Amazon to begin collecting sales tax in Texas

For years, Amazon.com has avoided collecting sales tax from most of its U.S. customers. States that tried to force Amazon to play the role of tax collector faced lawsuits or threats by the company to close its local business operations.

But on Sunday, Amazon begins collecting sales tax in Texas, followed by Pennsylvania and California in September. Over the next year and a half, the number of states where the world's largest Internet retailer is required to charge for sales tax will more than double to 13.

Since the recession, Seattle-based Amazon has come under attack from lawmakers in states looking to fill huge budget shortfalls. After initially fighting back, Amazon reversed course last summer in California and began to strike deals with states where it has, or soon will have, distribution centers. In most cases, Amazon's promise to begin collecting sales tax carries a delay of months or even years.

While critics long have argued that Amazon's tax-free stance gives it a significant price advantage over traditional stores, not everyone is convinced the change will cause much, if any, slowdown to its business.

Some analysts say the move toward tax collection could work to Amazon's advantage by enabling it to open more distribution centers throughout the U.S. That, in turn, could help Amazon lower its shipping costs and deliver products to customers more quickly.

In the past two years, Amazon has announced plans for first-ever distribution centers in California, New Jersey, South Carolina and Tennessee.

"Once they're freed up to do business in more states, their ability to get you things cheaply and quickly will all get better," said analyst Bryan Gildenberg, of Boston-based Kantar Retail. He went so far as to suggest that traditional retailers might even look back with nostalgia to the days of untaxed online sales.

"When they're able to put distribution centers wherever ... that has the potential to be a game changer," he said.

Investor concerns

Amazon, which declined to comment for this story, has sought to downplay investor concerns over its growing sales-tax obligations, noting it already collects tax in at least half of the places where it does business, including Europe.

Like other Internet retailers, Amazon has benefited from a 1992 Supreme Court decision that says websites do not have to charge sales tax in states where they lack a physical presence. Online shoppers are supposed to pay the tax when they file their annual state returns, but few do.

Last year, chains such as Walmart and Best Buy joined with smaller retailers throughout the U.S. to urge state lawmakers to compel Amazon to collect sales tax. They argue that by not charging the tax, Amazon enjoys a price advantage of up to 10 percent in some states.

Jason Brewer, a spokesman for the Retail Industry Leaders Association, a store trade group, cheered the looming tax deadlines in Texas, California and elsewhere. Since 2008, Amazon has charged sales tax in only five states: Kansas, Kentucky, New York, North Dakota and Washington.

"It's a huge step forward in terms of leveling the playing field across the country," Brewer said. "We're getting to a point where, within 18 months, Amazon will be collecting in roughly half the country, in terms of population."

What's more, he said, the changeover in Texas sends a strong message to Congress that now is the time to pass federal legislation creating a standard sales tax across the U.S.

Among those calling for a federal solution is Amazon, which has argued that requiring it to navigate the varied rules and rates of more than 7,000 local tax jurisdictions would be unfair.

Amazon's move toward sales-tax collection raises the likelihood that Congress will take action, said Michael Mazerov, senior fellow with the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

"When you have the largest Internet retailer collecting sales tax in a significant number of states ? and now most of the largest states ? that means millions of additional consumers get educated to the fact that taxes really are due on these purchases," Mazerov said. "It makes the enactment of federal legislation both easier and more likely, politically."

Willingness wanting

Even so, Amazon has shown little willingness to compromise in states where it has no current or planned physical presence.

And in Arizona, the company has contested a tax assessment of $53 million, what the state says it owes for nearly five years of uncollected taxes. Amazon has said its Arizona distribution centers do not constitute a physical presence because they're owned by a subsidiary.

"I don't expect the company to just roll over and start collecting sales tax everywhere," Mazerov said.

In September 2010, Texas hit Amazon with a $269 million bill for uncollected sales taxes over a four-year period. Amazon responded by closing a distribution center near Dallas last year, but it struck a deal with the state comptroller to begin collecting sales taxes from Texas customers on July 1.

To resolve the dispute, Amazon also said it made an "immaterial payment" on the assessment and promised to create 2,500 new jobs and invest $200 million in the state. Some critics cried foul, saying the Texas Constitution forbids the state from forgiving tax debts.

"It's just ridiculous. If we're going to do this, we can't just do it for big companies," said Buck Wood, a Texas tax attorney and former deputy comptroller. "This is headed to the courthouse."

Unlikely to suffer

Since 2008, when Amazon began charging for tax in New York, its North American sales have more than doubled, topping $26.7 billion last year. (The company does not provide a state-by-state breakout of its sales.)

That just goes to show that Amazon is unlikely to suffer amid new tax obligations, said Kantar Retail's Gildenberg.

Amazon built its large customer base by becoming known for low prices, but it also offers vast selection and fast, reliable delivery, he said.

He also suggested that customers who leave Amazon over the sales-tax issue are no big loss.

"All retailers have shoppers who are acutely price sensitive. They call them cherry pickers and try to get rid of them," he said. "The shoppers most responsive to the changes in sales tax are probably among Amazon's least profitable shoppers anyway."

Amy Martinez: 206-464-2923 or amartinez@seattletimes.com

Source: http://feeds.seattletimes.com/click.phdo?i=c565b3ad915b6c7534a0f47d8d111a44

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Rooms with Views: Olympic Village ready to go

Tower blocs of the Athletes' Village soar over Victory Park on Saturday, June 30, 2012. Olympic organizers showed off the village to a select group of visitors as a test run of their services before athletes arrive for the London Olympics, which start July 27 and end Aug. 12. (AP Photo/Danica Kirka)

Tower blocs of the Athletes' Village soar over Victory Park on Saturday, June 30, 2012. Olympic organizers showed off the village to a select group of visitors as a test run of their services before athletes arrive for the London Olympics, which start July 27 and end Aug. 12. (AP Photo/Danica Kirka)

A few trees are lined up and ready for planting on Saturday June 30, 2012 as Olympic organizers put the final touches on preparations for the games. Olympic organizers showed off the village to a select group of visitors as a test run of their services before athletes arrive for the London Olympics, which start July 27 and end Aug. 12.(AP Photo/Danica Kirka)

A runner goes out for a jog on the edge of Victory Park in the Athletes' Village on Saturday June 30, 2012. Olympic organizers showed off the village to a select group of visitors as a test run of their services before athletes arrive for the London Olympics, which start July 27 and end Aug. 12. (AP Photo/Danica Kirka)

LONDON (AP) ? Usain Bolt can thank me anytime for helping ensure that he gets a good night's sleep at this summer's London Olympics.

Organizers held a slumber party this weekend, opening the big glass doors and immense dining halls of the Athletes' Village to several hundred journalists, local officials and assorted others in a trial run - giving games planners a chance to work out the glitches before the Olympians arrive. I was a willing guinea pig.

This wasn't a stress test really. Stress comes in just a few weeks when 16,000 athletes and officials come rolling in, a flag-waving tide of youth and vigor, ready to play. No, no, this was just a little warm up trot - and let's be frank - a big party at a way above average location.

"It's to help us flesh out the glitches," said Nigel Garfitt, the director of the village and games services.

There were a few of those. The chatter at the breakfast table Saturday morning, particularly at the journalist end, was about all the things that went wrong. There was no water in my room for example (whoops!) and a village crew thought that 3:30 a.m. was a good time to dig up paving stones outside my window.

That's why Usain, the word-famous Jamaican sprinter, can thank me, because it gives me a chance to make this suggestion to Sebastian Coe, the head of the organizing committee: Please don't dig up the street in the middle of the night! Olympians are slumbering.

That said, since this is the closest I'll ever come to being an Olympian, these minor mishaps must be taken in stride, particularly as it is clear that the village is within a whisker of being ready. For this village there will be no disasters in landscaping such as occurred in the Athens Olympics, where the outside of many venues were bare. In London, the grass is manicured within an inch of its existence - you weren't even allowed to walk on its lush cushiness unless you ditched your shoes.

Much of the village is that way - it looks as if it were lifted from an architectural drawing and broadcast on a big empty space. It's kind of boxy and utilitarian, but very tidy. Its monochrome-ness will offer a good backdrop for the athletes, who will drape flags from the balconies and transform it with color.

The rooms are spare but designed first and foremost with the athletes in mind. Beds for the tall and small. Mattresses wear-tested by former Olympians. Bedside lamps that work. Blackout curtains to make the room dark should the sun ever decide to shine in this light-deprived nation.

The duvets feature pictograms of the Olympic sports, and the communal areas offer sofas in electric aqua with hot pink cushions.

The televisions will feature an Olympic broadcast channel showing the action but no commentary. There's WiFi and a laundrette in the basement.

There are no kitchens - but who needs to cook? Just a short stroll away, in the shadow of the basketball arena known as "the Meringue," is the massive dining facility, which will operate for 24 hours a day and seat 5,000 at a time.

The size of several American football fields, it features cuisine from each of the continents, and includes a Halal pod - food prepared in compliance with Islamic guidelines. It is the pride and joy of Jan Matthews, the head of catering.

Matthews once ran catering for the British army in Germany and knows a thing or two about serving on a huge scale. That's kind of necessary, as this is a place where having seconds or sixths is just fine. Portion sizes are up to the athletes. No charge.

Non-Olympians won't really get a chance to eat here, unless they have some super special reason to be with a team. Heads of state are known to pull up trays with their squads, but there's no VIP treatment for them here.

"This is about the athletes," she said. "It's not about anyone else."

Besides food, other diversions and services beckon along tidy paths with sporty names such as Champions Walk, Medals Way or Celebration Avenue. There is a post office, a nail bar, a Lloyds Bank, and hairdressers where free styling and shaves are on offer.

Judging by past games, athletes will get the Olympic rings shaved into their hair, according to Emily Brett, the athletes' services manager.

But just to make sure no one gets bored, there's also a recreation zone called The Globe, after the theater most closely associated with William Shakespeare. It has sort of a pub-like feel, though no alcohol will be served, making it unpub-like to anyone who lives in Britain, but never mind.

It features light boxes that say things like "fun fun fun," ''Wow" and "Boogie." There's a bar, a stage, a music studio, pool tables, a computer gaming area and TVs.

"It is going to be the buzziest place in the Athletes' Village," Brett said.

Just over 200 national Olympic committees will be represented, and each will get a little welcoming ceremony all their own that features the playing of national anthems. With so many athletes and committees, it may take as long as four days to run through them all. But there will be one for everyone, as organizers want to make it special for the athletes - the people without whom there wouldn't be any games.

As one might expect at an event about the Athletes' Village, concerns about the competitors' happiness came up a lot. But the slumber party was also about the thousands of people who make up an Olympics - the caterers, the transport workers, the firefighters and so on who have worked - some for many years - on a project whose primary goal is to show Britain at its most welcoming.

"We wanted to use it as a thank you to them," Garfitt said before he gleefully described all the forms he would scoop up with "feedback," on the event.

"It makes it all real," he said.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2012-06-30-OLY-London-2012-Village-Slumber-Party/id-e432534bd0e84aad97a787f8d72d12c5

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Video: Obama shares story of woman who benefited from health care law

>>> you know. there's a framed letter that hangs in my office right now. it was sent to me during the health care debate by a womany named natoma canfield. for years she did everything right. bought et insurance, paid prem yums on time. 18 years ago she was diagnosed with cancer and even though she'd been cancer-free more ? than a decade, her insurance company kept jacking up her rates year after year.

>> a woman who benefited from his health care law . the president says he's kaured her story with him every day of this fight to pass the law and yesterday the ohio woman was solidified as a national symbol of this president's signature legislative achievement. natoma canfield joins us to talk about this. it's great to have you. we first heard of you when the president invited your sister to an event two years ago. you were too ill to make at that time. update us on your condition now. how are you doing?

>> i'm doing fine, thank you. the cancer is gone. and i'm just recovering now. it's going to take a long time, but i'm doing well, thanks.

>> natoma , you are certainly a fighter. it has to be certainly a validation and inspiration to hear that your letter you wrote to the president appears framed on his wall. i want to read part of it to everybody here pup say, in letter, that i need your health reform bill to help me. and how much credit do you give the president's law for your improved held, for the improved life situation that you've seen?

>> oh, i give him a lot of credit.

>> natoma , specifically, explain to all of us, how did it change for you? the outlook, at least, for hope, to recover from what you were facing.

>> well, it was very uplifting, an experience, to receive both of his letters. and to know that ? my letter had been heard. so -- those things were very important.

>> natoma , you're one of the millions of american whose have already benefitted from this law. what goes through your mind, though, when you hear people on the right. people across this country that may not understand exactly what the affordable care act does, and they want to repeal it. they're angry about it. what is your message to them?

>> well, first of all, i hope they never firsthand understand how important it is. to be able to have insurance if you've been laid off from a job or something like that. that you can afford. or you've had a pre-existing condition. but i think that, i guess my message is, that it's going to help a lot of people. and i think people need to look at it and give it a chance.

>> for people that may not have an opportunity, certainly, to walk a mile in your shoes, and the medical heartbreak that you've gone through whip the diagnosis and the battle that you've waged since then do you think that the president, do you think the democrats, need to be on the front lines are trying to explain this better so that americans can understand more so that there's not a policy of fear that's coming out of this as we've been hearing so much over the last couple of years, trying to scare people into not wanting this?

>> i think explanations are always good. people have to listen, also.

>> if you had the president's ear, which i think you did after he got the ruling coming down ?. what did you say to him? he called you. correct?

>> yes, he did.

>> would you mind sharing with us what you guys discussed?

>> he asked how i was. and i told him what a wonderful president i thought he was. and he asked about my sister connie who hb introduced him, and said to say hi to her and he asked if i'd got an pen from the signing of the health care bill, which we hadn't. they were all gone bip the time my brother and sister had went up there, and then he told me that i was welcome anytime to come and see my letter on his wall.

>> natoma , i'm sure in somebody's watching at the white house they can get a pen and send it to you. may not be from the signing bill, but they can find you a pen lying around the white house . you are an inspiration for those with a diagnosis of cancer and the fight to come back. we wish you the best of health as you move forward. thank you.

>> thank you.

Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/newsnation/48017032/

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Draytek Vigor 2920n Dual-WAN Security Router

The Draytek Vigor 2920n Dual-WAN Security Router ($250) is more than a router?it's more of a comprehensive networking appliance. Actually, as a single-band 802.11n router, it's rather average, with so-so throughput and range. Yet for small businesses looking for features not typically found in routers?such as dual WAN ports for failover and load-balancing, robust VPN deployment, and other business-class features?the Vigor 2920n delivers.

Specs
The Draytek Vigor 2920n Dual-WAN Security Router is a rather large router and is rack-mountable (through purchase of an optional mount kit). Since the device is designed to be deployed in server racks and rooms, the WAN and LAN ports are on the front panel.

There are four Gigabit Ethernet ports and, as mentioned, two Gigabit WAN ports. The router also has one USB port for external drive and printer sharing, as well as 10 LEDs that display not only activity of the WAN ports but Denial-of-Service activity, QoS, VPN, and CSM (Content Security Management) activity. Some organizations may find it handy to tell at a glance if services like VPN are enabled and running OK; the Vigor2920n displays as a solid green light when they are.

The router ships with three attachable antennas, but, based on my range testing of the default configuration, I would upgrade to high-gain antennas for larger coverage areas.
The Vigor 2920n runs quiet and cool, even after a few days of uptime, and it's sturdy enough to have all ports connected with cables the device remain in place on a surface.

Setup and Features
There's a lot happening with this router. It's highly-configurable with a firewall, URL, and Web content filtering, WDS (Wireless Distribution System) support, supports for VLANs and more advanced capabilities such as port mirroring.

A native VPN server supports up to 32 simultaneous VPN tunnels (IPSec, PPTP and L2TP). The device also supports 3G/LTE cellular modems and WiMAX.

The Vigor 2920n's sophisticated diagnostics include a Smart Monitor traffic analyzer. The router also has security provisions against DoS attacks and other threats.

Set up involved connecting the router to a WAN connection and using a computer with DHCP enabled to access the Web-based management interface. I had to manually configure the WAN settings for the router to pick up Internet access.

The Vigor 2920n's interface, while meaty and filled with screens and features, timed out on me several times while I was working in it. I also found configuring content filtering somewhat tedious, although it's very detailed and based on setting up individual "object profiles." For instance, if you want to block certain keywords or URLs, you have to set individual profiles for those objects and then configure filtering. Some configuration options, such as content filtering, seem to be unnecessarily complicated to set up in the interface.

Performance
Throughput performance for Draytek's router in Mixed mode was average, and surprisingly, in 802.11n mode, slightly below average. I did find, however, that the Vigor 2920n sustained throughput relatively well at greater distances from the router. Here is throughput at both Mixed and 802.11-n only modes, compared to other single-band routers:

Good Network Appliance, OK Router
Draytek's Vigor 2920n is a high-end networking device designed for businesses looking for a router that can do business-centric tasks. If your business needs require VPN, very customizable content-filtering, traffic analysis and other specific networking needs, the Vigor 2920n is a good choice. However, average throughput makes it best for SMBs with low throughput demands and warrants the device a solid three stars; more for the impressive features than performance. For a router that delivers high throughput and has some business capabilities, Netgear?s N750 Wireless Dual Band Gigabit Router (WNDR4000) is an Editors? Choice that offers excellent speed at 5GHz.

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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ziffdavis/pcmag/~3/pI7fMWMUfC8/0,2817,2406405,00.asp

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Somali president accuses world of balking at aid

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Source: http://news.yahoo.com/somali-president-accuses-world-balking-aid-061735008.html

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Why is the sun's atmosphere hotter than its surface? Maybe it's those huge plasma tornadoes.

Scientists may have an answer to one of the sun's greatest mysteries: Why is the sun's atmosphere some 300 times hotter than its surface?

By Nola Taylor Redd, Space.com Contributor,?Space.com / June 28, 2012

Visualisation of a close-up region in our advanced 3D numerical simulations of a magnetic tornado in the solar atmosphere. The spiral lines represent the velocity field in the tornado vortex. The images contain the observed swirl signature (top, bluish) and the Sun's surface (bottom, reddish).

Wedemeyer-B?hm et al./Image produced with VAPOR

Enlarge

For years, scientists have struggled to determine why the sun's atmosphere is more than 300 times hotter than its surface. But a new study has found a possible answer: giant super-tornadoes on the sun that may be injecting heat into the outer layers of our star.

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While comparing images from the Swedish Solar Telescope with others taken by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory, an international team of scientists noticed bright points on the sun's surface and atmosphere that corresponded with swirls in the so-called chromospheres, a region that is sandwiched between the two layers. The finding indicates that ?the solar tornadoes stretched through all three layers of the sun.

The scientists went on to identify 14 solar super-tornadoes occurring within an hour of each other. By using a three dimensional simulation, the team then found that the swirls could play a role in elevating the sun's outer layer.

A sun 'super-tornado' is born

Unlike tornadoes on Earth, which are powered by differences in temperature and humidity, the twisters on the sun are a combination of hot flowing gas and tangled magnetic field lines, ultimately driven by nuclear reactions in the solar core. [How Sun Tornadoes? Work (Infographic)]

At the surface, or photosphere, cooled plasma sinks toward the interior like water running down the bathtub drain, creating vortexes that magnetic field lines are forced to follow. The lines stretch upward into the chromosphere, where they continue to spiral.

But while the hot gas at the surface drives the movement of the magnetic field, in the chromosphere it is the field lines that force the hot gas to spiral, creating the swirls that appear similar to tornadoes on Earth.

"The resulting funnel is narrow at the bottom and widens with height in the atmosphere," lead scientist Sven Wedemeyer-B?hm, of the University of Oslo in Norway, told SPACE.com by email.

Spinning at thousands of miles per hour, the tornadoes vary in size, with diameters ranging from 930 to 3,500 miles (1,500 to 5,550 kilometers). Some of these giant solar twisters extend all the up in to the lower portion of the sun's upper atmosphere (called the corona, the researchers said.

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New drug dramatically improves survival in Hodgkin lymphoma patients

ScienceDaily (June 27, 2012) ? A new cancer drug with remarkably few side effects is dramatically improving survival in Hodgkin lymphoma patients who fail other treatments and are nearly out of options.

Loyola University Medical Center oncologist Scott E. Smith, MD, PhD presented survival data for the drug, brentuximab vedotin (Adcetris?), at the 17th Congress of the European Hematology Association. Smith is director of Loyola's Hematological Malignancies Research Program.

The multi-center study included 102 Hodgkin lymphoma patients who had relapsed after stem cell transplants. Tumors disappeared in 32 percent of patients and shrank by at least half in 40 percent of patients. An additional 21 percent of patients experienced some tumor shrinkage. Only 6 percent of patients had no response to the drug.

Sixty five percent of patients were alive at 24 months, and in 25 percent of patients, the cancer had not progressed at all.

These are "encouraging results in patients with historically poor prognosis," researchers said.

Loyola patient Michelle Salerno had failed two stem cell transplants -- one using her own cells and one using cells donated by her brother -- and multiple rounds of chemotherapy before going on brentuximab vedotin. After three or four infusions, she stopped suffering chills, sweats, high fevers and itchy pain from head to toe. And she experienced almost none of the side effects common to chemotherapy.

"I kept my hair, and never felt like vomiting," she said. "You get the drug, you go home, you feel good."

The standard regimen is a 30-minute infusion every three weeks. A patient typically receives 16 doses over 48 weeks.

Loyola has administered about 500 doses to 60 patients. "A lot of our patients are doing great on this regimen," Smith said.

Hodgkin lymphoma is a cancer of the immune system. Most patients can be cured with chemotherapy or radiation, especially when the disease is diagnosed in early stages. However, if initial treatment fails, the patient may require an autologous stem cell transplant. This procedure uses the patient's own stem cells to replace immune system cells that are destroyed by high-dose chemotherapy or radiation.

About 50 percent of patients who undergo autologus stem cell transplants relapse. Among patients who relapse, only 10 percent survive.

The Food and Drug Administration last year approved brentuximab vedotin for patients who have either failed an autologous stem cell transplant, are ineligible for a stem cell transplant or have failed two multi-drug chemotherapy regimens.

Brentuximab vedotin is an antibody attached to a powerful chemotherapy drug. The antibody acts like a homing signal, bringing the chemo drug to lymphoma cells. "Brentuximab represents a very interesting new concept in the fight against cancer," said oncologist Tulio Rodriguez, MD, who treats Salerno and is medical director of Loyola's Bone Marrow Transplantation Program. "It delivers powerful chemotherapy right where it needs to be -- into the cancer cell."

Cancer patients frequently are debilitated not only by their cancer, but also by chemotherapy treatments. Targeted drugs such as brentuximab can spare patients from the harmful effects of traditional chemotherapy, Rodriguez said.

The study found that side effects from brentuximab were generally mild. Only 9 percent of patients suffered severe peripheral neuropathy, 2 percent had extreme fatigue and 1 percent had severe diarrhea.

Salerno said the only significant side effect she experienced was mild neuropathy, which went away when the dose was lowered.

Salerno, 43, has been battling Hodgkin lymphoma for 10 years. Although she is not cured, she said, "I feel great and have a good quality of life."

Salerno, who lives in Lombard, said her treatments inspired her to start a business. She markets the Joey Pouch? -- a small, soft pouch designed to comfortably hold the lumens of a central venous catheter so a patient can be more comfortable in daily activities or while sleeping. It is worn around the neck, next to the chest. The Joey Pouch is named after Salerno's brother, Joey, who donated stem cells used in one of her transplants.

Rodriguez said he feels immense satisfaction when he goes over CT scans with Salerno to show her how her disease is heading back into remission. But he cautioned that brentuximab, like all drugs, has potential toxicities. "Patients should talk with their doctors about the pros and cons of taking this drug and discuss whether it is best for them," Rodriguez said.

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Loyola University Health System, via Newswise.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

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Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

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Writer and director Nora Ephron dies at 71

(Photo: Dee Cercone/Everett Collection)"When Harry Met Sally," "Sleepless in Seattle" and "Silkwood" screenwriter Nora Ephron has died, according to the Washington Post and CBS News. She was 71 years old and was said to be suffering from leukemia.

Known as a prolific writer spanning film, stage, novels, works of journalism and blogs, Ephron was also an accomplished filmmaker, having both written and directed "Julie & Julia" (2009), "Bewitched" (2005), "You've Got Mail" (1998), "Michael" (1996), "Mixed Nuts" (1994), "Sleepless in Seattle" (1993) and "This Is My Life" (1992). She was nominated three times for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.

[Photos: Nora Ephron's film career]

Born in 1941 in New York City to a writerly Jewish family, Ephron moved with her parents and three sisters to Beverly Hills when she was four. Both of her parents were screenwriters as are two of her sisters; and she has another sister who is a journalist and novelist.

Ephron majored in political science at Wellesley College but also wrote for the school paper, graduating in 1962. She interned at the White House during John F. Kennedy's administration and later became a reporter at the New York Post ? eventually gaining praise for inserting her own voice into her work as part of the "New Journalism" movement.

Her 1983 novel "Heartburn" ? which was later made into a film starring Meryl ?Streep and Jack Nicholson ? was inspired by her second marriage to famed Washington Post journalist Carl Bernstein (who helped break the Watergate story). Ephron is survived by her husband Nicholas Pileggi (writer of "Goodfellas") and two sons, Jacob and Max Bernstein.

Some actors appeared in Ephron-penned films multiple times:? Meryl Streep appeared in "Silkwood," "Heartburn" and "Julie & Julia"; Tom Hanks starred in "Sleepless in Seattle" and "You've Got Mail" as did Meg Ryan ? who also starred in "When Harry Met Sally."

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Jose Baez on Casey Anthony: What a Head Case!

In his new book, Casey Anthony's defense lawyer Jose Baez says the accused child killer lived in a "fantasy world" and has "serious mental health issues."

Presumed Guilty, Casey Anthony: The Inside Story is Baez's account of last year's sensational trial. In it, he says Casey's lies to police weren't proof of guilt.

Instead, he says they're indicative of her obvious mental problems.

As for why Baez decided to write a book about the trial, he says:

"I wrote the book because there was so much that people didn't know, and still don't know. This book is more than 420 pages of nothing but the inside story."

"My goal wasn't to change anyone's minds. My goal was to tell the story and if people change their minds, it will be because [they learned] more facts."

"I think people's reaction will be surprised at how much they don't know."

For instance, describing in the book why Casey Anthony took police officers to Universal Studios to look for her daughter, Caylee Anthony, Baez writes:

"[Detectives should have realized] right away, 'Wait a minute, we're clearly not dealing with someone who is playing with a full deck.'"

Anthony originally told the police Caylee was taken by a babysitter named Zanny the Nanny (Zaneida Gonzalez is suing her for defamation) and that she'd been searching for her for a month before reporting Caylee missing.

During the trial, Baez argued that Caylee accidentally drowned in the family's swimming pool while Casey and her father, George, were at home, and that George allegedly hid the body, which George denied adamantly.

In the end, Casey was found not guilty of murder, if not in the court of public opinion. She has been in hiding for almost the entire year since.

Baez also details why Casey Anthony did not testify at her trial.

"We had everything to lose and very little to gain," he says.

He also criticizes the media, Prosecutor Jeff Ashton and some of Judge Belvin Perry's rulings, though he did respect his ability to choose a fair jury.

Baez reveals that Casey had a cheeseburger, fries and milkshake from Steak 'n Shake for her first meal after being released from jail last July.

Then, he writes, she flew via private plane to St. George Island on the Florida Panhandle before going to New York and vanishing into hiding.

Anthony is now back in Florida on probation for check fraud.

Casey Anthony:

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Eating Fish May Reduce Colorectal Cancer Risk - Natural Standard

A new study suggests that eating fish may reduce the risk for colorectal cancer.

Colon cancer is cancer of the large intestine (colon), which is the lower part of the digestive system. Rectal cancer occurs on the last eight to ten inches of the colon. They are often referred to together as colorectal cancers and are a leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States.

In the colon and rectum, the exaggerated growth of cells may cause precancerous polyps (adenomas or adenomatous polyps), which form in the lining of the intestine. Over a period of time some of these polyps may become cancerous. In the later stages of the disease, these cancerous polyps may penetrate the colon walls and metastasize (spread) to nearby lymph nodes and other organs.

In a new study, researchers conducted a comprehensive literature search for studies evaluating the relationship between fish consumption and colorectal, colon or rectal cancer risk. Forty-one studies were ultimately identified for inclusion.

Through analyses of the study results, the researchers found that eating fish reduced the risk of colorectal cancer by 12 percent. The highest reported fish consumption was linked to a 17 percent decreased risk, while the lowest reported fish consumption was linked to a seven percent decreased risk.

The authors concluded that eating fish may reduce the risk of colorectal cancer; however, further research is necessary before firm conclusions can be made.

Fish is a dietary source of both docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). There is supportive evidence from multiple studies that suggests the intake of recommended amounts of DHA and EPA in the form of dietary fish or fish oil supplements lowers triglycerides; reduces the risk of death, heart attack, dangerous abnormal heart rhythms and strokes in people with known cardiovascular disease; slows the buildup of atherosclerotic plaques ("hardening of the arteries") and lowers blood pressure slightly. Several previous population studies have also reported that dietary omega-3 fatty acids or fish oil may reduce the risk of developing breast, colon or prostate cancer. Additional research is needed in this area.

For more information about fish oil, please visit Natural Standard's?Foods, Herbs & Supplements?Database.

For more information about integrative therapies for colorectal cancer, please visit Natural Standard's?Comparative Effectiveness?Database.

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Secretary Panetta Pays Tribute to 'Wounded Warriors'

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U.S. charges 24 people in massive hacking sting

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No Plan Results in Accidental Parenting

As your child?s teacher, think about what you hope to teach during the 18 years you have to teach him. Actually, you will probably only have the first 13 to 15 years. Older teens often think they know more than you do.

What has to be done to keep a home and family functioning? What skills and attitudes will your children need if they are to be capable adults? Some skills and attitudes might include being able to relate to healthy role models; have a sense of belonging to the family and feeling needed and important; believe that they can solve their own problems; self-discipline and self-control; be able to relate to other people; be able to problem solve; and be able to make good judgments based on a good value system.

Specific Skills Your Children Must Learn

What are the specific skills your child must learn? These would include personal care, clothing care, household skills, cooking, money management, mobility skills, maintenance and repair. You will want to make your own detailed list. Then make a plan. If you have no plan, your children may grow up ill prepared to function well in a complex world.

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Gmail?s iOS App Gets Full Notification Center Support, Stops Automatically Logging You Out

Google?s Gmail for iOS app had a bit of a rough start when it first went live last year (and by ?rough start? I mean it was pretty bad), and the search giant has been pushing out update after update since then to make the experience more worth using. Whether or not they?re making any progress on that front is up to you, but a new update for the app has just gone live and it adds a handful of solid features that probably should?ve been there in the first place.

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Cyprus becomes next eurozone state to seek bailout

NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) ? Cyprus on Monday became the fifth eurozone country to request financial aid from its partners in the European currency union as it struggles to shore up its banks, which took heavy losses on Greek debt.

The island nation's government said in a terse statement that it required assistance following "negative spillover effects through its financial sector, due to its large exposure in the Greek economy."

Government spokesman Stefanos Stefanou wouldn't say how much Cyprus would ask from the European bailout fund, saying that the amount would be subject to negotiations in the coming days. The 27 leaders of the European Union will meet in Brussels on Thursday.

Analysts estimate the sum would likely be around ?5 billion ($6.2 billion) but could reach ?10 billion. That is a fraction of the bailouts given to the other countries ? Spain has asked for as much as ?100 billion for its banks.

Cyprus needs about ?1.8 billion ($2.26 billion) - or about 10 percent of its gross domestic product - by a June 30 deadline to recapitalize its second largest lender, Cyprus Popular Bank. The lender is the most heavily exposed of the country's banks to Greek government debt, which lost most of its value this year in a writedown.

Over the past weeks it became clear that the bank would not find the money from the private sector and would need to get it from the government, itself strapped for cash and unable to raise money in bond markets, where its borrowing rates are too high.

Stefanou said that despite its demand for European aid, the Cypriot government would continue negotiations for a possible loan from a country outside the EU, such as Russia or China.

"One doesn't preclude the other," Stefanou told the Associated Press. "Our efforts to secure a bilateral loan will continue."

Finance Minister Vassos Shiarly said last week that clinching a loan from another country would strengthen Cyprus' bargaining position with its eurozone partners in negotiating the terms that would come attached with a bailout loan.

"It could be a combination of sources of funding, on the understanding that the terms offered for these loans ? either from the (EU bailout fund) or a bilateral loan are satisfactory and to the state's benefit," Shiarly said.

The Cypriot government has been apprehensive about turning solely to the EU bailout fund because of the tough spending cuts and tax increases that it may be forced to enact in exchange for the money, as debt-crushed Greece has had to.

The Cypriot economy has thrived on foreign businesses setting up shop in the island due to its low, 10 percent corporate tax rate which the government is keen to protect.

Greece, Ireland and Portugal, which have needed European bailouts to finance their government debt, are on strict austerity plans. Spain, which has demanded money to rescue its banks, is still negotiating the terms of its aid deal.

It's not clear whether the Cyprus government will be able to fend off tough, EU-imposed austerity terms. A European Commission report last month said the island is "experiencing very serious macroeconomic imbalances which need to be urgently addressed," including slashing spending on a bloated public sector and pension reform.

Earlier Monday, ratings agency Fitch became the third agency to downgrade Cyprus' credit rating to junk status, estimating that the island will need another ?4 billion ($5 billion) to recapitalize its banking sector. It cited the banks' exposure to Greek debt as well as a rise in bad loans over the last year as the Cypriot economy has shrunk while unemployment has hit a record high of 10 percent.

Fitch predicts that Cyprus' government debt will shoot above 100 percent of GDP, more than 12 points more than its previous estimate. The agency said that a government target to bring the budget deficit below 3 percent of GDP through another round of spending cuts and tax increases will be missed by as much as a percentage point.

Cypriot banks could suffer further losses from a possible Greek eurozone exit since they also hold an estimated ?22 billion in Greek business and household loans.

Compounding the island's banking troubles are projections that its economy will shrink by 1 percent of GDP this year.

___

Derek Gatopoulos in Athens contributed to this report.

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Mark Kiszla: Ty Lawson has advice for Nuggets coach George Karl in NBA draft

Denver Nuggets guard Ty Lawson is a fan of Baylor's Quincy Miller (pictured). ( Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images)

The NBA's quickest point guard needs more bandwidth. Ty Lawson desperately wants to tell the Nuggets which player to steal in the draft's opening round. But not this second. First, Lawson must fast-forward Denver coach George Karl through a crash course in Twitter for Dummies.

"I twitted," Karl said Wednesday, proud of his 13th and latest tweet, congratulating Mike Dunlap for being hired as coach of the Charlotte Bobcats. "Ty, how many twitters you got?"

Twitted?

This mangling of social media lingo was met by Lawson, in true 21st century fashion, with a shake of his darn head.

"What's twerps?" Karl asked.

"Tweeps," said Lawson, offering gentle correction to his 61-year-old coach.

Lawson has also been coaching up Nuggets general manager Masai Ujri on personnel matters.

Spoiler alert: Lawson thinks he has found a sleeper in a lean, long teenager who could be the biggest draft-day steal since last year, when Denver landed Kenneth Faried. The prospect Lawson wants is a forward from Baylor. But it's not Perry Jones III. Now, if Lawson can only get Ujiri to listen.

It has been less than six weeks since the Nuggets were eliminated from the playoffs. The NBA Finals champion has yet to be crowned. But Lawson is already back in the gym at the Pepsi Center, playing hoops with teammates, inspecting rookie prospects and trying to pump up the number of followers for Karl's new Twitter account.

Through the wonders of the Internet, old footage of Karl displaying mad combo guard skills in China is available for viewing on tv4u.com. Karl insisted Lawson could watch it as a learning tool. Or maybe Lawson should view it strictly for laughs. In the grainy footage, a young, shaggy-haired Karl looks as if he walked into the gym straight from the basement sofa in "That '70s Show."

As I stood between Karl and Lawson on the practice court, the Nuggets point guard urged his legion of tweeps to also follow Karl. On second thought, however, Lawson wondered if Twitter had just became tragically unhip and began typing a new message on his smartphone:

"Hold up if @coachkarl22 is getting on twitter it might be my time to delete mine lol."

Lawson can multitask at the same speed he dribbles: 30 megabits per second. But what's the real significance of this blur in Nuggets blue?

At age 24, Lawson seems to have taken full ownership of his team's success.

After often being coaxed by Karl to become more aggressive in everything from scoring at crunch time to leadership during practice, it appears the message has finally been embraced by Lawson.

If the Nuggets have any hope of evolving from first-round playoff fodder to a serious threat for Western Conference supremacy, Lawson must take on this team's improvement as a personal quest. No matter how much money a player earns, winning ultimately must be a labor of love, in much the same way Tim Duncan has defined the San Antonio Spurs' personality or Kobe Bryant's competitive scowl became the face of the L.A. Lakers.

Here's a possible draft scenario coming into focus as a legitimate possibility for the Nuggets. As unlikely as it seemed four weeks ago, there's a chance Ujiri could have his choice between two players from Baylor.

Jones is a 20-year-old forward with the skills of a lottery pick and the motor of a 1971 Chevy Vega. He's dropping fast on many draft boards. Available when the Nuggets pick at No. 20? It's hard to believe, but know that Jones is now on the radar of Denver's front office.

The other prospect from Baylor is 19-year-old Quincy Miller. The red flag is a torn ACL in his left knee suffered during 2010. The upside is length and a shooting touch that has scouts dreaming that Miller's NBA career path will follow somewhere between the footsteps of Rashard Lewis and Kevin Durant.

Lawson lobbied Ujiri to take a gamble on Miller.

Giving an assist wherever possible comes naturally to a point guard.

This score just in: Lawson 111,330, Karl 13,796.

I asked Lawson if he's concerned Karl would surpass him in Twitter followers.

Quicker than a man can fall down and roll on the floor with laughter, Lawson replied, "No."

Mark Kiszla: 303-954-1053 or mkiszla@denverpost.com

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Fox News Reporter Named To Vatican Communications Post

Greg Burke cannot do any worse. Maybe it is time they had a professional in the job.

VATICAN CITY ?

The Vatican has brought in the Fox News correspondent in Rome to help improve its communications strategy as it tries to cope with one of its most serious scandals in decades, The Associated Press learned Saturday.

Greg Burke will become a senior communications adviser in the Vatican?s secretariat of state, people familiar with the matter told AP.

The Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, confirmed the move, saying Burke?s job will be to help integrate the handling of communications matters within the Vatican?s top administrative office, the secretariat of state, and will help handle its relations with the Holy See press office and other Vatican communications offices.

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Chinese premier in Argentina on trade mission

AFP - Chinese Premier Wen Jibao arrived in Argentina Saturday on an official visit aimed at boosting trade with one of South America's top agricultural producers.

Wen, slated to meet Sunday with Argentine President Cristina Kirchner, has been traveling across South America since a G-20 summit in Mexico last week, with previous stops in Brazil and Uruguay. He visits Chile after Argentina.

Kirchner and Wen, who met on the sidelines of the G-20 summit, have agreed to increase trade, which last year reached $14.8 billion, $8 billion in China's favor.

China is Argentina's second largest trade partner, mainly dealing in agricultural products. Argentina is the world's number one exporter of flour and soy oil, number three soy bean exporter, and number two corn exporter, said Rogelio Ponton, adviser to the Rosario Board of Trade.

Buenos Aires expects to highlight plans to modernize the Belgrano Cargas railway, said Planning Minister Julio de Vido about Wen's visit in comments aired on state television.

Argentina also hopes to draw Chinese investments in its oil industry, after having expropriating Spanish oil company Repsol's controlling share of YPF, Argentina's largest oil company.

During nearly two hours of talks Friday, Wen signed five cooperation agreements on telecommunications, the environment, and economic and technology cooperation.

President Jose Mujica expressed to Wen Uruguay's hope that Chinese companies would invest in a deep-water port project in the southeast department of Rocha, according to the spokesman, Diego Canepa.

Canepa said Wen had conveyed China's interest in the construction and the development of the port. A Uruguayan delegation will visit China in the next three months to present the project to potential investors, the spokesman said.

Chinese companies are keen to explore the possibility of using Uruguay as a "key platform" for improving ties with Mercosur, the South American trade bloc that includes Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, Canepa said.

China is Uruguay's second-largest trading partner after Brazil.

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