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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheIphoneBlog/~3/1a05VcJKZkk/story01.htm
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Saturday, December 31, 2011
Rumor: Apple planning to double battery capacity in iPad 3, January release
Hit-or-miss rumor site Digitimes is reporting that Apple plans on doubling the size of the battery in the the iPad 3, and moreover, that Apple will release it...
Verizon nixes planned $2 fee for some bill-payment methods
Score one for the good guys. Under a hail of bad PR and a report of the FCC getting involved, Verizon Wireless has killed plans to charge an extra $2 a month for some bill-paying methods. Verizon said it "made the decision in response to customer feedback about the plan, which was designed to improve the efficiency of those transactions."
“At Verizon, we take great care to listen to our customers. Based on their input, we believe the best path forward is to encourage customers to take advantage of the best and most efficient options, eliminating the need to institute the fee at this time,” said Dan Mead, president and chief executive officer of Verizon Wireless.
In a poll today on Android Central, a third of some 3,300 respondants said they were considering leaving Verizon over the proposed $2 fee. More than another third planned on using one of the bill paying options that would have avoided the fee.
Source: Verizon; via Phone Scoop
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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/HLcUqBLCONU/story01.htm
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Mexico gang seen ramping up meth in Guatemala
MEXICO CITY (AP) ? Mexico's powerful Sinaloa drug cartel appears to be extending its massive production of methamphetamine into neighboring Guatemala, as hundreds of tons of precursor chemicals stream into the Central American nation.
While Mexico is usually estimated to be the main supplier of meth used in the United States, seizure data suggest that neighboring Guatemala could in fact be producing as much or more.
That data, along with interviews with U.S. and Guatemalan officials, also indicate that Sinaloa cartel chief Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman is taking advantage of Guatemala's remote, isolated mountains and an alliance with a key Guatemalan trafficker to make the Central American nation a new international meth production base.
Mexican authorities seized 675 tons of a key precursor chemical in December alone, and all of it was heading for Guatemala. Officials in Guatemala, meanwhile, have seized 7,847 barrels of precursors in 2011, equivalent to about 1,600 tons and far more than Mexico's total seizures of 1,200 tons in the same year.
The Guatemala-bound chemical seized in Mexico, methylamine, can yield its weight in uncut meth, according to Steve Preisler, an industrial chemist called the father of modern meth-making.
That means the total amount seized in or heading to Guatemala could theoretically produce more than a billion one-gram doses of pure meth, and billions more if cut to street-level purity.
Authorities say it's not entirely clear where Sinaloa could sell thousands of tons of methamphetamine, if it produced that much. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime said in its 2011 World Report that total meth seizures worldwide amounted to 65 tons.
But there are many signs pointing to the Sinaloa cartel's involvement in an extensive chain of meth production and distribution. The gang has already moved into industrial-scale meth production in Mexico. And after several big labs in Mexico were raided, the cartel may feel more comfortable operating in Guatemala.
"Sinaloa is the main group down there that is producing meth," said a senior U.S. law enforcement official in Mexico City, who could not be quoted by name for security reasons.
Guatemalan Interior Minister Carlos Menocal said the Mexican cartel has prepared its operations by doing business with a gang in his country led by Juan Alberto Ortiz Lopez, nicknamed "Chamale," who, before his arrest in March, was identified by the United States as the most important trafficker in Guatemala.
"What we have found is that Chamale has links to the Sinaloa cartel," Menocal told The Associated Press. Those links include coordinating the processing or "cooking" of meth, he said.
"An analysis by Guatemala's intelligence indicates the laboratories were managed by Mexicans," Menocal said. "They come to oversee the drug production process; Mexican chemists came to establish the formulas and local people talk about Mexicans who came and went, doing this work."
The U.N. drug office's regional representative, Antonio Mazzitelli, said the increased seizures in Mexico and Central America may largely reflect more vigilance by authorities.
"Maybe the amount coming in hasn't changed," the U.S. official said, "but now they've identified the problem and they're going after it and so now we're seeing the seizures go up."
Either way, evidence points to the Sinaloa connection: Five huge shipments of methylamine seized in December were found at Mexican ports that authorities believe are used by the Sinaloa cartel, and all were bound, according to shipping papers, for the Guatemala port of Puerto Quetzal.
Guatemalan authorities said they discovered two meth laboratories in western Guatemala, near the border with Mexico, where they found traces of phenylacetone, a chemical that, in one production method is combined with methylamine to produce meth.
The approximately 1,600 tons of precursors Guatemala seized in 2011 compare with only about 400 tons seized there in 2010.
Preisler wrote in an email message that "roughly one part by weight methylamine would react with one part by weight phenylacetone to produce a little over one part by weight of pure meth."
Few people use pure meth, and street cuts can be three or even five parts filler, so 2,200 tons of methylamine seized in the two countries could produce some 6.6 billion cut doses. At $100 per gram, that could net hundreds of billions of dollars on the street.
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Friday, December 30, 2011
gazettehockey: Story about No. 5 Colorado College preparing to start the 2nd half of the season by hosting Air Force and No. 10 Union: http://t.co/hWNoXue1
Story about No. 5 Colorado College preparing to start the 2nd half of the season by hosting Air Force and No. 10 Union: Source: http://twitter.com/gazettehockey/statuses/152257895818465280
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Week 17 NFL Picks: Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants Odds and Betting Preview
There is only one game on the Week 17 NFL schedule that features a win-and-you-are-in or lose-and-you-stay-home playoff scenario for both teams, and that?s the Dallas Cowboys (8-7) at the New York Giants (8-7). The game has been flexed to the prime time Sunday night game (all games are on Sunday this week; Fox was decidedly displeased to lose this game, which should be a ratings bonanza).
The winner here gets the NFC East and the No. 4 seed in the playoffs and would host either Detroit or Atlanta the following week. The loser gets an entire offseason to answer questions, and if it?s the Giants who lose, it could well be the end for Coach Tom Coughlin (Jason Garrett should be safe.) By the way, in the unlikely event of a tie, the Giants take the division.
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Cowboys at Giants Betting Storylines
The Cowboys enter having lost three of four, and that lone win was at a Tampa Bay club that is playing worse than anyone in the NFL right now.
Last week in a 20-7 home loss to the Eagles, Cowboys QB Tony Romo injured his hand on the first series. Considering the Giants had already won, effectively rendering that Philly game meaningless for Dallas, Romo didn?t return to the game.
In addition, running back Felix Jones also left early with an injury and didn?t return. So don?t read too much into the fact Dallas had only 238 yards and was shut out until seven seconds remained.
Both Romo and Jones will play this week as X-rays on Romo?s bruised throwing hand were negative. Jones, who has replaced an out-for-the-season DeMarco Murray as the featured back, has a minor hamstring issue. Jones had back-to-back 100-yard games before lasting just four carries against the Eagles.
There was one big loss last week for Dallas. Starting left guard Montrae Holland injured a biceps and was put on season-ending injured reserve. Derrick Dockery will get the start now.
New York, meanwhile, has won two of three since a four-game skid.
The Giants claimed city bragging rights last week with a dominant 29-14 victory over the Jets. The Giants won despite Eli Manning going just 9-for-27, albeit for 225 yards, with a TD and a pick. Breakout star WR Victor Cruz had three catches for 164 yards, broke Amani Toomer?s single-season mark for yards receiving (Cruz has 1,358) and the team's record for longest touchdown reception, a 99-yarder in the second quarter.
It was only the 13th 99-yard TD pass in NFL history but second this year.
The Giants have three big injury concerns for this one: DE Osi Umenyiora, WR Mario Manningham and TE Jake Ballard. Manningham seems the most likely to play of the trio. None of them played a week ago.
Dallas and New York met in Week 14 in Big D, which ended in a 37-34 Giants win. That was the game in which Dallas led 34-22 late in the fourth quarter before Manning led the Giants to two touchdowns in the final 3:41, and Jason Pierre-Paul blocked a 47-yard field goal with a few seconds remaining. In fact, Pierre-Paul became the first player this season to block a kick, record a sack and force a fumble in the same game.
The Cowboys? Murray suffered his season-ending injury in that game. Manning was 27-of-47 for 400 yards and two touchdowns. Romo was 21-of-31 for 321 yards with four touchdowns, two in the fourth quarter.
The Cowboys have lost six straight Sunday night games. This season, the Cowboys have lost five games in the final two minutes or overtime.
The Giants actually have a better record in games this season as underdogs (4-3) than when they?re favored (4-4). They?ve lost their last two games as favorites and haven?t won in that role since beating the Dolphins on Oct. 30.
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Cowboys at Giants Betting Odds and Trends
New York opened as a three-point favorite with the total at 46.5 on NFL odds. The early lean is nearly 75 percent on the Giants.
Dallas is 5-9-1 ATS overall and 3-3-1 on the road. The Giants are 7-7-1 ATS overall and 3-3-1 at home. Their over/under records are both 8-7.
The Cowboys are 7-1 ATS in past eight as a dog. They are 1-6 ATS in their past seven against the NFC. The Giants haven?t covered in their past seven as a home favorite of three points or less.
The under is 4-1 in the Cowboys? past five road games. The over is 4-0 in NYG?s past four as a favorite of three points or fewer. The over is 5-0 in the past five meetings. The underdog is 5-0 ATS in the past five.
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NFL Picks: Cowboys at Giants Betting Preview
Coughlin, who himself was injured in last week?s game against the Jets, has made his team very aware that Dallas beat the Giants in the Meadowlands last season after losing in Texas. And New York is just 3-4 at home this season (last week was a Jets home game).
Interestingly, since the NFC East was formed in 1970, no team has won it with fewer than 10 victories in a non-strike year. That is guaranteed to happen Sunday night.
Needless to say, I would hold off here on a few of these injuries before putting your money down.
I don?t much trust the Giants at home as they lost three straight there. But that Cowboys offensive line was dominated last week by the Eagles and now doesn?t have Holland, who has been one of the best at his position in the NFL this year. Plus Manningham was a factor in that first Dallas meeting with a 47-yard TD catch, and I think he plays.
So I?m going New York (get ready for a media barbecue of Romo if he has another bad late-season game). The weather shouldn?t be a factor, so take the over. Giants win, 31-27.
Doc Moseman is the owner of Doc's Sports football picks Web site.
Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1001467-nfl-picks-cowboys-at-giants-odds-and-betting-preview
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Thursday, December 29, 2011
Family 'devastated' by Conn. Christmas house fire
Stamford firefighter Nick Tamburro pays respect outside the home of Madonna Badger in Stamford, Conn., Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2011. A fire at the home on Christmas morning killed Badger's three daughters and parents. The Christmas Day fire that killed three children and their grandparents was a tragic accident related to a fireplace in the home, not the result of foul play, Stamford Mayor Michael Pavia said Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2011. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)
Stamford firefighter Nick Tamburro pays respect outside the home of Madonna Badger in Stamford, Conn., Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2011. A fire at the home on Christmas morning killed Badger's three daughters and parents. The Christmas Day fire that killed three children and their grandparents was a tragic accident related to a fireplace in the home, not the result of foul play, Stamford Mayor Michael Pavia said Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2011. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)
A section of a house where an early morning fire left five people dead is seen Sunday, Dec. 25, 2011 in Stamford, Conn. Officials said the fire, which was reported shortly before 5 a.m., killed two adults and three children. Two others escaped. Their names have not been released. (AP Photo/Tina Fineberg)
STAMFORD, Conn. (AP) ? An uncle of three girls killed with their grandparents in a Christmas morning house fire said Wednesday family members are devastated by the tragedy but comforted by each other and an outpouring of public sympathy.
Campbell Badger said that his brother Matthew Badger was devoted to his daughters. He says their family appreciates the prayers and support it has received.
"Matthew is devastated," Campbell Badger said Wednesday. "He's doing as best as can be expected under the circumstances."
Matthew Badger hasn't commented publicly since 10-year-old Lily and 7-year-old twins Grace and Sarah died of smoke inhalation along with their mother's parents, Lomer and Pauline Johnson.
Lomer Johnson also suffered a blunt head and neck trauma, which could have resulted from a fall or being hit by an object, according to the medical examiner.
Matthew Badger and the girls' mother, Madonna Badger, are divorcing, and he was not at the home when it was engulfed by flames.
Authorities say embers in a bag of discarded fireplace ashes started the blaze.
Madonna Badger, an advertising executive and the home's owner, escaped from the fire, as did Michael Borcina, a friend and contractor working on the house. Borcina was released from a hospital on Wednesday morning, a spokeswoman said.
As flames shot from the three-story home, Madonna Badger climbed out a window onto scaffolding, screaming for her children and pointing to the third floor.
Firefighters went into the house twice trying to rescue the victims but were forced out by the blaze's intensity.
Borcina and Lomer Johnson, a department store Santa Claus who spent a long career as safety and security director for a Louisville, Ky.-based liquor company, tried to save them, as well. One of the girls, found dead just inside a window, had been placed on a pile of books, apparently so Johnson could reach in and grab her after he jumped out.
Instead, authorities say, Johnson fell through the roof outside the window and was found dead in the rear of the house. He and his wife, both of Southbury, had been visiting their daughter for the holidays.
A Badger family and Johnson family statement issued by Madonna Badger's brother on Wednesday night said they wanted to express their thoughts and prayers for the people who've been "so deeply impacted by the tragedy on Christmas morning."
"We also want to say thank you for all of the prayers and well wishes that have come in from around the country and the world," said the families' statement, released by Wade Johnson. "We can feel the warmth of your prayers surrounding us as we struggle to cope with the tragic loss of our family members."
The Department of Consumer Protection said its records show neither Borcina nor his company, Tiberias Construction Inc., is currently registered to perform home improvement work in Connecticut. Registration is required by state law and provides certain contractual rights to the consumer, according to the department.
"We do not yet have enough information about what work was being done or had been completed," the agency said. "We will address the pertinent regulatory issues in due course."
Repeated attempts to contact Borcina by telephone since the fire killed the children and their grandparents have been unsuccessful.
Campbell Badger said his nieces were "wonderful, delightful energetic children."
"They were loved tremendously by their mother and their father, who always put their kids first," he said.
He said his brother, a television commercial director who lives in New York, was involved in all aspects of his daughters' lives and played all types of games and activities with them, including soccer, rollerblading and painting.
He said the Johnson and Badger families are grateful for the public support, which has included floral bouquets, stuffed animals and candles left by passers-by at the site of the torn-down Victorian home.
"We are really touched," he said. "Everyone wants to help in any way they can. We feel it, and it's remarkable."
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Associated Press writer Stephen Singer contributed to this report from Hartford.
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