Mets blow out Cubs 17-1

Associated Press Sports

updated 4:36 p.m. ET June 27, 2012

CHICAGO (AP) - Daniel Murphy homered twice, Scott Hairston hit a grand slam and David Wright drove in five runs to lead the New York Mets to a 17-1 rout of the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday.

Ike Davis had a three-run homer and an RBI double as he combined with Murphy, Hairston and Wright to drive in all 17 runs - with each having at least four RBIs - to help the Mets snap a four-game losing streak.

The Mets had their highest scoring total since they had 18 at Wrigley Field on Sept. 5, 2010. It was also the most runs the Cubs have allowed since that game.

Murphy hadn't homered since last July 16 but went deep in consecutive innings to notch his first career multihomer game. Davis' four RBIs matched his career high and Hairston had his second career grand slam.

One night after having a 15-game hitting streak snapped, Wright had a sacrifice fly, two-run double and two-run single for his ninth career game of five or more RBIs.

The onslaught made for an easy afternoon for Mets starter Jonathon Niese (6-3), who struck out six and held the Cubs to one run over seven innings. Niese improved to 4-0 with a 1.89 ERA in day games this season.

The Mets' first seven hits went for extra bases, six of them off Cubs starter Jeff Samardzija (5-7). Samardzija also walked four batters and gave up a career-high nine runs in 4 1-3 innings.

He dropped to 0-4 with an 11.29 over his last four starts after going 3-2 with a 2.26 ERA in eight starts from April 24 to June 4.

Casey Coleman fared no better in relief, allowing seven runs in 1 2-3 innings.

The game was tied 1-all through three before New York got 15 runs in the middle innings.

Davis' RBI double and Murphy's two-run homer highlighted a three-run fourth. Davis capped the six-run fifth with a three-run homer, then Hairston's grand slam in the sixth gave New York another six-run inning.

Davis added an eighth-inning double as his last seven hits have gone for extra bases.

One night after stranding 12 runners in a 5-3 loss to Chicago, New York left just three runners on base despite getting 16 hits and drawing seven walks.

NOTES: Mets manager Terry Collins gave OF Kirk Nieuwenhuis the day off Wednesday. The 24-year-old is in a 3-for-26 slide. . Before the game, the Cubs designated RHP Randy Wells for assignment and recalled RHP Rafael Dolis from Triple-A Iowa. Wells has struggled with his control, walking 24 in 28 2-3 innings this season. . The Cubs walked Niese twice and have issued eight free passes to pitchers this season, second-most in the majors to Atlanta's 10.

? 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

advertisement

More newsJim Mcisaac / Getty Images

Bad break for Yankees

HBT: Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte suffered a fractured left ankle when hit by a comebacker and will miss at least six weeks.

Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/47986299/ns/sports-baseball/

zook eric decker eric decker dallas cowboys cheerleaders leftover turkey recipes leftover turkey recipes the muppets

Self Improvement Air Jordan Pas Cher Suggestions Which Can Help ...

Description

Exactly why is self improvement significant? Self improvement not only boosts your own capability to Air Jordan flourish on the planet, but it additionally makes it easier for others to relate with you. This information will describe several ways that you could provide a positive image of your self and accelerate your development with your self improvement desired goals.

An incredible self improvement idea is always to remain self-disciplined. It is far from an easy task to increase on your own. It will require effort and determination to really make an optimistic modify in your life. It is quite vital that you realize this whilst keeping oneself self-disciplined when any kind of temptations develop.

Check out how far you?ve can come. Following taking care of oneself for quite a while, you?ll start to see adjustments. Once in a while think about the positive changes you?ve angry and the way a lot you?ve altered. This will make you are feeling pleased with yourself and launch you toward Jordan Femme far more wonderful modifications.

Gain knowledge from the mistakes of other people. It may think that you will find the potential to screw up in every conceivable way. Fortunately, this is not accurate. You won?t are living long enough to help make each oversight known to man. For this reason it is very important to think about the blunders produced by those around you as well as learn from them.

A great way to effectively enhance your life is to obtain the assist of folks near to you. Any issues you could encounter are usually going to be more difficult if you try and handle it yourself. Quite, install an assistance system in your lifetime which will keep you motivated.

Try out your alternatives. Put on new passions, personality traits along with other Jordan Femme private touches for size. You could run into new methods to convey on your own that could come by natural means and connect your principles effortlessly. This is an excellent method to present yourself in new, honest methods to other individuals and keeps your personality powerful.

When working on your personal development be sure to have a positive perspective. It might seem difficult as you are seeking to enhance things that you look at as bad, but place an optimistic spin on it, as negativity is likely to make it unlikely that you will reach your goals in generating the alterations you want to make.

Principles enjoy a big part within the attainment of targets. Determine your beliefs very first and make desired goals in order that they Air Jordan will be in alignment. Once they contradict the other then you will be struggling to make progress, for you may be working in opposition to on your own on a very basic level. So, seriously recognize the ideals that make a difference to you personally, in depth. Then, use that details about your self, as a way to set up goals that suit your maximum ideals in everyday life.

To summarize, self improvement goals call for your continual vigilance. As you have seen, this operate can experience great positive aspects. If you work tirelessly to boost your self, it Air Jordan increases your confidence as well as the assurance other people maintain in you. It?s crystal clear that no gentleman is surely an isle, so these pointers were actually developed with a social and stressful world in your mind.

Authorized Shop delivers lots of low-priced Nike Air Jordan Shoes today with Instant Delivery service, Secure Payment & Good Customer Service.

Share on Facebook

Tags: air jordan, air jordan pas cher, nike
Stats:

Images

There are no images

duggar family gilbert arenas dexter dexter facebook timeline kim jong il kim jong il

Curry out as co-host of NBC's 'Today' show

FILE - This July 27, 2011 file photo released by NBC shows co-host Ann Curry on the "Today" show in New York. Curry offered a tearful goodbye as co-host of NBC's "Today" show on Thursday, June 28, 2012. Curry, who joined the show as a news anchor in 1997, will remain at NBC News to be anchor-at-large and national and international correspondent. (AP Photo/NBC, Peter Kramer)

FILE - This July 27, 2011 file photo released by NBC shows co-host Ann Curry on the "Today" show in New York. Curry offered a tearful goodbye as co-host of NBC's "Today" show on Thursday, June 28, 2012. Curry, who joined the show as a news anchor in 1997, will remain at NBC News to be anchor-at-large and national and international correspondent. (AP Photo/NBC, Peter Kramer)

This Sept. 7, 2011 photo released by NBC shows co-host Ann Curry modeling one of Elizabeth Taylor's necklaces, which was auctioned by Christie's, on the "Today" show in New York. Curry offered a tearful goodbye as co-host of NBC's "Today" show on Thursday, June 28, 2012. Curry, who joined the show as a news anchor in 1997, will remain at NBC News to be anchor-at-large and national and international correspondent. (AP Photo/NBC, Peter Kramer)

This Feb. 1, 2012 photo released by NBC shows co-hosts Ann Curry, left, and the Natalie Morales holding puppies just before a puppy bowl segment on the "Today" shows in New York. Curry offered a tearful goodbye as co-host of NBC's "Today" show on Thursday, June 28, 2012. Curry, who joined the show as a news anchor in 1997, will remain at NBC News to be anchor-at-large and national and international correspondent. (AP Photo/NBC, Peter Kramer)

This April 12, 2012 photo released by NBC shows co-host Ann Curry holding a bird and animal expert Julie Scardina on the "Today" show in New York. Curry, who joined the show as a news anchor in 1997, offered a tearful goodbye as co-host of NBC's "Today" show on Thursday, June 28, 2012. She will remain at NBC News to be anchor-at-large and national and international correspondent. (AP Photo/NBC, Peter Kramer)

This June 27, 2012 photo released by NBC shows co-hosts Al Roker, left, and Ann Curry, with actors Joe Manganiello, second left, and Channing Tatum, right, on the "Today" show in New York. Curry offered a tearful goodbye as co-host of NBC's "Today" show on Thursday, June 28, 2012. Curry, who joined the show as a news anchor in 1997, will remain at NBC News to be anchor-at-large and national and international correspondent. (AP Photo/NBC, Peter Kramer)

NEW YORK (AP) ? Ann Curry offered a tearful goodbye as co-host of NBC's "Today" show on Thursday, saying, "This is not as I expected to ever leave this couch."

Her exit represents NBC's most visible response to the popular morning show's worst stretch in the ratings in nearly two decades. "Today" hadn't lost a single week since 1996, but this spring it was beaten four times by ABC's resurgent "Good Morning America."

Curry's exit marked a stark contrast to the lengthy tribute shows given to predecessors Meredith Vieira and Katie Couric. She announced it during the final five minutes of her shift, ending a week of awkward television as she continued working after word spread that NBC was looking to oust her.

"For all of you who saw me as a groundbreaker, I'm sorry I couldn't carry the ball over the finish line but, man, I did try," she said, breaking down.

Curry joined the show as a news anchor in 1997. Passed over for the co-host job when Vieira replaced Couric, she was given the chance when Vieira left last June. But her pairing with co-host Matt Lauer never seemed to click and she took the fall for the show's ratings troubles.

NBC's Savannah Guthrie, who co-hosts the 9 a.m. segment of the show, is expected to replace Curry.

Curry will remain at NBC News, saying she's been given a "fancy new title" to lead a reporting team. NBC said she will be anchor-at-large and national and international correspondent. Her work will occasionally resurface on "Today," and Lauer said she will be in London with the show for the Olympics.

He sat next to Curry, Al Roker and Natalie Morales on the couch as Curry choked back tears and apologized for being a "sob sister."

"It's not goodbye, not by a long shot," a grim-faced Lauer said.

Each of her colleagues recalled some of Curry's reporting from her "Today" tenure, but there was no video tribute. The "Today" website displayed "15 top Ann moments spanning her 15 years on TV," asking viewers to vote on their favorite.

"To all of you watching, thank you from the bottom of my heart for letting me touch yours," she said.

___

Online:

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/

Associated Press

whitney houston will toyota recall northern lights sign of the times keystone pipeline purim acc tournament

How to Keep Your Carpeted Floor in Tiptop Shape and Always ...

Readily available in a wide range of materials, style, shades, types, and forms, carpets and rugs have become a widespread option as flooring material by a lot of home owners. No other flooring material can match the vast selection that carpeting offers. Other types of flooring products won't be able to live up and compete with the variety and luxury that a carpeted floor can bestow to a home. Nevertheless, a great deal of individuals are worried about the level of upkeep it requires to keep carpetings clean and stain-free.

It is true that these floor coverings are spoiled easily compared with other flooring sorts such as wood or tiles, but there are a couple of things you can do to avoid this. Keeping your carpet looking excellent is conveniently fulfilled if you can implement a couple of general chores on a regular basis. With the right upkeep, it's possible for your carpeting to look fabulous for numerous years. Listed below are a couple of carpeting care strategies you can employ to stop premature carpeting damage and unnecessary wear and tear.

Choose Stain-Resistant Carpeting

You've possibly seen ads about stain-resistant carpets. The fact is, they really work. Although they could cost you more, they will prove to be the best choice eventually. Stain-resistant floor coverings are excellent for children's rooms, living rooms, and locations where there is a lot of traffic.

Ward Off Dirt Before It Settles on the Carpeting

A doormat positioned at your front door will encourage people to clean off their feet and get rid of a huge chunk of the dirt from their shoes outside your house. Even better, maybe you could also politely ask them to leave behind their shoes by the shoe shelf or closet before getting in the premises.

Vacuum your Carpeting on a Regular Basis

Vacuuming on a regular basis is one of the most necessary things for a carpet Los Angeles residents can do to ensure that their floor covering continues to look fantastic all-year round, and a high quality vacuum is essential to achieve this. Vacuuming your carpet removes filth and helps lower the results of foot traffic. It even helps clear away dust mites and helps preserve the luster of the carpeting.

Have a Professional Service your Carpeted Floor Often

Regardless of how watchful and careful you are with your carpeted floor, competent cleaners will need to wash it at some point. Spending a little extra to have an expert cleaner come in and do the job will extend the life of virtually any carpet Los Angeles residences have a great deal. Perform a little investigation online and find a reputable LA carpeting cleaner with excellent reviews.

Now that you know the ways on how to keep it looking brand new, there's no reason why carpets cannot be your flooring choice for your residence. Learn more about cleaning carpets for flooring Los Angeles interiors on carpet.org.

If you have questions, please visit us at www.cheapfloorslosangeles.com for complete details and answers.

This article has been viewed 10 time(s).

It is a violation of our terms and conditions for writers to submit material which they did not write and claim it as their own. If this article infringes on your copyrights, you MUST either call us at 706-866-2295 or send proof of infringement along with the offending article's title, URL, and writer name to

IdeaMarketers.com
Attn: Marnie Pehrson - Copyright Concern
514 Old Hickory Ln
Ringgold GA 30736 USA
If you email us or use our problem submission form, we CANNOT guarantee we'll receive your notice!

jordan hill tony nominations dark knight trailer dallas mavericks washington capitals elizabeth warren delmon young

Gaming Heaven - Video Games - Memes, Captions, and Funny Videos

Create or find a funny Video Game Meme? Make sure to submit it here! Feel free to send in your own gameplay!

Like this:

Be the first to like this.

Incorrect source or offensive?

This meme was posted on Wednesday, June 27th, 2012 at 7:00 am

leigh espn greg oden st patricks day st. bonaventure ira glass march madness

The new Small Business Competency is HERE! - Welcome to the ...

J.J. Antequino

----------------------------------

Hopefully you are already aware of this, but I just wanted to make sure

Scroll down to read some of the benefits, but more importantly, click on the picture to be taken directly to the Small Business Competency page on the Microsoft Partner Network site for more details on these benefits.? Additionally, we have listed the requirements that you need to fulfill in order to earn your badge!

Finally, please make sure you check out Eric Ligman?s blog for a great write up on the competency and how you can save money by earning your competency before the end of the year!

[CLICK HERE FOR ERIC?S BLOG]

Small Business competency benefits

When you earn the Microsoft Small Business competency, you gain access to valuable benefits, such as:

• Internal-use software licenses
• Technical and sales training
• Microsoft competency logo
• Prioritized listings in customer directories
• Presales support

bears vs packers after christmas sales 2011 best ipad apps chris paul gift card exchange tj holmes waste management

Russell Brand Billboard Vandalized With Katy Perry Diss

Russell Brand's new TV show, Brand X, isn't getting much support.

At least not from funny graffiti artists around the greater L.A. area.

Check out this photo captured by TMZ of a billboard for it ...

Katy's movie isn't even out yet (check out the Katy Perry: Part of Me trailer), but some clever, adventurous vandal clearly isn't a fan of Russell's new show.

The billboard seen above is located on L.A.'s Sunset Blvd. Hey, if you're going to deface someone else's property, you might as well be somewhat creative.

FYI, you can check out Russell's Brand X tonight on FX after Charlie Sheen's much talked-about new show Anger Management and Louis CK's Louie.

prop 8 larry bird maria menounos proposition 8 ricky martin chauncey billups caucus results

Qualcomm announces its own SDK to give devs a leg up on Snapdragon

Qualcomm this morning announced the Snapdragon SDK at its Uplinq conference, "giving developers and device makers the ability to differentiate their applications on devices by exposing a new set of value-added features." Kinda makes you wonder what they were doing with them before, but SDKs, in are opinion, are good things any day of the week.

So what kind of things can hardware manufacturers (who really should have access to all this stuff anyway -- Qualcomm's just making it easier) have at their disposal? Here's another handy bullet list.

• facial processing, such as blink and smile detection, which makes it easier to take better pictures of people in groups;
• burst capture, which leverages zero shutter lag to photograph a stream of images at once to select the best shot;
• surround sound recording for better audio capture;
• hardware echo cancellation for better real-time audio experiences;
• sensor gestures (tap-left/tap-right, push/pull, face-up/face-down, tilt) that enable developers and device makers to push the envelope on new, differentiated user interfaces;
• low power always on geofencing capabilities; and
• indoor location that enables apps to continue providing accurate location information even when the user is indoors.

Some of these features should be plenty familiar, of course. Face-detection is nothing new, but Qualcomm's been giving it a big push in recent months. Same for burst photos, which you can find on just about any new phone. 

The SDK's in preview right now, with the full release coming later this year. We've got the full presser after the break.

read more

pee wee herman ketamine tracy morgan ground hogs day 2012 goundhog day punxsutawney facebook ipo

7.2 Trillion Degrees Fahrenheit! (talking-points-memo)

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

online black friday deals college football scores maggie daley black friday online deals black friday news gamestop albert haynesworth

Google Wins The Internet With A Live Skydiving Demo Of Google Glass

Well, that was unexpected. Google's Sergey Brin just stepped on stage at Moscone West to deliver a demo of Google Glass, and it involves a Google+ hangout conducted via their connected eyewear. Oh, and some guys just jumped out of a plane.

famu martina mcbride terry jones andy reid elf on the shelf elf on the shelf 2012 grammy nominations

Google Adds Movie Purchases, TV Shows, And Magazines To Google Play

The Google Play store already had thousands of movies for rental, as well as millions of songs from major labels available for purchase. It also had a pretty extensive collection of e-books -- the largest in the industry, Google claims. But it's bringing even more content to its Google Play store, with the addition of movie purchases, TV shows, and magazines becoming available on Android devices. That includes the ability to purchase movies -- not just rent them -- and have them available whenever users want to view them. In addition to movies, Google Play is adding TV shows, allowing users to purchase individual episodes or even full seasons of their favorite programming. While e-books have been popular, Google Play didn't previously have access to magazine titles, but it's changing that, as well, through partnership with some major magazine publishers.

joe pa joe pa marist south carolina primary results marco scutaro betty white ed reed

Zynga Boosts Support For Synchronous Multiplayer Mode In Several Games

Zynga said it is boosting support for synchronous multiplayer tournaments in its games. The company's starting with its recent arcade title Bubble Safari, which is a Match 3-type puzzle game where players have to match up three types of fruit in a row by shooting a cannon. Synchronous multiplayer basically means two or more people can compete with each other in real-time. Historically, Zynga has focused on asynchronous (or turn-based) play because it's easier for casual gamers to fit gameplay into their daily lives. In the new mode, you can either play with Facebook friends or strangers. Each game is 90 seconds. There's also chat so players can trash talk each other on the side. Developers also can tap into this platform, and offer special prizes on a leaderboard.

royal rumble results sag awards 2012 kyra sedgwick honor killings mary tyler moore x games pro bowl

Both sides claim victory in Arizona immigration ruling

Opponents of Arizona's immigration law react to the Supreme Court ruling (Ross D. Franklin/AP)

President Barack Obama and some of his top Democratic allies in Congress claimed victory Monday after the Supreme Court struck down key parts of a controversial Arizona law aimed at curbing undocumented immigration. But the justices' 5-3 ruling gave Republicans something to cheer by letting stand?for now?a core provision that allows police to check the immigration status of someone they stop. After the ruling, both sides touted the decision as a win.

[Join national affairs reporter Liz Goodwin at 4 p.m. ET for a Facebook discussion of why the court allowed parts of the Arizona law to stand.]

"I am pleased that the Supreme Court has struck down key provisions of Arizona's immigration law," Obama said in a statement.?"What this decision makes unmistakably clear is that Congress must act on comprehensive immigration reform. A patchwork?of state laws is not a solution to our broken immigration system?it's part of the problem."

Meanwhile, Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer immediately applauded the court's ruling as "a victory for the rule of law" and a "loss" for opponents of her state's approach. Brewer said police engaged in racial profiling would be punished.

"I am confident our officers are prepared to carry out this law responsibly and lawfully. Nothing less is acceptable," she said, noting that foes of the measure are sure to challenge it in court again if it is enforced unfairly.

The president said he was "concerned about the practical impact" of what critics have dubbed the "papers, please" provision. "We must ensure that Arizona law enforcement officials do not enforce this law in a manner that undermines the civil rights of Americans," he said.

Polls show immigration far behind the sputtering economy on the list of worries most pressing on voters' minds. But Obama has highlighted his approach to the issue as he steps up his efforts to win over and energize Latinos, a critical part of the coalition that powered his historic 2008 campaign. The president is expected to crush Mitt Romney among Latino voters, who could decide the outcome in a handful of critical battleground states.

Romney, who was due to attend a fundraiser in Arizona, said in a statement that the ruling highlighted the need for "a national immigration strategy" and accused Obama of having "failed to provide any leadership on immigration."

"I believe that each state has the duty?and the right?to secure our borders and preserve the rule of law, particularly when the federal government has failed to meet its responsibilities," Romney said, essentially contradicting the high court's findings. Justice Anthony Kennedy, writing in the majority opinion, declared that the federal government's "power to determine immigration policy is well settled." He went on: "Arizona may have under?standable frustrations with the problems caused by illegal?immigration while that process continues, but the State?may not pursue policies that undermine federal law."

Later, Romney said in Phoenix that "given the failure of the immigration policy in this country," he "would have preferred to see the Supreme Court give more latitude to the states not less."

"It's become a muddle. But it didn't have to be this way," Romney said, according to a pool report of his remarks, charging that Obama had "failed to lead" on the issue and that states and local government had tried to fill the resulting vacuum.

Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid hailed the court's decision, calling the Arizona law "not just ill-advised but also unconstitutional," and blamed Republicans for stalling efforts to overhaul what all sides agree is a broken immigration system. Reid also took a big whack at Romney.

"It is disturbing that Mitt Romney called the unconstitutional Arizona law a 'model' for immigration reform," he said, referring to the Republican candidate's comments in a Feb. 22 debate. "Laws that legalize discrimination are not compatible with our nation's ideals and traditions of equal rights, and the idea that such an unconstitutional law should serve as a 'model' for national reform is far outside the American mainstream."

(Asked in that debate about Arizona's tough approach, Romney had pledged to drop federal lawsuits against states that take similar approaches. But aides said that his description of the state as a "model" referred to its use of E-Verify, a federal database employers can use to check work eligibility.)

Arizona's Republican senators, John McCain and Jon Kyl, said in a joint statement that they would "fully review" the ruling but vowed to keep fighting "to secure our southern border" and accused Obama of enforcing immigration rules "based on a political agenda, not the laws as written by Congress."

"We believe Arizonans are better served when state and federal officials work as partners to protect our citizens rather than as litigants in a courtroom," the senators said.

"I will work with anyone in Congress who's willing to make progress on comprehensive immigration reform that addresses our economic needs and security needs, and upholds our tradition as a nation of laws and a nation of immigrants," Obama said. "And in the meantime, we will continue to use every federal resource to protect the safety and civil rights of all Americans, and treat all our people with dignity and respect."

Romney has struggled with immigration on the campaign trail: He said he would veto the DREAM Act if it passed when he was president. In a speech last week to Latino officials, he said he would offer a long-term solution that would "replace and supersede" Obama's decision to halt deportations of some 800,000 young undocumented immigrants brought to U.S. soil as children. But details of his plan remained vague.

The Republican base is fiercely anti-undocumented immigration. The Obama administration has carried out a record number of deportations?but conservatives accuse him of lax enforcement of the country's immigration laws.

Rick Santorum, who challenged Romney from the right, said in a statement on the court's ruling that "it's time for the federal government to step up to its constitutional responsibility to secure our borders, enforce our immigration laws fairly, and to partner with states rather than sue them to accomplish this important objective."

Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer said the Supreme Court had delivered "a stern warning" to Arizona regarding the implementation of that provision.

And "this decision tells us that states cannot take the law into their own hands," he said in a statement. "The only real solution to immigration reform is a comprehensive federal law."

the temptations rush limbaugh sandra fluke green book some like it hot whale shark whale shark duke university

Car Loan For Bad Credit | India News

Having a poor credit is surely one of hindrances when it comes to getting car loan successfully. There were times when applicants with bad credit ratings had to face problems of loan rejection. Thanks to the current market scenario and changed situation. Today, borrowers with bad credit score can face the deal of auto finance without having trouble.

alabama vs lsu bcs championship game beyonce baby detroit auto show tebow broncos ben roethlisberger downton abbey season 2

5th Tron Ashley Massaro | Bodybuilding, Supplements, Diets ...

---

?Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for ?fair use? for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.?

Popular Posts

Reason of stress

You may think it?s easy to identify your causes of stress and in some instances that may be true. However, that?s not always the case, and it is best to understand further what may induce stress so we can alleviate stress. Otherwise, stress can have very adverse affects on our physical and mental health. ? [...]

Benefits of pumpkin nutrition facts and health

The pumpkin is a highly nutritious vegetable because of its huge store of vitamins and antioxidants. It is rich in vitamin A and other antioxidants such as carotenes, xanthins and leutin. It is also low in calories and hence is one of the widely grown vegetable in the world. Pumpkins come in various sizes, shapes [...]

Exercises in home

The beauty of at home exercises is that you can do them anywhere and anytime without taking money out of the bank. If you are someone who is on a budget, travels frequently, or doesn?t have the time to get to a gym, I encourage you to utilize these free fitness routines and exercises listed [...]

Arnold Classic 2012 List of Participants

As always in the spring, from 1 to 4 March in Columbus, Ohio, will take place Sports Festival Arnold Classic 2012. Remaining 68 days up to hour ?X?. At that time Brench Warren returns to the stage to defend his title at the 24th annual Arnold Classic Sports Festival 2012. Warren, who won the Arnold [...]

eastman kodak richard cordray shannon de lima joe torre west virginia university michele bachmann jessica biel

PFT: Tebow 'will not root against' Sanchez

AP

Since it?s supposed to be a slow week, here?s an item that is best suited for consideration during a slow week.

Colts owner Jim Irsay has taken to Twitter to call me out personally for a joke included at the bottom of a Saturday item regarding Irsay?s position that marketing rights aren?t holding up an eventual contract with quarterback Andrew Luck.

Since most of the latest available pictures of Luck show him wearing a mortar board and a gown tied and draped over his shoulders like an Andy Bernard sweater, and given that the topic of the item was Luck?s marketing rights via the poorly-crafted tweets of Jim Irsay, I closed with this:? ?Luck likely will be free to endorse whatever he wants to endorse, including the use of images of his Stanford graduation to be included in a campaign for online courses aimed at teaching rich, middle-aged white guys how to type legibly on Twitter.?

It was a slap at Irsay?s notorious habit of oft-indecipherable Twitter messages, and using the term ?rich, middle-aged white guys? was aimed at describing Irsay?s overall demographic.

Irsay didn?t see it that way.? On Monday morning, Irsay started the debate with this:

Then, without a response, he said this:

I considered not taking the bait; after all, the guy owns an NFL team.? But like I mentioned above, it?s slow right now.? Also, I wasn?t entirely comfortable with the not-so-subtle effort to suggest that I expect only white people to type legible Twitter message.? (For the record, I expect everyone to type legibly on Twitter.)? Besides, Irsay asked a question.? The least I could do was answer it.

A loyal PFT reader (I knew there was at least one) thereafter responded to the kerfuffle. Irsay then replied to Wes LaFever?s tweet with this:

So, basically, Jim Irsay thinks I?m a racist and I don?t like old people (even though I?m now seven years into the legally-protected class of old people) and I don?t like rich people (even though I?d very much like to be one, someday).

Wow.? He really has cracked the code.

Now if only I could crack the code for interpreting 99.8 percent of his Twitter messages, this job would be a lot easier.

nfl draft 2012 whitney mercilus 2012 nfl draft picks andrew luck andrew luck trent richardson robert griffin iii

Greek prime minister leaves hospital

ATHENS, Greece (AP) ? Greece's new prime minister was released from hospital Monday, two days after undergoing eye surgery that will prevent him from traveling to a European Union summit in Brussels this week.

The Brussels meeting comes just a week after Greece's new coalition government was formed following months of political turmoil and two inconclusive national elections. It was to have been a key test of Greece's hopes of renegotiating some of the austerity measures taken in return for its international bailout, under which it has received billions of euros in rescue loans from the International Monetary Fund and other European Union countries that use the euro.

The country's incoming finance minister, meanwhile, remains hospitalized after collapsing last week, before he could be sworn in. The ill-health that struck the top echelons of the country's new government forced the postponement of a visit to Athens by the country's international debt inspectors, known as the Troika ? representatives from the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the IMF.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman, Steffen Seibert, said that because the Troika needs to first travel to Athens to determine where things stand with Greece's reform program and then inform the EU, it would be premature to expect any new decisions at the June 28-29 summit.

"That's why we don't expect any sort of a resolution at the EU council on Greece," he said.

Prime Minister Antonis Samaras underwent an operation to repair a detached retina on Saturday morning, and his doctors have said he will have to remain at home for several days to recover, although he can accept visits.

The designated finance minister, Vassilis Rapanos, was hospitalized Friday suffering from intense abdominal pain, dizziness, weakness and nausea Friday, hours before he was due to be sworn in to office. The hospital said over the weekend that his condition was improving, but it has given no details about what he is suffering from. He underwent further tests on Monday, and state NET television said he was expected to be released by Tuesday.

It was unclear when the posptponed Troika visit would take place.

"First, our concern is for the health of the prime minister and finance minister," European Commission spokesman Amadeu Altafaj Tardio said in Brussels. "They have a very long road ahead."

He said the Troika would head to Greece "as soon as possible. Both sides are interested in carrying out this assessment as soon as possible."

Samaras has appointed Foreign Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos to lead the Greek delegation at the June 28-29 summit.

Samaras' government, comprised of his New Democracy conservatives, their long-time socialist rivals PASOK and the small Democratic Left party, issued a policy statement on Saturday outlining changes it would like to make to the terms of its international bailout agreement with other EU countries and the International Monetary Fund. The changes include repealing certain tax hikes, freezing public sector layoffs and extending by two years the mid-2014 deadline for tough austerity measures.

But the government will still have to find other ways to make savings, as it tries to reform its economy and continue receiving funds from its rescue loans. And whether the government can deliver on its pledges to renegotiate some terms of the bailout will depend on how they are viewed by Greece's international creditors.

Germany, the largest single contributor, has repeatedly said Athens must stick to delivering on the spending cuts it has promised in return for billions of euros (dollars) in rescue loans. Measures taken so far include slashing public spending, cutting salaries and pensions and increasing taxes across the board.

Speaking in Luxembourg on the sidelines of a meeting of EU foreign ministers Monday, Germany's Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said the Troika must now determine how much time was lost with the Greek elections.

"But one thing is clear," he said, according to a transcript of his comments provided by the German Foreign Ministry. "We cannot allow everything to be negotiated again. We can also not allow discounts to be granted. What has been decided upon stands. That the election campaigns have cost time is obvious. That's the situation and we have to deal with it. But the fact remains that the agreements must be implemented."

Altafaj Tardio also stressed that "Greece has to face its financial obligations," adding that before any further funds can be disbursed, "there has to be a thorough analysis."

"It's no secret that there have been delays in several areas of implementation," he said. Once the Troika does arrive in Athens, its review will figure out "how we can get Greece back on track."

The latest figures released by the finance ministry Monday showed that the budget deficit for the first five months of the year was better than expected, standing at ?10.87 billion ($13.63 billion) instead of the target of ?12.89 ($16.17) on a modified cash basis.

Revenue, however, was below target with the state budget net revenue standing at ?19.666 billion, ?926 million short of the targeted ?20.592 billion, due in part to lower domestic consumer demand and lower tax revenues.

The ministry said that "this revenue shortfall was more than compensated for by the savings in State Budget expenditures for the first five months of 2012."

In preparation for the summit, Avramopoulos met on Monday with outgoing Finance Minister Giorgos Zanias ? who still holds the official title as Rapanos has not been officially sworn in ? Development Minister Costis Hatzidakis, Deputy Development Minister Notis Mitarakis and Alternative Finance Minister Christos Staikouras, as well as with the government spokesman.

Separately, Samaras' office said the prime minister would speak by phone Monday evening with US President Barack Obama.

____

David Rising in Berlin and Toby Sterling in Brussels contributed.

constitution day coachella 2012 dolly parton stephen colbert running for president richard threlkeld moonrise kingdom coachella lineup

Presti: Jackson, Van Gundy rumors are 'rubbish'

Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Scott Brooks watches action against the Miami Heat during the first half at Game 5 of the NBA finals basketball series, Thursday, June 21, 2012, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Scott Brooks watches action against the Miami Heat during the first half at Game 5 of the NBA finals basketball series, Thursday, June 21, 2012, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) ? General manager Sam Presti dismissed reports that 11-time NBA champion Phil Jackson or former New York Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy could be the next coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder, saying an extension with Scott Brooks is a top priority.

"To me, it's rubbish," Presti said Sunday when asked about an ESPN report that Jackson and Van Gundy were being considered as options if Brooks couldn't be re-signed.

Brooks led Oklahoma City to the NBA Finals last season, but his current contract runs out at the end of the month. He has overseen a steady development since taking over the Thunder early in the 2008-09 season.

After winning 23 games that first season, Brooks took Oklahoma City to the playoffs in 2010, then to the Western Conference finals in 2011 before this season's five-game loss to the Miami Heat in the finals.

Jackson is retired but has left the door open to returning in the right circumstances. Van Gundy is now a commentator for ESPN and ABC.

"Scotty is an integral part of our organization and critical to our success," Presti said. "We value him greatly and we're looking forward to having those (contract) conversations, as he said, in the coming days.

"He's been integral to our success. We wouldn't be the situation that we're in without him and his commitment to our organization and our players."

While Presti put Brooks' contract negotiations at the top of his list, it's an expansive list of issues to tackle after coming within three wins of a championship.

Sixth Man of the Year James Harden, NBA blocks leader Serge Ibaka and backup point guard Eric Maynor are eligible for contract extensions this July, although all are already signed for next season. Veteran contributors Derek Fisher and Nazr Mohammed are set to become unrestricted free agents, along with reserve Royal Ivey.

That's a lot of pieces to try and fit into a financial puzzle that already includes the high-dollar, long-term contracts of All-Stars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.

"We've got to be able to build a team that can win year in and year out, and those are the challenges that have to be balanced," Presti said. "We love the group we have and we're going to work tirelessly to see if we can make it work here but we understand that there are some inherent challenges and that's part of the new (collective bargaining) system."

Presti wouldn't say if the franchise was open to exceeding the salary cap and paying the league's luxury tax in order to keep the roster together.

"What I can tell you is that we're going to do everything we can to make it work. We're going to put everything toward it," Presti said.

Each of the players facing contract decisions expressed an interest in returning to the Thunder. A day earlier, Maynor openly discussed the potential that the players would need to "sacrifice" to make it work. Harden said he loved playing for Oklahoma City and suggested the possibility of a dynasty being built by the Thunder.

"Those guys obviously care a lot about the organization, they care a lot about playing here and, I think, very much about winning. But at the end of the day, those are personal decisions," Presti said.

"We're not ones to judge anyone in those respects. We're going to do what we can to try to make it work for them and to make it work for us."

Since relocating from Seattle in 2008, the Thunder have largely been able to grow with young talent playing on less expensive rookie contracts. As the team has grown older and more successful, the cost of doing business has grown.

"The challenges of that, quite frankly, are the challenges you have when you're a good team," Presti said, "and the decisions that you have to make, especially under a new system, as we try to learn that system and understand it and ultimately make some decisions about what we feel like is the best way to build a team in Oklahoma City that's capable of competing year in and year out and giving ourselves a chance to win both in the in short and long term."

Associated Press

dre kirkpatrick mls superdraft school cancellations bald barbie peoples choice awards deplorable mls draft

Most commonly mutated gene in cancer 'may play role in stroke'

Researchers have found that the gene p53, which is the most commonly mutated gene in cancer, has a novel role in the development of ischemic stroke.

p53 is dubbed the "guardian of the genome" because it blocks cells with damaged DNA from propagating and eventually becoming cancerous.

However, new research led by Ute M. Moll, M.D., Professor of Pathology at Stony Brook University School of Medicine, and colleagues, uncovers a novel role for p53 beyond cancer in the development of ischemic stroke.

The team identified an unexpected critical function of p53 in activating necrosis, an irreversible form of tissue death, triggered during oxidative stress and ischemia.

Ischemia-associated oxidative damage leads to irreversible necrosis which is a major cause of catastrophic tissue loss.

Elucidating its signalling mechanism is of paramount importance. p53 is a central cellular stress sensor that responds to multiple insults including oxidative stress and is known to orchestrate apoptotic and autophagic types of cell death.

However, it was previously unknown whether p53 can also activate oxidative stress-induced necrosis, a regulated form of cell death that depends on the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (PTP) pore.

"We identified an unexpected and critical function of p53 in activating necrosis: In response to oxidative stress in normal healthy cells, p53 accumulates in the mitochondrial matrix and triggers the opening of the PTP pore at the inner mitochondrial membrane, leading to collapse of the electrochemical gradient and cell necrosis," Moll said.

"p53 acts via physical interaction with the critical PTP regulator Cyclophylin D (CypD). This p53 action occurs in cultured cells and in ischemic stroke in mice," Moll said.

They found in their model that when the destructive p53-CypD complex is blocked from forming by using Cyclosporine-A type inhibitors, the brain tissue is strongly protected from necrosis and stroke is prevented.

"The findings fundamentally expand our understanding of p53-mediated cell death networks.

"The data also suggest that acute temporary blockade of the destructive p53-CypD complex with clinically well-tolerated Cyclosporine A-type inhibitors may lead to a therapeutic strategy to limit the extent of an ischemic stroke in patients," Moll said.

Yusuf A. Hannun, M.D., Director of the Stony Brook University Cancer Center, also commented on the role of p53.

"p53 is one of the most important genes in cancer and by far the most studied," Hannun said.

"Therefore, this discovery by Dr. Moll and her colleagues in defining the mechanism of a new p53 function and its importance in necrotic injury and stoke is truly spectacular," he added.

The study has been published online in Cell. (ANI)

sylvia plath whitney houston whitney houston autopsy results obama trayvon jim yong kim michael bush the host trailer

Justin Bieber: What Comes After Believe?

MTV News has the scoop on Bieber's next single, fall tour and Mark Wahlberg movie.
By Jocelyn Vena

<P>Now that <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/bieber_justin/artist.jhtml">Justin Bieber</a> has dropped <a href="/news/articles/1687691/justin-bieber-believe-album-details.jhtml"><i>Believe,</i></a> you might be wondering what's up next for the 18-year-old. Well, between supporting his album and a burgeoning film career, the pop star shows no signs of stopping.</P><P>Bieber is still in the deciding process of nailing down just which track off <i>Believe</i> will be the next single, following up his smash hit <a href="/news/articles/1682090/justin-bieber-justin-timberlake-maturity.jhtml">"Boyfriend."</a> And when MTV News spoke to Bieber's manager, Scooter Braun, he noted that there are several candidates from the album that seem like a likely follow-up release.</P><P>"We haven't picked the next single," he said. "We're gonna see how different songs react off the album. <a href="/news/articles/1687783/justin-bieber-big-sean-true-g.jhtml">'As Long As You Love Me' [with Big Sean]</a> is getting a lot of love, so is <a href="/news/articles/1686566/justin-bieber-ludacris-all-around-the-world.jhtml">'All Around The World' [with Ludacris].</a> So is <a href="/news/articles/1687838/justin-bieber-die-in-your-arms-michael-jackson.jhtml">'Die In Your Arms.'</a> 'Beauty and the Beat' is coming with the album. We're gonna see what the next single is. We're gonna figure that out."</P><P></p><div class="player-placeholder right" title="Justin Bieber Proving His Haters Wrong With 'Good Music'" id="vid:793035.id:1687833" width="415" height="255"></div><p></P><P>The guys are also in the process of figuring out how the massive, already <a href="/news/articles/1686358/justin-bieber-believe-tour.jhtml">sold-out world tour</a> will look when it kicks off in September. "The tour starts at the end of September ... by the end of 2013 we're gonna hit the whole world," he explained. "He has been watching a tremendous amount of Michael Jackson concerts from the '80s and '90s. And he has been talking to me about how Michael incorporated magic and pyro and reveals and he wants to bring in that. [But] still do that acoustic thing, but he wants to take it to a whole new level.</P><P>"It's just really exciting," he continued. "Nothing makes him happier than being onstage. So it's gonna be fun to get back onto the road. I think he was an amazing performer before, but his level of dance and musicianship and his range [has grown]. He's a veteran now. I think he wants to take it to a completely new level."</P><P>Not only will Bieber stay busy in the music world, but Mark Wahlberg notes that things are also chugging along with their long-teased, in-the-works <a href="/news/articles/1687903/mark-wahlberg-justin-bieber-movie.jhtml">basketball movie</a>. The actor insists they are inching closer to a start date. And, Wahlberg is co-signing Bieber's acting abilities.</P><P>"Obviously, [Bieber] is a very good athlete. People have seen him on MTV; he can play. But I also really think he can act," he said. "There's not going to be any shortage of pushing him in getting that kind of strong performance out of him, if we get to make the movie. We're just going to have to make him realize that he's playing a character so he can't have the same hairdo," he joked.</P><P></p><div class="player-placeholder right" title="Mark Wahlberg Says New Bieber Film Is Like 'Color Of Money'" id="vid:792981" width="415" height="255"></div><p></p>

Related Videos

• 'Bieber Live'

Related Photos

• The Evolution Of: Justin Bieber

zambrano orange bowl tim howard goal ben gibbard nfl playoff schedule tim howard scores nick cannon kidney failure

Megaupload Founder Kim Dotcom Returns to Twitter, Promotes ?Megabox?

Kim Dotcom, the quixotic millionaire founder of file-sharing service Megaupload who?s wanted for extradition to the U.S., returned to Twitter this week to prove to the world he?s still creating new platforms despite his entanglements with law enforcement.

Dotcom also used the new account to announce that ?Megabox,? a new music discovery and sharing service, is still on its way despite his still being under arrest. He?s previously said that Megabox, which would compete with similar platforms such as Spotify, would let artists keep almost 90% of the profits made from their music.

Dotcom, arrested in New Zealand after file-sharing service Megaupload was brought down on charges of computer piracy in January, has also been using the reactivated Twitter account (@kimdotcom) mostly to post photos and thank supporters during his ongoing extradition hearing. In true Dotcom style, he?s also been poking fun at his situation, tweeting jokes about the FBI and police.

He?s also met with Apple founder Steve Wozniak, who visited him in New Zealand.

Dotcom?s assets have been frozen and he remains under house arrest in New Zealand while a court weighs the American extradition request. U.S. law enforcement officials have accused Dotcom and his staff of being a part of the ?Mega Conspiracy, a worldwide criminal organization whose members engaged in criminal copyright infringement and money laundering on a massive scale.?

The fate of the data still stored on Megaupload?s servers is still unknown. The Electronic Frontier Foundation is suing the Federal Bureau of Investigation over the files, which the EFF argues that the site?s users have a right to access.

What should happen to the Megaupload data? Share your opinion in the comments.

BONUS: The Strange and Epic Lifestyle of Megaupload?s Kim Dotcom

View As Slideshow ?

Until recently, Kim Dotcom was the top Modern Warfare 3 player in the world. He even apparently posted a video to prove it. We imagine it's tough to maintain such a coveted position while being held in jail for multiple copyright violations.

---

The Megaupload kingpin claims to have paid $500,000 for the City of Auckland to put on a 2011 New Year's firework display. In case any Kiwi were to forget who was funding the awesomeness, he produced a video replete with on-screen identification of his whereabouts during the show. "Yeah, that's me in my personal helicopter!"

---

3. Mega Man

Dotcom stands 6 feet 7 inches tall, and tips the scales at 300 pounds, according to CNET. No one really knows his exact measurements though. All reports we've seen have him measured differently so whatever his exact height and weight are, it's easy to see that his physical size matches his personality and ego.

---

4. Surname Switch

He legally changed his surname from Schmitz to Dotcom in homage to the beloved World Wide Web that made him famous.

---

5. Financial Bravado and a 9/11 Bounty

He once fancied himself an anti-terrorism fighter by offering a bounty of $10 million for Osama bin Laden after 9/11. He started a group called Young Intelligent Hackers Against Terrorism. He was so kind as to offer the authorities on the hunt a little of his own advice:

"Try Looking in Kandahar in Afghanistan. He visits his wife and daughter there at least once a month."

Image courtesy of iStock, Vesnaandjic

---

According to Vanity Fair, Dotcom is a "skilled and very fast driver" who raced in and won the Gumball 3000 in 2005. He bet that he would beat two of the female drivers. If they finished before him, he'd give them each $500,000. If he won, they had to join him in a threesome. No report on what came of that.

According to the Wall Street Journal, we do know that when he was arrested, police confiscated 21 luxury cars.

---

Even when the game seemed to be up, Mr. Dotcom orchestrated a flamboyant exit. Police had to cut their way through electronic locks to a saferoom, where they found him clutching a gun.

Image courtesy of iStock, zentilia

---

Dotcom generated a spectacle wherever he went, often surrounded by cars and women, and wearing his trademark black outfit. He was even known to jump into hot tubs fully clothed. He made movies about himself racing cars, flirting with women, and riding in helicopters and private jets.

---

9. Dubious Wealth Creation

According to The New York Times, in 2001 he reportedly made more than $1 million when he allegedly bought shares in a struggling website, then falsely announced he would make a major investment, only to then sell his shares once the price went up after his announcement. He then defended himself by appearing on a popular late-night show, claiming people hated him because they didn't like his lifestyle. He then fled to Thailand before ultimately being apprehended.

?

---

10. Big Time Friends

He commissioned this well-produced music video starring many celebrities supporting the site, ostensibly in part to rub Megaupload in the face of copyright holders. Much controversy ensued.

---

wiz khalifa taylor allderdice eddie royal brandon marshall iditarod nfl free agents 2012 encyclopedia brittanica nfl free agency

Blazing Sun Run aims to help troops overseas

Turkey's foreign minister huddled with top officials Saturday after Syria shot down a Turkish military jet that had apparently entered Syrian airspace, a ministry spokesman said.

Foreign Minister Ahmed Davutoglu chaired meetings about the ongoing sear...

Read More ?

dog show best in show bret michaels bret michaels pekingese ups tcu football

Encon launch NEW mobile website - your chance to win an iPhone 4S

Key features of the NEW mobile website include: Product Search Search by Application, Manufacturer and Product Type to find the right product for you quickly and efficiently Branch Locator Search through our extensive list of branches to find relevant contact information or allow our website to automatically locate the nearest three branches to you Price Changes Our price changes page is constantly updated so you are kept fully up to date of any manufacturer price change in the industry News Read about company news and product information on the move with our mobile news page

Since we launched our existing website we have received nothing but positive feedback for our customer focused and user friendly information.

We did however notice a growing number of website visitors using their mobile devices to view our mobile. We have therefore designed our new market leading Encon mobile website incorporating the most frequently used aspects of the current website.

By visiting our website on a mobile device you can not only find all product and branch contact information, you can also enter our prize draw where one lucky visitor drawn at random will will a brand new iPhone 4S.

Simply visit our website from a mobile device and scroll to the bottom of the homepage to be in with a chance to win the prize. Click this link to read more about our mobile website and prize draw, and here for the competitions terms and conditions.

Click here to find out more about: Encon Insulation Ltd

N.B. The information contained in this entry is provided by the above supplier, and does not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the publisher

Product News

Read the latest product news from our newsdesk

Brett Martin keeps Titanic building dry 20-Jun-2012 Plastic building products manufacturer Brett Martin Plumbing and Drainage has ensured that the 97million Titanic building in the heart of Belfast, Northern Ireland stays on solid ground on the banks of the river Lagan.

Elite goes compact 20-Jun-2012 Bathroom manufacturer Elite Ceramics International has launched the SP580, a compact, one piece WC.

Kingspan saves water 18-Jun-2012 Kingspan Water's Rainstore is a range of large water storage tanks, in a smart granite-look finish, each featuring a built-in tap, diverter kit, submersible pump and hosepipe connection.

To have your product news considered for inclusion contact editor Fiona Russell-Horne on 020 8651 7066 or click here to email.

mark buehrle mark buehrle rick perry ad rick perry ad dragnet dragnet immaculate conception

Intermolecular interactions and high dielectric energy storage density in poly(vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene)/poly(vinylidene fluoride) blend thin films

Scitation requires that your system supports and accepts cookies. To access Scitation, please ensure that your browser, firewall or network configuration is set to allow cookies from our site. For further assistance, please contact our Scitation Help Desk.

If you continue to receive this message, or believe you have received this message in error, please contact our Help Desk:

Email:help@scitation.org

Phone:
1-800-874-6383 - 7:00 to 17:00 , Monday - Friday only (United States and Canada)
1-516-576-2664 - 7:00 to 17:00, Monday - Friday only (other locations) 1-516-576-2691 - 15:00 to 23:00, Monday - Friday only
(All times USA Eastern Time)

Using your browser's "Back" button may bring you to this page again. Please click here to return to Scitation, or visit again later.

sheree whitfield weather dallas pat summitt real housewives of atlanta colton bo ryan the last waltz

UN's Annan: Iran should be part of Syria solution

Kofi Annan, right, Joint Special Envoy of the United Nations and the Arab League for Syria, next to Major-General Robert Mood, left, head of the UN Supervision Mission in Syria and Chief Military Observer speaks during a press briefing at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, Friday, June 22, 2012. Annan says he believes Iran should be involved in efforts to end the violence in Syria. He says he is working to convene a so-called `contact group' meeting on Syria in Geneva on June 30. (AP Photo/Keystone, Martial Trezzini)

Kofi Annan, right, Joint Special Envoy of the United Nations and the Arab League for Syria, next to Major-General Robert Mood, left, head of the UN Supervision Mission in Syria and Chief Military Observer speaks during a press briefing at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, Friday, June 22, 2012. Annan says he believes Iran should be involved in efforts to end the violence in Syria. He says he is working to convene a so-called `contact group' meeting on Syria in Geneva on June 30. (AP Photo/Keystone, Martial Trezzini)

Kofi Annan, right, Joint Special Envoy of the United Nations and the Arab League for Syria and Major-General Robert Mood, left, head of the UN Supervision Mission in Syria and Chief Military Observer, attend a press briefing at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, Friday, June 22, 2012. Annan says he believes Iran should be involved in efforts to end the violence in Syria. He says he is working to convene a so-called `contact group' meeting on Syria in Geneva on June 30. (AP Photo/Keystone, Martial Trezzini)

This citizen journalism image provided by Shaam News Network SNN and taken on Thursday, June 21, 2012, purports to show smoke from shelling rising up from buildings in the Khaldiyeh neighborhood of Homs province, central Syria. (AP Photo/Shaam News Network, SNN)THE ASSOCIATED PRESS IS UNABLE TO INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE AUTHENTICITY, CONTENT, LOCATION OR DATE OF THIS HANDOUT PHOTO

GENEVA (AP) ? U.N. envoy Kofi Annan said Friday that Iran should be involved in efforts to end the escalating violence that has claimed thousands of lives and forced hundreds of thousands of people from their homes.

Annan, the joint U.N.-Arab League envoy, told reporters that he is working to convene a so-called "contact group" meeting on Syria in Geneva on June 30. The United States has vehemently opposed the involvement of Iran, which Russia has demanded. Annan said the composition of the meeting is one of the sticking points that may not be resolved until next week.

"I have made it quite clear that I believe Iran should be part of the solution," the former U.N. secretary general told reporters in Geneva, flanked by Maj. Gen. Robert Mood, the head of the struggling U.N. observer mission in Syria. "If we continue the way we are going and competing with each other, it could lead to destructive competition and everyone will pay the price."

Annan said it was "time for countries of influence to raise the level of pressure on the parties on the ground." However, he had no specific proposals for changing his six-point peace plan, which he said Syria had not yet implemented but still might support in the future.

"The longer we wait, the darker Syria's future becomes," Annan said. "The humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate. ... We cannot just step back and do nothing."

Mood praised the work of his 300 U.N. monitors, whose mandate ends next month. He conceded, however, that they are now largely confined to bureaucratic tasks and calling Syrians by phone because of the insecurity and dangers on the ground.

"They are keen to resume their work. Their commitment to the Syrian people has not faltered," he said. "Whether more observers or arming observers would be relevant to the situation on the ground, I'm far from convinced that that would help the situation on the ground."

The increasing militarization of both sides in the conflict has Syria lurching toward civil war. The failure of Annan's internationally brokered peace plan has made it more difficult for outside observers, humanitarian workers and supplies to get in, or reliable information to filter out.

"To be unarmed in a situation with ongoing violence is now always comfortable, but on the other hand it is our main source of strength," Mood said.

Activists say more than 14,000 people have been killed since the uprising against President Bashar Assad's regime began in March last year. U.N. officials said Friday that an agreement by Syria to allow in aid workers and supplies to four of the hardest-hit provinces has been delayed by the steady violence.

So far, only reconnaissance missions to prepare for the aid workers and supplies have been conducted, U.N. humanitarian officials said.

In Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Moscow's arms supplies to Syria fully conform to international law. Lavrov said he would tell U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton at their meeting set for next week that Russia sees no need to justify its action.

Clinton issued a harsh reprimand to Russia last week, saying that Moscow "dramatically" escalated the crisis in Syria by sending attack helicopters there. The State Department acknowledged later that the helicopters were actually refurbished ones already owned by the Syrian regime.

Russia has continued to provide Syria's government with weapons despite its violent crackdown on a popular uprising that began in March 2011.

___

Frank Jordans in Geneva and Vladimir Isachenkov in Moscow contributed to this report.

Associated Press

thanksgiving crafts matt cassel snowman playstation network down houston astros google music 2013 ford escape