 |  |
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheIphoneBlog/~3/NTYUa0l36a0/story01.htm
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Saturday, December 31, 2011
Andrew?s most-used iPhone and iPad apps of 2011
My most-used apps of 2011 consist of some of Rene’s favorites, and for good reason. Like Rene and Leanna, I’d also prefer to list some of the...
Friday, December 30, 2011
The United States of Songs: New Mexico
Hey everybody, welcome back! Hope you had a great holiday; I spent too much of mine inside with what is turning out to be a terrible back injury, so that was cool. But I did enjoy a Hawaiian Christmas with my in-laws, and I got to snorkel with sea turtles so I can't really complain too much.?
I?got you a present, but it escaped on the plane.
Every week I try to find a new state song that names the state in its title AND sings of the state itself, not just one city or feature. It's been a hell of a lot tougher than I thought it might be, but this week our sonic roadtrip across America brings us to New Mexico:
The state: New Mexico
The song: "New Mexico Rain" by Michael Hearne
?
Ah, The Land of Enchantment! I've been through New Mexico a few times on Old Route 66, but I've always been on my way somewhere else so I haven't had a lot of time to really explore the place beyond the obligatory postcard from Albuquerque and a great diner in Moriarty that I can't remember the name of. But New Mexico's more than that! Hispanic culture, Native American heritage, nuclear research, and hey! Spaceport! New Mexico's the place where your dreams will come true because there aren't a whole lot of people around to stop you.
?
There's also a proud tradition of medical research.
As for the song, it's kind of standard state-themed folk tune-ish, but Michael Hearne does the job. It's a little twangy, but it's earnest enough that you can close your eyes and see Redondo Peak standing tall over the scrub grass and ranch land. It's a peaceful tune, kind of wistful, and I feel like that's the sort of vibe you'd pick up just hanging out on a hot New Mexico afternoon or snuggling in for a cold high desert night.
New Mexicans, I present your new state song. Let me know how it hits you!
Runner-Up: "Nebraska" by Johnny Cash
Most Laughable Suggestion: "Elf Tower New Mexico" by Coheed and Cambria
?
You know the drill! Let us know in the comments if you've got a better tune for New Mexico or want to suggest one for next week's state, New York!
?
Flickr photo Roswell NM?by Angela Schatz used under a Creative Commons License.
Source: http://www.woot.com/Blog/ViewEntry.aspx?Id=20896
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Kate Bosworth and her Blue Crush Michael Poilsh get cosy on California surf shop trip
| name | Kate Bosworth |
|---|---|
| birthname | Catherine Ann Bosworth |
| birth date | January 02, 1983 |
| birth place | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| occupation | Actress |
| yearsactive | 1998?present |
| spouse | }} |
Early life
Bosworth was born January 2, 1983 in Los Angeles, California, the only child of Patricia (n?e Potter), a homemaker, and Harold Bosworth, a former executive for Talbots. After leaving San Francisco at the age of six, Bosworth's family frequently moved around the country because of her father's job. She grew up mainly on the East Coast, spending the rest of her youth in Massachusetts and Connecticut.Bosworth has always been interested in a professional career as a competitive horse racer and, by the age of fourteen, she was a champion equestrian. While attending Cohasset High School from which she graduated in 2001, Bosworth learned to speak French and was a member of the National Honor Society; she also played varsity soccer and lacrosse.
Bosworth, born with heterochromia iridum, has a hazel eye and a blue eye.
Career
Early work
Bosworth's first film role came after an open casting call in New York for the supporting part of Judith in the 1998 film, The Horse Whisperer. The film's producers needed someone who was already an experienced horse rider, leading to Bosworth's successful audition for the role. The film received positive reception from film critics. In 2000, she starred in the television series drama Young Americans, in which she played Bella Banks, a well-adjusted small town girl working at a gas station near an elite prep school. The series, however, was canceled. That same year, she had a small part in the film Remember the Titans. In 2001, Bosworth moved to Los Angeles in hopes of obtaining easier access to auditions and better film parts.Critical success
The breakthrough role in Bosworth's career came in the 2002 surfing movie Blue Crush, which she prepared for by working out with two separate trainers six hours a day for months in order to add fifteen pounds of muscle to her frame. In his review of the film, Rolling Stone In 2004, she played the lead role in Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!, opposite Topher Grace. The film was critically and financially unsuccessful. Also in 2004, Bosworth depicted actress Sandra Dee in Beyond the Sea. Mick LaSalle of the San Francisco Chronicle, in review of the film, commented that Kevin Spacey, who played actor Bobby Darin, and Bosworth's courting is "unsettling". The movie received mixed reception, and was a box office disappointment. The following year, Bosworth portrayed Chali, a Hare Krishna, in the film adaptation of Myla Goldberg's novel Bee Season (2005), about a dysfunctional Jewish family. She has appeared in several Revlon ads and ranked as number 60 in FHM
Current projects
She has a jewelry line designed with friend and celebrity stylist, Cher Coulter, called JewelMint, which launched in October 2010. JewelMint, the first vertical of MySpace co-founder, Josh Berman, and Diego Berdakin?s social commerce company, BeachMint, is a new jewelry site with designs exclusively by Coulter and Bosworth. The two paired with the company to create a line of affordable fashion jewelry. The premise of the site is that members receive a new piece of jewelry each month out of the personalized choices recommended to them by their JewelMint Style Quiz results. JewelMint has been featured in the Los Angeles Times, InStyle magazine, Teen Vogue, C Magazine, People StyleWatch, InTouch Weekly, "Lucky Magazine" and OK! magazine. In the summer of 2011, Bosworth made her singing debut with a television jingle for Cotton's Fabric of our Lives campaign (the song she performs is downloadable on the Cotton site).Worldwide recognition
After going through many screen tests and competing with other actresses for the role, she was cast as reporter Lois Lane in Bryan Singer's superhero film Superman Returns (2006). She starred along with her Beyond the Sea co-star Kevin Spacey as Lex Luthor, as well as newcomer Brandon Routh as Superman. The film was a box office success and received mostly positive reviews. Bosworth's performance however, was not well-received among critics; Anthony Lane of The New Yorker, in his review of the film noted, "The new Lois Lane, Kate Bosworth, is not a patch on Margot Kidder, or, for that matter, on Teri Hatcher, in the TV series." San Francisco Chronicle film critic Mick LaSalle felt that Bosworth, at 22-years-old, was too young to portray Lois Lane, and the climax did not "match the potential of the tiring 154 minute long film". Although Bosworth's performance was ambivalently received, she herself loved the experience of working on the movie. As she told Teen Vogue in August 2006, "You know how you have an experience, a time in your life when you feel you've come into your own? When you grow up a bit, and think, Now I get it? [...] That's how I feel. I feel a little bit more complete." Superman Returns was a commercial and critical success. The movie grossed $52?million during its opening weekend in North America and went on to earn $391?million worldwide.Bosworth starred in the psychological drama called The Girl in the Park with Sigourney Weaver, Alessandro Nivola and Keri Russell. She plays Louise, a troubled young girl taken under Weaver's character's wing. The Girl in the Park was written and directed by Pulitzer Prize winner David Auburn in his directorial debut. The film premiered at the 2007 Toronto International Film Festival, it has since been picked up by The Weinstein Company. Alissa Simon of Variety wrote that Bosworth "tries her best, but her character's too extremely drawn." Bosworth also filmed 21, an adaptation of the book Bringing Down the House, in early 2007 in Boston, Massachusetts and Las Vegas, Nevada. This film reunites her with co-star Kevin Spacey and director Robert Luketic. 21 garnered mixed reviews, with Joanne Kaufman of the Wall Street Journal concluding, "Very little adds up in 21."
Her next film is the epic The Warrior's Way which she shot in New Zealand alongside Korean star Jang Dong-gun and Geoffrey Rush. She has also optioned the film rights to Catherine Hanrahan's novel Lost Girls and Love Hotels, about a young woman looking to escape in Tokyo's seedy nightlife. She will produce the project alongside filmmaker Nadia Connors. She has said about her roles, "I just don't do comfort zones." In January 2008, Bosworth was named the new face for Calvin Klein Jeans and will be featured in the Calvin Klein Jeans campaign. She also takes on the role of spokesperson for American luxury bag brand Coach in Asia.
Personal life
Bosworth was accepted to Princeton University in late 2000, but because of continual deferral of her attendance, her acceptance was later revoked. She is a member of the Appalachia Service Project. In late 2002, she began dating actor Orlando Bloom. The two met outside a coffee shop and were introduced to each other by a friend, before meeting again at the premiere of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. Bosworth and Bloom separated in 2006. Bosworth dated British model James Rousseau beginning September 2006 after meeting him at a Marc Jacobs after party. An aspiring musician, Rousseau wrote the song "To Make You Mine" for her.Bosworth has previously dated actor Alexander Skarsg?rd.
Filmography
| +Film and television | |||
| ! Year | ! Title | ! Role | Notes |
| 1997 | 7th Heaven | Student in Background | Episode: "Who Knew?" Episode: "Says Who?" |
| 1998 | Judith | ||
| 2000 | Courtney Docherty | ||
| 2000 | Remember the Titans | Emma Hoyt | |
| 2000 | Bella Banks | 8 episodes | |
| 2002 | Blue Crush | Anne Marie Chadwick | |
| 2002 | Kelly | ||
| 2003 | Dawn Schiller | ||
| 2003 | Advantage Hart | Trinity Montage | Short film |
| 2004 | Win a Date with Tad Hamilton! | Rosalee Futch | |
| 2004 | Sandra Dee | ||
| 2005 | Chali | ||
| 2006 | Superman Returns | Lois Lane | |
| 2007 | Louise | ||
| 2008 | Jill | ||
| 2010 | Death Bed Subtext | Daughter | Short film |
| 2010 | Idiots | Marghi | Video short |
| 2010 | Lynne | ||
| 2011 | Little Birds | Bonnie Muller | |
| 2011 | Another Happy Day | Alice | |
| 2011 | L!fe Happens | Deena | |
| 2011 | Amy Sumner | ||
| 2012 | Untitled Italy Project | Jane | Post-production |
| 2012 | Big Sur | Billie | Post-production |
| 2012 | Movie 43 | Arlene | Post-production |
| 2012 | Fairytale of New York | TBA | Pre-production |
| 2012 | Serpent Girl | TBA | In production |
| 2013 | Black Rock | TBA | Post-production |
| +Video games | ||
| ! Year | ! Title | ! Role |
| 2006 | Lois Lane (voice) | |
| 2010 | CR: Superman Returns | Lois Lane (voice) |
References
External links
Category:1983 births Category:Living people Category:American film actors Category:American television actors Category:Actors from California Category:American child actors Category:Actors from Massachusetts Category:People from Darien, Connecticut Category:People from Los Angeles, California Category:People from Norfolk County, Massachusetts
ar:???? ?????? ca:Kate Bosworth da:Kate Bosworth de:Kate Bosworth es:Kate Bosworth fa:??? ?????? fr:Kate Bosworth gv:Kate Bosworth ko:??? ???? it:Kate Bosworth he:???? ???????' lv:Keita Bosvorta li:Kate Bosworth hu:Kate Bosworth nl:Kate Bosworth ja:????????? no:Kate Bosworth pl:Kate Bosworth pt:Kate Bosworth ru:???????, ???? sr:???? ??????? fi:Kate Bosworth sv:Kate Bosworth th:??? ????????? tr:Kate Bosworth zh:???????Source: http://article.wn.com/view/2011/12/29/Kate_Bosworth_and_her_Blue_Crush_Michael_Poilsh_get_cosy_on_/
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Thursday, December 29, 2011
South Korea peace seekers meet new leader of the North
A delegation led by two South Korean widows, both linked to the failed Sunshine policy of North-South reconciliation, met with North Korea's Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang Monday.
The widow of a former South Korean president invoked memories of the brightest moment in North-South relations Monday as she visited the bier in Pyongyang of the late North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il.
Skip to next paragraphMr. Kim's successor, Kim Jong-un,?stood quietly by as 90-year-old Lee Hee-ho wrote that she hoped ?the spirit of the June 15 South-North Joint Declaration? ? signed by her late husband Kim Dae-jung and Kim Jong-il in June 2000 ? ?would be carried forward to achieved national reunification as soon as possible.?
Ms. Lee's visit was a poignant reminder of the hopes from that earlier summit and South Korea's failed Sunshine policy of reconciliation with the North. That effort stalled as North Korea forged ahead with nuclear and missile programs.?South Korea's current president,?Lee Myung-bak, ended the Sunshine policy but allowed Lee to undertake today's trip.
The decision to permit her and another widow deeply involved in North Korea to lead condolence delegations to Pyongyang represents more of a special exception rather than a significant olive branch.?The government denied permission for all other South Koreans,?notably politicians critical of its hard-line policy.
But Lee and Hyun Jeong-un, widow of Hyundai chairman Chung Mong-hun?whose company opened up special zones for business and tourism in North Korea, had?personal and historical ties that could not be ignored.?Lee's husband, who died in 2009, won the Nobel Peace Prize six months after the North-South summit. Mr. Chung committed suicide in 2003 after his indictment for passing enormous bribes to persuade Kim Jong-il to agree to the summit.
For Lee, the journey by road to Pyongyang marked her first visit to North Korea since she flew there with her husband for the summit. Her yearning for a return to her husband?s Sunshine policy is shared by many of her husband?s allies and followers, but she avoided bitterness before entering North Korea at the truce village of Panmunjom 40 miles north of here.
In a statement read by an aide, Lee said simply, "I hope that our trip to North Korea will help improve relations between South and North Korea.?
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Winter solstice: Days to get longer starting Thursday
Since June 20, the altitude of the midday sun has been lowering as its direct rays have been gradually migrating to the south. The sun's altitude above the horizon at noontime is 47 degrees lower now for observers in the Northern Hemisphere, compared to six months ago.
This week, the sun will reach that point where it will appear to shine farthest to the south of the equator, ?marking the moment of the winter solstice ? the shortest day of 2011 in the Northern Hemisphere.
Skip to next paragraphThe?winter solstice?occurs Thursday at 12:30 a.m. EST (0530 GMT), which corresponds to 9:30 p.m. PST on Wednesday for observers further west. At the time, the sun will be passing over the over the Tropic of Capricorn.
Here's how northern winter solstice works: Since June 20, the altitude of the midday sun has been lowering as its direct rays have been gradually migrating to the south. The sun's altitude above the horizon at noontime is 47 degrees lower now, compared to six months ago. As we often mention, your clenched fist held at arm's length measures roughly 10 degrees, so the sun at midday is now nearly "five fists" lower in the southern sky compared to June 21.
Ancient skywatchers?had no understanding of this movement of the sun. They thought this celestial machinery might break down someday, and the sun would continue southward, never to return. As such, the lowering of the sun was cause for fear and wonder.? [10 Skywatching Misconceptions Explained]
As "armistice" is defined as a staying of the action of arms, "solstice" is a staying of the sun's apparent motion over the latitudes of the Earth. At the summer solstice, the sun stops its northward motion and begins heading south. At the winter solstice, it turns north.
Technically, at one minute past the moment of the solstice, the sun has turned around and started north.? It will cross the equator at the vernal equinox, passing into the Northern Hemisphere on March 20, at 1:14 a.m. EDT (or on the calendar date of March 19 for those living in the Mountain and Pacific Time Zones).?
When the ancients saw the sun stop and slowly climb to a higher midday location, people rejoiced; here was a promise that spring would return. Most cultures had winter?solstice celebrations?and some adapted it to other events.?
In Persia, the solstice marked the birthday of Mithra, the Sun King. In ancient times, Dec. 25 was the date of the lavish Roman festival of Saturnalia, a sort of bacchanalian thanksgiving. Saturnalia was celebrated around the time of the winter solstice. And in 275 A.D., the Roman Emperor, Aurelian, commemorated a feast day coinciding with the winter solstice: Die Natalis Invicti Solis ("The Birthday of the Unconquered Sun").?
Among the many varied customs linked with this special season for thousands of years, the exchanging of gifts is almost universal. Mother Nature herself offers the sky observer in north temperate latitudes the two gifts of longest nights and a sky more transparent than usual.
One reason for the clarity of a winter's night is that cold air cannot hold as much moisture as warm air can. Hence, on many nights in the summer, the warm moisture-laden atmosphere causes the sky to appear hazier.
By day it is a milky, washed-out blue, which in winter becomes a richer, deeper and darker shade of blue.? For observers in northern locations, this only adds more luster to that part of the sky containing the beautiful wintertime constellations.
Indeed, the?brilliant stars and constellations?that now adorn our evening sky, such as Sirius, Orion, Capella, Taurus and many others is seemingly Nature's holiday decoration to commemorate the winter solstice and enlighten the long cold nights of winter.
Joe Rao serves as an instructor and guest lecturer at New York's Hayden Planetarium. He writes about astronomy for The New York Times and other publications, and he is also an on-camera meteorologist for News 12 Westchester, New York.
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Wednesday, December 28, 2011
[GAME] King of Trivia - Android Game - Released - Download Now - 12/28/2011
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Rumors bring Apple TV hopes to peak!
The iTV, or Apple TV as it is more popularly known as will come in with some good stuff on the display front. Samsung Electronics and Sharp will be responsible for the manufacture of chips and displays, for the Apple entertainment device. I'm not sure what to call it as yet. There is potential from other lesser know companies such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), Advanced Semiconductor Engineering (ASE) and Siliconware Precision Industries (SPIL). The assembly part of the TV will be handled by Foxconn Electronics. By the end of 2012, we may see the ultimate launch of Apple TV. The finalization of hardware standards is expected to be in place by Q2 2012.
[Digitimes]
Source: http://www.newlaunches.com/archives/rumors_bring_apple_tv_hopes_to_peak.php
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Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Amazon Kindle Fire, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich deneme s?r?m?ne kavu?tu
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Source: www.donanimhaber.com --- Tuesday, December 27, 2011
D?nyan?n en b?y?k sanal ma?azalar?ndan biri olan Amazon, elektronik okuyucular ile ba?lad??? tablet maceras?na Kindle Fire modeliyle devam ediyor. Kindle Fire, ?ift ?ekirdekli TI OMAP 4430 i?lemcisi, 7" IPS ekran? ve en ?nemlisi de 199$ 'l?k sat?? fiyat?yla olduk?a iyi sat?? rakamlar?n? yakalam?? durumda. ...
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Does shale boom mean U.S. energy independence near?
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Monday, December 26, 2011
Kimora Lee Simmons, Djimon Hounson St. Barts Trip; Couple Vacations WIth Son Kenzo (PHOTOS)
justjared.buzznet.com:
Kimora Lee Simmons shows off her bikini bod while celebrating Christmas with her husband, actor Djimon Hounsou.
Read the whole story: justjared.buzznet.com
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freeNYTimes: Lions Clinch Playoff Spot After Patriots Clinch a Bye - http://t.co/ar7Z9c58 - #sports
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Lions Clinch Playoff Spot After Patriots Clinch a Bye - is.gd/9o00kP - #sports 
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Source: http://twitter.com/freeNYTimes/statuses/150800457856593920
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Sunday, December 25, 2011
Downturn stretches animal centres
25 December 2011
Last updated at 03:04 ET
Animal welfare charities say they are being stretched to the limit with more owners forced to give up pets as they can no longer afford to keep them.
They blame the problem on the economic downturn and say they do not expect the situation to improve any time soon.
The charities say the situation is causing them financial difficulties with increasing food and medical bills.
The RSPCA said people were struggling financially with all manner of things, including looking after their animals.
In Caernarfon, Freshfield Animal Rescue Centre founder Lesley Tarleton described the amount of dogs needing rehoming as "horrendous", with pedigree breeds now commonplace.
And within a few days early this month she received calls to place four lamas, four sheep, a mule and a six month old colt as well as dogs.
"There is no doubt there has been an increase," she said.
Continue reading the main story?Start Quote
End Quote Paula Rowe Hope RescueWith the economic situation people aren't prepared to take on puppies because of the costs?
"It is terribly distressing," she said.
Animals are being dumped outside Capricorn Animal Rescue in Padeswood, near Mold, Flintshire, where founder Shelia Stewart said she was at her "wits end" due to the volume of pets she is being forced to take in, including a call from police to attend to a goat left tied to a lamp-post.
Economic"I can't see it getting any better in the next 12 months," she said.
She has seen a rise in the number of calls she receives from families facing eviction.
"They try to keep going as normal for as long as they can and then call us the day before they are evicted because they can't take animals into a hostel," she said.
Mrs Stewart gave one example of a man living in a car with his dog. The man was trying to find a home for his pet before he could move into temporary accommodation.
"It is distressing for the families and the children but people don't realise it is distressing for the animals which are withdrawn when they come to us," said Mrs Stewart.
And Caerphilly-based Hope Rescue trustee Paula Rowe said the charity has had to stop taking in "surrenders" - when people try to give up their animals - due to the numbers of animals they are already looking after, something they have never had to do previously.
She also said their medical bills so far this financial year match those spent for the whole of the previous year as they are taking in more and more pets with chronic health conditions.
They suspect the medical costs are the main reason people are being forced to give up the animals.
She said vets are also calling the charity to help rehouse animals after customers enquire about euthanizing their animal when treatment costs prove too much.
Among recent cases, Hope Rescue has taken in pedigree bull mastiff pups after the owner could not find any would-be owners.
"With the economic situation people aren't prepared to take on puppies because of the costs," she said.
The RSPCA in Wales said anecdotal evidence showed its centres were also more busy with animals "queuing" to be taken in as people were "feeling the pinch".
The charity said if pet owners were no longer able to look after a pet or need help with vet fees, they should seek advice from an animal welfare organisation.
"However, it is vitally important that those thinking of taking on a pet ensure that they are able to afford veterinary fees beforehand," said a spokesman.
"It is the legal responsibility of every owner to provide veterinary care for their animal."
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-wales-16219508
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Iran navy starts 10-day wargame in Strait of Hormuz (Reuters)
TEHRAN (Reuters) ? Iran began 10 days of naval exercises in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, raising concern about a possible closure of the world's most strategic oil transit channel in the event of any outbreak of military conflict between Tehran and the West.
The military drill, dubbed "Velayat-e 90," comes as the tension between the West and Iran is escalating over the Islamic state's nuclear program.
Some analysts and diplomats believe the Islamic Republic could try to block the strait in the event of any war with the West over suspicions it is seeking atom bombs. Iran's arch-foes Israel and the United States have not ruled out military action if diplomacy and sanctions fail to rein in Iran's nuclear work.
Iran says it wants nuclear energy only for peaceful ends.
"The enforcement of the decision to close of the Strait of Hormuz is certainly within Iran's armed forces' capability, but such a decision should be made by the country's top authorities," Iranian Navy commander Habibollah Sayyari was quoted as saying by the semi-official ILNA labor news agency.
Iran has said in the past that it would respond to any attack by targeting U.S. interests in the region and Israel, as well as closing the strait, the only access channel for eight U.S.-aligned, Gulf Arab states to foreign markets.
Iranian authorities have given no indication the strait will be closed during the exercise, and it has not been shut during previous drills.
"Displaying Iran's defensive and deterrent power as well as relaying a message of peace and friendship in the Strait of Hormuz and the free waters are the main objectives of the drill," Sayyari said.
"It will also display the country's power to control the region as well as testing new missiles, torpedoes and weapons."
"Velayat" is a Persian word for "supremacy" and it is currently used as a title of deference for the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The United States, Britain and Canada announced new measures against Iran's energy and financial sectors last month and the European Union is considering a ban - already in place in the United States - on imports of Iranian oil.
(Writing by Ramin Mostafavi; Editing by Alison Williams)
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Saturday, December 24, 2011
PlayStation Vita launch day lineup and accessory pricing revealed (Yahoo! News)
Sony's new handheld gets its ducks in a row ahead of its February debut
While?Nintendo's 3DS will have the 2011 holiday season to itself in the?portable gaming market, many gamers are eagerly anticipating the February 22, 2012 launch of Sony's new PlayStation Vita. Now, almost as if to say "Save those gift cards until February," the company has shed some light on the games and accessories we can expect to see alongside the new system when it finally debuts.
One of the biggest complaints consumers had when the 3DS launched was the lack of quality titles. Sony hopes to capitalize on Nintendo's misstep ? and?subsequent drop in sales ? by offering a ridiculously beefy game lineup available from day one. So far, a total of 25 games ? priced between $9.99 and $49.99, though each title wasn't specifically tagged ? are slated for a launch day release. And these aren't just throwaway, I'd-rather-be-playing-Angry-Birds titles either; names like?Uncharted,?Wipeout, and?Rayman are sure to pique the interest of the gaming populous. Check out the full list of launch day titles below.
- Army Corps of Hell
- Asphalt Injection
- BEN10 GALACTIC RACING
- Blazblue: Continuum Shift EXTEND
- Dungeon Hunter Alliance
- Dynasty Warriors Next
- EA SPORTS FIFA Soccer
- Escape Plan (PSN downloadable titles)
- F1 2011
- Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational
- Hustle Kings (PSN downloadable titles)
- Little Deviants
- Lumines Electronic Symphony
- Michael Jackson The Experience
- ModNation Racers: Road Trip
- Plants vs. Zombies (PSN downloadable title)
- Rayman Origins
- Shinobido 2: Revenge of Zen
- Super StarDust Delta (PSN downloadable title)
- Tales of Space: Mutant Blobs (PSN downloadable title)
- Touch My Katamari
- Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3
- UNCHARTED: Golden Abyss
- Virtua Tennis 4: World Tour Edition
- wipEout 2048
On top of that already impressive list, a further 10 titles are on deck for a "launch window" release, which means they should appear on store shelves in the days immediately following launch. Browse that list below.
- Disgaea 3: Absence of Detention
- Gravity Rush
- LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7
- MLB 12 The Show
- NINJA GAIDEN ? PLUS
- Reality Fighters
- Ridge Racer
- Silent Hill Book of Memories
- Supremacy MMA: Unrestricted
- Unit 13
As?we already knew, the system itself will carry a $250 price tag, but up until now the pricing of its storage cards and other accessories were a mystery. Many thought the system's memory cards would cost upwards of $130 for 32GB, but thankfully that's not the case. The official list of release dates and pricing for PS Vita add-ons can be seen below.
| 4 GB Memory Card | February 15, 2012 | $19.99 |
| 8 GB Memory Card | February 15, 2012 | $29.99 |
| 16 GB Memory Card | February 15, 2012 | $59.99 |
| 32 GB Memory Card | February 15, 2012 | $99.99 |
| Starter Kit with Memory Card | February 15, 2012 | $39.99 |
| In-Ear Headset | February 15, 2012 | $19.99 |
| Carrying Case | February 15, 2012 | $19.99 |
| Travel Pouch | February 15, 2012 | $19.99 |
| Protective Film (2 pack) | February 15, 2012 | $9.99 |
| Card Case | February 15, 2012 | $5.99 |
| Cradle | February 15, 2012 | $19.99 |
| Portable Charger | Spring 2012 | $49.99 |
| AC Adaptor | February 15, 2012 | $14.99 |
| Car Adaptor | Spring 2012 | $14.99 |
| USB Cable | February 15, 2012 | $14.99 |
We went?hands-on with the Vita during?E3, and were mighty pleased with what we saw. While Sony's pricing scheme for memory ? crucial when downloading games, movies, and music ? is a bit higher than we had hoped, it's not entirely unreasonable, and we're still very much looking forward to February 22.
This article originally appeared on Tecca
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Judge rules Stanford competent to stand trial
HOUSTON (AP) ? Jailed Texas financier R. Allen Stanford is mentally competent to stand trial on charges he bilked investors out of $7 billion in a massive Ponzi scheme, a judge ruled Thursday
U.S. District Judge David Hittner's decision came after a nearly three-day competency hearing for the disgraced financier. The trial is set for Jan. 23. Hittner said he will rule next week on a request from Stanford's attorneys to delay the trial until April.
"We're disappointed. We hope he gets healthy," Ali Fazel, one of Stanford's attorneys said after the ruling.
Prosecutors declined to comment. A gag order is preventing attorneys from discussing the case.
Stanford had been declared incompetent in January due to an anti-anxiety drug addiction he developed while jailed in Houston. He spent more than eight months at a federal prison hospital in Butner, N.C., getting treatment for his addiction and being evaluated to determine if he had any long-term effects from being injured in a September 2009 jail fight.
A forensic psychologist who helped treat Stanford at the prison hospital testified the financier is now competent, can think clearly after being taken off the drug and has not suffered brain damage from the jail fight.
Doctors at the prison hospital and prosecutors accused Stanford of faking symptoms of amnesia. He says he can't remember all events in his life prior to the prison fight.
During closing arguments after testimony in the hearing had concluded earlier Thursday, prosecutor Gregg Costa said Stanford was exaggerating or faking memory loss and 14 other disorders the financier's medical experts had diagnosed him with in an attempt to "game the system" and avoid trial for a $7 billion fraud.
"He wants to con his way out of this case the same way he conned investors for 20 years. Your honor, don't let him con his way out of this case," Costa said.
But four medical experts who testified on Stanford's behalf, including a neurologist and two forensic psychiatrists, said the financier suffered a traumatic brain injury in the jail fight that left him with severe memory loss and unable to think or communicate clearly.
"Every expert that has seen him says there is something wrong with him," Fazel said during closing arguments. "He wants to fight the case. He just wants to be able to help his lawyers. He is not running away from anything."
Stanford's medical experts said his brain injury, along with a major depressive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder from the jail fight, has left him unable to assist his defense attorneys and to be ready for trial.
Those experts also testified that his treatment for other medical conditions, including heart and liver problems, complicated his brain injury and memory loss.
Stanford and three former executives of his now-defunct Stanford Financial Group are accused of orchestrating a colossal pyramid scheme that advised clients from 113 countries to invest more than $7 billion in certificates of deposit, or CDs, at the Stanford International Bank on the Caribbean island of Antigua, promising huge returns.
Authorities say Stanford and the executives fabricated the bank's records, bribed Antiguan regulators with investors' money from a secret Swiss bank account and misused funds to pay for Stanford's lavish lifestyle.
Stanford became a billionaire whose financial empire stretched across the U.S., the Caribbean and Latin America. His attorneys say he ran a legitimate business. He has been jailed since he was indicted in June 2009 by a federal grand jury in Houston, where his companies were headquartered.
He faces 14 counts, including wire and mail fraud.
Earlier Thursday, a prison official at the Houston federal detention center, where Stanford is being held, told Hittner doctors at the facility had become concerned Stanford might be suicidal after one of the financier's medical experts had testified about such concerns.
The official said doctors examined Stanford Wednesday evening and determined he is not suicidal but will continue to evaluate him.
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Friday, December 23, 2011
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Death toll from Baghdad blasts climbs to 49
BAGHDAD (AP) ? The spokesman for the Iraqi health ministry says that at least 49 people have been killed in a wave of violence across the city.
Ziad Tariq says at least 167 people were also wounded in the attacks that struck Baghdad on Thursday morning.
The wave of attacks is the worst to hit Baghdad in months. It targeted neighborhoods around the city in an apparently coordinated campaign of violence designed to wreak havoc.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
BAGHDAD (AP) ? A series of blasts Thursday morning in Baghdad killed at least 23 people and injured dozens more in a coordinated attack designed to wreak havoc across the Iraqi capital.
The blasts were the worst violence to hit the country since a political crisis between Iraq's Sunni and Shiite factions erupted this weekend. The political spat, which pits Iraq's Shiite prime minister against the highest-ranking Sunni political leader, has raised fears that Iraq's sectarian wounds will be reopened.
Iraqi officials said at least 12 blasts went off early Thursday morning in nine neighborhoods around the city. The violence ranged from sticky bombs attached to cars to roadside bombs and vehicles packed with explosives.
Most of the violence appeared to hit Shiite neighborhoods although some Sunni areas were also targeted.
The worst attack was in the al-Amal neighborhood where seven people were killed in a blast that appeared to target rescuers and officials who came to the scene after a previous explosion. At least four people were killed in one western Baghdad neighborhood when two roadside bombs exploded.
All the information came from police and hospital officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.
In the southwestern neighborhood of Karrada, where one of the victims was killed, sirens could be heard as ambulances rushed to the scene and a large plume of smoke rose over the explosion site.
"My baby was sleeping in her bed. Shards of glass have fallen on our heads. Her father hugged her and carried her. She is now scared in the next room," said one woman in western Baghdad who identified herself as Um Hanin. "All countries are stable. Why don't we have security and stability?"
While Baghdad and Iraq have gotten much safer over the years, explosions like Thursday's are still commonplace. They come at a precarious time in Iraq's political history, just days after American troops pulled out of Iraq.
The government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has accused the Sunni Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi of running a hit squad that targeted government officials. Al-Maliki is also pushing for a vote of no-confidence against another Sunni politician, the deputy prime minister Saleh al-Mutlaq.
Many Sunnis fear that this is part of a wider campaign to go after Sunni political figures in general and shore up Shiite control across the country at a critical time when all American troops have left Iraq.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the morning's violence. But the coordinated nature of the assault and the fact that the attacks took place in numerous neighborhoods suggested a planning capability only available to al-Qaida in Iraq.
Many of the neighborhoods were also Shiite areas which are a favorite target of al-Qaida. The Sunni extremist group often targets Shiites who they believe are not true Muslims.
Al-Qaida in Iraq is severely debilitated from its previous strength in the early years of the war, but is still able to launch coordinated and deadly assaults from time to time.
U.S. military officials have said they're worried about a resurgence of al-Qaida after the American military leaves the country. If that happens, it could lead Shiite militants to fight back and attack Sunni targets, thus sending Iraq back to the sectarian violence it experienced just a few years ago.
__
Associated Press writer Rebecca Santana contributed to this report.
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Thursday, December 22, 2011
NKorea media laud son, nation grieves Kim Jong Il (AP)
PYONGYANG, North Korea ? North Korea prepared to lay longtime ruler Kim Jong Il to rest while the hermit state's official media on Tuesday lauded his son and heir apparent as a person "born of heaven" ? suggesting the transition to a new leadership was under way.
The streets of the North Korean capital, Pyongyang, were quiet Tuesday morning as thousands grieved the death of their "Dear Leader." With an 11-day mourning period in effect, flags flew at half staff, shops were closed and streams of mourners ? some wailing ? placed flowers at memorials around the city.
"Today, as well as yesterday, the Korean people have been coming here to Mansu Hill in deep sorrow at the loss of the benevolent father of our nation with the infinite feeling of longing," said Ri Ho Il, a lecturer at the Korean Revolutionary History Museum. "Our General (Kim Jong Il) is our people's benevolent father. He defended our people's happiness, carrying on his forced march both night and day."
Kim died Saturday of a massive heart attack brought about by overwork and stress, according to the North's media. He was 69 ? though some experts question the official accounts of his birth date and location. The state funeral is to be held on Dec. 28.
North Korean officials say they will not invite foreign delegations and will allow no entertainment during the mourning period.
Kim's death and the possibility of a power struggle in a country armed with nuclear weapons and known for its unpredictability has heightened tensions in the region.
President Barack Obama agreed by phone with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak to closely monitor developments. Japan's government also said it was being vigilant for any "unexpected developments."
North Korean state media have given clear indications that Kim's third son will succeed him.
The Korean Central News Agency on Tuesday described Kim Jong Un as a "a great person born of heaven," a propaganda term only his father Kim Jong Il and his grandfather Kim Il Sung had enjoyed. The Rodong Sinmun, the newspaper of the ruling Workers' Party, added in an editorial that Kim Jong Un is "the spiritual pillar and the lighthouse of hope" for the military and the people.
It described the twentysomething Kim as "born of Mount Paektu," one of Korea's most cherished sites and Kim Jong Il's official birthplace. On Monday, the North said in a dispatch that the people and the military "have pledged to uphold the leadership of comrade Kim Jong Un" and called him a "great successor" of the country's revolutionary philosophy of juche, or self reliance.
Whether the transition would be a smooth one remained an open question, however.
South Korea's military has been put on high alert, and experts warned that the next few days could be a crucial turning point for the North, which though impoverished by economic mismanagement and repeated famine, has a relatively well-supported, 1.2 million-strong armed forces.
"The situation could become extremely volatile. What the North Korean military does in the next 24-48 hours will be decisive," said Bill Richardson, a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations who has made several high-profile visits to North Korea.
Kim was in power for 17 years after the death of his father, the charismatic founder of the North Korean nation.
His death could set back efforts by the United States and others to get Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear weapons ambitions. It also comes at a sensitive time for North Korea, which is preparing for next year's 100th anniversary of the birth of Kim Il Sung.
Concerns are high that Kim Jong Un ? being young and largely untested ? may feel he needs to prove himself by precipitating a crisis or displaying his swagger on the international stage.
North Korea conducted at least one short-range missile test Monday, a South Korean official said. But South Korea's military sees the firing as part of a scheduled routine drill, instead of a provocation, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because of a policy that bans commenting on intelligence matters.
Some analysts, however, said Kim's death was unlikely to plunge the country into chaos because it already was preparing for a transition. Kim Jong Il indicated a year ago that Kim Jong Un would be his successor, putting him in high-ranking posts.
South Korea's president urged his people to remain calm while his Cabinet and the Parliament convened emergency meetings Tuesday.
The Defense Ministry said the South Korean military and the 28,500 U.S. troops stationed in South Korea had bolstered reconnaissance and were sharing intelligence on North Korea.
The White House said in a statement that it is closely monitoring reports of Kim's death. The Obama administration may postpone decisions on re-engaging the North in nuclear talks and providing it with food aid, U.S. officials said.
The administration had been expected to decide on both issues this week, possibly as early as Monday, but the officials said Kim's death would likely delay the process.
___
Associated Press writers Jean H. Lee in Beijing, Foster Klug, Hyung-jin Kim, Sam Kim, Eric Talmadge and Jiyoung Won in Seoul and Matthew Lee in Washington contributed to this story.
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Monday, December 19, 2011
Epson VS315W Multimedia Projector
The Epson VS315W Multimedia Projector ($529.99 direct) is easy to set up and use, is inexpensive for its WXGA resolution, and its data image quality is solid. Its feature set and connection choices, on the other hand, are fairly sparse. The lack of a carrying case as well as a port enabling you to run a presentation off of a USB thumb drive hinders its use for road warriors, and it?s one of the few WXGA projectors we?ve seen recently that lacks an HDMI-in port.
The Epson VS315W is based on 3LCD technology, which was developed by Epson and employs three LCD panels, each of which processes light of a different primary color. This projector?s WXGA (1,280 by 800 pixel) native resolution is compatible with widescreen laptops with a 16:10 aspect ratio.
Its 2,600 lumens of rated brightness is on the low side for a WXGA projector, as most of today?s models run at least 3,000 lumens. The Optoma TW762 ($1,100 street, 3 stars) rates 4,000 lumens, and others are even brighter. ?However, the
While the NEC MP-M260W provides an abundance of connection choices, the VS315W has a sparse assortment of ports: VGA-in; S-video; 3 RCA jacks for composite video; and a USB type B port for connecting to a computer to enable USB Plug ?n Play operation. The most notable absences are HDMI-in (which has become commonplace if not standard on WXGA projectors and is even appearing on lower-resolution projectors) and a USB type A port for running a presentation off of a USB thumb drive.
The VS315W, white and brown with rounded corners, is reasonably light at 5.1 pounds and measures 3 by 11.6 by 9 inches, so it?s easy enough to lug around, though as it lacks a port for a USB key you will have to bring your computer with you to run a presentation from. The VS315W lacks a carrying case, so you?ll either have to use it in one location, get a case, or handle the projector with extreme care.
The USB Plug ?n Play makes the VS315W easy to connect to a computer, and the unit provides vertical keystone correction. I was able to project a 60 inch diagonal image from about 7 feet away, and it was bright enough to hold up to ambient light in a small room.
Image and Video Testing
In testing using the DisplayMate software test suite, data image quality was reasonably solid. Some bright areas showed yellow fringing, and some hatched patterns displayed slight pixel jitter. Overall image quality was fine for typical business presentations.
Video quality, in our test scenes from Terminator 2 and The West Wing, wasn?t as good. Detail was frequently lost in bright areas, and colors in some scenes were on the pale side. Moving objects sometimes had a rough, almost jagged look. The projector?s single built-in 1-watt speaker provides audio of decent quality but low volume, good enough for a small room.
The VS315W is adequate for showing short video clips as part a presentation, but I?d hesitate in using it for longer clips, let alone movies.
The Epson VS315W Multimedia Projector is of fairly low price for a WXGA projector, but lacks features of its more expensive brethren such as the
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Sunday, December 18, 2011
Czechs, world leaders mourn Vaclav Havel (AP)
PRAGUE ? Czech citizens joined their leaders and foreign politicians Sunday in paying tribute to Vaclav Havel, the dissident playwright who led the 1989 Velvet Revolution that peacefully toppled communism in the former Czechoslovakia.
A black flag flew over Prague Castle, the presidential seat, while Czechs lighted candles at the monument to the revolution in downtown Prague in memory of Havel, who died earlier Sunday at the age of 75.
"Mr. President, thank you for democracy," read a note placed there.
Others came to Havel's villa in Prague to lay flowers and light candles.
Josef Klik, a 67-year-old, was among the mourners.
"He is an unforgettable person who contributed to the fall of communism," Klik said. "And after that, he remained a moral authority for ordinary people."
At downtown Wenceslas Square, where Havel talked to hundreds of thousands during the 1989 revolution, an impromptu gathering of mourners was planned for late Sunday.
Vaclav Klaus, Havel's political archrival who replaced him as president in 2003, called Havel "the symbol of the new era of the Czech state."
Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg added that Havel "returned dignity to the Czech nation."
In neighboring Poland, the founder of the anti-communist Solidarity movement and former president Lech Walesa called Havel "a great fighter for the freedom of nations and for democracy."
"It is a great pity and a great loss. His outstanding voice of wisdom will be missed in Europe," said Walesa, the 1983 Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
"We have lost a great leader," former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, who is of Czech origin, said in a statement sent to the AP.
"Vaclav Havel leaves our world better for having been a part of it," Albright said. "My thoughts and prayers go out to his wife Dagmar Havlova, his family and the people of the Czech Republic."
British Prime Minister David Cameron said "Havel led the Czech people out of tyranny. And he helped bring freedom and democracy to our entire continent."
The Czech government meets Monday to declare a period of official mourning. Klaus said condolence books will be available for people to sign at the Prague castle, the presidential seat, starting Monday for people to sign.
In Slovakia, which split from the Czech Republic in 1993, prime Minister Iveta Radicova said it was Havel who "opened the gates to the world after 1989."
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who grew up in East Germany and went into politics as communism crumbled, said she learned "with great dismay" of Havel's death.
"His dedication to freedom and democracy is as unforgotten as his great humanity," Merkel wrote in a message to Klaus. "We Germans also have much to thank him for. Together with you, we mourn the loss of a great European."
The president of the European parliament Jerzy Buzek ? a former Polish prime minister and activist in Solidarity ? wrote on Twitter: "Vaclav Havel is the figure that represents the Velvet Revolution and the reunification of Europe. He will be sorely missed."
Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt tweeted that Havel was "one of the greatest Europeans of our age."
He added on his blog that Havel was "maybe the strongest voice from behind the iron curtain that no longer accepted a Europe divided between freedom and repression."
In Russia, Grigory Yavlinsky, a veteral opposition figure and leader of the Yabloko party, told the Itar-TASS news agency that Havel "was a man of integrity and dignity who has never been afraid of anyone".
"He devoted his life to freeing his people from a totalitarian regime," Yavlinsky said.
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Huntsman success in race may rely on independents
FILE - In this Dec. 1, 2011, file photo, Republican presidential candidate former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman speaks at a house party in Bedford, N.H. Huntsman?s presidential fortunes may have little to do with his party?s conservatives. If there is a path to success for the former Utah governor in the nomination race, it is likely lined with independents, a key voting bloc in New Hampshire and other early voting states that allow unaffiliated voters to help select the next Republican nominee. The former Utah governor has bet big on New Hampshire, where he?s devoted virtually all his time and energy in recent months. (AP Photo/Cheryl Senter, File)
FILE - In this Dec. 1, 2011, file photo, Republican presidential candidate former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman speaks at a house party in Bedford, N.H. Huntsman?s presidential fortunes may have little to do with his party?s conservatives. If there is a path to success for the former Utah governor in the nomination race, it is likely lined with independents, a key voting bloc in New Hampshire and other early voting states that allow unaffiliated voters to help select the next Republican nominee. The former Utah governor has bet big on New Hampshire, where he?s devoted virtually all his time and energy in recent months. (AP Photo/Cheryl Senter, File)
FILE - In this Dec. 12, 2011, file photo, Republican presidential candidate, former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman listens to veteran Peter Shonk of Dublin, N. H., after addressing the Peterborough and Jaffrey-Ringe Rotary meeting in Peterborough, N.H. Huntsman?s presidential fortunes may have little to do with his party?s conservatives. If there is a path to success for the former Utah governor in the nomination race, it is likely lined with independents, a key voting bloc in New Hampshire and other early voting states that allow unaffiliated voters to help select the next Republican nominee. The former Utah governor has bet big on New Hampshire, where he?s devoted virtually all his time and energy in recent months. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) ? Republican Jon Huntsman's presidential fortunes may have little to do with his party's conservatives.
If there is a path to success for the former Utah governor in the nomination race, it is likely lined with independents, a key voting bloc in New Hampshire and other early voting states that allow unaffiliated voters to help select the next Republican nominee.
The former Utah governor has bet big on New Hampshire, where he's devoted virtually all his time and energy in recent months. And polling suggests he may be on the rise, thanks largely to tens of thousands of independents likely to vote in New Hampshire's Jan. 10 Republican primary.
"I'm no longer the margin of error candidate, so we've got to start describing ourselves in different terms," Huntsman told The Associated Press last week after a Suffolk University survey put him in third place with 13 percent among likely New Hampshire GOP primary voters. "Maybe the surging candidate is more appropriate."
While the extent of any momentum is difficult to ascertain from one survey, pollsters note that Huntsman fares better than most of his rivals with independents, who represent about 40 percent of the New Hampshire electorate. Each state has its own rules, but unaffiliated voters are welcome to participate in New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation presidential primary and the subsequent South Carolina contest.
Huntsman's counting on those voters. And he's begun to use his independent appeal as a selling point on the campaign trail, suggesting that electability ? not necessarily ideological purity ? should be the prime consideration for GOP primary voters.
"I know that full well that in order to beat Barack Obama, we've got to make sure that the arithmetic is in our favor," Huntsman said. "And that means that we're going to need some independents who support us as well."
Despite high expectations earlier in the year, he has consistently struggled to attract the more conservative voters who typically dominate Republican primaries. A former ambassador to China in the Obama administration, Huntsman has taken more moderate positions on global warming, the war in Afghanistan, and gay rights, among other issues that don't play well with many conservatives.
The Suffolk survey found that Huntsman's standing among likely New Hampshire GOP primary voters, at 13 percent, is at an all-time high, however. And he scored second best among independents ? trailing only former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. Texas Rep. Ron Paul has also consistently performed well among independents, particularly those with libertarian leanings.
"If independents participate in a big way next January, Huntsman will benefit," said David Paleologos, director of Suffolk University's Political Research Center. "While other candidates have focused on the more traditional Republican voters, Huntsman has traction among independents, who could dominate the Republican primary if mobilized."
Some New Hampshire political observers suggest that Paleologos' analysis is overly optimistic.
And a strategy that relies upon independents is risky at best, especially as Huntsman struggles with campaign trail consistency and the limitations of a poorly-funded campaign with little infrastructure in other early voting states.
"Huntsman continues to mix his messages badly so that voters don't know what to believe," said Michael Dennehy, an unaligned New Hampshire-based Republican operative who led Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign four years ago. "Huntsman is now on a crusade saying that he is the most conservative candidate on abortion and gun rights, when just last month he was describing himself as a moderate and reaching out to independents. Voters won't support someone who has an inconsistent message."
And assuming he can win them over, it's unclear whether independents ? who are free to vote in the Republican or Democratic primaries ? will play a significant factor, according to University of New Hampshire pollster Andy Smith.
"They typically don't have that big of an impact," he said. "You can't win the primary by winning the independents; you've got to win among your registered voters."
Smith said that independents traditionally make their picks late in the game and tend to support the candidates whom they know best.
That could spell trouble for Huntsman, who is hardly well-known in New Hampshire, despite having hosted 120 public events here since joining the race. He often jokes that he's begun to develop a local accent.
But Huntsman has struggled to raise the money needed to reach a broader audience on television.
He got some help in recent weeks, however, after an independent super PAC designed to help Huntsman spent $1.2 million on two weeks of television commercials across New Hampshire.
"I think it's a combination of whatever might be on the air ? I don't have any control over that ? and a whole lot of what's happening on the ground," Huntsman said to explain his modest rise. "I don't think anyone is working nearly as hard as we are."
New Hampshire voters are beginning to notice.
"I'm not really leaning toward anyone though Huntsman does interest me," said 69-year-old Sonia Ascher, of Hollis, at recent town hall-style meeting Huntsman hosted at Rivier College. "I usually do not make my decision until very close to Election Day."
Huntsman will have a unique opportunity to sell his message in New Hampshire over the coming weeks as the rest of the field focuses on Iowa's Jan. 3 caucuses. Huntsman has decided not to compete there.
"His greatest opportunity might just come to him by default," said unaffiliated New Hampshire Republican operative Rich Killion, adding that a "multi-candidate food fight seems to be evolving in Iowa." Huntsman "could potentially gain ground very late by simply just being available and existing as an alternative to the dynamic that could exist between Romney and Gingrich."
Huntsman says his success will have little to do with luck. He has a clear path to victory in his mind:
"I believe that when you come out of New Hampshire with a head of steam as we will do, then it becomes more of a question of electability for Republican voters and independent voters," he said. "And by doing what we're going to do in New Hampshire we will prove that point, that we are the most electable candidate to go up against Barack Obama and ultimately beat him."
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