob Blackburn, executive director of the Oklahoma Historical Society.

"Woody Guthrie was a crossroads of creativity," Blackburn said. "Woody Guthrie reveals so much about our history."

The George Kaiser Family Foundation, a charitable organization based in Tulsa, announced Wednesday that it purchased the archives and plans to open the Woody Guthrie Center in Tulsa by the end of 2012 to mark the centennial of the singer's birth.

The foundation did not disclose how much it paid for the collection, which includes the original handwritten copy of "This Land is Your Land." Also included are original musical recordings, handwritten songbooks and almost 3,000 song lyrics, rare books by and about Guthrie, more than 700 pieces of artwork, letters and postcards, more than 500 photographs, Guthrie's annotated record collection and personal papers detailing family matters, his World War II military service and musical career.

The archive had been housed in the Mount Kisco, N.Y., home of Nora Guthrie, the songwriter's daughter. Woody Guthrie, a native of Okemah, died of Huntington's disease, a hereditary neurodegenerative condition, in 1967 at the age of 55.

While Guthrie's social activism rubbed some conservative Oklahomans the wrong way, Blackburn said his songs reflect the down-to-earth sentiment of the state where he was born.

"Woody Guthrie never changed his opinion," Blackburn said. "Woody Guthrie was a populist who was fearful of big business, fearful of big government. That populist message came out of Oklahoma's red soil."

Oklahoma musician and music historian Steve Ripley, who has performed with Bob Dylan and also worked with Oklahoma native Leon Russell, said Guthrie's work influenced them and other musicians including Bruce Springsteen.

"Most people recognize him as America's songwriter," Ripley said. "He's so important in his own right. He's writing about everything, and that was his genius."

Guthrie did not have much of an audience for his music early in his career, Blackburn said, but his popularity soared during the economic and cultural tumult caused by the Great Depression.

"Only then did he really find an audience," Blackburn said. "As the country's attitude started changing, it came in line with Woody's populist origins."

Guthrie's popularity in his home state suffered as it became more politically conservative, and he was even portrayed as anti-American.

Ripley noted that during World War II, Guthrie penned songs that railed against fascism, including "All You Fascists Bound To Lose," and sang for troops to buoy their spirits while serving with the Army and U.S. Merchant Marine.

"He wrote so many great songs that are pointedly pro-American," Ripley said. "They weren't running around knocking America. That stuff was not let's tear down America. It was let's build up America."

Attitudes about Guthrie have shifted over the past decade as Oklahomans renewed their interest in his life and music, Blackburn said. Today, a portrait of Guthrie hangs in the rotunda of the Oklahoma State Capitol and the Woody Guthrie Folk Festival is held annually in Okemah to coincide with his birthday on July 12.

The new four-building arts hub in Tulsa will feature public displays from the Guthrie archives and research space for scholars and artists "so the story of this extraordinary Oklahoman can be told for generations to come," the George Kaiser Family Foundation's executive director Ken Levit said in a statement.

Blackburn said the archive will ensure that Guthrie's art remains timeless like that of another Oklahoma native, Will Rogers.

It "will be more than a collection of one man's art," he said. "It will be a tool for education, inspiration for artists and a window through which every man and woman anywhere in the world can search for a better understanding of the human experience."

___

Information from: Tulsa World, http://www.tulsaworld.com

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/music/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111228/ap_en_mu/us_woody_guthrie_archive

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Engadget Mobile Podcast 119 - 12.29.2011

It's that weird week between Christmas and New Year's, and what have we got for you, dear listener? A completely normal international Engadget Mobile Podcast, of course! Settle in around the media player dock and make all your 2012 dreams come true with us, won't you?

Hosts: Myriam Joire (tnkgrl), Brad Molen
Guest: Mat Smith
Producer: Trent Wolbe
Music: Tycho - Coastal Brake (Ghostly International)

00:03:40 - Pantech Pocket review
00:14:20 - Samsung: No room for ICS on Galaxy S, Galaxy Tab, TouchWiz to blame
00:39:06 - Verzo Kinzo unboxing and impressions
00:48:57 - LG Prada 3.0 sashays over to South Korea because Android phones are so hot right now
01:04:06 - HTC Fireball and LG Spectrum may bring global awesomeness to Verizon's LTE lineup




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Engadget Mobile Podcast 119 - 12.29.2011 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Dec 2011 07:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/f9IfpnSu4xw/

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Survivors of Mexico bus massacre return to Cleburne

by CASEY NORTON

Bio

WFAA

Posted on December 27, 2011 at 9:53 PM

Updated yesterday at 10:23 PM

CLEBURNE ? ? Margaret Schneider finally got to hug her grandchildren Tuesday night.

Ten-year-old Mike and his sister Angie survived a deadly robbery aboard a bus in Veracruz, Mexico on December 22, but their hearts will bear the scars for the rest of their lives.

They watched a man with a rifle kill their mother and two sisters. Mike escaped because a cousin hid him in the back of the bus.

"His teeth were chattering and everything, and they were begging him to be quiet. 'They'll shoot you, too,'" his uncle, David Ramsey, told News 8. Mike was too sick to talk to reporters, and his family had to take him to a hospital Tuesday night after he returned home.

Relatives said Angie was covered in her mother's blood after the attack.

Her brother told relatives that robbers stormed the bus and slapped the women until they handed over money and jewelry.

When Mary Hartsell tried to protect Angie, the robber returned with a rifle and shot Mary... then opened fire on her daughters Karla and Cristina when they cried out for help.

The family had warned Mary not to make the trip. The U.S. State Department has issued warnings about travelers in that region of Mexico because of ongoing violence.

"She had been there a number of times without being attacked, and I guess she felt like she could make it one more time," said Bob Schneider, Mary Hartsell's father-in-law.

It was supposed to be a family trip to see relatives in Veracruz. Karla posted some final photos of the bus trip on her Facebook page and joked about the long journey and the stories she wanted to share.

Angie has special needs, and she may never understand what happened. So 10-year-old Mike is the only one who can share the story.

It is not one he wants to remember.

"When his mom got shot and his sisters, he tried to go up there, but his cousin stopped him," Schneider told News 8. "I think that saved his life. If he had gone up there, he would have been shot, too."

Schneider said Ramsey and his wife will take care of Angie and Mike while their father is away.

Mary Hartsell, Karla, and Cristina were buried at a family plot in Veracruz.

E-mail cnorton@wfaa.com

Source: http://www.wfaa.com/home/Survivors-of-Mexico-bus-massacre-return-to-Cleburne-136294338.html

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Pregnancy May Change Mom's Brain For Good (LiveScience.com)

Time in the womb is obviously important for the development of the fetal brain. But pregnancy is also a time for changes in Mom's brain ? changes that may prepare women to become better mothers.

These changes still are little-understood, concludes a review published in the December issue of the journal Current Directions in Psychological Science.

Pregnant women often complain about "pregnancy brain" or "mommy brain," a memory fog that seems to produce lost car keys and misplaced cell phones. One 2010 study suggested that high levels of sex hormones could be to blame for the frustrating lapses in concentration. But in many ways, the changes that happen in a mom-to-be's brain during pregnancy remain mysterious.

"Pregnancy is a critical period for central nervous system development in mothers," review author Laura Glynn, a psychologist at Chapman University in California, said in a statement. "Yet we know virtually nothing about it."

Pregnant rats

It's difficult to examine the brains of pregnant women, and much of our modest knowledge comes instead from studies of rodents, Glynn said. Rats can be sacrificed and their brains studied in-depth. Studies have found that pregnancy causes rats' brains to form new olfactory, or smell-related, neurons. What's more, such pregnancy-related changes persist for the rest of the animals' lives. In rodents, at least, additional pregnancies seem to cause additional changes, so that the more litters a rat has, the more altered its brain will be.

It's not known whether women experience permanent changes as well; humans are very different from rats, after all. But according to Glynn, it's "extremely likely" that pregnancy permanently alters the human brain. The hormone flood that occurs during pregnancy dwarfs the hormonal changes that occur during other volatile times of life, such as adolescence, Glynn wrote. Just as teen hormones permanently alter brain structure and function, she said, it's likely pregnancy hormones do, too.

Your brain on pregnancy

In fact, recent research is revealing that fetuses have more effect on their mothers than previously realized. According to a 2004 study reviewed by Glynn, movements by the fetus after 20 weeks' gestation increase a mother's heart rate and her skin conductance, a measure of psychological arousal. These changes in Mom's physiology happen even when she can't physically feel the fetal movements. [5 Myths About Women's Bodies]

Fetuses share cells with their mothers, a strange phenomenon called microchimerism. Fetal cells pass through the placenta and lodge in a mother's body, where many remain quietly for years. One 2005 study found that in pregnant mice, these fetal cells hang out in the brain, especially in smell-related areas that are crucial for recognizing offspring. No one yet knows what, if anything, these fetal interlopers do there, or whether fetal cells in humans are similarly drawn to mothering-related areas of the brain.

Some of the brain changes during pregnancy may help mothers become more attuned to their infant when it is born, Glynn suggests. Fetal movements that tickle a woman's unconscious might prepare her to bond with her infant, for example. Likewise, changes in brain areas associated with emotion and memory could prime women for caregiving.

She said, "There may be a cost" ? such as the perpetual fuzziness of "pregnancy brain" ? "but the benefit is a more sensitive, effective mother."

You can follow LiveScience?senior writer Stephanie Pappas on Twitter @sipappas. Follow LiveScience for the latest in science news and discoveries on Twitter @livescience?and on Facebook.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/parenting/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20111228/sc_livescience/pregnancymaychangemomsbrainforgood

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ScottGrovesCO: RT @geraldcelente: "US, Israel Discuss Triggers 4 Bombing Iran?s Nuclear Infrastructure. GC:How nice. US/Israeli psychopaths ready 2 tri ...

"US, Israel Discuss Triggers 4 Bombing Iran?s Nuclear Infrastructure. GC:How nice. US/Israeli psychopaths ready 2 trigger WW 3. Happy New Yr Il y a environ 3 heures via web

Source: http://twitter.com/ScottGrovesCO/statuses/152125162530144256

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Candidates flood zone as caucuses near (CNN)

Share With Friends: | | Politics - Top Stories Stories, RSS and RSS Feed via Feedzilla.

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Sony and Samsung shift to new LCD panel business alliance

- Samsung to acquire all of Sony?s shares of S-LCD, making the joint venture its wholly-owned subsidiary

- Sony and Samsung enter into a strategic agreement for supply and purchase of LCD panels.

Tokyo, Japan - Sony Corporation (?Sony?) and Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (?Samsung?) today announced that the two companies have signed agreements to transition the current business relationship with respect to LCD panels.

Under the agreement, Samsung will acquire all of Sony?s shares of S-LCD Corporation (?S-LCD?), the two companies? LCD panel manufacturing joint venture, making S-LCD a wholly owned subsidiary of Samsung. In consideration for the share transfer, cash consideration of approximately KRW 1.08 trillion* will be paid to Sony by Samsung. Concurrently, the two companies have entered into a new strategic agreement for the supply and purchase of LCD panels with a goal of enhancing the competitiveness of both companies. The agreement also allows Sony and Samsung to continue cooperative engineering efforts focused on LCD panel technology.

Established in April 2004, S-LCD has continued to deliver advanced and cost-competitive LCD panels to both of its parent companies, contributing to the expansion of the respective parties? TV businesses, and the large-sized LCD TV market overall. However, LCD panel and TV market conditions have now changed. In order to respond to such challenging conditions and to strengthen their respective market competitiveness, the two companies have agreed to shift to a new LCD panel business alliance.

The share transfer and payment are targeted to close by the end of January 2012, subject to necessary approvals from regulatory authorities.

As a result of this transaction, a non-cash impairment loss of approximately JPY 66 billion is expected to be incurred by Sony in the third quarter of the fiscal year ending March 31, 2012, due to the reevaluation of its S-LCD shares. This loss includes an impact from the fluctuation of exchange rate. Despite this one-time loss, Sony estimates that the transaction will result in substantial savings on and after January 1, 2012 in respect of costs associated with its procurement of LCD panels. The current estimate of the yearly savings in respect of such costs is approximately JPY 50 billion, compared to LCD panel procurement costs estimated for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2012. Neither the one-time loss nor the estimated cost savings were included in Sony?s forecast of consolidated financial results for the current fiscal year ending March 31, 2012, announced on November 2, 2011. Sony is currently reevaluating this forecast, taking into account this transaction and other factors that might affect its full year FY2011 consolidated financial results forecast.

Facts about S-LCD

Established

:April 26, 2004

Capital

:KRW 3.3 Trillion

(Samsung Electronics: 50% plus 1 share, Sony: 50% minus 1 share)

Representative

:Donggun Park, CEO

Location

:Tangjeong, Chung Cheong Nam-Do, South Korea

Production Items

:7th and 8th generation Amorphous TFT LCD

*Note: The final amount of such payment will be determined based on S-LCD?s financial statements as of the end of December 2011.

About Sony

Sony Corporation is a leading manufacturer of audio, video, game, communications, key device and information technology products for the consumer and professional markets. With its music, pictures, computer entertainment and online businesses, Sony is uniquely positioned to be the leading electronics and entertainment company in the world. Sony recorded consolidated annual sales of approximately U.S. $87 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2011. Sony Global Web Site: http://www.sony.net/

About Samsung Electronics

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2011 consolidated sales of US$135.8 billion. Employing approximately 190,500 people in 206 offices in 68 countries, the company consists of nine independently operated business units: Visual Display, Mobile Communications, Telecommunication Systems, Digital Appliances, IT Solutions, Digital Imaging, Memory, System LSI and LCD. Recognized as one of the fastest growing global brands, Samsung Electronics is a leading producer of digital TVs, semiconductor chips, mobile phones and TFT-LCDs. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com

Source: http://www2.electronicproducts.com/Sony_and_Samsung_shift_to_new_LCD_panel_business_alliance-article-newspo_28dec2011-html.aspx

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Infographic: Our Military?s Dangerous Course

The U.S. military is on a dangerous course. Under the projected defense spending caps brought on by the Budget Control Act of 2011,?funding for modernizing the military will be squeezed to a dangerous degree. That includes reduced spending on the procurement of new weapons and equipment and research and development on new defense technologies as the infographic below shows. (Article continued below.)

In a new paper, Heritage?s?Baker Spring, the?F. M. Kirby Research Fellow in National Security Policy, explains the impact the reduced funding will have on America?s defenses:

The result will be a military that lacks the modern weapons and equipment it needs, loses its technological edge over future enemies, and finds itself dependent on a seriously eroded defense industrial base.

As a result of the twin pressures of the estimated spending caps on the core defense program derived from the Budget Control Act . . . and the rising cost of military compensation, the level of funding for military modernization will necessarily fall to unacceptably low levels. Under this scenario, funding for defense modernization within the core defense program . . . ?could fall to roughly $145 billion in current dollars in FY 2016.

How does that compare to where the military would have otherwise been? Spring says that under?President Obama?s original budget request for FY 2012,?$188.4 billion was to be allocated to these accounts ? meaning that?modernization funding will decline by?$43 billion,?or 23 percent, over the four-year period. If you control for inflation, that?s a?29 percent decline.

Spring says that?s an unacceptable course and he recommends that Congress 1)?Prevent application of the national security and discretionary spending caps under the Budget Control Act to the DOD budget; and 2)?Restructure the military health care and retirement systems to free money inside the DOD budget for application to the modernization account.

Read more about this issue in?An Unacceptable Squeeze on Defense Modernization at Heritage.org.

Source: http://blog.heritage.org/2011/12/27/infographic-our-militarys-dangerous-course/

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Tablet War: ASUS Transformer Prime vs. Apple iPad 2

However, the tablet has to deal with the iconic Apple Inc.'s iPad 2, as the benchmark for design and performance has been set by the California?giant.

The ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime features a 10.1-inch Super IPS + LCD Gorilla Glass display with 1280x800 screen resolution. It is powered by an Nvidia Tegra 3 quad-core 1.3 GHz Cortex-A9 CPU, ULP GeForce GPU and offers 1GB RAM and 32/64 GB internal storage, which can be further expanded by another 32GB via microSD card.

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It sports a rear-facing 8-megapixel Flash camera with 1080p video playback and a secondary 1.2-megapixel front-facing camera. The Eee Pad Transformer Prime optimizes Google Inc.'s Android 3.2 Honeycomb OS that could be upgradable to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.

The Transformer Prime is the first tablet to have the NVIDIA Tegra 3 quad-core processor. Tegra 3 brings a number of significant advancements over the dual-core Tegra 2. Technically, Tegra 3 has five cores and it's the fifth core that really makes the difference. This is called the companion core.

ASUS uses IPS technology in the Prime and maximum brightness is at 584cd/m2. It has a good screen on which to watch high definition movies and play games, delivering excellent blacks and viewing angles because of the Super IPS+ Panel technology packed inside.

The tablet weighs 586 grams and is 8.3 mm thick. With these dimensions, it can compete with Apple iPad 2, which weighs 607 grams and is 8.8 mm thick.

Price-wise, ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime is likely to cost $499 for the 32GB version and $599 for the 64GB version. This is lower than the iPad 2, which costs $729 for the 32GB version and $829 for the 64GB version.

However, Apple is not the only competitor that ASUS will face. It will also meet Samsung's ultra-thin tablet, the Galaxy Tab 10.1.

Here is a look at how ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime's features fare when compared to Apple iPad 2:

Size:?The ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime has a dimension of 263 ? 180.8 ? 8.3mm, weighs 586 grams (pad only) / 263 ? 180.8 ? 8-10.4mm, weighs 537 grams (dock only), while Apple iPad 2 has 241.2 x 185.7 x 8.8 mm and weighs 607 g.

Display:?The Transformer Prime tablet has a 10.1-inch 1280 x 800 pixels Super IPS + LCD capacitive touch screen display with Corning's Gorilla glass whereas the iPad 2 features 9.7-inch 1024 x 768 pixels LED-backlit IPS TFT capacitive touch-screen display.

Input Features:?The input features in Transformer Prime are accelerometer sensor for UI auto-rotate, ASUS Waveshare UI, multi-touch input method, touch-sensitive controls with rotating icons, G-Sensor, Light Sensor, Gyroscope, E-compass and GPS. However, the Apple iPad 2 has Fingerprint scratch resistant oleophobic surface, multi-touch input method, accelerometer sensor for auto-rotate and three-axis gyro sensors.

Memory:?The memory found in the ASUS tablet is 1GB RAM and 32/64 GB storage capacity with a microSD card slot giving an extra 32GB support, while the iPad 2 has 512 MB RAM with 16GB, 32GB and 64GB internal storage support. The Apple iPad 2 doesn't have an external storage space.

Operating system:?Apple's tablet has an iOS 5 operating system compared to ASUS, which features the Android OS 3.2 (Honeycomb) with a layer of the latest Waveshare UI. The ASUS tablet could be upgradable to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich in the future.

Processor:?The ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime tablet has Nvidia Tegra 3 quad-core 1.3 GHz Cortex-A9 CPU, ULP GeForce GPU compared to iPad 2's 900 MHz dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 PowerVR SGX543MP2 GPU Apple A5 chipset processor.

WLAN/Bluetooth/USB:?The ASUS tablet has Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1 version with EDR, and USB 2.0 version. On the other hand, the Apple tablet has Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1 version with A2DP and EDR, and USB 2.0 version.

Camera:?The camera in ASUS tablet is an 8-megapixel 3264x2448 pixels with LED flash and autofocus features, while iPad 2 has only a 0.7-megapixel camera with geo-tagging feature. There is a secondary VGA camera in the iPad 2, while the ASUS tablet has 1.2-megapixel camera. The Apple iPad 2 is capable of video playback at 720p, while Transformer Prime offers 1080p video playback capability.

Battery:?When it comes to battery life, the Eee Pad Transformer Prime pad (with dock) has a 22 Wh Li-polymer Battery that is expected to give 18 hours of battery life on video playback, whereas the iPad 2 features Li-Po 25 Wh which gives 10 hours.

Pricing:?ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime is likely to cost $499 for the 32GB version and $599 for the 64GB version. This is lower than the iPad 2, which costs $729 for the 32GB version and $829 for the 64GB version.

Other Features:?The Apple iPad 2 has features like E-mail, Push E-mail, IM, HTML Safari browser, downloadable, incl. motion-based games, A-GPS support, digital compass, MP4/MP3/WAV/AAC player, movie playback, iBooks PDF reader, Google Maps, TV-out, audio and video player.

The Transformer Prime has features like HTML, Adobe Flash, Email, Push Email, IM, Assisted-GPS support, micro HDMI port, MP3/WAV/WMA/AAC player, MP4/H.264/H.263 player, microSD card reader, 2-in-1 audio jack?and Polaris Office editor. It also has special applications such as ASUS launcher, @Vibe Music, ASUS WebStorage, MyLibrary, MyNet, MyCloud, File manager, ASUS sync, SuperNote, App Locker, App Backup, and TegraZone.

To report problems or to leave feedback about this article, e-mail:
To contact the editor, e-mail:

Source: http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/272729/20111226/tablet-war-asus-transformer-prime-vs-apple.htm

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A brief overview of combinatorics in ancient and medieval India

The beginnings of combinatorics in India date back to Bharata's Natyasastra and the last chapter of the work Chandahsastra (Sanskrit Prosody) by Pingala (c. 300 BCE). Pingala deals in a few cryptic sutras with the combinatorics underlying the metres of Vedic Hymns and classical Sanskrit poetry. Metre is the basic rhythmic structure of a verse, here characterised by a finite sequence of syllables, some short and some long. We recall that syllables are irreducible units of speech, some being short like ka and some being long like kaa. We define the length of a metre as the number of its constituent syllables. We shall abbreviate a short syllable by l and a long syllable by g. For example, the length of a metre gll is 3.

Pingala gives a method of enumeration, which is called prastara, of metres of a given length n (which indeed are 2n in number), using a recursive procedure.

For example, the prastara of metres of length 1 is g, l (which are displayed as an array with two rows). According to Pingala, the prastara of metres of length 2 is obtained from the above by adding a g to the right of the prastara above, and then an l to this prastara, so that we get gg; lg; gl; ll (which are displayed as an array with four rows). The prastara of metres of length 3 is the array comprising the eight rows ggg; lgg; glg; llg; ggl; lgl; gll; lll which is obtained from the prastara of metres of length 2 above by adding first a g and then an l to the right. The above recursive procedure is then continued.

In this remarkable manner, Pingala's method leads one to a construction of the binary expansion of integers, by setting g = 0 and l = 1 in the successive rows of the prastara, the fifth row of the prastara of length n being a mnemonic for the binary expansion of i ? 1.

For example, the 5th row ggl in the prastara of the metres of length 3 stands for the binary expansion 0:1 + 0:2 + 1:22 of 4. The last row, that is, the (2n ? 1)-th row, of the prastara of metres of length n is ll; ? l which yields the formula 1 + 2 + + 2n - 1 = 2n ? 1:

With the advent of Prakrit and Apabhramsa poetry, came the idea of extending the above theory to matra metres where the value of a long syllable g is assumed to be 2 and that of a short syllable l is assumed to be 1, the value of the metre being defined to be the sum of the values of its constituent syllables. The construction of the prastara of metres of value n is achieved as above by a recursive procedure which is more subtle. The prastara of metres of value 1 is l; that with value 2 is g; ll; the prastara of metres of value 3 is obtained from these two by adding a g to the right of the prastara of metres of value 1 to get lg, and an l to the right of the prastara of metres of value 2 to get gl; lll; thus the prastara of metres of value 3 is lg; gl; lll. Similarly, we can write down the prastaras of metres of value n, using the prastaras of metres of value n _ 1 and n _ 2. If sn is the number of elements of in the prastara of metres of length n, we have s1 = 1; s2 = 2, and for n _ 3, sn = sn_1 +sn_2. This relation was noticed by Virahanka (c.600 CE).

The study of matra metres thus led the ancient Indian mathematicians to the sequence sn = 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, ?, (what is generally known as the Fibonacci sequence, though discovered centuries before Fibonacci). As in the case of binary expansions, we obtain now unique expansions for natural numbers in terms of the Fibonacci numbers.

Combinatorics evolved in time not merely to apply to Sanskrit prosody but to many other problems of enumeration: in medicine by Sushruta, perfumery by Varahamihira, music by Sarngadeva (which shall be briefly discussed below), and so on.

Sarngadeva (c.1225 CE), who lived in Devagiri in Maharashtra, under the patronage of King Singhana, wrote his magnum opus Sangitaratnakara, a comprehensive treatise on music which gives in its first chapter a prastara enumerating all the 7! = 7_6_5_4_3_2_1 = 5040 permutations of the swaras S;R; G;M; P;D;N. The prastara of a single swara is S, that of two swaras S;R, is SR;RS; the prastara of three swaras, S;R;G is SRG;RSG; SGR;GSR;RGS;GRS:

More generally, the prastara of all the seven swaras, starts with the swaras in the natural order SRGMPDN and ends in the last or the 5040th row with the swaras in the reverse order, NDPMGRS, and the intermediate rows are constructed by a rule formulated by Sarngadeva.

It is indeed a remarkable fact that if we start more generally with n elements a1; a2; _ _ _ an and arrange their permutations in a prastara following Sarangadeva's rule, the ith row of the prastara is a mnemonic for a unique expansion of i; 1 _ i _ n!, as a sum of factorials, i = 1 _ 0! + c1 _ 1! + c2 _ 2! + _ _ _ + cn_1 _ (n _ 1)!; (with the convention 0! = 1), where the coefficient cj of j! lies between 0 and j _ 1. In particular, we have the beautiful formula n! = 1 _ 0! + 1 _ 1! + 2 _ 2! + _ _ _ + (n _ 1) _ (n _ 1)!; implicit in the work of Sarngadeva.

Indian combinatorics continued to flourish till the 14th century, when the celebrated mathematician Narayana Pandita wrote his comprehensive Ganitakaumudi (?Moonlight of Mathematics") in 1356 CE, placing the earlier work on combinatorics in a general mathematical context. He has in this great work a chapter on magic squares entitled Bhadraganita, where among other things, he constructs a class of 384 pan-diagonal 4 _ 4 magic squares with entries 1; 2; 3; _ _ _ ; 16.

We recall that in a magic square, the numbers in the rows, columns and diagonals sum to the same magic total. In a pan-diagonal magic square, the broken diagonals also yield the same magic total.

Succinctly put, pan-diagonal magic squares have the remarkable property that they can be considered as a magic squares ?on the torus". It is of interest to note that Rosser and Walker proved in 1936 (the proof was simplified by Vijayaraghavan in 1941) that there are only 384 pan-diagonal 4 _ 4 magic squares with entries 1; 2; _ _ _ ; 16.

Curiously enough, Ramanujan, in his Notebooks of probably his earliest school days, has the magic square

1 14 11 8

12 7 2 13

6 9 16 3

15 4 5 10

This turns out to be one of the 384 magic squares considered by Narayana Pandita. (Notice that rows, columns, diagonals and broken diagonals add to 34. For example, 5+3+12+14 = 12 + 9 + 5 + 8 = 34).

Xenophanes, the founder of the Eleatic School of Philosophy, had the well known dictum - Ex nihilo nihil fit, ?Out of nothing, nothing comes." One wonders whether after all Ramanujan was indeed influenced somewhat by the mathematical tradition of his ancestors.

(The author is an Adjunct Professor with the Chennai Mathematical Institute)

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Source: http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2751920.ece

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NBA: Season Starts with Lebron Facing the Defending Champs

Tax cut lives on: Congress gives its approval

WASHINGTON (AP) --Congress has finally delivered a holiday tax

cut extension to 160 million workers along with further unemployment benefits for millions laid off in the nation's fierce recession and weak economic recovery. It was a convincing victory for President Barack Obama, a humbling retreat for House Republicans.

J&J recalls Motrin caplets that may work slowly
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (AP) -- Johnson & Johnson has issued another recall of Motrin pain relievers, at least the sixth in two years. It's part of a string of more than two dozen recalls of consumer health products, prescription drugs and medical devices over 2 1/2 years. ...

IN THE NEWS: "ANONYMOUS" CLAIMS TO HAVE STOLEN CREDIT CARD NUMBERS

LONDON (AP) -- The hacking movement "Anonymous" is at it again.

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Apple?s late boss Steve Jobs to receive Grammy (AP)

AP ? Apple co-founder Steve Jobs is receiving a posthumous Grammy for his technological innovations in the arts.

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UCSF Cancer-Drug Spinoff Acquired for $190M | www.ucsf.edu

By Kristen Bole on December 23, 2011

A cancer drug company founded by UCSF Professor Kevan Shokat, PhD, has been acquired by Japan-based Takeda Pharmaceuticals in an effort to add two novel drug projects to Takeda?s pipeline of potential oncology therapies.

Shokat, who chairs the UCSF Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, launched Intellikine in 2007 to translate his UCSF kinase research into the development of small-molecule drugs. Kinases are enzymes that are known to regulate the majority of cellular pathways. The Intellikine therapies specifically target the PI-3 kinase (PI3K) pathway ? a key target in cancer biology due to its impact on a wide array of cellular functions, including cell growth, proliferation and survival.

Intellikine is based on Shokat?s research at UCSF into four common variations of this pathway. In just four years, the company has developed a portfolio of novel small-molecule kinase inhibitors that selectively target the drivers of cancer cell growth and already has moved three potential drugs into human clinical trials. Takeda?s announcement identified two specific drug candidates -- INK128 and INK1117 ? as being potential ?best in class? inhibitors of cancer growth. The third candidate is being developed in partnership with Infinity Pharmaceuticals.

Under the agreement, Takeda America Holdings will purchase Intellikine for $190 million in cash, plus up to $120 million in so-called ?BioBucks,? or projected payments linked to specific milestones in clinical development.

Source: http://www.ucsf.edu/news/2011/12/11207/ucsf-cancer-drug-spinoff-acquired-190m

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Previously unconnected molecular networks conspire to promote cancer

Thursday, December 22, 2011

An inflammation-promoting protein triggers deactivation of a tumor-suppressor that usually blocks cancer formation via the NOTCH signaling pathway, a team of researchers led by scientists at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center reports today in Molecular Cell.

Working in liver cancer cell lines, the team discovered a mechanism by which tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF?) stimulates tumor formation, said senior author Mien-Chie Hung, Ph.D., professor and chair of MD Anderson's Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology. Hung also is MD Anderson's vice president for basic research.

"We've discovered cross-talk between the TNF? inflammation and NOTCH signaling pathways, which had been known to separately promote cancer development and growth," Hung said. Liver cancer is one of several cancers, including pancreatic and breast, associated with inflammation.

Their findings have potential implications for a new class of anti-cancer drugs currently in clinical trials. "Pharmaceutical companies are developing NOTCH inhibitors," Hung said. "TNF? now presents a potential resistance mechanism that activates NOTCH signaling in a non-traditional way."

Pathways also unite in colon, lung, prostate cancers

"In addition, co-activation of these two pathways was also observed in colon, lung and prostate cancers, suggesting that the cross-talk between these two pathways may be more generally relevant," Hung said.

However, TNF? also presents an opportunity to personalize therapy, Hung said. The presence of TNF? or a separate protein that it activates called IKK alpha may serve as useful biomarkers to guide treatment.

"If a patient has only NOTCH activated, then the NOTCH inhibitor alone might work. But if TNF? or IKK? are also activated, then the NOTCH inhibitor alone might not work very well and combination therapy would be warranted," Hung said.

"We'll try this in an animal model and then go to clinical trial if it holds up," Hung said.

A path from inflammation to liver cancer

In a series of experiments, Hung and colleagues connected the following molecular cascade:

• TNF?, a proinflammatory cytokine, signals through a cell's membrane, activating IKK?, a protein kinase that regulates other proteins by attaching phosphate groups (one phosphate atom, four oxygen atoms) to them.
• IKK? moves into the cell nucleus, where it phosphorylatesFOXA2, a transcription factor that normally fires up the tumor suppressor NUMB.
• NUMB usually blocks a protein called NICD, the activated portion of NOTCH1 that slips into the cell nucleus to activate genes that convert the normal cell to a malignant one.
• But when FOXA2 is phosphorylated, it does not activate NUMB. With NUMB disabled, NOTCH1 is activated. New understanding, new targets for cancer therapy

In liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma) tumors, IKK?, the phosphorylated version of FOXA2 and NOTCH1 are expressed more heavily than in normal liver tissue. Expression of all three is correlated in liver cancer tumors, the team found.

The authors conclude that identifying the link between TNF? and NOTCH1 pathways provides a new starting point for understanding the molecular basis for TNF?-related tumor growth and for identifying new targets for cancer therapy.

Finding ways to inhibit FOXA2 phosphorylation or to activate NUMB would provide new options for treating and perhaps preventing cancer, Hung said.

###

University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center: http://www.mdanderson.org

Thanks to University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center for this article.

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Gold, china redeem modestly on improved offtake

Gold prices recovered modestly in a bullion marketplace on renewed internal shopping seductiveness during reduce levels amid amiable offtake by stockists notwithstanding reduce abroad cues.

Silver prices also gained on uninformed suppositional shopping by investors.

Standard bullion of 99.5 per cent virginity rose by Rs 75 to finish during Rs 27,590 per 10 grams from Thursday?s tighten of Rs 27,515.

Pure bullion of 99.9 per cent virginity firmed adult by Rs 60 to tighten during Rs 27,710 per 10

......

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Electric Power - Mexico - CFE 40% complete with DF's historic center electric revamp

Mexico's state power company CFE is 40% complete with the revamp of electrical infrastructure in Mexico City's historical center, the company said in ...

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Archos 80 G9 8-inch 8GB Android Tablet, $230

By Kim Saccio-Kent, PCWorld Exclusive ?? Dec 21, 2011 8:45 PM

Offer good through

Archos' 80 G9 Android Honeycomb tablet has an 8-inch display with 1024-by-768 pixel resolution, 8GB of storage, and a 1GHz dual-core processor. When this tablet launched in September, it sold for $329--and the Archos 80 was considered a bargain. Right now, TigerDirect.com has the Archos 80 G9 on sale for $250. Enter coupon code YCT49573 at checkout and watch the price fall to $230.

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"NCIS: LA" and SNL special tie for top on night of repeats (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) ? On a night with little original programming, NBC's "Saturday Night Live" special "SNL Presents: A Very Gilly Christmas" and a repeat of CBS' "NCIS: Los Angeles" were the top-rated shows, while NBC took an overall ratings win for the night, according to preliminary numbers.

NBC was the sole network to run original programming Tuesday night, with a new episode of the competition show "Who's Still Standing?" kicking off the night at 8 p.m. It posted a 20 percent improvement over Monday's premiere with a 1.8 rating/5 share in the adults 18-49 demographic and 5.8 million total viewers. "SNL Presents: A Very Gilly Christmas" aired the following hour, drawing a 2.1/6 with 5.7 million total viewers. The network posted the highest performance of the night, averaging a 2.0/6, with 10.5 million total viewers.

An "NCIS: LA" repeat on CBS at 9 also posted a 2.1/6, with 11.3 million total viewers. (An "NCIS" repeat the following hour was the night's most-watched program, with 12.3 million total viewers.) CBS was the most-watched network of the night, with an average 10.5 million total viewers.

Fox and ABC both ran repeats throughout the night.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/tv/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111221/tv_nm/us_tvratings

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MLK parade bomber to be sentenced (Providence Journal)

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Russell Simmons Named PETA?s Person of the Year

Russell Simmons can now add to his titles of “business mogul, hip-hop icon, top entrepreneur, and best-selling author” that of PETA’s?Person of the Year 2011, a designation formerly held by Bill Clinton (2010), Ellen DeGeneres and Tim Gunn (2009), and Oprah Winfrey (2008).   Over a decade ago, the Def Jam cofounder and author of?Super [...]

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Barry Bonds isn't going to prison. Is he being punished enough?

Barry Bonds, seen by many fans as having irreparably harmed baseball, is sentenced to home detention, community service, probation, and a fine. Experts call the punishment appropriate for the crime.

Major League Baseball?s home run king will not be going to prison.

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Instead, former San Francisco Giant?s star Barry Bonds, 47, was sentenced Friday to 30 days of home confinement, two years probation, 250 hours of community service, and a $4,000 fine. And all of that was suspended pending appeal, which may take up to a year.

While many disappointed fans may see the sentence as insufficient punishment for the man they feel irreparably tarnished the image of America?s pastime, most legal experts say the sentence was correct and proportional. They remind fans that Mr. Bonds was not being judged for his years of alleged steroid use, but for the single charge of obstructing justice, a far lesser charge than perjury, over which the jury was deadlocked.

?The sentence seems reasonable under the circumstances to me,? says Kevin Johnson, dean of the UC Davis Law School. He notes that the sentence was what the probation office recommended despite federal sentencing guidelines that recommend 15 to 21 months in prison.

?The sentence was soft but fair,? adds Mark Conrad, associate professor of law and ethics at the Schools of Business, Fordham University. ?He was only convicted on one of four charges, and not the most serious perjury charges. He was convicted of misleading a grand jury ? it did not justify a 15-month jail term that the prosecutors wanted.?

Bonds, who holds what is perhaps baseball?s most coveted record ? 762 home runs ? was convicted last April on one count of obstruction of justice for being evasive before a federal grand jury eight years ago that was investigating the use of drugs in sports.

He also had been charged with several counts of perjury for allegedly lying during the grand jury?s investigation of Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative (BALCO) in Burlingame, Calif., which sold banned substances to athletes.

Bonds?s sentence could be a harbinger of what is to come for other athletes charged in connection with drug use, say other observers.

?The sentencing of Bonds should serve as a barometer for the likes of Roger Clemens, who faces charges of lying to Congress about his use of steroids and who likely will look carefully at how Bonds was treated in assessing his own defense strategy,? says Fernando L. Aenlle-Rocha, a former federal prosecutor in the Criminal Division of the United States Attorney's Office.

The court of public opinion, meanwhile, is where Bonds has the bigger uphill battle, say public relation specialists.

?[This] ends a public relations nightmare for Bonds and baseball. Beyond the Bay Area, Bonds drew very little support due to his stunning denials and his ?I?ll beat this wrap? attitude,? says John Goodman of John Goodman PR. ?That hurt Bonds in the world of public opinion. He?s damaged goods and his marketability for endorsements and advertisements has been harmed greatly.?

He also feels the sentence will reflect badly on professional baseball.

?The wrist-slap verdict is a terrible setback for Major League Baseball, which has tried to convey a crack-down image of testing for steroids, and most recently HGH [human growth hormone]. But all the testing is meaningless if those accused can get off with easy sentencing. The average baseball fan is outraged, and feels another rich, entitled athlete got away with a crime that would have put the average guy in jail.?

But some sports writers feel that whatever fans feel, baseball has the Bonds case in its rearview mirror.

?Major League Baseball has moved on from Bonds and the BALCO case. The only question pertaining to Bonds is how long voters will wait before electing him to the Hall of Fame,? says Yahoo! Sports columnist Les Carpenter in an email. ?Baseball has been lauded for its attempts to strengthen steroid policies ? as evidenced by the pending 50-game suspension of National League MVP Ryan Braun after a random test showed high levels of testosterone.?

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/Y6uc7PFCvjw/Barry-Bonds-isn-t-going-to-prison.-Is-he-being-punished-enough

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Talks about forgiving Greek debt proving difficult (AP)

BRUSSELS ? Private creditors are balking in talks about forgiving euro100 billion ($130 billion) in Greek debts, European officials warned Friday, just as negotiations heated up on the debt restructuring that aims to save Athens from bankruptcy.

European and Greek negotiators met with representatives from banks and investment funds Friday in Paris, after holding talks earlier this week in Athens.

They were trying to work out the terms under which private creditors are willing to exchange their existing Greek bonds for new ones with a lower face value.

The swap, which was meant to go ahead in early 2012, is supposed to reduce Greece's debt to 120 percent of gross domestic product by 2020. Without a restructuring, Greece's debt load would reach almost 200 percent of GDP by the end of 2012.

The concept behind the debt forgiveness is that getting back half of one's investment is better than the much bigger losses bondholders would likely face if Greece defaults. A deal with private creditors to share the burden of digging Greece out of its financial hole is key to a second, euro130 billion ($169 billion) bailout for Greece from the International Monetary Fund and other eurozone countries.

But some investors had taken out insurance on their Greek bond holdings, and if they voluntarily agree to the swap, they will not receive the insurance payments they would have if Greece had just defaulted. Others, who may have bought the bonds at already depressed prices, may be willing to take a gamble in the negotiations and try for a bigger payout.

"They are not making it easy, to say the least. It will take time," said one European official. "They are trying to reopen things" that were already considered decided, the official added, without providing details.

A second European official confirmed that a final deal on the debt relief was still elusive. Both spoke on condition of anonymity because the talks are going on behind closed doors.

The cautioning words from the two officials came as Greek Finance Minister Venizelos told the Greek parliament he was confident the debt writedown would go ahead.

"I believe we will achieve that because I have positive signs from the consultations and the course of the discussions," Venizelos said Friday. "That would offer the Greek people ... a return for its sacrifices and a prospect for younger generations."

The 17 nations that use the euro and bank representatives reached a deal to reduce Greece's debts in late October after determining that the struggling country would not be able to repay them in full.

However, the Institute for International Finance, which has been leading the negotiations, has insisted that actual losses for investors have to be kept as low as possible for them to agree to participate voluntarily.

To keep overall losses under control, private creditors are pushing for higher interest rates from Greece and expensive collateral to secure the new bonds. That, in turn, could eliminate much of the benefits to Greece of a cut in the bonds' face value. Of the euro130 billion in the second bailout for Greece, euro30 billion ($39 billion) is meant to provide collateral for the bond swap.

In a statement following Friday's talks, the IIF said "the private sector welcomed the willingness of the authorities to work on means to enhance the quality of the exchanged debt" ? shorthand for the collateral provisions.

It said the talks had made progress "and both sides agreed to continue their effort to find a voluntary solution that would help put Greece on a path of debt sustainability and economic recovery."

__

Nicholas Paphitis in Athens contributed to this story.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/eurobiz/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111216/ap_on_bi_ge/eu_greece_financial_crisis

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