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Wednesday, 2 January 2013
Fla. man pleads guilty in NY in dinosaur dispute
FILE - This photo released by the U.S. Attorney's office shows the fossil of a Tyrannosaurus bataar dinosaur at the center of a lawsuit demanding its return to Mongolia. Florida resident Eric Prokopi has pleaded guilty, Thursday, Dec. 27, 2012, at Federal Court in New York to smuggling this fossil and others into the United States. In return for his cooperation, prosecutors say they will recommend leniency. (AP Photo/U.S Attorney Office for the Southern District of New York, File)
FILE - This photo released by the U.S. Attorney's office shows the fossil of a Tyrannosaurus bataar dinosaur at the center of a lawsuit demanding its return to Mongolia. Florida resident Eric Prokopi has pleaded guilty, Thursday, Dec. 27, 2012, at Federal Court in New York to smuggling this fossil and others into the United States. In return for his cooperation, prosecutors say they will recommend leniency. (AP Photo/U.S Attorney Office for the Southern District of New York, File)
NEW YORK (AP) ? A Florida fossils dealer pleaded guilty to smuggling charges Thursday and agreed to give up a celebrated $1 million dinosaur skeleton seized by the U.S. government earlier this year for its eventual return to Mongolia.
Eric Prokopi, 38, said he would surrender the 70 million-year-old Tyrannosaurus bataar skeleton known as "Ty" and give up any claims to six other dinosaurs and various other bones in a cooperation deal that might win him leniency from charges that carry a potential prison sentence of up to 17 years.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Martin S. Bell read a list of the dinosaurs to Magistrate Judge Ronald L. Ellis, saying a second substantially complete Tyrannosaurus skeleton was found at Prokopi's Gainesville, Fla., home, while a third was believed to be in Great Britain.
Bell said the government will also get to keep a Chinese flying dinosaur that Prokopi illegally imported; a skeleton of a Saurolophus, a duckbilled, plant eating dinosaur from the late Cretaceous period; and two Oviraptor skeletons, one found at Prokopi's home and the other at another residential dwelling in Florida. The Oviraptors have parrot-like skulls.
"It's among the larger dinosaur shopping lists you'll see today," Bell told the magistrate judge.
In a release, U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said: "Fossils and ancient skeletal remains are part of the fabric of a country's natural history and cultural heritage, and black marketers like Prokopi who illegally export and sell these wonders, steal a slice of that history. We are pleased that we can now begin the process of returning these prehistoric fossils to their countries of origin."
The government accused Prokopi of smuggling bones into the country illegally from Mongolia before assembling them into a skeleton that was sold by Dallas-based Heritage Auctions for $1.05 million, a deal that was suspended pending the outcome of litigation. The government said the dinosaur skeleton was mislabeled as reptile bones from Great Britain.
Prokopi remains free on bail pending a sentencing scheduled for April 25. After his plea Thursday, he immediately went with prosecutors to their offices without commenting.
In a statement last spring, Prokopi defended his handling of the dinosaur, saying the value of the bones was labeled much lower than the eventual auction price because "it was loose, mostly broken bones and rocks with embedded bones. It was not what you see today, a virtually complete, mounted skeleton."
Prokopi pleaded guilty to conspiracy for importing the Chinese flying dinosaur, entry by goods by means of false statements for importing Mongolian dinosaurs and one count of interstate and foreign transportation of goods converted and taken by fraud.
In describing his crimes, Prokopi said he wrote an email to a fossils dealer in China in 2010, instructing him to mislabel customs documents to make it appear that the bones of a Chinese flying dinosaur were worth less than they were.
He said that from 2010 to 2012, he arranged for shipments of fossils from Mongolia to be described in customs documents as if their country of origin were Great Britain.
The magistrate judge asked Prokopi if the country of origin on the documents was an important fact.
"Well, apparently," Prokopi said, prompting a brief discussion between the prosecutor and Prokopi's defense lawyer.
Afterward, Prokopi said the labeling of the relics was purposefully "vague and misleading so that they didn't bring attention to the shipment."
The magistrate judge asked him what would have happened if he had labeled them accurately.
"Probably nothing," Prokopi said, pausing and then adding, "or it may not have been allowed to be imported."
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Dancing troupe of middle-class taxpayers: Obama's 'fiscal cliff' trump card?
President Obama took to the stage Monday to press Congress not to allow taxes to go up on middle-class taxpayers ? and he had a rambunctious group of them on hand to support him.
President Obama smiles and gestures as he speaks about the 'fiscal cliff' Monday in the South Court Auditorium at the White House in Washington.
Carolyn Kaster/AP
EnlargeThe campaign is over, but when President Obama stepped on stage Monday to make a statement on fiscal cliff negotiations, it felt more like a pep rally than a sober policy update on an issue of global import.
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The White House had packed the room, the South Court Auditorium in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, with some 200 ?middle-class taxpayers? ? and rather rambunctious ones, at that. A handful stood behind Mr. Obama, the rest filled the auditorium?s seats.
It was a veritable security blanket of middle-class taxpayers, there as a visual show of force for the president as he seeks to reach a deal with the Republicans to avert the tax hikes and deep spending cuts that automatically go into effect at midnight Monday. One said she was invited after she had ?answered some questions? on the White House?s Y2K web page ? named for the $2,000 that each middle-class household would save by not having its taxes go up.
Clearly, this event had been days in the making, and it was reminiscent of other middle-class focused events and travels Obama has had since he won reelection Nov. 6. ?
?Thank you for having us!? one attendee shouted after Obama welcomed the group.
The middle-class taxpayers cheered and stood when the president took the stage, called out to him as he spoke, and gave him another standing ovation when he finished. The event was mildly newsworthy: The president announced that a deal was ?within sight, but it?s not done.?
?So as of this point, it looks like I'm going to be spending New Year's here in DC,? he said. ?You all are going to be hanging out in DC, too.?
At that point, someone in the crowd invited the president over for New Year?s Eve.
?
?I can come to your house? Is that what you said?? Obama said. ?I don't want to spoil the party.?
?You are the party!? the attendee shouted back, to laughter from the crowd.
Obama then sought to turn the event back to its central purpose: to focus on the middle class and how a return to Clinton-era tax rates for all but the wealthiest 2 percent would be painful.
?
?The people who are with me here today, the people who are watching at home, they need our leaders in Congress to succeed,? Obama said.
Later in the afternoon, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell took to the Senate floor and echoed Obama?s statement: ?We are very, very close,? he said. But soon after, the news broke that the House would not vote on New Year?s Eve, meaning the United States will go over the edge of the cliff, at least temporarily. The hope, as of this writing, was that House and Senate leaders could gather enough votes to pass a deal early in 2013, and have it go into effect retroactively to Jan. 1.
And what about those middle-class taxpayers? Perhaps Obama is keeping them near at hand, just in case.
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PR Predictions for 2013 ? Communiqu? PR Blog
12.31.2012 | Holly Zuluaga
At Communiqu? PR we are constantly monitoring and keeping on top of the latest trends and predictions. While looking at PR predictions for 2013, I came across two interesting articles that suggest what is in store for the new year. A Ragan.com article written by Sandra Fathi outlines ?6 PR and Social Media Predictions for 2013,? and another post from Business News Daily looks at, ?25 Big Ideas, Trends, and Predictions for 2013.? Both articles offer some insightful predictions and I?ve selected some of my favorites below:
- LinkedIn is the new Facebook. In 2013 more companies, particularly B2B, will leverage LinkedIn to connect with current and potential customers and influencers in their particular space. We helped one of our clients, Attachmate, leverage LinkedIn and have seen great results and a steady number of followers. We?ve noticed that particularly for B2B, this is one of the fastest growing social media outlets. It is a ripe platform for businesses to connect and share information. The new features that allow people to ?endorse? is great for businesses and employees. Fathi says that ?As adoption and activity on LinkedIn surge, journalists will spend more time using the platform for research, identifying sources and breaking stories.?
- Social media spreads to government. Social media is not just for consumers and businesses. More and more government agencies are leveraging social media platforms to communicate messages and connect with citizens. Fathi uses the example of the Israel Defense Force and Hamas military using Twitter to communicate to international government officials and the general public about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Additionally, the 2012 United States presidential election set records for Twitter activity. Twitter is already seen as a news source for citizens searching for information from media, but in 2013 government will have an increased voice.
- Traditional journalists are restored. Journalism has seen a dramatic change with the birth of blogging and social media. The public demands information that is fast and easy to access. Traditional journalists have been fighting this battle and trying to adapt ever since.? However, with the amount of factually inaccurate information circulating through social media and blogs in an attempt to be speedy, viewers are eager to revert back to a reliable news source. When Twitter first became hot, I was working as a reporter and always frightened to provide too many details on Twitter or Facebook until I?d confirmed. Now, it is not uncommon for news organizations to report scanner traffic via social media or report information and note it has not been confirmed. This can lead to rumors.
- PR goes mobile. More and more consumers and journalists are using their phones as their primary news source and primary means of communications. In 2013 PR professionals not only need to craft pitches that are concise and easily readable via social media or on a mobile device, PR pros also need to think about news content that is mobile-friendly.
- Pictures are a must. We?ve written in the past about how powerful infographics are, but in 2013, PR pros will continue to see the importance of images to tell a story. Fathi writes, ?All Things D reported that in August, smartphone users spent more time on Instagram than on Twitter for the first time since Instagram launched in 2010.? This is another indicator that pictures are taking over. When you are developing content, keep in mind what visual content you have to help tell the story.
- Brands will become publishers. Many organizations have already realized the benefits of having a blog, but in 2013, more brands will create additional content to help build thought leadership and credibility. Tips and how-to guides will start to crop up in company newsletters, blogs, etc. This also helps organizations with search.
Here at Communiqu? PR we are looking forward to this new year and everything that 2013 will bring. What are you predictions for 2013? We?d love to hear from you!
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Source: http://www.communiquepr.com/blog/?p=4870
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Tuesday, 1 January 2013
Get a CompTia A+ certification and advance in ... - Technology blog
In order to acquire the CompTIA A+ Certification, the 220-802 exam is the main requirement. With the help of this exam, you can convincingly enhance your career. The 220-802 exams will definitely assist you to improve your credentials.
This exam authenticates your knowledge about mobile devices, troubleshooting and Operating Systems. A considerable understanding about various functionalities of different Operating Systems will be provided by this exam. The main aim of 220-802 exam is to enhance your concepts related to installation, maintenance, troubleshooting, problem resolutions and Operating System.
?This course offers the following benefits:
- Provides you the efficient knowledge towards peripheral hardware and troubleshooting of personal computers.
- You would be capable of handling the networks in a very efficient manner with the help of your operating system concepts.
- ?Authenticate your knowledge about configuration management.
Syllabus to be Covered For 220-802 Exam:
The syllabus for 220-802 exam covers the basics of operating systems, mobile devices, troubleshooting and security. Basically, this exam is designed for the novice IT professionals to enhance their knowledge. The topics that are covered under the syllabus of this course are listed below:- Security
- Operating system
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- Mobile Devices
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Before appearing for 220-802 exam you must collect all the information that is necessary for getting an idea related to the latest trends that are followed in the exam. You can increase the possibility of performing well in the exam by gathering perfect information about the type of questions asked in the exam and the time limits. The details required to be known are:
????????? The exam consists of 100 MCQ?s
????????? The maximum allotted time is 90 minutes.
????????? 700 marks is the cut off score to get through 220-802 exam.???????????????????
Validity of 220-802 exam:
The validity of this exam lasts for 3 years. You can update the certification within a span of 3 years have 3 years.
CompTIA A+ Certification:
The A+ Certification is very useful for those people who are eager to lift up their career in Information Technology industry. It provides you the exact understanding for the technical support activities and this make the companies able to provide the best support to their consumers. Many employers have Most of employers have favoured CompTIA A+ Certification in order to advance their business integrity through consumer support and amalgamation. The acquirement of A+ Certification can ensure you the brilliant future and may provide you with excellent opportunities for your employment in the IT industry.
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The possibility of landing better paying high end jobs in the IT sector or even the IT department of your own field increases manifold due to the fact that the the CompTia 220-802 exam is designed keeping in mind the skills of the exam takers, the course is so designed that passing the exam enables the user to get job roles in Maintenance and administration.
Conclusion:
Thus the CompTia 220-802 exam enables the users to take a leap in their career and allows them to quit their boring and low paying job and look for better opportunities in the market.
Source: http://www.itmashable.com/2012/12/get-comptia-certification-and-advance_30.html
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Afghan negotiator welcomes prisoner release
KABUL, Afghanistan KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) ? A top Afghan negotiator said Tuesday he hopes eight Taliban members freed by Pakistan will serve as peace mediators, describing Islamabad's move as a major step forward for Kabul's effort to enlist its neighbor's help in negotiating an end to its 11-year war.
The eight released Monday include the Taliban's justice minister when the militants ruled Afghanistan before their 2001 overthrow, as well as a onetime guard of Taliban leader Mullah Omar. It was the second group of prisoners released by Pakistan.
Although both sides describe the deal as a step toward peace, much about the release remains unclear. Kabul has lobbied hard for Pakistan to release some Taliban prisoners as a step toward talks, but simultaneously presses Islamabad to crack down on militants using its territory. It has not said what, if anything, this particular group might bring to the table.
Islamabad for its part has never said why it arrested the eight in the first place. Neither side has said where this batch of freed prisoners and a previous group of 18 released in November have gone, nor what they will be doing. Another 100 prisoners are believed to remain in Pakistani custody.
In Kabul, the spokesman for President Hamid Karzai said the Afghan leader would discuss the peace negotiations with U.S. President Barack Obama. Karzai departs for Washington early next week.
Karzai will also bring up the ongoing handover of security from NATO to Afghan forces, training and equipment the forces and the shape of a U.S.-Afghan agreement after Washington withdraws most of its troops, spokesman Aimal Faizi told a news conference. NATO plans to hand security responsibility over to Afghan forces by the end of 2014.
The spokesman welcomed the prisoner release, but gave no details.
Ismail Qasemyar, a senior member of the Afghan High Peace Council, called their freeing a positive step in the peace process and hoped more releases would follow. It was not known whether the eight actually favored negotiations, but Qasemyar said it was hoped they would act as intermediaries between the Taliban leadership and the Kabul government.
"This is a big victory from our trip to Pakistan for peace negotiations. This is a good, practical step toward peace from Pakistan," said Qasemyar, the council's international affairs adviser and a key member of a delegation that travelled to Pakistan in November.
Pakistan is seen as key in ending the conflict. Kabul hopes the Taliban can be brought to the negotiating table before the 2014 foreign troop withdrawal.
But Pakistan's role is mixed. While Pakistan has arrested Afghan Taliban members, usually under pressure from Washington, its powerful military intelligence service has also afforded sanctuary and support for the militants.
Recently, Pakistan appears to have an interest in promoting a negotiated solution to the war across the border, as a post-2014 upheaval could bring harsh consequences, including another surge of refugees into the country.
Pakistan has longstanding ties to the Taliban, in part for geopolitical reasons. It fears that not having some control of who is or might one day be in power in Afghanistan could leave a vacuum which its arch-enemy, India, could fill.
Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said the eight detainees were released to aid the peace process and included ex-Justice Minister Nooruddin Turabi and guard Mohammad Azeem. It was not known what role they might play in bringing the Taliban leaders to the negotiating table, what links they have to the group's current leadership or their stance on negotiations.
During Taliban rule, the one-legged, one-eyed Turabi was considered among the hard-liners in the regime, charged with dispensing harsh justice for even minor offenses against the group's draconian policies.
Today, Taliban leaders are believed to be split on the question of talks, with some favoring negotiations and others opting for continuing the war.
Waheed Mazhda, a political analyst and former Taliban member, said that Pakistan is playing a double game with Kabul, pretending to support negotiations but releasing the Taliban prisoners to please the Pakistan's branch of the Taliban. not Kabul. The Pakistan government, he says, does not want its homegrown militants to disrupt upcoming elections.
"Where are they? What are they doing right now?" he said, referring to the 18 already released. He said that he did not believe those released favored negotiations.
The Afghan peace process has made little headway since it began several years ago, riddled by mistrust among the major players, including the United States.
___
Associated Press writers Kathy Gannon, Rebecca Santana and Zarar Khan in Islamabad and Rahim Faiez in Kabul contributed.
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Colts topple Texans from 1 seed
Rookie QB gives coach a great welcome back with victory over Houston
ReutersColts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) yells to his teammates on the sidelines prior to the kickoff.
updated 4:01 p.m. ET Dec. 30, 2012
INDIANAPOLIS - Chuck Pagano walked onto the field Sunday waving to the fans and hugging his wife.
He left the field hugging everybody in sight ? assistant coaches, Colts players, even Texans players and coaches ? before dancing in the locker room.
Why not?
Andrew Luck threw for two TDs, Vick Ballard ran for another and Deji Karim scored on a 101-yard kickoff return to give the cancer-beating coach a 28-16 win over AFC South champ Houston in his return to the sideline.
Those who thought Pagano might take it easy in his first game back at the helm of the wild-card Colts since starting the first of three rounds of chemotherapy Sept. 26 were wrong.
Pagano spent the pregame warm-ups hugging friends such as offensive coordinator and former interim coach Bruce Arians, and Texans defensive coordinator Wade Phillips. During the game, he was the same old guy. Pagano took his customary linebacker stance, hands on bended knees, signaled touchdowns when the Colts scored, patted players on their helmets and gestured for flags to be thrown. He even sprinted a few times.
Fans gave Pagano a standing ovation after a 1-minute video was shown on the stadium's two Jumbotrons just before kickoff.
But Pagano's players wanted to welcome back another way: with a victory celebration. Indy (11-5) did everything it needed to get it Sunday, perhaps damaging the Texans' playoff seeding, too.
The Colts play at Baltimore in the wild-card round next weekend. The slumping Texans (12-4) have lost three of their last four and won't know their AFC seeing until after Denver and New England finish later Sunday.
Indy prevented J.J. Watt from getting any closer to Michael Strahan's NFL sacks record (22?). Watt finished the season with 20?.
Luck broke Peyton Manning's rookie record for completions and moved into third all-time among rookies with 22 TD passes. He finished 14 of 28 for 191 yards, giving him 339 completions this season.Of course, the Colts gave Pagano a game ball, then watched him lead an impromptu dance in the locker room, including a do-si-do with team owner Jimmy Irsay.
It didn't take long for the Colts to assert themselves in this emotional environment ? or to swing the game when the Texans took their only lead. Shayne Graham made a 37-yard field goal with 5:22 left in the third quarter, but that lead lasted all of 12 seconds.
Karim fielded the ensuing kickoff 1 yard deep in the end zone, found a seam in the middle of the field and never slowed until he reached the opposite end zone to make it 21-16. Pagano patted him on the helmet after the longest kickoff return since the Colts moved to Indy in 1984.
Then, facing third-and-23 from the 30, Luck threw a perfect strike through a narrow window, hitting T.Y. Hilton in stride for a 70-yard TD to make it 28-16.
On a day the Texans mostly settled for field goals, that's all the Colts needed.
Luck masterfully led the Colts 75 yards in 13 plays on the game's opening possession, prompting Pagano to call for a defensive pass interference call on third-and-goal. Pagano also flung his arms into the air when Luck hooked up with Coby Fleener for a 1-yard score.
Graham made a 51-yard field goal late in the first quarter and 37-yarder early in the second.
But after Matt Schaub's underthrown pass was picked off by Vontae Davis and returned 26 yards to the Houston 39, Luck went back to work. He found Hilton for a 17-yard completion before Ballard plunged in from the 1 to make it 14-6.
Pagano was even on the minds of the Texans.
Houston opened the second half with its only touchdown when Arian Foster broke through a hole for a 13-yard TD run. Instead of doing his trademark bow, though, Foster ran through the end zone and tapped the (hash)Chuckstrong sign hanging on the wall. That made it 14-13.
Schaub finished 24 of 36 for 275 yards with two interceptions and no touchdowns. Foster ran 16 times for 96 yards.
? 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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More newsColts topple Texans from 1 seed
Andrew Luck threw a long touchdown pass and Deji Karim returned a kickoff 101 yards as the Colts defeated the Texans 28-16 in coach Chuck Pagano's first game back after battling leukemia.
Too little, too late for defending champ Giants
??There will be no repeat for the New York Giants. Not even a playoff berth.? The Giants (9-7) saw their playoff hopes end minutes after posting a 42-7 win over the Philadelphia Eagles when Chicago beat Detroit 26-24 to eliminate the defending Super Bowl champions from playoff contention.
Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/50324689/ns/sports-nfl/
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