Does Wii have a problem with U? - Business - Macleans.ca

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Does Wii have a problem with U?

Photo illustration by Andrew Tolson

Nintendo?s 2006 launch of the Wii console marked a new era for video games. With its innovative motion-sensing controllers, used to mimic the swing of a tennis racquet or golf club, the $250 Wii immediately struck a chord with gamers and non-gamers alike. Amazon sold out of its initial stock of sleek, white Wii consoles in just seven minutes.

The Wii?s unexpected success catapulted third-ranked Nintendo to the top of the video game industry, ahead of Microsoft?s Xbox 360 and Sony?s PlayStation 3?both of which are more powerful (and more expensive) machines. More importantly, it suggested a much wider potential market for game consoles beyond basement-dwelling teenagers.

But the renaissance has proved short-lived. Console sales have declined dramatically in recent years as existing systems grow long in the tooth. Nintendo posted a loss of $530 million this year, its first since 1981. And competition from tablets and smartphones, with their cheap, downloadable games, threatens to steal away millions of casual gamers. ?Tablets and smartphones are the black hole of the consumer electronics industry right now, sucking the growth out of everything else,? says Kaan Yigit, the president of Toronto?s Solutions Research Group, a consumer research firm. ?The growth rates we saw after Wii first came out are but a distant memory.?

It?s into this maw of uncertainty that Nintendo recently launched its Wii successor: the Wii U. With its tablet-like GamePad controller, Wii U promises to once again rethink the video game experience by adding a second screen to the action. Yet, despite strong initial sales, few expect a repeat performance. Critics say the Wii U?s attempt to mix tablets and television is actually more confusing than engaging, and is not nearly as innovative as the original Wii. Nor is there any reason to believe Sony and Microsoft will fare any better when they roll out their own next-generation systems over the next few years.

Video game consoles, for a brief time, seemed like the future of household electronics. They married video games with online services like Xbox Live and the PlayStation Network, as well as Netflix. But these days everyone from Apple and Google to local cable and satellite providers are racing to bridge the Internet-TV divide. Mario, in other words, may have finally met his match.

Nintendo?s immediate challenge is convincing consumers the Wii U actually represents a step up from its predecessor?one that?s worth the $300 sticker price ($350 if you buy the ?deluxe? set, which includes the game Nintendo Land). ?What was great about Wii is that someone else could watch you playing and understand exactly what you were doing,? says Matt Ryan, a spokesperson for Nintendo Canada. ?They knew the Wii remote controller was your tennis racquet, golf club or sword.?

Not so with the Wii U. Although the GamePad also acts as a motion controller, a big bulky one that?s festooned with buttons and joysticks, the real innovation comes from the tablet?s six-inch touchscreen. ?The core essence of what the Wii U GamePad offers is a second window, or perspective, into the gaming world on the TV screen,? Ryan says. For example, sometimes the GamePad?s screen will display information that might normally be available only by pushing a button?say, an overhead map of the world being explored by Mario and his brother, Luigi. Other times, it might be used to keep certain information secret from other players, or to give one player the ability to influence the game through the touchscreen. It?s called asymmetrical gaming, and while it sounds complex, it?s not new. Most card games are based on the concept that some information?like a poker player?s hand? is kept secret from other players.

The reviews have so far been mixed. ?I?ve played Nintendo Land, I?ve played ZombiU, and they?re good,? Peter Molyneux, a game designer and former Microsoft executive, told the website Games Industry, referring to two of the Wii U?s hottest titles. ?But I find holding the device in my hand?looking up at the screen and looking down at the device?slightly confusing.?

Nintendo says it has sold about 400,000 Wii U units in North America since they went on sale Nov. 18. But what happens once all of the game enthusiasts get their hands on the first brand-new console in six years? One recent report by media research firm IHS predicted the Wii U would sell on par with its predecessor initially, but that sales would soon slow. IHS estimated 56.7 million units sold during the first four years, compared with 76 million for the original Wii.

Not surprisingly, game consoles in general are losing their top-of-mind status among young buyers. A recent survey by media research firm Neilsen found that the iPad was the must-have gadget on the holiday wish lists of children aged 6 to 12. Wii U was second, followed by three more Apple products: the iPod Touch, iPad Mini and iPhone. The Xbox 360 and PS3 were even further down the list.

Others, however, say it may be too soon to declare ?game over? for the industry. Lewis Ward, a Boston-based analyst with research firm IDC, blames slowing sales on the sluggish U.S. economy and the fact that all three platforms had reached the end of their life cycle. ?There are a lot of dour predictions about where consoles are going,? says Ward, who predicts a successor to the Xbox 360 will be unveiled by the end of 2013 with an all-new PlayStation coming shortly after. ?But I do expect a rebound over the next several years, assuming that we don?t have another massive macro-economic downturn.? Buoyed by the new hardware, Ward forecasts North American sales of game consoles hitting 20 million units by 2014, compared to just under 16 million this year. That?s up nearly 25 per cent, although still off the peak of 25 million units sold in 2008. As for the threat from tablets, Ward says hand-held game devices like Nintendo?s 3DS and Sony?s PS Vita are most at risk. ?The console experience is different for a number of reasons?particularly among the hard-core crowd who play shooters,? he says, using the video game slang for trigger-happy first-person games like Halo and Call of Duty. ?It?s the graphics and surround sound. If you?re going to be playing for hours, you don?t want to be playing on a touchscreen.?

Console makers may have another ace up their sleeve as they attempt to build their market beyond teens and other hard-core gamers. Though it?s not currently their main focus, Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo are all well positioned to capitalize on the growing trend toward streamed television. All three consoles already offer families an easy way to get Netflix on their TV sets (Sony claims the PS3 is the most-used Netflix device) while some Xbox and PS3 users have access to live sports content through ESPN and MLB TV apps. Nintendo will be offering a TVii app on the Wii U that allows users to combine television content from multiple sources, ranging from Netflix to traditional cable, and access it through a single interface: the GamePad. ?The game consoles are trying to co-opt all the TV stuff,? Ward says, adding that the future of TV watching will be highly interactive, with tablets and other ?smart? devices all thrown into the mix. (Microsoft already has an application called Xbox SmartGlass that allows users to use their smartphones and tablets as a second screen for some games, as well as remote controls.)

Ironically, it?s in the midst of this jumble of technology that the Wii U, as muddled as it initially seems, actually makes the most sense. ?The Wii U GamePad forces players to confront one of the strangest features of the contemporary media ecosystem: the tension between the television and the hand-held computer,? Ian Bogost, a video game designer and professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology, wrote in an essay published on the website Gamasutra. Playing the Wii U feels awkward, he says, because having our attention divided between the TV and the Internet is awkward. But given this is where the living room is headed?most TV viewers already surf the web and check Facebook while watching their favourite sitcoms?Nintendo appears to be wholeheartedly embracing the shift, rather than fighting it.

Ultimately, that could prove far more innovative than a game controller you waggle over your head.

Source: http://www2.macleans.ca/2012/12/16/does-wii-have-a-problem/

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Plant sniffs out danger to prepare defenses against pesky insect

[ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 17-Dec-2012
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Contact: Matthew Swayne
mls29@psu.edu
814-865-9481
Penn State

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- A plant may start to prime its defenses as soon as it gets a whiff of a male fly searching for a mate, according to Penn State entomologists. Once tall goldenrod plants smell a sex attractant emitted by true fruit fly males, they appear to prepare chemical defenses that make them less appealing to female flies that could damage the plants by depositing eggs on them, the researchers said.

"It's become increasingly clear in recent years that plants are responsive to odors," said Mark Mescher, assistant professor of entomology. "But previous examples of this are all plant-to-plant. For example, some plants have been shown to respond to the odor of insect-damaged neighbors by priming their own defenses. What's new about this is that it seems that plants may sometimes be able to smell the insects themselves."

A tall goldenrod plant's reaction to these odors also appears to make it less attractive to other insects that might feed on it, according to the researchers, who reported their findings in the current issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

In a field study, the researchers exposed some plants to the odor of the male fly and then counted the number of exposed and unexposed plants on which female flies laid eggs by noting the distinctive scarring that occurs when females puncture the stem to lay their eggs inside, Mescher said.

The researchers found that females were significantly less likely to lay eggs on plants exposed to the male emission and about four times more likely to lay eggs on plants in a control group that were not exposed to this odor cue.

Compared to the control group, other herbivores, such as beetles, also caused significantly less damage to of the tall goldenrod plants exposed to the fly emissions, both in the field and in laboratory experiments. "It would seem that the plant senses the odor of the fly," Mescher said. "Then, it primes its defenses so that it can respond faster to the threat."

Over years of evolution, the true fruit fly has established a close relationship with tall goldenrod, according to Mescher, who worked with Anjel Helms, doctoral student in ecology; Consuelo De Moraes, professor of entomology; and John Tooker, assistant professor of entomology.

The male fly, which in the Northeast usually emerges in mid-May, perches on the upper leaves of the tall goldenrod plants and emits a chemical blend that may act as an attractant to the female flies, which emerge later, according to Tooker. Once a female mates with the male, it deposits its eggs in the stem of the plant. Tooker said that the female flies lay their eggs only in tall goldenrod plants, so there is a close association between the two species.

A few weeks after the fly's eggs hatch a bulbous growth, called a gall, appears on the stem of the tall goldenrod plant. The gall does not kill the tall goldenrod, but Tooker said the galled plant does not produce as many seeds as ones without galls. Its seeds also tend to be smaller and less likely to germinate.

"It seems that plants that are able to anticipate an attach by the fly and defend themselves against this damage will be more successful, producing higher quality seeds for the next generation," Tooker said. "So there must be a strong advantage for plants that can perceive the fly odor."

The researchers are not sure how tall goldenrod plants are able to detect the odor of the fly. "Our understanding of plant olfaction in general remains quite limited," said Mescher.

But, the researchers said they believe that other plants may use insect odors to detect danger and prepare defenses. "I suspect that this may be happening in many plants," said Tooker. "But we don't yet know how widespread it is."

###

The National Science Foundation supported this work.



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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.


[ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 17-Dec-2012
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Matthew Swayne
mls29@psu.edu
814-865-9481
Penn State

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- A plant may start to prime its defenses as soon as it gets a whiff of a male fly searching for a mate, according to Penn State entomologists. Once tall goldenrod plants smell a sex attractant emitted by true fruit fly males, they appear to prepare chemical defenses that make them less appealing to female flies that could damage the plants by depositing eggs on them, the researchers said.

"It's become increasingly clear in recent years that plants are responsive to odors," said Mark Mescher, assistant professor of entomology. "But previous examples of this are all plant-to-plant. For example, some plants have been shown to respond to the odor of insect-damaged neighbors by priming their own defenses. What's new about this is that it seems that plants may sometimes be able to smell the insects themselves."

A tall goldenrod plant's reaction to these odors also appears to make it less attractive to other insects that might feed on it, according to the researchers, who reported their findings in the current issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

In a field study, the researchers exposed some plants to the odor of the male fly and then counted the number of exposed and unexposed plants on which female flies laid eggs by noting the distinctive scarring that occurs when females puncture the stem to lay their eggs inside, Mescher said.

The researchers found that females were significantly less likely to lay eggs on plants exposed to the male emission and about four times more likely to lay eggs on plants in a control group that were not exposed to this odor cue.

Compared to the control group, other herbivores, such as beetles, also caused significantly less damage to of the tall goldenrod plants exposed to the fly emissions, both in the field and in laboratory experiments. "It would seem that the plant senses the odor of the fly," Mescher said. "Then, it primes its defenses so that it can respond faster to the threat."

Over years of evolution, the true fruit fly has established a close relationship with tall goldenrod, according to Mescher, who worked with Anjel Helms, doctoral student in ecology; Consuelo De Moraes, professor of entomology; and John Tooker, assistant professor of entomology.

The male fly, which in the Northeast usually emerges in mid-May, perches on the upper leaves of the tall goldenrod plants and emits a chemical blend that may act as an attractant to the female flies, which emerge later, according to Tooker. Once a female mates with the male, it deposits its eggs in the stem of the plant. Tooker said that the female flies lay their eggs only in tall goldenrod plants, so there is a close association between the two species.

A few weeks after the fly's eggs hatch a bulbous growth, called a gall, appears on the stem of the tall goldenrod plant. The gall does not kill the tall goldenrod, but Tooker said the galled plant does not produce as many seeds as ones without galls. Its seeds also tend to be smaller and less likely to germinate.

"It seems that plants that are able to anticipate an attach by the fly and defend themselves against this damage will be more successful, producing higher quality seeds for the next generation," Tooker said. "So there must be a strong advantage for plants that can perceive the fly odor."

The researchers are not sure how tall goldenrod plants are able to detect the odor of the fly. "Our understanding of plant olfaction in general remains quite limited," said Mescher.

But, the researchers said they believe that other plants may use insect odors to detect danger and prepare defenses. "I suspect that this may be happening in many plants," said Tooker. "But we don't yet know how widespread it is."

###

The National Science Foundation supported this work.



[ Back to EurekAlert! ] [ | E-mail | Share Share ]

?


AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.


Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-12/ps-pso121712.php

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Elsevier to publish International Review of Economics Education beginning in January 2013

[ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 17-Dec-2012
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Lyndsay Scholefield
l.scholefield@elsevier.com
44-186-584-3825
Elsevier

Oxford, December 17, 2012 Elsevier, a world-leading provider of scientific, technical and medical information products and services, is pleased to announce that beginning in January 2013 it will publish the International Review of Economics Education (IREE).

Since 2003 the International Review of Economics Education has been published electronically twice a year by the Economics Network. From January 2013 onwards Elsevier will publish IREE increasing the number of issues from two to three per calendar year. The Economics Network will continue to maintain strong links with the journal and its editors.

The International Review of Economics Education is dedicated to enhancing learning and teaching in the higher education economics community. It provides a forum for high quality research in the areas of curriculum design, pedagogy, assessment, teaching and learning innovation. The journal seeks to promote critical dialogue on educational theory and practice in economics and to demonstrate the relevance of research to good professional practice.

Marc Chahin, Economics Publisher at Elsevier said, "We are excited to publish the International Review of Economics Education. The field of economics education has until now not specifically been covered by the approximately 70 academic journals published by Elsevier's Economics & Finance division. IREE offers a perfect opportunity for us to fill this gap in our portfolio with a high-quality publication. We are looking forward to our working collaboration with the present team of editors."

###

For more information go to: http://www.economicsnetwork.ac.uk/iree/.

About the Economic Network

The Economics Network aims to enhance the quality of learning and teaching throughout the higher education economics community.

About Elsevier

Elsevier is a world-leading provider of scientific, technical and medical information products and services. The company works in partnership with the global science and health communities to publish more than 2,000 journals, including The Lancet and Cell, and close to 20,000 book titles, including major reference works from Mosby and Saunders. Elsevier's online solutions include ScienceDirect, Scopus, Reaxys, MD Consult and Mosby's Nursing Suite, which enhance the productivity of science and health professionals, and the SciVal suite and MEDai's Pinpoint Review, which help research and health care institutions deliver better outcomes more cost-effectively.

A global business headquartered in Amsterdam, Elsevier employs 7,000 people worldwide. The company is part of Reed Elsevier Group PLC, a world-leading publisher and information provider, which is jointly owned by Reed Elsevier PLC and Reed Elsevier NV. The ticker symbols are REN (Euronext Amsterdam), REL (London Stock Exchange), RUK and ENL (New York Stock Exchange).

Media contact

Lyndsay Scholefield
Elsevier


[ Back to EurekAlert! ] [ | E-mail | Share Share ]

?


AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.


[ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 17-Dec-2012
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Lyndsay Scholefield
l.scholefield@elsevier.com
44-186-584-3825
Elsevier

Oxford, December 17, 2012 Elsevier, a world-leading provider of scientific, technical and medical information products and services, is pleased to announce that beginning in January 2013 it will publish the International Review of Economics Education (IREE).

Since 2003 the International Review of Economics Education has been published electronically twice a year by the Economics Network. From January 2013 onwards Elsevier will publish IREE increasing the number of issues from two to three per calendar year. The Economics Network will continue to maintain strong links with the journal and its editors.

The International Review of Economics Education is dedicated to enhancing learning and teaching in the higher education economics community. It provides a forum for high quality research in the areas of curriculum design, pedagogy, assessment, teaching and learning innovation. The journal seeks to promote critical dialogue on educational theory and practice in economics and to demonstrate the relevance of research to good professional practice.

Marc Chahin, Economics Publisher at Elsevier said, "We are excited to publish the International Review of Economics Education. The field of economics education has until now not specifically been covered by the approximately 70 academic journals published by Elsevier's Economics & Finance division. IREE offers a perfect opportunity for us to fill this gap in our portfolio with a high-quality publication. We are looking forward to our working collaboration with the present team of editors."

###

For more information go to: http://www.economicsnetwork.ac.uk/iree/.

About the Economic Network

The Economics Network aims to enhance the quality of learning and teaching throughout the higher education economics community.

About Elsevier

Elsevier is a world-leading provider of scientific, technical and medical information products and services. The company works in partnership with the global science and health communities to publish more than 2,000 journals, including The Lancet and Cell, and close to 20,000 book titles, including major reference works from Mosby and Saunders. Elsevier's online solutions include ScienceDirect, Scopus, Reaxys, MD Consult and Mosby's Nursing Suite, which enhance the productivity of science and health professionals, and the SciVal suite and MEDai's Pinpoint Review, which help research and health care institutions deliver better outcomes more cost-effectively.

A global business headquartered in Amsterdam, Elsevier employs 7,000 people worldwide. The company is part of Reed Elsevier Group PLC, a world-leading publisher and information provider, which is jointly owned by Reed Elsevier PLC and Reed Elsevier NV. The ticker symbols are REN (Euronext Amsterdam), REL (London Stock Exchange), RUK and ENL (New York Stock Exchange).

Media contact

Lyndsay Scholefield
Elsevier


[ Back to EurekAlert! ] [ | E-mail | Share Share ]

?


AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.


Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-12/e-etp121712.php

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Analysis: Huge mandate for Japan's LDP may be less than meets the eye

TOKYO (Reuters) - Even Japan's next prime minister, Shinzo Abe, realizes that his party's landslide election victory is not the sweeping mandate that it appears at first blush.

An analysis of the vote as well as Abe's own comments, suggests he would be best served by focusing on what matters most to voters - the economy - and steering clear of divisive issues such as revising Japan's pacifist constitution.

That said, aggressive moves by China in a territorial row over tiny islands in the East China Sea could act to bolster support for Abe's tough-talking stance toward its giant rival.

Three years after a crushing defeat, Abe's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) surged back to win 294 seats in Sunday's vote for the 480-member lower house.

Together with a smaller ally, the New Komeito party, the LDP also took a two-thirds 'super majority' that could help break Japan's persistent policy deadlock in parliament.

The ruling Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), in comparison, managed a mere 57 seats - less than a fifth of its showing when it swept into power for the first time in a historic 2009 vote.

Abe himself, however, admitted the victory was more a rejection of the novice Democrats' messy reign than a vote of confidence for the LDP, which ruled Japan for most of the past half-century before its ouster three years ago.

"Our victory this time does not mean trust in the Liberal Democratic Party has been completely restored. Rather, it was a decision by the public that they should put an end to the political stagnation and confusion over the past three years, caused by the Democratic Party's misguided political leadership," Abe told a news conference on Monday.

"We must move forward and achieve results."

Japanese voters have been on a roller coaster of hopes and disappointment for the past decade since charismatic leader Junichiro Koizumi took office in 2001 pledging bold reforms.

Lured by Koizumi's promises, voters handed the LDP a massive victory in 2005 only to kick out the long-ruling party four years later in hopes that the Democrats would do a better job.

In a sign that both enthusiasm and expectations are fading, turnout on Sunday was a record low 59 percent, according to a Kyodo news agency estimate.

Nor did the LDP win a majority of votes from those who did cast their ballots. The main opposition party won about 43 percent of the vote in the single-seat constituencies that supply 300 of the chamber's seats, but a first-past-the post system and split votes amongst a clutch of new, small parties meant that the party secured 79 percent of those seats.

JULY ELECTION HURDLE

In the proportional representation blocks that provide the other 180 seats, the LDP won about 28 percent of the votes compared to 16 percent for the DPJ, while the new right-leaning Japan Restoration Party took 20 percent, media estimates showed.

"It's clear that only 30 percent or less of voters solidly support the LDP. Unless Abe is careful, his cabinet support will go down to that level very quickly and even with a two-thirds majority, he would be in trouble," said Sophia University political science professor Koichi Nakano.

Abe, who quit in 2007 after a troubled year in office, will have to persuade voters quickly that they made the right choice ahead of an election for parliament's upper chamber in July.

Although the LDP-New Komeito "super majority" will allow the lower house to enact bills rejected by the upper chamber, doing so is a time-consuming and cumbersome process, so the new government will be keen to win a majority in July's poll.

"He's preparing for the next election and understands that what he does in the first few months will have a big impact and voters are most interested in the economy," said Jeff Kingston, director of Asian studies at Temple University's Japan campus.

Abe has vowed to rescue Japan from its fourth recession since 2000, end deflation and tame the strong yen with a recipe of hyper-easy monetary policy and big spending on public works.

Equally central to his agenda, however, is a push to shed the shackles of Japan's post-war pacifism by revising the U.S.-drafted constitution and rewriting wartime history with a less apologetic tinge.

Changing the charter - never altered since its adoption in 1947 - requires approval by two-thirds of both houses of parliament and a majority of voters in a national referendum.

Straw polls of voters suggest that the economy tops the list of public priorities and LDP ally New Komeito is not keen on revising the constitution's pacifist Article 9.

But a strong showing by the nationalist Japan Restoration Party in the election also indicates simmering support for a tough stance towards China as well as hope for a decisive leader to restore Japan's flagging self-respect.

That could grow if Beijing steps up its activities in waters and airspace near the disputed islands, known as the Senkaku in Japan and the Diaoyu in China.

Last week, a Chinese government plane entered what Japan considers its airspace over the islets in the East China Sea, prompting Japanese fighters to scramble and escalating tension in the row between Asia's two biggest economies.

"This has not been a strong mandate for Abe in foreign policy or security matters," said Narushige Michishita, an associate professor at the National Institute for Policy Studies. "But if China continues to provoke us as they did several days ago, that might change."

(Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/analysis-huge-mandate-japans-ldp-may-less-meets-151513261--business.html

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Rocket still centerpiece as NKoreans mourn Kim

North Korean women in uniforms march after offering flowers to statues of late North Korean leaders Kim Il Sung, left, and Kim Jong Il at Mansu Hill in Pyongyang, North Korea, Saturday, Dec. 15, 2012. Thousands of North Koreans visited the statues ahead of the Dec. 17 one year anniversary of the death of Kim Jong Il. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

North Korean women in uniforms march after offering flowers to statues of late North Korean leaders Kim Il Sung, left, and Kim Jong Il at Mansu Hill in Pyongyang, North Korea, Saturday, Dec. 15, 2012. Thousands of North Koreans visited the statues ahead of the Dec. 17 one year anniversary of the death of Kim Jong Il. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

A child holds a flower to pay respect to statues of late North Korean leaders Kim Il Sung, left, and Kim Jong Il at Mansu Hill in Pyongyang, North Korea, Saturday, Dec. 15, 2012. Thousands of North Koreans visited the statues ahead of the Dec. 17 one year anniversary of the death of Kim Jong Il. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

A North Korea man sits in a room near a photo of the Sputnik 1, the first artificial Earth satellite launched by the Soviet Union in 1957, displayed at the Three Revolution Exhibition Hall in Pyongyang, North Korea, Saturday, Dec. 15, 2012. North Korea succeeded in putting a satellite into orbit on its fourth attempt on Dec. 12, drawing condemnation from countries that consider the launch a covert test of ballistic missile technology. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

Choe Ryong Hae, director of the General Political Bureau of the Korean People's Army speaks during a national meeting of top party and military officials on the eve of the first anniversary of the death of late leader Kim Jong Il in Pyongyang, North Korea, Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012. Choe pledged North Korean's resolve to defend its sovereignty. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

North Korean residents and a soldier take public transport on the eve of the first anniversary of the death of late North Korean leader Kim Jong Il in Pyongyang, North Korea, Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

(AP) ? (AP) ? North Korea parlayed the success of last week's rocket launch to glorify leader Kim Jong Un and his late father on Sunday, the eve of the first anniversary of his death.

The successful firing the rocket on Wednesday ? ostensibly to place a satellite in space ? was a clear sign that Kim will continue carrying out his father Kim Jong Il's policies even if they draw sanctions and international condemnation.

The West sees the rocket as a thinly-disguised way of carrying out U.N-banned tests of long-range missile technology, which it says not only threatens regional stability but is also a waste of resources when the country is struggling with a chronic food shortage.

There are concerns also that in upcoming weeks, Pyongyang will press ahead with a nuclear test, necessary in the march toward building a warhead small enough to be carried by a long-range missile.

At a somber memorial service Sunday, North Korea's top leadership eulogized Kim Jong Il and his son, who is certain to have gained national prestige and clout by going ahead with the rocket launch.

Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of North Korea's parliament, credited Kim Jong Il with building Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program, and called the satellite launch a "shining victory" and an emblem of the promise that lies ahead with his son in power.

Top military official Choe Ryong Hae, meanwhile, warned that the army was prepared to defend the country's sovereignty.

Wednesday's launch was North Korea's second attempt in eight months to fulfill Kim Jong Il's 14-year quest to put a satellite into space. International experts confirmed that the rocket succeeding in reaching space.

Criticism of the launch was swift. The United States called it a covert test of missile technology, and U.N. Security Council condemned the launch as a violation of resolutions barring Pyongyang from developing its nuclear and missile programs.

However, the launch fit neatly into the preparations to mark the first anniversary of Kim's death and the rise of his young son.

Even before his death, Kim Jong Il had laid the ground for his son to inherit a government with national policies focused on science, technology and improving the economy. The son has been characterized as forward-thinking and tech-savvy ? and the kind of man bold enough to take a gamble on a tricky rocket launch.

A launch in April, sent amid festivities to mark the centenary of the birth of North Korea founder Kim Il Sung, ended in failure shortly after liftoff.

Kim Jong Un made clear his intention to treat Wednesday's successful launch as a gift to his father.

He invited scientists in charge of the launch from a west coast launch pad to Pyongyang for the mourning rites, including a visit to the mausoleum where Kim Jong Il's body is believed to be lying in state "to report to him" on the success of the launch, according to state media.

Kim Jong Il's body has not been seen since the funeral that followed his Dec. 17, 2011, death of a heart attack. The mausoleum that houses the embalmed body of his father, Kim Il Sung, is expected to reopen this week. Both bodies will then be on display.

The mood in North Korea has been subdued this month in the run-up to the anniversary. However, news of the launch cheered people and the regime held a mass rally on Friday at the main plaza in Pyongyang.

Starting Saturday, North Koreans began streaming to a bronze statue of Kim on Mansu Hill and to Kim Il Sung Square to pay their respects, many laying white mourning flowers and bowing before his image.

On Sunday, a solemn Kim Jong Un joined the memorial service at the Pyongyang Indoor Stadium on the eve of the anniversary of Kim Jong Il's death.

Kim, whose entrances and exits usually are accompanied by a triumphant welcome song and a swell of cheers, entered the stage in silence, followed by top Workers' Party, government and Korean People's Army officials, as well as his aunt and uncle.

A military band played the militaristic "Song of Gen. Kim Jong Il" as officials and the audience bowed toward the massive portrait of Kim hung above the stage.

Tight security surrounded the gymnasium near Pyongyang's Pothong Gate. Armed soldiers in helmets posted along the street outside diverted traffic and pedestrians while more guarded every entrance to the building. The handful of foreign journalists allowed to cover the event, including The Associated Press, were searched by armed soldiers.

In his speech, Kim Yong Nam called Kim Jong Il a "peerless patriot" who strengthened the military and stood up to the United States.

The U.S. and North Korea signed a truce, not a peace treaty, at the close of the 1950-53 Korean War, and Pyongyang cites American troops in South Korea as a key reason for building its atomic weapons program.

As the hourlong ceremony came to a close, the band briefly played the mournful refrain to "The General Will Always be With Us." After the musicians put down their instruments, Kim Jong Un stood up and led a silent procession out.

___

AP writer Hyung-jin Kim contributed to this report from Seoul, South Korea. Follow AP's bureau chief for Pyongyang and Seoul at www.twitter.com/newsjean.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2012-12-16-NKorea-Kim%20Jong%20Il/id-8479688dfe5645c289055b0cd03376a7

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jamiemalone98: ygandafile: Holiday Gift Ideas to Help Bowhunters ...

Holiday Gift Ideas to Help Bowhunters Be Safe and Successful

It can be tough getting that special bowhunter just the right Christmas present. However, gift ideas from the National Bowhunter Education Foundation may please the most discerning stick and string enthusiast.

Because bowhunters are known to roam the backcountry, a survival reference guide is a must have item. The Skills of the Survivor DVD and the Surviving a Wilderness Emergency book features advice from one of the most widely recognized authorities on survival, Peter Kummerfeldt.

Make this gift set complete by adding the NBEF?s survival kit, which contains the basic tools sportsmen and women need to survive and be rescued if they find themselves in an emergency situation.
For the nostalgia buffs, the NBEF offers Legendary Hunts of Ben Pearson on DVD. Historic vintage footage dating back to the 1930s and ?40s showcases Pearson duck hunting with a bow and other incredible hunts. After the hustle and bustle of the holidays, bowhunters may want to relax by watching the video Primal Dreams, which presents the beauty of the outdoors underlined by a subtle hunting message. Primal Dreams is available on DVD, making it a perfect stocking stuffer.

In addition to these gift ideas, the NBEF also offers items such as Havalon knives and other commemorative knives and belt buckles. Visit NBEF.org to find great gift ideas for bowhunters.

Read and join the discussion on Holiday Gift Ideas to Help Bowhunters Be Safe and Successful at OutdoorHub.com.

Source: http://www.hunteroutlet.com/2012/12/holiday-gift-ideas-to-help-bowhunters-be-safe-and-successful/

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Source: http://liyskoc.posterous.com/holiday-gift-ideas-to-help-bowhunters-be-safe

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Source: http://ygandafile.blogspot.com/2012/12/holiday-gift-ideas-to-help-bowhunters.html

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Source: http://jamiemalone98.blogspot.com/2012/12/ygandafile-holiday-gift-ideas-to-help.html

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Egypt's Islamists aim to build on constitution vote

CAIRO (Reuters) - President Mohamed Mursi has won initial backing from Egyptians for a new constitution that he hopes will steer the country out of crisis, but which opponents say is an Islamist charter that tramples on minority rights.

A first day of voting in a referendum on the draft basic law resulted in 56.5 percent 'Yes' vote, Mursi's political party said. An opposition official conceded that Egyptians voting on Saturday appeared to have backed the measure.

Next Saturday's second set of balloting is likely to give another "yes" vote as the voting then will be in districts generally seen as even more sympathetic towards Islamists, and that would mean the constitution should be approved.

But the apparent closeness of the early tally gives Mursi only limited comfort as it exposes deep divisions in a country where he needs to build a consensus for tough economic reforms.

If the constitution passes, national elections can take place early next year, something that many hope will usher in the stability that Egypt has lacked since the fall of Hosni Mubarak nearly two years ago.

"The referendum was 56.5 percent for the 'yes' vote," said a senior official in the operations room set up by the Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party to monitor voting.

A statement from the opposition National Salvation Front did not explicitly challenge the Brotherhood's vote tally, saying instead that voting malpractices meant a rerun was needed.

RIGHTS GROUPS

Rights groups reported abuses such as polling stations opening late, officials telling people how to vote, and bribery. They also criticized widespread religious campaigning that portrayed "No" voters as heretics.

A joint statement by seven human rights groups urged the referendum's organizers "to avoid these mistakes in the second stage of the referendum and to restage the first phase".

Mursi and his backers say the constitution is vital to move Egypt's democratic transition forward. Opponents say it is too Islamist and ignores the rights of minorities, including the Christians who make up 10 percent of the population.

The build-up to Saturday's vote was marred by violent protests. Demonstrations erupted when Mursi awarded himself extra powers on November 22 and then fast-tracked the constitution through an assembly dominated by his Islamist allies and boycotted by many liberals.

However, the vote passed off calmly, with long queues in Cairo and other places, though unofficial tallies indicated turnout was around a third of the 26 million people eligible to vote this time. The vote is being held over two days because many of the judges needed to oversee polling staged a boycott in protest.

The opposition had said the vote should not have been held given the violent protests. Foreign governments are watching closely to see how the Islamists, long viewed warily in the West, handle themselves in power.

"BLOOD AND KILLINGS"

"It's wrong to have a vote or referendum with the country in the state it is in - blood and killings, and no security," said Emad Sobhy, a voter who lives in Cairo.

As polls closed late on Saturday, Islamists attacked the offices of the newspaper of the liberal Wafd party, part of the opposition National Salvation Front coalition that pushed for a "no" vote.

Violence in Cairo and other cities plagued the run-up to the referendum. At least eight people were killed when rival factions clashed during demonstrations outside the presidential palace earlier this month.

"The nation is increasingly divided and the pillars of state are swaying," opposition politician Mohamed ElBaradei wrote on Twitter. "Poverty and illiteracy are fertile grounds for trading with religion. The level of awareness is rising fast."

A narrow loss could still hearten the leftists, socialists, Christians and more liberal-minded Muslims who make up the disparate opposition, which has been beaten in two elections since Mubarak was overthrown last year.

They were drawn together to oppose what they saw as a power grab by Mursi as he pushed through the constitution. The National Salvation Front includes prominent figures such as ElBaradei, former Arab League chief Amr Moussa and firebrand leftist Hamdeen Sabahy.

In order to pass, the constitution must be approved by more than 50 percent of those casting ballots. There are 51 million eligible voters in the nation of 83 million.

The army deployed about 120,000 troops to protect polling stations. While the military backed Mubarak and his predecessors, it has not intervened in the present crisis.

(Additional reporting by Yasmine Saleh and Marwa Awad; Writing by Edmund Blair and Giles Elgood)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/violence-flares-cairo-egyptians-vote-033934702.html

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Does Your Credit Report Need Some Help? | Finance News Today ...

TIP! If you are honest with collection agencies, they may work with you to resolve your debts. Tell the debt collector the amount that you can pay them, and when they can expect the payment.

Knowing what you owed and to whom it was owed may have prevented you from incurring the debt in the first place. Because of this, the time is now to manage your debt and mend your credit. Follow this easy advice to get your credit back on track.

TIP! If you are having budget problems, call a credit counseling organization. They may be able to talk to your creditors and figure out a repayment plan; they can also assist you with your long-term financial goals.

Work closely with all of your creditors if you are aiming towards repairing your credit. If you do this you will not go into debt more and make your situation worse than it was. See if the company will allow you to modify the monthly due date, or reduce the payments.

Installment Account

TIP! One excellent way to get your credit score back up is to close all your credit cards except for one. Call your credit card company and try to work out a repayment plan, or transfer the balances of multiple cards to one lower interest card.

Think about getting an installment account to save money and improve your credit score. Make sure you can afford to make the payments and try to maintain a minimum monthly balance. You will improve your credit score by properly managing an installment account.

TIP! Do not get mixed up in things that may lead you to imprisonment. The Internet is rife with many scams that will go into detail about creating yourself a brand new credit file and making the old one magically disappear.

It is obviously somewhat difficult to let derogatory marks stand undefended, but the evidence suggests most lenders don?t use those statements in determining creditworthiness. The most it will do is draw more attention to the bad aspects of the report.

TIP! By paying off outstanding balances you will make the fastest progress towards repairing your credit. Your credit will only get worse if you are not paying off your debts.

Debt collectors are an intimidating and stressful part of dealing with bad credit. If a debt collection agency is harassing you, writing a cease and desist letter can stop the harassment. These letters stop collection agencies that harassing debtors, but they don?t erase liability for the debt itself.

TIP! When you?re looking to fix your credit, be cautious of credit repair companies. They may tell you they can remove negative information, but if it?s correct, it can not be removed.

You can aid the credit repair process by making minimum payments on time each month. Anytime a payment is late, it is reported to the credit bureaus and this looks very bad on your report. If you continuously make at least the minimum payment, your credit report will reflect this responsible behavior.

Credit Score

TIP! If you want to improve your credit score, don?t let anyone pull your credit report unnecessarily. The bureaus make a note every time your credit is checked.

If you can?t get a normal card due to low credit score, look into a secured card. You are more likely to be approved for this type of card because, once funded, the banks feels secure that you will pay them back. A responsibly used new credit card will begin healing your credit score.

TIP! Excessive interest rates can be contested. However, it is best not to sign contracts containing them in the first place.

Call each of your charge card companies and ask them to lower the limit on them. It will keep you from overextending yourself financially, it sends a great signal to the credit card companies that you are a responsible borrower, and you will have an easier time getting credit in the future.

TIP! This helps you retain a proper credit status. Every late payment appears on a credit report, and could potentially hurt your chances at a loan.

If you have a hard time making your regular monthly payments, talk to your creditors. If you respect them by giving them a notice that you are having difficulty, it is more likely that they will arrange a payment plan with you without reporting you to the credit bureaus. As an additional benefit, this can lessen the financial strain on you so that you may focus on the accounts that do not have repayment plans available.

TIP! Don?t believe the hype of lawyers or other offices that promise they can immediately fix your credit score. Predatory lawyers have begun to prey on people with credit problems; they charge outrageous fees to repair credit.

Put together a plan to pay off the collection account and past due accounts. These will show on your report but you will have a better standing than you did before.

TIP! It is important to document all of your communications with credit bureaus while you try to clear your credit report of inaccurate information. Hang on to proof of every contact that you have with the credit bureaus and creditors, such as printed copies of letters and emails, or written summaries of phone calls.

Your monthly payments should always be made on time if you want to rebuild good credit standing. In order to make sure your credit is not being hurt any longer, you must make at least the minimum payment on your credit related bills every month. One missed payment can mean the difference between good and bad credit.

Fixing a bad financial situation requires common sense rather than monetary skills. You can easily achieve your goal by following this helpful information.

After reading this article, you can feel confident in the fact that you have a firm understanding of Stock Market Report . Continue researching so you can add to what you have learned. Knowledge is key and you can better your future by learning more on the subject. Hopefully, you will have good luck with it.

Source: http://thefinancenewstoday.com/2012/12/15/does-your-credit-report-need-some-help/

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Final campaign push a day before Japanese vote

TOKYO (AP) ? Candidates made final impassioned appeals Saturday to Japanese voters a day before parliamentary elections that are likely to hand power back to a conservative party that ruled the country for most of the post-war era.

While many voters remain undecided ? reflecting widespread disillusionment with any party ? polls suggest that the electorate will dump Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda's ruling Democratic Party of Japan three years after it swept to power amid high hopes for change.

The DPJ's inability to deliver on a string of promises and Noda's push to double the sales tax have turned off voters, who appear to be turning back to the Liberal Democratic Party. The LDP ruled Japan almost continuously since 1955 until it lost badly to the DPJ in 2009.

If the LDP wins on Sunday, it would give the nationalistic Shinzo Abe, who was prime minister from 2006-2007, the top job again. His hawkish views raise questions about how that might affect ties with rival China amid a territorial dispute over a cluster of tiny islands claimed by both countries.

"We want to restore a Japan where children are proud to have been born here. Please give us your hand," Abe, who would be Japan's seventh prime minister in 6 1/2 years, declared from the top of a truck at a campaign stop in Wako, a city northwest of Tokyo.

A win for Abe and the LDP would signal a shift to the right for Japan. The party calls for a more assertive foreign policy and revisions in Japan's pacifist constitution that would strengthen its military posture. The controversial proposals include renaming the Self-Defense Forces to call them a military ? taboo since World War II ? and allowing Japanese troops to engage in "collective self-defense" operations with allies that aren't directly related to Japan's own self-defense.

With Japan's economy stuck in a two-decade slump, the Liberal Democrats also call for more public works spending. They are generally more supportive of nuclear energy even though most Japanese want atomic energy phased out following last year's disaster at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant.

Prime Minister Noda, meanwhile, has sought to cast the election as a choice between moving forward or going back to the old politics of the LDP.

"It was of the Democratic Party of Japan who put in the effort to recover from Japan's 20-year slump. Are we giving this up now and are we going back to the 20-year slump? We must not do that," Noda told listeners in Tokyo.

Surveys this past week showed about 40 percent of people were undecided, reflecting a lack of voter enthusiasm for any party, as well as confusion over the emergence of several fledgling parties that have popped up in recent months espousing a wide range of views.

The right-leaning, populist Restoration Party of Japan, led by ex-Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara and Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto ? both outspoken, colorful politicians ? is calling for a more assertive Japan, particularly in its dealings with China. But their forceful leadership styles and differing views on nuclear power and free trade have raised questions in voters' minds.

The anti-nuclear Tomorrow Party, formed just two weeks ago, is led by Yukiko Kada, an environmental expert and the governor of Shiga prefecture. But the party's image has taken a hit after she joined forces with a small DPJ breakaway party led by Ichiro Ozawa, a veteran power broker with a negative reputation among many Japanese.

Major Japanese newspapers are projecting that the LDP will win a majority of seats in the 480-seat lower chamber of parliament, meaning it could rule alone or perhaps form a coalition with the closely allied Komeito, a party backed by a large Buddhist lay organization.

Those newspaper predictions were based on telephone polls, educated guesswork from reporters in voting districts across the country and analysis of past voting patterns. While such projections have generally been accurate in the past, some experts have cautioned that the actual results may be quite different, especially since so many are undecided.

"I don't know whether there is any alternative" to the current ruling party, said Keiko Seki, a-60-year-old Tokyo woman who was listening to Abe's speech. "I find this election very difficult to decide who to vote for."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/final-campaign-push-day-japanese-vote-042117883.html

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