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WASHINGTON — Average U.S. rates on fixed mortgages fell to fresh record lows for the second straight week. The declines suggest the Federal Reserve's stimulus efforts are having an impact.
Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday that the rate on the 30-year loan dropped to 3.36 percent. That's down from last week's rate of 3.40 percent, which was the lowest since long-term mortgages began in the 1950s.
The average on the 15-year fixed mortgage, a popular refinancing option, dipped to 2.69 percent, down from last week's record low of 2.73 percent.
The Fed is spending $40 billion a month to buy mortgage-backed securities. The goal is to lower mortgage rates and help the housing recovery. The Fed plans to continue the program until there is substantial improvement in the job market.
The housing market already is benefiting from the lowest mortgage rates on record. Sales of both previously occupied and newly built homes in the U.S. are up from last year. Home prices are rising more consistently. And builders are more confident in the market and are starting to build more homes.
Lower rates are also driving more people to refinance.
Mortgage applications surged 16.6 percent last week, the Mortgage Bankers Association reported Wednesday. Of those applications, 83 percent were to refinance existing loans.
Growth in refinancing could help the broader economy. When people refinance their mortgages at lower interest rates, their monthly payments typically decline. That leaves them with more money to spend. Consumer spending drives nearly 70 percent of economic activity.
Still, some economists question whether further decline in rates will make much of a difference. The average rate on the 30-year fixed mortgage has been below 4 percent since early December. Yet home sales remain below healthy levels. And most people who can qualify have likely already taken advantage of the lower rates.
Many people who would like to refinance or buy a home can't because they fail to meet stricter lending requirements or don't have enough money to make a down payment.
To calculate average rates, Freddie Mac surveys lenders across the country on Monday through Wednesday of each week.
The average does not include extra fees, known as points, which most borrowers must pay to get the lowest rates. One point equals 1 percent of the loan amount.
The average fee for 30-year loans was 0.6 point, unchanged from last week. The fee for 15-year loans slipped to 0.5 point from 0.6.
The average rate on one-year adjustable-rate mortgages fell to 2.57 percent from 2.60 percent. The fee for one-year adjustable rate loans held steady at 0.4 point.
The average rate on five-year adjustable-rate mortgages rose to 2.72 percent from 2.71 percent. The fee remained at 0.6 point.

subset: commoncrawl


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The patent dispute between Nokia and Apple is starting to see some rulings, with an early victory for Nokia. In a recommendation submitted to the judge presiding over the patent dispute filed against Nokia by Apple, International Trade Commission staff members suggested that "the evidence will not establish a violation" of Apple's patents.
This particular mess started last year when Nokia sued Apple, claiming the company violated a number of Nokia patents related to 3G networking and mobile WiFi. Apple fired back, claiming Nokia attempted to leverage its patents on 3G standards to extort additional smartphone technology cross-licensing from Apple.
Then Nokia filed a complaint with the ITC to block the import of Apple's mobile devices into the country, citing smartphone-related patents. Apple naturally filed its own ITC complaint against Nokia. Nokia has also tacked on an additional patent lawsuit against Apple, and added the iPad as a target in addition to the iPhone.
The federal lawsuits were put on hold pending the outcome of the ITC's investigations. The trial to determine if Nokia's mobile products violate Apple's smartphone-related patents began Tuesday of this week.
The ITC staff serves as a third party in what are known as 337 disputes as representative of the public interest. Their recommendations were submitted to ITC Judge Charles Bullock as the trial began, though he will also hear arguments from both Apple and Nokia before reaching a final conclusion. His findings are expected to be completed in February 2011, according to Bloomberg. The decision will then be reviewed by a six-person panel before a final verdict becomes official in June.
Filing ITC parallel patent complaints with the ITC has become the weapon du jour in the increasingly litigious mobile device market, since ITC investigations are typically resolved faster than a federal lawsuit. It can serve as a bargaining chip when both parties sit down to resolve the dispute before a trial, which is how most such suits end.


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Infant Seats Failed In Crash Tests. Most of the infant car seatstested by Consumer Reports "failed disastrously" in crashes at speeds as low as 35 mph, the magazine reported Thursday.
The seats came off their bases or twisted in place, the report said. In one case, a test dummy was hurled 30 feet.
Of the 12 car seats tested, Consumer Reports said it could recommend only two, and it urged a federal recall of the poorest performing seat, the Evenflo Discovery.
Evenflo issued a statement disputing the tests' validity, saying, "The magazine's test conditions and protocols appear to conflict with the collective experience of car seat manufacturers, NHTSA (the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) and the scientific community."
To be sold in the United States, an infant seat must perform adequately in a 30 mph frontal crash, and Consumer Reports found that all but the Discovery did so. But it noted that NHTSA crash tests most cars at higher speeds — 35 mph for frontal crashes and 38 mph for side crashes — so the magazine tested the seats at those speeds.
"It's unconscionable that infant seats, which are designed to protect the most vulnerable children, aren't routinely tested the same as new cars," said Consumer Reports' Don Mays, a product safety director.
NHTSA Administrator Nicole Nason issued a statement saying: "We are always interested in making car seats better and safer but not more complicated and difficult for parents. We don't want consumers misled into thinking holding a child is better than putting it into a car seat."
Nine seats failed some or all of the higher-speed tests, Consumer Reports said, while meeting the federal 30 mph standard. Another seat was judged unacceptable because it did not fit well in several cars, the magazine said.
Messages seeking comment were left with the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association, a trade group.
The magazine tested the type of seat that faces the rear and snaps in and out of a base. It used test dummies weighing 22 or 30 pounds, depending on the seat manufacturers' claims.
In the 35 mph test, seats separated from their bases, rotated too far or would have inflicted grave injuries, Consumer Reports said. At 38 mph, four seats flew out of their bases, it said.
The only seats that passed all the tests were the Baby Trend Flex-Loc and the Graco SnugRide with EPS expanded polystyrene foam both selling for about $90. Consumer Reports urged parents shopping for seats to buy one of those two, but it also noted that "any child car seat is better than no seat at all."
It also said some seats performed better when attached by vehicle safety belts than when attached with the LATCH system. The system, which stands for Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children, includes belts that hook the base of a car seat to metal anchors in the vehicle.
The personal injury attorneys at Parker Waichman LLP offer free, no-obligation case evaluations. For more information, fill out our online contact form or call 1-800-YOURLAWYER (1-800-968-7529).


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By Fareed Zakaria
I know, it's seems odd to speak of problems and the need for reform in the world's fastest growing big economy. But China has built up imbalances in that economy for some years now and they are not sustainable for much longer. Even before the financial crisis, China's top officials were aware that the economy was, in Premier Wen Jiabao's own words, "unstable, unbalanced, uncoordinated, and unsustainable." It needed to wean itself off cheap credit and undergo market reforms.
Since then, in response to the global economic slowdown, China pumped even more easy money into its economy. The result, according to Morgan Stanley's Ruchir Sharma, is that China's total public and private debt is more than 200 percent of GDP, an unprecedented level for any developing country. Sharma points out that while it used to take one dollar of debt to produce one dollar of Chinese GDP growth, today it takes $4 to produce that same dollar of growth. Businesses and local governments have piled on debt. The property boom has accelerated. Without serious policy changes relatively soon, this is a bubble that is going to burst.
I'm not ready to bet against China. Its leadership has shown itself to be capable of difficult decisions and smart execution. And if the leaders do manage this transition well, China will emerge stronger, and of course become the largest economy in the world. If they don't, they will likely face a slump and perhaps political tensions that bubble up in the wake of a slowing economy.
For more on this, watch the video or read the TIME column
No! No, China cannot reform in western style – never! We need to focus our attention on NATO countires, as here is very large potential for more economic growth.
Our orientation is future, their is past. It will be at least another generation before change.
We should listen to advice from French politician and general Bonaparte NAPOLEON: 'let Chinese sleep – don't awake them' - once awakened we will have difficulties defending and protecting ourselves. Meaning: we need to be careful and not naive with dealing with Chinese. We need to set priorities: No.1: National Security, No.2: Intellectual Property Rights, No.3: NATO alliance partnership, No.4: National Interests, No.5: No military collaborations with Koreans.
to late china is already here. the company i work for has sent chinese people that live in ca to our division to " help us not hurt us" so they say. well they have done nothing to help us what so ever. our scrap rate has doubled, our product quality has gone down the drain,moral is beyond competently down the drain, we were forced to work thanksgiving and christmas thanks to a new 24/7 365 days a yr schedule, mind you this is manufacturing, not a hospital where they save lives and need to be open. these chinese people are nothing more then dictators where i work, promoting their own and disposing of those that do not agree with their policies. they have only been in my company 5 months and in 5 months have ruined what was once a good place. CANT STAND THE CHINESE!!!!!!!!!!
You should help lucky that you haven't wave the red flag yet.
sound like hard working chinese replace a lazy ass worker. everywhere i met, chinese usually work harder then others
These analysts that say China will be No. 1 by 2028 are not patriotic. I can't stand the Communists Chinese. They will never be No. 1 while they practice communism. **** Chinese Communist ********.
It takes more than an economic miracle and military power to be a superpower. The way the Chinese behaves right now, there is no way they can be respected as a superpower.
The Communist Party of China has ceased to practice communism a long time ago.
No doubt China is realistic enough to know that the heyday of its double-digit growth is not permanent and that it would one day have to "settle into a more normal trajectory". It remains to be seen, what longterm solutions the leadership is seeking to diversify its economy and how they would deal with various pressing issues that the country is facing.
The "extra mile" mentality that is needed comes from freedom, not restriction. However, freedom can be fickle to those that have not had their fair share. Freedom does work, but again, we must prove it.
china don't need reform china has capitalism china uses the dollar as the world currency and china is increasing export and imports with all countries year after year the Chinese system is bullet proof china just put a rover on the moon and is driving it around and analysing the moons surface.
China is simply the first of the low-labor-cost countries being exploited. When China's labor costs get higher than Somalia's with similar quality then China will crash. They will be left with polluted skies and rivers but no jobs. Its the exact same thing that is happening here: When Unbridled Capitalism sees a penny more in profit by moving elsewhere they will do so. So while Globalism has a net effect of greater prosperity, in reality it goes from one poor country to another, exploiting workers until it finds others to exploit more.
If you are lucky enough to be one of the Rich or if your country is the current 'cheapest labor' source then you personally will benefit. But beware if you rise too far in prosperity – the Rich will sell you out in a hearbeat if they find someone to exploit more. When this happens to China they will be in big trouble.
China, a culture based on greed has *never* been a team player since the Opium incident. An unfortunate incident single handedly brought about by China. We supported Chinese products only to have China turn around and destroy our planet simply for the name of *status symbol*. China's crave for ivory has wiped out over 60% of elephants worldwide. This is negatively affecting our planet's ecosystem since wildlife are the irreplaceable gardeners of the forests from which we source at least 40% of the world's critical oxygen necessary for our survival. China is acting destructively while taking the rest of the human race along with it. The current international boycott China campaign is working well and it is important for each and everyone of us to continue this effort. China will tell the world what we want to hear while it's doing the things we don't want to see. The world must always keep China at bay from generation to generation.
This only illustrates you know nothing about Chinese culture. One of Confucius' ideas is focused on harmony while maintaining differences between countries. The "Opium incident" reflects westerners' lack of morality by selling the addictive poison, opium, to the Chinese. The Chinese prohibited opium and the westerners attacked China in 1840 as a result. And why not blaming yourselves instead of blaming others.
You must go back and study your history again. China exported tea at the time but refused to import anything and everything. Additionally, China demanded silver coins as the only form of payment. When silver became a shortage worldwide, Britain was forced to implement the policy to pay China with opium. If China was a team player from the beginning, would Britain have had to enforce the opium payment policy? You Chinese are destructive to yourself and the rest of the human race! Reason why you've never been able to attain sustainable progress for the greater good of humanity even though you've been around for over 5000 years. You have much improvements to do!
It seems that you are the only person in this forum who can see the reality!
China never intended to be a business team player with other countries in the 1840s because it was a closed-country at that time. You should study more about history not on your perspective but on others' perspectives. Plus nobody forced Britain to buy tea from China. This statement"You Chinese are destructive to yourself and the rest of the human race!" shows your pathetic character of being both a racist and an extremist.
JJ has a point somehow. At that time, it was true that China didn't want to import anything from western countries. British tried really record, trying to introduce everything like piano, instruments, machinery... in vain. There are many history books and novels reflecting that episode. The fact you also agreed that China was a "closed-country" kind-of confirms what JJ said, China still has a lot to learn to be a team player on this planet...
what's wrong to be a closed-country at that time? Should they had their choice, MYS? Also, a team player according to who's rule?
Timer – I am of Chinese heritage. I am not a racist. "Us Chinese" are sick and tired of being ashamed of our Chinese heritage because of the mindless actions of "You Chinese".
MYS – You're spot on! China had no business on the international trade scene with its decision as a closed-country. China was lucky to have been allowed on the scene back then. It's time China learn the true meaning of the phrase "you cannot have your cake and eat it too!"
JJ – Well if you are ashamed of the Chinese heritage and brainwashed by western propaganda, I really have nothing to say.
I just feel sorry and sad for millions of innocent Chinese citizens in the 19th century who were slaughtered, robbed, forced to consume opium by British and other western troops, who were forced to be cheap labors and slaves to be shipped to western countries under the notorious Treaty of Tientsin during the 2nd Opium War. These were all recorded in history and there was no way to deny it.
lol so you said if someone don't won't export their stuff, you force them to buy drugs. sound like cartel near texas border lol
Yes, we set the rule for the rest of the world, we like it this way and this is our rule.
some stupid locgic you got there. if i don't won't to trade/buy stuff from you, you gonna force drug to me/my family.
Yes, that was the western rule then and still is today. Play my game or else....
The difference of today from the past is the rules are now being dressed up as 'international rules' or 'fair and free trade', or under the 'human right and freedom' banner. .
Fareed Zakaria, you are becoming my least favorite political analyst. Who writes your stuff? I highly recommend more reading of the history of countries you write about. Whenever I read your commentaries, it feels like they reflect a computer-generated-like commentary that does not incorporate any extensive research or history of what you are writing about. Maybe you just need to travel to the places you write about. That would help a lot.
Top notch writing as always, Fareed- but your site has to stop with the headlines that can be answered by a yes or no.
Unfortunately, what need to see from China is SMART decisions and TOUGH execution.
The imbalances have become gigantic and will not be easily fixed. Fast growth tends to mask flaws and weakness within a system, and China has been growing like a weed for years. To make things worse many of the investment decisions were driven by politics. This has created massive overcapacity. Money has been poorly allocated and often shoveled into deep holes like ghost cities and bridges to nowhere
Currently a 6.6 trillion dollar spending spree used as stimulus to combat global economic slowdown is coming back to haunt China. This has greatly expanded credit and created huge overcapacity during the past five years. A massive debt crisis now looms in the offing. At stake are trillions of yuan in bank loans to factories that sit empty because of lack of demand. More on the situation in the post below,
So you want slower growth while millions starved?
Chinese economic disaster has been predicted by the West for years while they are still making progress.
Why doesn't the author turn his focus on his own?
let's be honest......... the chinese have "quietly" been trying to copy the west by adopting a "grow grow grow" policy...... the only way they could achieve this was by becoming capitalist, with a veneer of communism on top...... unfortunately, they had to also become extremely selfish, like us, to achieve these ends.......... so look into a "mirror" my dear "western world" of you want to blame china for this "growth" phenomenon.......... unfortunately what the "eastern world" has not yet caught onto is that history teaches us that "grow grow grow" if always followed by "crash crash crash".......... or a huge war, wherein everything is left laying in rubble and death........... how about all of us "east and west" alike, adopt a new approach, don't just think "grow grow grow"....... instead think grow very slowly, always thinking about how ALL the people in your country are doing, not just the 1%........... think about the environment, our once beautiful planet, and how we can stop trashing it and destroying it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How about we completely change what we humans view as an "amazing achievement" or even our concept of so-called "progress"........ let each nation accurately measure how much trash they are creating every year (separated pout into trash-to-landfills and trash-to-recycle) and accurately compute the "average" air quality and water quality measured in the downtown area of 6 major cities in each nation. Then, every year, each nation reports the DECREASE in the percentage in the amount of trash to landfills and the percentage improvement in the air and water quality........ and then, instead of all of us going "Ga Ga" about what your percentage "growth" was, each year, we all go "Ga Ga" about what the percentage DECREASE in trash was, each year, and the percentage improvement in air quality and water quality, each year................ would not that be a better way for all of us humans to be looking at progress???????? To hell with the few greedy businessmen that want to get richer and greedily look at their "bottom line" to see if they got richer, each year........... let's look at whether we humans have learned how to "sync" with Mother Nature in a better way, each year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Silly comment, trashes were created by consumptions and polluted industries were moved to less developed countries for greed. BTW, tons of our electronic waste continue to be shipped to poor countries, the not at my backyard approach.
Trashes and pollutions are not as important with an empty stomach and we still have one of the highest CO2 footprint per capita in the developed world. .
You are right, stop attacking others, get on your own business and be a positive person. Remember the Chinese need to grow more to feed their own people. What you can do is to stop creating trash and work hard.
Hey Fareed, instead of asking if China can "reform" in time to save itself, how about we ask the really tough question: Can the "Western World" reform itself to be able to compete successfully against the "Eastern World"............... what I see happening in the "Western World" is a complete lack of any notion that people in the West are going to have to "pull up their socks" and be disciplined and work hard and word smart in order to "get our jobs back" from Asia............ instead, I see huge cheering and high-fives in American society that marijuana has been made legal for recreation in Washington and Colorado States!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So the "West" wants to party more and somehow hopes that by some amazing imaginary non-existent miracle, we will be able to compete against Asia and get our jobs back??????
Is it not possible to watch Chinese reality, and to reflect oneself?
Stop China bashing. Mind your own business. You are not the only one Sheriff in the town anymore.
Very good comment! "Big Boy" America does not know how to be a "Little Boy"......... so it is really sad to watch them forced to becoming little boys that smoke Pot and do not much else........ 🙁 Americans still think that they are a powerful country that can "swagger" around the planet and bomb anybody they feel like!!!!! If only all us Americans knew that 6 US ports are currently being modified by China, so that the new "Triple E-Class" container ships can bring us more stuff from China!!!!!!!!
Why concern ourselves with China, when we need to be concerning ourselves with figuring out how to fix some pretty huge messes, in several areas, right here in America? Let's try to reform ourselves first! One suggestion would be to develop a culture of humility and awareness. Fixing our dismal broken family situation, our huge poverty numbers, our move towards more drugs (legal & illegal) and our culture based on greed, instant gratification and putrid politics might be worth looking into huh?
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It's natural for an artist's work to evolve over a lifetime, to be guided by their experiences and relationships. This exhibition showcases such development in the work of five artists, but the heart of this show is the husband and wife pairing of Ben and Winifred Nicholson and how their art evolved together over the course of 11 years from 1920 to 1931.
Ben Nicholson is well known for his later abstract works but the exhibition begins with both Nicholsons demonstrating their respective talents as representational painters of landscapes and still lifes. Dulwich Picture Gallery has done a superb job of hanging similar works by both artists next to each other. This ensures visitors continually question who was the more accomplished painter, as they move between paired works.
The other artists on display are less impressive. Both William Staite Murray and Alfred Wallis pale in comparison with the married couple. Christopher Wood also struggles to make an impact save for his gloomy and atmospheric Cumberland landscape.
Art and Life concludes at the point when Ben and Winifred had started to live apart, eventually leading to divorce. This is when Ben Nicholson's trademark abstract style began to evolve. It's a shame this exhibition ends here as it would have been interesting to see the Nicholsons' styles as they diverged.
Though some of the work on display is less than captivating, the narrative of the evolution of the Nicholsons as painters binds this exhibition together, and solid curation ensures this comes through clearly without providing too much detail.
Art and Life is on at Dulwich Picture Gallery, Gallery Road, SE21 7AD until 21 September. Tickets are £11 for adults and include entry into the permanent collection, concessions available.
For more art to see, check out our June listings.


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Haylor is never ever getting back together...right? According to a fan video taken at 1D's concert last night, they just might be!
The boys have been on the road for their "Take Me Home World Tour" and last night while singing their hit song "Little things," Harry sang the line, "I'm in love with you" and immediately after you can hear the added, "...Taylor Swift!" What does this mean? Is Harry planning to get back with Tay?!
As it turns out, the added lyric wasn't Harry at all, but came from the guys who were just playing another prank!
More From Seventeen
As any Directioner knows, the boys are no amateurs when it comes to onstage pranks. Last week, Liam pulled Harry's pants down in front of thousands! (Talk about a major traumarama!) But last night, Harry handled this super awk moment by continuing on with the song and didn't even react. (Good job Harry!)
But we can't help but wonder, which 1D hottie got away with this prank?! We have a total hunch it's Louis, but watch the vid below and tell us who you think it was in the comments!


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Yesterday, atop the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, artist and architect Tomas Saraceno debuted his most recent work: Cloud City. A spectacular sculptural constellation, Cloud City is a mirrored fun house of geodesic pods, open to the public, with a number of prime vantage points for taking in the expansive Manhattan skyline and greenery of Central Park.
The structure weighs approximately 20 tons and is anchored to the museum's roof by a complex rigging of steel cables.
Cloud City can accomodate 15 people at a time, 13 museum patrons and 2 Met monitors. Rubber-bottom shoes are mandatory.
The artist took as his inspiration a number of natural phenomenon, including: clouds, bubbles, bacteria, foam, universes, and social and neural communication networks.


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Hackers are exploiting a vulnerability in Microsoft Word to plant malware on Windows PCs, Microsoft said Tuesday.
The bug in Microsoft Word 2002, 2003, 2007 and 2010 was patched Nov. 9 as part of Microsoft's monthly security update .
Word 2008 and 2011 for the Mac have also been patched, but Microsoft has not yet issued a fix for the same flaw in the older Word 2004. The circulating attacks affect only Windows versions of the suite, however.
According to the Microsoft Malware Protection Center (MMPC), the group that investigates attack code and issues signature updates for the company's antivirus software, the first in-the-wild exploits were detected last week.
When Microsoft shipped the Word patch last month, it rated the bug as "1" on its exploitability index, meaning it believed a working attack would pop up within 30 days.
The attack uses a malicious RTF (Rich Text Format) file to generate a stack overflow in Word on Windows, said MMPC researcher Rodel Finones. Following a successful exploit, the attack code downloads and runs a Trojan horse on the compromised computer.
Finones said that the code "reliably exploits this [Word] vulnerability."
Last month, Microsoft rated the RTF vulnerability as "critical" in Word 2007 and 2010, but as "important" in all other affected versions.
At the time, outside researchers had put their bets on the bug as a hacker choice because users running Office 2007 or 2010 could be attacked if all they did was preview a specially-crafted RTF document in the Outlook e-mail client.
"Once a [malformed] message hits the Outlook preview pane, remote code can be executed. You should patch this right away," Jason Miller, the data and security team manager for Shavlik Technologies, said on the day Microsoft released the patch.
Finones urged users who have not yet installed the November patch to do so as soon as possible.
More information about the vulnerability can be found in the MS10-087 security bulletin.
The MS10-087 update can be downloaded and installed using Microsoft Update and Windows Server Update Services (WSUS).
Gregg Keizer covers Microsoft, security issues, Apple, Web browsers and general technology breaking news for Computerworld. Follow Gregg on Twitter at @gkeizer or subscribe to Gregg's RSS feed . His e-mail address is email@example.com .
Read more about malware and vulnerabilities in Computerworld's Malware and Vulnerabilities Topic Center.


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The expiring Bush tax cuts aren't the only laws worth watching for investors as the year ends. A number of new rules are kicking in next year that will allow workers to stash away more money in their 401(k)s and individual retirement accounts.
To keep up with inflation, the Internal Revenue Service announced this year that the annual limit on contributions to 401(k) plans is rising to $17,500 from $17,000. Annual contributions to IRAs, both traditional and Roth, are rising to $5,500 from $5,000, the first time since 2008 that the limit has gone up.
With many Americans worried about potential tax increases coming next year if the "fiscal cliff" remains unresolved, the extra boost in potential savings could be coming at a good time, said Garth Scrivner, a certified financial planner with StanCorp Investment Advisers in Albuquerque.
"It's kind of nice with the potential increases in taxes next year to have the ability to defer a bit more money," Scrivner said. "We're encouraging people at the end of the year to take an inventory of tax changes that are happening next year and, to the extent that they can, maximize the 401(k) limits."
For those over 50 years old, the additional "catch-up" amount allowed will remain the same at $5,500, meaning the overall limit for such workers will be rising to $23,000 from $22,500.
In addition to raising the contribution limits, the IRS has also expanded how many people are eligible to contribute to Roth IRAs. For married couples, the upper income limit will rise to $188,000 from $183,000. For singles, the limit will increase to $127,000 from $125,000. (All amounts are adjusted gross income.)
Monthly Social Security benefits are also set to rise 1.7 percent, another move meant to keep up with inflation.
There are two other tweaks to look out for: The IRS is raising the limit on tax-free gifts to $14,000 from $13,000. And Americans living abroad will be able to exclude up to $97,600 in foreign earned income starting next year, a modest increase from the current $95,100.
The higher contribution limits toward retirement plans come as many Americans look for ways to juice their returns after seeing their portfolios battered in recent years.
Investors have enjoyed a pretty strong year in 2012, with the Standard & Poor's 500-stock index rising about 13 percent. Despite concerns about the fiscal cliff, some analysts see signs that next year could include even more stock gains, driven by an improving housing market and rising consumer confidence.
But many workers saving for retirement still have a lot of ground to make up.
More than half of working households run the risk of being unable to maintain their standard of living when they retire, according to a report released in October by the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College.
The report, based on the Federal Reserve's 2010 survey on consumer finances, was the first look by the center at how workers have fared since the financial crisis. It showed that the number of households at risk had risen to 53 percent in 2010 from 44 percent in 2007.


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In contrast to the two previous sections of the book, there are in the final two sections of John Updike's The Early Stories, "Far Out" and "The Single Life," many very good short stories, perhaps a couple of great ones. It is a pity, however, that these stories are reserved for the concluding pages, as some readers may have already given up on reading the whole book because of the lesser work to be found in its middle sections and will miss out on some of Updike's more satisfying work in the short story form.
"The Astronomer" is one of Updike's better explicitly "religious" stories, relating, in an efficiently compressed way, a brief episode dramatizing the not-so-disaparate-after-all views of the scientist and the theologian. "The Witnesses" and "A Constellation of Events" present the adultery story in which Updike so frequently specializes from perspectives different than the usual, the latter focusing on the woman's point of view for a change. "Ethiopia" and "I am Dying, Egypt, Dying" are stories of Americans visiting Africa, and are worth reading for the insight they provide into the American response to its "natives." "The Bulgarian Poetess" is the first of the Henry Bech stories, but, although a perfectly good story, it probably doesn't really belong in this collection. "Separating" and "Gesturing" more or less bring the saga of the unsuccessful Maple marriage to its conclusion.
"Transaction" is the longish but suprisingly compelling story of an evening's encounter between a "man of forty" and a prostitute. It proves to be an unexpectedly profound experience for the man of forty, as "Always, until now, [sex] had been too much, bigger than all systems, an empyrean as absolute as those first boyish orgasms, when his hand would make his soul pass through a bliss as dense as an ingot of gold. Now, at last, in the prime of life, he saw through it, into the spaces between the stars." "Problems" is one of Updike's most successful formal experiments, a brief story of, again, adultery, told entirely in the form of a mathematics test.
In my view, the two best stories in the final sections, both perhaps among Updike's very best, are "The Hermit" and "Killing." The first very quietly tells the story of a man who, in the gradual dissatisfaction he has come to feel for his life, finds an old shack in a deserted track of woods and withdraws into solitude. As much as he wants to escape from the troubles and frustrations of the world he's left behind, however, the story depicts the ultimate impossibility of doing so. Updike establishes a kind of empathy with this character (authorial empathy) that I, at least, found rather surprising. "Killing" relates the story of a daughter coming to terms with the death of her invalid father, which she herself has had to oversee, and it does so very effectively indeed.
My final judgment of this book is that, although it contains numerous very good stories, stories on which Updike's ultimate reputation will certainly in part be assessed, as a book it is not a very satisfactory presentation of Updike's skills. Far too many of the stories are throw-aways (the second half of "Far Out," for example, consists of a series of overly cute exercises in whimsy that are, frankly, not worth the bother), and the order Updike has given them doesn't particularly do them credit or force us to consider him as a writer of short fiction in any new and more illuminating light. It is a book that probably ought to exist (as a convenience for scholars and critics, perhaps), but is not something that even Updike's fans need to read with any great urgency. Updike's talents as a writer of stories will be much better served when a "Selected Stories" ulimately appears, one that would include probably only a third to a half of the stories to be found in The Early Stories, 1953 -1975.
If anything, the casual reader is likely to find the book frustrating if not counterproductive as a way of sampling Updike's shorter fiction. I myself still think that Updike has a lot to offer as a stylist, and even occasionally as a writer willing to stretch the limits of form in fiction (although this he does more satisfactorily in the novels, novels such as The Centaur or The Coup, Roger's Version or Brazil). There's no doubt, however, that he can also belabor certain subjects beyond their aesthetic usefulness, and that a long career spent actually earning a living as a writer of fiction has resulted in a fair number of short stories that seem motivated primarily by the need to keep churning them out. This latter problem, on the other hand, is one most writers would gladly welcome if it meant being able to also produce fiction of higher quality and care through the literary livelihood thus provided. John Updike is certainly in the final analysis a writer who has produced such fiction, even if one does have to pick and choose when surveying his very large body of work.


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Plumbing is the "veins" of your home and, if those veins aren't taken care of, they can affect your entire home. Don't trust your plumbing to just anyone! Sacramento Plumbing Rooter Pros is a leading plumber in California. When you choose us, you get the peace of mind that comes with certified plumbers, years of experience, fair pricing, and dedication to customer service.
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Our plumbers are familiar with the residential plumbing systems used in Sacramento, including common types of plumbing lines used throughout the decades. We understand that homeowners don't want to spend a fortune on plumbing repairs and replacements. As part of our commitment to customer service, we promise to always explain the problem to you and help you choose the best solution. We will never recommend repairs which aren't necessary.
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1900 Olympics
The success of the revived Olympics moved Greece to declare itself the rightful host of all future Games, but de Coubertin and the International Olympic Committee were determined to move the athletic feast around. In France, however, the Games were overshadowed by the brand new Eiffel Tower and all but ignored by the organizers of the 1900 Paris Exposition.
Despite their sideshow status, the Games attracted 1,225 athletes from 26 nations and enjoyed more publicity, if not bigger crowds, than in Athens.
University of Pennsylvania roommates Alvin Kraenzlein, Irving Baxter and John Tewksbury and Purdue grad Ray Ewry dominated the 23 track and field events, winning 11 and taking five seconds and a third. Kraenzlein remains the only track and fielder to win four individual titles in one year. Women were invited to compete for the first time and Britain's Charlotte Cooper won the singles and mixed doubles in tennis.
No gold medals were given out in Paris. Winners received silver medals with bronze for second place.
Here are the facts and trivia that people are buzzing about.


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However, before this challenge gets off the ground, we need two things:
Design Team
If you've always dreamed of being part of a design team - now's your chance, we're recruiting. If you'd like to be considered for the job, this is what you need to do:
- Email firstname.lastname@example.com with 3 example of your work, or a link to your blog with your craft on it - any form of papercraft is acceptable (as long as you use stamping) - show us how creative you can be.
- You must be able to commit to providing one DT card a fortnight, following the provided sketches, in advance of each challenge. We would like you to be available to do this for at least 6 months.
- It would be a bonus if you were willing to set challenges yourself, so let us know if you're able to create your own layout sketches.
We'd like to be able to offer prizes for our challenges, so if you are in a position to offer some, we'd like to hear from you. Mail us at firstname.lastname@example.com and let us know what kind of prizes you would be able to offer, and for how long. Any sponsors accepted will be granted a permanent link from this blog, and extra promotion for every challenge that they sponsor.
Looking forward to hearing from everyone. Watch this space for more news!


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Join us for our 3 day baking course, each day taught exclusively by Richard Bertinet.
Suitable for those of you who are new to baking and for those more established bakers who wish to broaden your bread horizons with new recipes from Richard's extensive knowledge perfected over 30 years, all now put down in writing in his new book Crumb.
Join us for 3 days focussing on rustic breads and sourdough, doughs that require a ferment, slowly developing the real depth of flavour and character to crumb and crust. On day one you will begin by perfecting your bread making techniques, reinforcing Richard's baking skills. On the following days, this skill will be practised on a fougasse, quinoa bread and apple and cider rolls while we wait over night for the sourdough ferments to work their magic. On the final day, using these ferments you will develop your sourdough making technique, baking sourdough crackers, sourdough pizzas and various classic sourdough loaves.
This 3 day course runs from Tuesday 18th until Thursday 20th April 2023. Please bring a bag and/or a large container with you so that you can take home some of your delicious creations.
'All it takes to make bread is flour, water and salt. To make great bread, add a little Bertinet'
Pierre Koffmann
*Please note we do not require customers to have attended our Introduction to Breadmaking course before attending this week or any of the constituent parts as basic techniques will be covered as we go along. Please also note that while you will make sourdoughs on this course, the techniques will be covered briefly and, as such, anyone wanting to study these types of breads in depth, should consider taking our standard 5 day course. Please call us if you would like advice about which classes are most suitable for you.


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nuXmv is a new symbolic model checker for the analysis of synchronous finite-state and infinite-state systems.
nuXmv extends NuSMV along two main directions:
- For the finite-state case, nuXmv features a strong verification engine based on state-of-the-art SAT-based algorithms.
- For the infinite-state case, nuXmv features SMT-based verification techniques, implemented through a tight integration with MathSAT5.
See the complete list of features provided by nuXmv, or have a look at the User Manual (pdf).
nuXmv is currently licensed in binary form, for non-commercial or academic purposes.
The list of nuXmv users is open for registration and discussion
Inquiries about nuXmv in general and about other usages of nuXmv should be addressed to:
nuXmv has been applied in several Related Projects.
nuXmv is used as a back-end in several other tools for requirements analysis, contract based design, model checking of hybrid systems, safety assessment, and software model checking.
If you would like to cite nuXmv, please use this reference.


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Preserved in natural spring water, our tuna is a perfect healthy choice for all your favorite dishes.
American Garden's White Solid Tuna in Spring Water adds a great taste to your salads and sandwiches. It can also be a good substitution for meats and chicken in some traditional Arabic dishes like Kabsa or Majboos.
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Size available: 6.5oz
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Packed with flavor and hassle-free, American Garden Chicken Vienna Sausages inspire cute starters, easy casseroles or salads and bite-sized snacks that can be enjoyed on any adventure, any time of the day.
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Add a little twist to your recipes with American Garden Light Meat Tuna Chunks! Use them on top of your favorite homemade pizza, or just mix them into your pasta sauce!
Our Tuna is carefully sourced to ensure consistent quality, and it's preserved in sunflower oil that will guarantee a great taste!
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American Garden White Solid Tuna in Sunflower Oil is the must-have product in your pantry!
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Size available: 6.5oz
There are no reviews yet.


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Double Team1997 Action/Adventure | SciFi/Fantasy
Like John Woo and Ringo Lam before him, noted Hong Kong action director Tsui Hark made his American filmmaking debut with a thriller starring Jean-Claude Van Damme. For this film, Hark also had the privilege of guiding basketball star Dennis Rodman through his first dramatic role. American anti-terrorist agent Jack Quinn (Van Damme) has retired from duty, content to stay with his pregnant wife at his seaside hideaway. However, the CIA lure him back into duty for one last mission: wiping out crazed international terrorist Stavros (Mickey Rourke). Quinn flies to Antwerp to ambush Stavros, but his plan fails; Quinn is captured and imprisoned in The Colony, a prison camp for spies too valuable to kill and too dangerous to set free. To further torture Quinn, Stavros kidnaps Quinn's wife; after she gives birth to their son, Stavros keeps him captive, surrounded by land mines and wild animals. Quinn escapes and makes plans to rescue his wife and child, but he can't do it alone, so he seeks the help of Yaz (Rodman), a top-level underground arms merchant with a tendency towards flamboyant body modification. Rodman also appears with R&B vocalist Crystal Waters on the song Just a Freak which appears on the film's soundtrack.~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide


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One in four adults gets no leisure-time moderate or vigorous physical activity at all.The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommend 60 minutes of physical activity every day for children.According to Nielsen data, comparing 2008 to 2010, preschool children were exposed to 50% more TV ads for energy drinks in 2010.Currently in the United States, 4% of elementary schools, 8% of middle schools, and 2% of high schools provide daily physical education or its equivalent.The percentage of children aged 6-11 years in the United States who were obese increased from 7% in 1980 to nearly 20% in 2008.Sugar-sweetened beverages are the largest source of sugar in the diets of children and adolescents.In the 25 years between 1987 and 2010, the number of American's diagnosed with diabetes almost tripled to 20.9 million.The percentage of adolescents aged 12-19 years who were obese increased from 5% in 1980 to 18% in 2008.One study showed that obese people are 83% more likely to develop kidney disease compared to normal-weight people.Food obtained outside the home tends to be higher in calories and fat than food prepared at home.The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate to intense aerobic activity every week for adults.
Host a Screening
Help your family and community become healthier by discussing the films at a screening event.
About the Project
Learn more about the films, guides and interactive components that make up The Weight of the Nation.
Pledge for Progress
The first step starts with you. Pledge your commitment to reversing the obesity epidemic in America today.
The Age of Obesity
See where your life fits into the escalating obesity epidemic on Facebook.


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Bald Eagle Area School District Homes for Sale
Search all homes for sale in the Bald Eagle Area School District.
If you would like more information on any of these Bald Eagle Area School District real estate listings, just click the "Request More Information" button when viewing the details of that property. We can provide you with disclosures, past sales history, dates and prices of homes recently sold nearby, and more. And, if you haven't already, be sure to register for a free account so that you can receive email alerts whenever new Bald Eagle Area School District listings come on the market. Read More...
Want lower property taxes but unwilling to sacrifice your child's education? Then look no further than the Bald Eagle Area School District, just north of State College and northwest of Bellefonte. While the district may geographically be the largest located entirely within Centre County, you'd never know based on the tight-knit group of students, educators, parents and volunteers who form the "BEA family."
At 342.6 square miles, this rural district encompasses the boroughs of Howard, Milesburg, Port Matilda, Snow Shoe and Unionville, and the townships of Boggs, Burnside, Howard, Huston, Snow Shoe, Union and Worth. According to 2010 census data, the district served a resident population of 13,218. During the 2009-10 school year, the district had over 1,516 students with 134 teachers, 60 support staff and 12 administrators. Five school buildings are in use; a junior/senior high school, and four elementary schools.
Despite its rural location, the district prides itself in its implementation of new and exciting educational initiatives. In addition to a wide range of standard curriculum, the district offers a variety of programs and services to help students with unique educational needs. One such program, the Bald Eagle Area Cyber Academy, offers students at-home schooling, while still allowing them access to the many classes, clubs and athletic opportunities the district offers. This experience-driven program allows for a greater breadth of learning experiences for those who may have special educational needs or require a flexible daily schedule.
Another perk this district offers is dual enrollment. The program allows high school students to take courses at regional higher education institutes and earn credit for those class hours. Sophomores, junior and seniors with a minimum GPA of 3.0 can earn credits at the Clarion State University of Pennsylvania or the California State University of Pennsylvania.
Students can also expand their education through vocational training at the Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology (CPI). CPI offers a wide range of disciplines and certificate programs for high school and adult learners. Work release and work study programs are also available.
In addition to these educational initiatives, students are benefited by the district's association with Central Intermediate Unit #10. They provide the district with a wide variety of services including specialized education for disabled students, training on recognizing child abuse, speech and disability services, and more.
Opportunities for learning occur on the athletic field, too. Bald Eagle Area holds their coaches to a high standard in the classroom and in life, believing that these leaders are constantly setting an example for young athletes. The district also recognizes the importance of athletic events in creating an environment conducive to community pride and positive school morale.
For those looking for an affordable, rural lifestyle with great educational opportunities for their child – both in and out of the classroom – this could be a great area to call home.


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For more information, visit CNN affiliates KGUN, KOLD, KVOA, KPHO and KMSB.
Six people were killed and 14 others wounded, including U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, when a gunman opened fire in front of a Safeway supermarket in Tucson, Arizona, authorities said. The congresswoman had been hosting a meeting with constituents Saturday morning when the attack began.
Here are the latest developments as confirmed by CNN:
[Updated at 8:19 p.m.] President Barack Obama will travel to Tucson on Wednesday, and likely will attend a memorial service and visit with the relatives of the shooting victims, many of whom he already has spoken to by phone, two senior administration officials tell CNN.
[Updated at 4:33 p.m.] Suspect Jared Lee Loughner has made a 15-minute initial appearance in a federal court in Phoenix. A judge asked Loughner whether he understood the charges - attempted assassination of a member of Congress; two counts of murder for the deaths of Judge John Roll and Gabriel Zimmerman; and two counts of attempted murder. Loughner replied that he understood.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for January 24.
[Updated at 2:23 p.m.] Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Arizona, sent an email the night before she was shot at an event in Tucson calling for a more civil tone in politics.
Giffords offered congratulations to Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson, a Republican, after he was named Director of Harvard University's Institute of Politics on Friday.
"After you get settled, I would love to talk about what we can do to promote centrism and moderation," Giffords wrote in the email, provided to CNN by Grayson. "I am one of only 12 Dems left in a GOP district (the only woman) and think that we need to figure out how to tone our rhetoric and partisanship down."
[Updated at 12:43 p.m.] Former Cuban leader Fidel Castro weighed in on the Arizona mass shooting that killed six and injured 14, including Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, in a column distributed Monday.
[Updated at 12:15 p.m.] Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords remains in critical condition but her condition has stabilized, doctors at Tucson's University Medical Center indicated Monday.
"We're not out of the woods yet" but are optimistic about her prospects of recovery, said Dr. Michael Lemole, chief of neurosurgery.
[Updated at 12:03 p.m.] Two patients from Saturday's shooting have been discharged and only two remain in intensive care, the chief of the department of surgery at Tucson's University Medical Center announced Monday.
Eight patients remain at Tucson's University Medical Center, Chief of Emergency Medicine Peter Rhee announced Monday. Five are in serious condition, two are in good condition, and one is in critical condition, Rhee said.
[Updated at 11:01 a.m.] President Barack Obama led the nation in a moment of silence Monday for victims of the weekend massacre in Tucson, Arizona.
[Updated at 9:47 a.m.] Judge John Roll, one of the victims in the Arizona shooting, will leave behind a legacy as a man who put excellent attention into every component of his life, his former clerk spoke told CNN's T.J. Holmes.
[Updated at 9:15 a.m.] Dr. Steven Rayle, helped hold the Arizona gunman down and Patricia Maisch, grabbed the magazine cartridge after suspect Jared Lee Loughner allegedly opened fire in a Safeway in Tuscon, Arizona.
"You just react," Maisch told CNN about approaching the gunman. "You just do it."
[Updated at 9:01 a.m.] The University Medical Center in Tucson is expected to give an updated diagnosis on Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords condition later Monday morning after she was shot in the head.
Chief of neurosurgery at the hospital, Dr. Michael Lemole, told CNN that Rep. Giffords is 'holding her own' and that no change in her condition is a good thing.
[Updated at 8:49 a.m.] Ben McGahee, Jared Lee Loughner's former teacher at Pima Community College told CNN he believed suspect Jared Lee Loughner was a troubled man and that he was "scared of what he could do.'
[Updated at 8:34 a.m.] While the motivation for Saturday's attack in Tucson, Arizona are still unclear, a concern in Washington and in the nation at large is whether or not the current political rhetoric has gotten out of control.
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz warns that while "we cannot allow incidences like this intimidate" we still must remember that "words matter."
[Updated at 8:00 a.m.] Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik, whose department is working on the case, said they have evidence showing Jared Lee Loughner "specifically targeted the congresswoman."
[Updated at 7:40 a.m.] Arizona State Representative Steve Farley talked to CNN about Gabrielle Giffords and her family who he described as remaining 'strong' and 'optimistic.'
[Updated 4:50 a.m.] Astronaut Mark Kelly, Giffords' husband, released his first public statement since the weekend shooting rampage outside an Arizona supermarket that left his wife critically injured. He thanked supporters, expressed
condolences to families of other victims and suggested that well-wishers make donations to Tucson's Community Food Bank and the American Red Cross. "Many of you have offered help. There is little that we can do but pray for those who are struggling," he said.
[Updated Monday at 2:12 a.m.] Suspect Jared Lee Loughner is scheduled to make an initial appearance before a federal magistrate in Phoenix, Arizona, Monday at 2 p.m. (4 p.m. ET), prosecutors said.
[Updated 9:45 p.m.] Suspect Jared Lee Loughner tried to buy ammunition at a Wal-Mart a few weeks back but was turned down because of his behavior, a law enforcement source said. He then successfully bought it at a different Wal-Mart, according to the source.
[Updated 9:16 p.m.] A woman credited with wrestling an ammunition magazine from the suspect says she didn't have time to think about what she was doing. "(The suspect) pulled the magazine out of his pants pocket and it dropped onto the sidewalk. And before he could reach it, I got it," Patricia Maisch said.
[Updated 7:49 p.m.] Suspect Jared Lee Loughner was rejected by the Army for military service after failing a drug test in 2008, according to an administration official.
[Updated 7:43 p.m.] The U.S. Supreme Court says it will observe the moment of silence that President Barack Obama called for at 11 a.m. ET Monday. To accommodate this, the court will convene 10 minutes early, at 9:50 a.m. ET, so that the day's first argument before the court will be completed by 11 a.m.
[Updated 7:36 p.m.] House Democrats and Republicans participated in a rare bipartisan conference call Sunday to discuss the condition of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords as well as security concerns for members of Congress.
[Updated 6:33 p.m.] According to a federal agent's affidavit, U.S. District Judge John Roll, who was killed in the shooting, came to the Tucson from Phoenix to discuss the volume of federal cases in Arizona with Giffords.
[Updated 6:28 p.m.] The FBI has confirmed that investigators have found, questioned and cleared a man they had sought as a "person of interest" after the killings. The man was cab driver who dropped suspect Jared Lee Loughner off at the Safeway where Giffords' "Congress on Your Corner" event was being held, a law enforcement official previously said.
[Updated 6:24 p.m.] Veteran federal public defender Judy Clarke, who has experience in several high-profile cases including those of "Unabomber" Ted Kaczynski and convicted terrorist Zacarias Moussaoui, was appointed to defend suspect Jared Lee Loughner, a federal judicial source said.
[Updated 6:01 p.m.] Calls to 911 following Saturday's shooting - released Sunday by the Pima County Sheriff's Office - paint a patchy picture of the scene.
[Updated 4:56 p.m.] Investigators found papers bearing the words "my assassination" and "Giffords" in a safe in the home of shooting suspect Jared Lee Loughner, according to a complaint filed against him in federal court.
[Updated 3:56 p.m.] U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords is the only person wounded in Saturday's shooting who is still in critical condition, doctors at University Medical Center in Tucson said. Three are in serious condition, six are in fair condition, and one has been released, they said.
- Officers of the Arizona Anti-Defamation League issued a statement condemning the attack: "During her years in the statehouse, Rep. Giffords served on the ADL Arizona Regional Board. Her affiliation with ADL, which monitors and exposes hate and extremist groups, contributed to her awareness of the nexus between hate ideology and violence. It is a testament to her dedication to her constituents that despite past threats against her, Rep. Giffords has always been so accessible to the people she represents. Our thoughts and prayers are with Congresswoman Giffords and the other victims and their families."
[Updated 3:33 p.m.] Investigators have identified and ruled out the "person of interest" they were seeking in connection with the shooting, a law enforcement official said Sunday.
[Updated 3:30 p.m.] Federal authorities have charged Jared Lee Loughner, the 22-year-old suspect in Saturday's Arizona massacre, with first-degree murder, attempted murder and attempting to kill a member of Congress, according to court documents. Read the charges here.
[Updated at 3:25 p.m.] President Barack Obama called for a moment of silence to be held at 11 a.m. ET Monday and ordered flags to be flown at half-staff.
"I call on Americans to observe a moment of silence to honor the innocent victims of the senseless tragedy in Tucson, Arizona, including those still fighting for their lives," the president said in a news release. "It will be a time for us to come together as a nation in prayer or reflection, keeping the victims and their families closely at heart."
[Updated at 2:21 p.m. ET] Law enforcement investigators were speaking with a second person in the Arizona Safeway shootings case, a law enforcement official told CNN. It is not clear whether this individual is the same person police had sought via the release of a surveillance image from overnight. It is also unknown at this time what connection this individual may have to the investigation.
[Updated at 1:38 p.m. ET] A dark-haired man seen in a picture distributed by authorities apparently "may not have been involved at all, but we still need to verify that," Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik said Sunday.
[Updated at 1:18 p.m. ET] Precautions are in place to ensure the security of public officials after the shooting of an Arizona congresswoman, although authorities are aware of no specific threat against them, FBI Director Robert Mueller told reporters Sunday.
[Updated at 1:12 p.m. ET] The suspect in the Saturday shootings of 20 people at a Tucson, Arizona, grocery store is in federal custody, FBI Director Robert Mueller told reporters. Formal charges are expected against Jared Lee Loughner Sunday afternoon, he said.
[Updated at 12:13 p.m. ET] U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona is "able to communicate" with people, and the gunshot wound she sustained Saturday did not cross from one hemisphere of the brain to the other, doctors at Tucson's University Medical Center said Sunday.
[Updated at 12:00 p.m. ET] President Obama spoke by phone late Saturday to Mark Kelly, the husband of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who was critically injured in a mass shooting, a senior White House official said. The official told CNN that Obama "expressed his deep concern and full support" for the family in the wake of the tragedy.
[Updated at 8:49 a.m. ET] House Speaker John Boehner has asked that flags on the House side of the Capitol be flown at half-staff in the wake of the shooting in Arizona, marking the death of Gabe Zimmerman, who was Rep. Gabrielle Giffords' director of community outreach. "An attack on one who serves is an attack on all who serve," Boehner said Sunday. "Such acts of violence have no place in our society. These tragic events remind us that all of us, in our roles in service to our fellow citizens, comes with a risk. This inhuman act should not and will not deter us from our calling to represent our constituents and to fulfill our oaths of office. No act, no matter how heinous, must be allowed to stop us from our duty," Boehner said.
- Authorities executed search warrants late Saturday night on a car and a residence where suspect Jared Lee Loughner lived with his parents, a law enforcement source said.
- The law enforcement source said that Loughner's parents appeared to be cooperating with authorities, but the source did not know to what extent.
- Loughner, however, was still not cooperating. He had earlier invoked his right against self-incrimination.
- The sheriff's office said early Sunday that the correct name of one of the victims who died in the shooting is Dorothy Morris.
- The Pima County Sheriff's Department is expected to hold another news conference at 11 a.m. Sunday (1 p.m. ET).
- The University Medical Center in Tucson will offer a patient condition update at 10 a.m. Sunday (12 p.m. ET).
- As of 3:45 a.m. Sunday, Giffords remained in critical condition, said Darci Slaten, spokeswoman for the medical center. Of the nine other shooting victims taken to that hospital, four others were in critical condition and five were in serious condition.
- Early Sunday morning, the sheriff's office released a surveillance camera photo of a male between 40 and 50 years old who is "possibly associated with the suspect." The dark-haired man was last seen wearing blue jeans and a dark blue jacket, and was seen at the location where the shooting occurred.
- At 2 p.m. Sunday, a caucus conference call has been scheduled for House Democrats and their spouses to get an update on the shooting, two congressional sources said.
- At 8:30 a.m., Speaker of the House John Boehner will address the media in West Chester, Ohio, about the shooting.
- Congresswoman Giffords was taking part in a meet-and-greet with constituents called "Congress on Your Corner" outside a Safeway grocery store in Tucson.
- Before the event, she tweeted: "My 1st Congress on Your Corner starts now. Please stop by to let me know what is on your mind or tweet me later."
- The attack happened about 10 minutes into the event.
- Giffords did not have any security with her, said staffer Mark Kimble. "She wants to be as accessible to the people who elected her as possible," he said.
- Dr. Steven Rayle was about 10 feet away from Giffords when the gunman shot the congresswoman. "He continued to fire, sort of rapidly, really at point-blank range," he said, adding that the man was shooting indiscriminately.
- The suspect was tackled to the ground by two men while he was trying to reload, another witness said.
- The gun, which another bystander had wrestled from the gunman, was empty and cocked open. Federal and state law enforcement sources described it as a 9mm Glock outfitted with an extended magazine.
- The shooter had another magazine at the ready, according to Joe Zamudio, who said he was one of the bystanders who pinned the gunman to the ground until police showed up.
- Hearing the shooting, Daniel Hernandez, a trained nurse and a Giffords intern, rushed to see what happened and used his medical training to "apply pressure to the wound and keep her active and alert," said Arizona state Rep. Steve Farley. Hernandez was Farley's former campaign manager.
- Officials have not stated a motive for the shooting. The suspect was not talking and had invoked his right against self-incrimination, said Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik.
- At the direction of President Barack Obama, FBI Director Robert Mueller was headed to Arizona to help coordinate the investigation. The FBI is working jointly with local law enforcement. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Arizona said it has about a dozen people working on the investigation.
- The suspect was in federal custody early Sunday morning, said Jason Ogan, spokesman for the Pima County Sheriff's Department. As such, the suspect will not face a first appearance in court Sunday, Ogan said.
- Authorities released a photo of a male between 40 and 50 years old who is "possibly associated with the suspect." The dark-haired man was last seen wearing blue jeans and a dark blue jacket, and was seen at the location where the shooting occurred.
- Authorities did not know whether the person they sought actually had any connection with Jared Lee Loughner, a law enforcement source told CNN. Authorities have a piece of evidence that indicates this second individual was in close proximity to the store, the source said, but declined to elaborate.
- That source also said authorities were seeking search warrants for a residence and for a vehicle in connection with the suspect in custody.
- A law enforcement source familiar with the investigation said the Glock used in the shootings was purchased legally, but did not have the details when or where it was bought. The extended magazine used in the shooting was likely purchased separately and at a different time, the source said. The official said such a magazine does not automatically come with a weapons purchase and it would be extremely rare for them to be sold together in one purchase.
- Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, 40, was shot in the head and underwent surgery Saturday. Doctors were optimistic of her chances of surviving. "I'm about as optimistic as it can get in this situation," Dr. Peter Rhee of the University Medical Center said Saturday afternoon. He said the next 24 hours will be key for determining the extent of her recovery.
- First elected in 2006, Giffords is serving her third term in Congress.
- She narrowly beat Tea Party-backed Republican Jesse Kelly in the November midterm elections, garnering 49% to the latter's 47% of the votes.
- Known as a "Blue Dog," or moderate, Democrat, Giffords was a key swing vote in last year's health care reform debate. She didn't make up her mind to vote for the legislation until the final days before the ultimate passing vote.
- She is married to NASA astronaut Mark Kelly, a Navy captain who is scheduled to fly the April space shuttle mission to the international space station. She is the only U.S. representative with an active duty military spouse, according to her website.
- She has no children but is stepmother to Kelly's two children, said Sylvia Lee, president of Pima County Community College in Tucson.
- She had received threats in the past, Lee said. A glass panel at her Tucson office was shattered the day after the health care reform vote last year. Staffers suspected someone shot a pellet gun at the glass. At a town hall meeting, a gun fell out of a constituent's pocket. But Giffords' press secretary, C.J. Karamargin, said he was unaware of any recent threats against Giffords.
- She generally voted with her party, but voted against the auto bailout bill and was one of 19 Democrats to vote against former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's bid to become the Democrats' minority leader after the midterm elections returned Republicans to power in the House.
- She holds a master's degree in regional planning from Cornell University and a B.A. from Scripps College, where she was awarded a William Fulbright Scholarship to study for a year in Chihuahua, Mexico.
- Before embarking on a political career, she worked for Price Waterhouse Coopers and served as chief executive officer and president of El Campo Tire, her family's business.
- She then served in the Arizona Legislature from 2000 to 2005, where she was the youngest woman elected to the Arizona state Senate.
- The suspect in the shooting is Jared Lee Loughner, a 22-year-old former community college student, according to an Arizona law enforcement source and a U.S. law enforcement source.
- He railed against government "mind control" and illiteracy in online missives and had "kind of a troubled past," said Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik.
- He also had brushes with the law, the sheriff said without elaborating. "We understand that there have been law enforcement contacts with the individual where he made threats." Court records indicate he had been arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia in 2007, but the charge was dismissed.
- Loughner dropped out of high school in 2006, after his junior year, said Tamara Crawley, a spokeswoman for the Marana United School District in suburban Tucson.
- In 2008, he tried to enlist in the U.S. Army. The Army rejected him, and privacy laws keep the military from disclosing the reason, the service said in a statement to CNN.
- He enrolled at Aztec Middle College, a partnership between Tucson schools and Pima Community College that helps high school dropouts transition to community colleges, the community college President Sylvia Lee told CNN.
- He took classes at the college from 2005 until October 2010, but withdrew after five contacts with police "for classroom and library disruptions" at two campuses between February and September, the school said.
- Loughner was suspended after authorities found a YouTube video in which he called the school "illegal according to the U.S. Constitution, and makes other claims," a college statement said. He quit during an October 4 meeting with his parents and school administrators, and a follow-up letter warned that to return, he had to present a doctor's note stating that "his presence at the College does not present a danger to himself or others."
- On his YouTube page, a list of his favorite books included both Adolf Hitler's "Mein Kampf" and Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels' "The Communist Manifesto," along with works by George Orwell, Ray Bradbury, Ken Kesey, Herman Hesse, Ernest Hemingway, Plato and Aesop's fables.
- "Good-bye friends," read a Saturday morning posting on Loughner's MySpace page, just hours before the shooting. "Dear friends ... Please don't be mad at me. The literacy rate is below 5%. I haven't talked to one person who is literate."
- A December 30 posting read, "Dear Reader ... I'm searching. Today! With every concern, my shot is now ready for aim. The hunt, a mighty thought of mine."
- Online, Loughner complained about the "second Constitution," a term legal scholars sometimes use to describe the post-Civil War amendments that ended slavery, extended the right to vote and required equal protection under the law. Its meaning to Loughner could not be clearly discerned.
- In an apparent reference to Giffords' congressional district, he wrote in a December 15 video message on YouTube: "The majority of people, who reside in District-8 are illiterate - hilarious."
- In the same message he wrote: "If I define terrorist then a terrorist is a person who employs terror or terrorism, especially as a political weapon. I define terrorist."
In addition to the 12 people wounded in the shooting, the following six were killed:
- John Roll, 63. A native of Pennsylvania, Roll was a federal judge for the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona who had served the legal system for nearly 40 years. He began his career as a bailiff in Pima County Superior Court and rose to be chief judge for the District of Arizona, a position he held since 2006.
He received death threats two years ago after he ruled that a $32 million civil-rights lawsuit filed by illegal immigrants against a rancher in the state could proceed. He had been assigned to hear the ethnic studies ban case out of Tucson that involves a new law banning certain ethnic studies programs in public schools, according to the lead attorney on the case, Richard Martinez. Chief Justice of the United States John Roberts called Roll's death a tragic loss.
- Christina Taylor Greene, 9. She was born on September 11, 2001, according to CNN affiliate KVOA. Family members described her as "excited" about the political process, and said the desire to learn more about it had motivated her to go to the Gifford event, the affiliate said. Christina had just been elected to the student council at her school, the Arizona Republic reported. She died at a hospital, and not at the scene like the other five.
- Gabe Zimmerman, 30. A Tucson native who was engaged to be married, Zimmerman was the director of community outreach for the congresswoman.
- Dorwin Stoddard, 76. Dory, as his family calls him, was a retired construction worker, said Pastor Mike Nowak at Mount Avenue Church of Christ in Tucson. Witnesses told CNN that Stoddard tried to shield his wife, Mavy, was shot in the head and fell on her. The wife was shot three times in her legs; the bullets were removed and she is expected to make a full recovery.
- Dorothy Morris, 76
- Phyllis Scheck, 79
- Following the shootings, all legislation on the House schedule for the coming week was postponed, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor said. The decision was made by leaders of both parties and means the House will not vote next week on the repeal of health care reform.
- Although U.S. Capitol Police said there was no evidence of a broader threat involving federal officials, it has advised other members of Congress to take "reasonable and prudent precautions regarding their personal safety and security." The House sergeant at arms also said "it is essential" that lawmakers contact local police to register their home and office addresses.
- Tucson Police Chief Roberto Villasenor said his department had secured the homes and offices of some unnamed federal officials as a "precautionary measure."
- Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine, said an incident like this could have a chilling effect on the frequent weekend listening sessions that many members of Congress have with their constituents.
- In Tucson, supporters gathered outside the University Medical Center, keeping vigil as family members waited with wounded loved ones inside. On the other side of the country, dozens of marchers braved subfreezing temperatures and gusty winds to gather on Capitol Hill for a candlelight vigil Saturday night.
- President Barack Obama: "We do not yet have all the answers. What we do know is that such a senseless and terrible act of violence has no place in a free society."
- Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer: "I am just heartbroken. Gabby is more than just a colleague, she is my friend. She has always been a noble public servant."
- John Roberts, chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, on the death of one of the victims, Judge U.S. District Judge John Roll: "Chief Judge Roll's death is a somber reminder of the importance of the rule of law and the sacrifices of those who work to secure it."
- U.S. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi: "Congresswoman Giffords is a brilliant and courageous member of Congress, bringing to Washington the views of a new generation of national leaders. It is especially tragic that she was attacked as she was meeting with her constituents whom she serves with such dedication and distinction."
- House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio: "An attack on one who serves is an attack on all who serve. Acts and threats of violence against public officials have no place in our society."
- U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona: "I am horrified by the violent attack on Representative Gabrielle Giffords and many other innocent people by a wicked person who has no sense of justice or compassion. ... Whoever did this, whatever their reason, they are a disgrace to Arizona, this country and the human race, and they deserve and will receive the contempt of all decent people and the strongest punishment of the law."
- Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin: "There is no place in our society or discourse for such senseless and unconscionable acts of violence."
- Officials have not stated a motive for the shooting.
- Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik used a nationally televised press conference to condemn the tone of political discourse in his state. He charged that public debate is now "vitriolic rhetoric," which has rendered Arizona "the mecca for prejudice and bigotry." Dupnik suggested that such rhetoric can have deadly consequences.
- Last March, Giffords raised concerns about inflammatory rhetoric after her office was vandalized, and she cited how her name appeared on a website titled "Take back the 20" as part of a list originally issued by former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin in March 2010 against vulnerable House Democrats.
- The list, which named 20 House members who voted for health care reform, showed crosshairs over the contested Democratic districts.
- At the time, Giffords responded to the map by saying on MSNBC that her long-serving colleagues had "never seen anything like it." "The thing is, the way that she has it depicted has the crosshairs of a gun sight over our district," Giffords said in March. "When people do that, they've got to realize there's consequences to that action."
- A day after Giffords voted in favor of health care reform, a glass panel at her Tucson office was shattered.
- At a town hall meeting, a gun fell out of a constituent's pocket.
- Giffords' press secretary, C.J. Karamargin, said he was unaware of any recent threats against Giffords.
I read The Turner Diaries. Doesn't make me a right wing tool. Very disturbing book
Dee – That is appalling
I have to commend President Obama and Congressman Boehner. This is a tragedy that transcends party politics. I hope some good can come of this especially considering the type of people who were shot. A judge, an innocent girl both killed. A congresswoman, former Republican, and now a critically wounded centrist Democrat. I wish she and her policies and opinions on discourse were more widely known and that it wasn't an event like this that made me aware of her.
A girl born on 9/11/2001 born on tragic day, killed on tragic day
Reality: We are currently seeing the aggressive, stubborn and arrogant defensive stand taken by Sarah Palin and Glenn Beck regarding their previous negative and distasteful statements and declaring that they shouldn't be criticized or blamed for inciting anyone to negative behavior. The ridiculousness of their defensive position is obvious in recognizing they always clearly aim to excite and incite people with their statements; I don't think anyone could rationally say that is not their actual intent. Their bazaar and exaggerated antics fully substantiate that about everything they do.
There really is a lot of effort that they continually go through to appeal to people's emotions, to excite and to prompt people to emotionally take a strong stand that simply amounts to real attempts to manipulate. Palin and Beck are totally focused on doing this as Limbaugh also is and then Karl Rove was very likely the originator of it as a full fledged political tactic. People like John Boehner, Mitch McConnell, Jon Kyl and others all subscribe to the tactic. Yes, the Republicans are far more prone to be doing this then the Democrats and the point is that the manipulation of people's emotions is really a highly prevalent and aggressive Republican tactic.
Without it ever being a valid excuse for anyone to commit criminal actions, it still is very unlikely that any of these political people have any reservations or conscience about inciting any improper or criminal behavior as they are constantly totally focused on their own goals and irresponsibly willing to do/say anything to achieve them. That isn't an exaggeration, it is obvious and consistent with the sociopathic personalities of several of them. Without the public recognizing the self-serving absurdity of their statements, avoiding the intended emotional reaction, instead putting emphasis and value on honesty and just being disciplined to objectively and rationally discern the truth, people will continue to just be susceptible to the con and to being used and some to even over reacting.
l hope prsident obama , when speaking at memorial srevice speak of healing and recovering.
1.word-healing- God Bless
2..recovery-God bless.
why didn't you all post my comments.
To bad CNN doesn't spend the same amount of time covering the average person shot down on the streets that happen on a daily basis. Let's face it, CNN is a group of Drama Queens and Kings all brought together in a common area. As for the Russian journalist "stupid question", I found it no more stupid than half the interviews done on CNN every day of every week.
Giffords is a woman of the people that believed that town hall meetings were a good way to interact1 on 1 with the people she represented in DC, the last person you would ever want to "Lock & load" on. Pity Sarah Palin didnt desist from that type of rhetoric when Giffords politely asked her to.
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text:
State Patrol identifies woman struck on I-94
Woman was walking in southbound lanes of interstate traffic
The southbound lanes of Interstate 94 in Kenosha County were closed for several hours Friday after a woman was struck by a vehicle.
Authorities identified the woman as 24-year-old Loretta Pollack, of Milwaukee.
According to Sgt. Chris Jushka of the Wisconsin State Patrol, a vehicle traveling south on I-94 near County Road N struck a woman who was walking in the southbound lanes of traffic around 3 a.m.
Jushka said the woman suffered serious injuries in the accident, and State Patrol and county sheriff personnel administered CPR until paramedics arrived.
The woman was taken by ambulance to St. Catherine's Hospital in Kenosha, then flown to Froedtert Hospital in Waukesha by Flight For Life, where she is listed on life support.WISN 12 News spotted a trunk lid emerging from a retention pond near the Mars Cheese Castle, about a half-mile from the scene.
Upon investigation, police believe the car submerged in the water belongs to the woman struck on the freeway.
Dive teams arrived to search the vehicle and found no victims in the water.
Questions remain as to how the woman's car wound up in the water, and how she ended up walking on the interstate nearly a half-mile away.
"It's a very narrow, two-lane part of the interstate," said Kenosha County Sheriff's Deputy Matt Meshenky. "I would hate to imagine someone walking up there."
The State Patrol has requested surveillance videos from area businesses to aid its investigation.
The State Patrol asks anyone who may have witnessed the accident or has information about the woman walking on the interstate or frontage roads to call them at 262-785-4700.