Jason Boland to make tour stop in Goliad

Jason Boland has traveled a long road since his whiskey-soaked, stoner days of pining over a "Rich, Young, Dumb Nymphomaniac."

While he's a sure match for a boat party, midnight back road cruises - and heavens yes, Schroeder Hall - the Oklahoma native has done some growing up.

From the Houston Livestock Show, Boland chatted with Get Out about his new album out in May, writing music with meaning and staying humble.

HOW WAS WORKING WITH SHOOTER JENNINGS ON THE NEW ALBUM, 'DARK AND DIRTY MILE'?

He's great. You need a certain air for it. I knew he possessed the knowledge we needed when we got in the studio: how to set the mikes and get the vibe. He's a piano player as well, so he's good with a range of songs. He's personal and down to earth. It was a smooth, organic experience.

We recorded it in Austin down at Cedar Creek and did some work at 12th Street Sound.

'RANCHO ALTO' SEEMED TO STICK UP FOR THE UNDERDOG. WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU WANT TO CONVEY WITH THIS ALBUM?

I don't think I intentionally go to say something. I write most of the songs we do as I experience life.

Sometimes, you find old songs that fit what you're doing. You tell them (your audience) different things in different songs. With all of our records, we try to take them on a ride of everything.

There's a lot of speaking for the downtrodden. There's already a lot of songs about how good it is to drive around, listen to music or party at the lake. We're the type of guys who gravitate toward the tradition of Merle Haggard or Johnny Cash - to have some form of social issue.

HOW DO YOU STAY IN TOUCH WITH YOUR ROOTS?

Touring keeps you humble, period. You go to new places. They don't know you. There's no special treatment. Even in some places where you 'think they ought to know who you are,' it's a big world out there.

If everything else is going right, you'll blow an axle. We've done it on trailers. We burned a tag axle last time we were heading east. We stayed in Longview, and I had to fly to Auburn to do a show acoustic. Then I rented a car and drove to Atlanta to do a show acoustic before the band caught up.

Hurricane Sandy closed down sold-out shows in Washington and New York.

It teaches you to roll with the punches.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS THE CURRENT STATE OF COUNTRY MUSIC?

Pop music - the stuff for 14-year-olds - people in their 20s and 30s have always called that bad. I don't think anything has changed.

When I first started getting into music, it was really cool to get into Jerry Jeff, Gary P. Nunn, Ray Wylie and the guys who we wanted to find out where it came from.

Now this day and age, it seems like they've already started to emulate pop: "We've heard you, now on to the next."

We try to stay relevant and push ourselves and make better music than we did when we were young. People heard the energy, the angst and the vitality of it, then they followed us through all the years and journey we've been on.

It's going on 14 years. We just now recorded an album basically the way we recorded "Pearl Snaps." It was straight to tape. It's not enhanced or pitch-shifted, not pieced together. The same original four of us and now Nick Worley with us on fiddle and mandolin - the fact that we can still get together and record music is pretty cool.

I'd rather it sound like this than everything else that's out right now.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE FUTURE OF TEXAS COUNTRY?

I don't see anything but it to keep getting bigger. The main thing that keeps anything going in a music scene, art scene or food scene is the people. The people in Texas are proud of their music and the Okies from the north. ...

This scene is always going to be great and have tons of bands and tons of bars and you can go see anything - western swing, singer/songwriters, rock 'n' roll, southern, four-piece bands - it all falls under the umbrella of being original and rootsy.

WHAT'S THE NICEST THING ANYONE'S EVER SAID ABOUT YOUR MUSIC?

This last album, "Rancho Alto," we got Country Music Album of the Year, from the Lone Star Music Awards. I believe that's still voted on by the fans online.

You think that'd be all the younger bands names. To be in it this long and our last album to get this award, that's one of the great ones.

Or when someone says the music does this or got them through something. That's why everybody puts it out there originally. You just want to put out a song that resonates with people.

IS SONGWRITING THERAPEUTIC FOR YOU?

They all come about from some situation. It's also just as important to capture something that inspires you in a good mood.

It's very easy to sit down with a guitar and start complaining. When the sun is shining, it's easier to get out and throw the football.

They all take grabbing their own inspiration in their own way. I've always been able to write tragedies and darker songs, but now for example, I got married June 11, and my wife has been an inspiration for a lot newer and lighter side of songwriting: "Lucky I Guess," "Only One," but also "Between 11 to 2"

THROUGH THE HARD TIMES AND THE GOOD, WHAT KEEPS YOU WRITING MUSIC?

It is naturally what I gravitated toward: creative writing. This is just a way I found my niche in creative writing. I wrote a few songs and people enjoyed them. So you sit around and keep trying to be honest with yourself.

Mike McClure, Bob Childers, Tom Skinner, Red Dirt Rangers - I think the spirit of all of it is just be yourself and something interesting will be created in the process. You might even amaze yourself.

I'm amazed we still get to do it. I listen to old recordings, and I don't know what people were listening to. Maybe they heard the angst and the passion. Every album I think we sound better and better. We're at nine albums now.

GOT ANYTHING PLANNED FOR THE SHOW AT SCHROEDER?

If people want to see the real thing still standing, go out to Schroeder Hall. It's an oasis out there, just like it ought to be. It's what it should be. There's not a lot of them left.

• • WHEN: 8 p.m. Saturday

  • WHERE: Schroeder Hall, 12516 Farm-to-Market Road 622, Goliad

  • COST: $12 advance, $15 door

  • FOR MORE INFO:SchroederDanceHall.com, 361-573-7002.

Source: http://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/2013/feb/27/mc_jason_boland_022813_202533/

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'Japan PM Helped Me Make $300,000'

As Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe prepares to meet US President Barack Obama, Rupert Wingfield-Hayes reports on his ambitious growth programme that is already being dubbed Abenomics.

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Source: http://www.wokv.com/videos/news/japan-pm-helped-me-make-300000/vrN6Y/

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Lindsay Lohan Gets Nothing In 'Everything' Lawsuit Against Pitbull

Judge drops actresses' lawsuit against rapper over lyrics from his song 'Give Me Everything.'

Lindsay Lohan
Photo: Jason LaVeris/ FilmMagic

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1702397/lindsay-lohan-pitbull-lawsuit-end.jhtml

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Winter storm blankets Great Plains with snow

A city snow plow pusheds snow off of Zoo Blvd Thursday morning, Feb. 21, 2013 in Wichita, Kans. Kansas was the epicenter of the winter storm, with parts of Wichita buried under 13 inches of still-falling snow, but winter storm warnings stretched eastern Colorado through Illinois. (AP Photo/The Wichita Eagle, Bo Rader)

A city snow plow pusheds snow off of Zoo Blvd Thursday morning, Feb. 21, 2013 in Wichita, Kans. Kansas was the epicenter of the winter storm, with parts of Wichita buried under 13 inches of still-falling snow, but winter storm warnings stretched eastern Colorado through Illinois. (AP Photo/The Wichita Eagle, Bo Rader)

Tom McReynolds clears snow from a neigbors' house in Wichita, Kans.,Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013. Kansas was the epicenter of the winter storm, with parts of Wichita buried under 13 inches of still-falling snow, but winter storm warnings stretched eastern Colorado through Illinois. (AP Photo/The Wichita Eagle, Jaime Greene)

U.S. Postal Service employee Craig Conner tries to navigate a mail cart to his vehicle Thursday morning Feb. 21, 2013 in downtown St. Joseph, Mo., shortly after the snow storm started. Winter storm warnings were issued from eastern Colorado through Illinois Thursday. (AP Photo/St. Joseph News-Press, Todd Weddle)

Denoy Smith, manager of Brown's Shoe Fit Co. removes snow from the store's sidewalk Thursday Feb. 21, 2013, in Hastings Neb. Winter storm warnings were issued from eastern Colorado through Illinois Thursday. (AP Photo/ The Omaha World-Herald/Ryan Soderlin) MAGS OUT TV OUT

A pedestrian crosses the street near the Country Club Plaza shopping district Kansas City, Mo., Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013. The Missouri Department of Transportation said Interstate 44 near Springfield was completely covered with ice Thursday morning. Traffic was moving very slow and the DOT urged drivers to use extreme caution or stay home. St. Louis-area road crews were out in full force early Thursday, even though it was dry. The region was expecting a volatile mix of snow, sleet, ice and freezing rain by midday and crews were hoping to lay down enough salt to keep at least the major roadways moving. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)

ST. LOUIS (AP) ? Blinding snow, at times accompanied by thunder and lightning, bombarded much of the nation's midsection Thursday, causing whiteout conditions, making major roadways all but impassable and shutting down schools and state legislatures.

Kansas was the epicenter of the winter storm, with parts of the state buried under 14 inches of powdery snow, but winter storm warnings stretched from eastern Colorado through Illinois. Freezing rain and sleet were forecast for southern Missouri, southern Illinois and Arkansas. St. Louis was expected to get all of the above ? a treacherous mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain.

Several accidents were blamed on icy and slushy roadways, including two fatal accidents. Most schools in Kansas and Missouri, and many in neighboring states, were closed. Legislatures shut down early in Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, Nebraska and Iowa.

By midmorning Thursday, the snowfall was so heavy that Kansas City International Airport shut down. About 90 flights were also cancelled at Lambert Airport in St. Louis, where sleet and ice began falling late-morning.

"Thundersnow" accompanied the winter storm in parts of Kansas and Missouri, which National Weather Service meteorologist Scott Truett said is the result of an unstable air mass, much like a thunderstorm.

"Instead of pouring rain, it's pouring snow," Truett said. And pouring was a sound description, with snow falling at a rate of 1 1/2 to 2 inches per hour in some spots. Kansas City, Mo., got 5 inches in two hours.

Snow totals passed the foot mark in many places: Monarch Pass, Colo., had 17 ? inches, Hutchinson, Kan., 14 inches and Wichita, Kan., 13 inches. The National Weather Service said up to 18 inches of snow were possible in Kansas towns such as Salina, Russell and Great Bend.

With that in mind, Kansas transportation officials ? and even the governor ? urged people to simply stay home. Drivers were particularly warned away from the Kansas Turnpike, as whiteout conditions meant low visibility for the length of the turnpike, from Oklahoma to Kansas City.

Interstate 70, which runs the length of Kansas, was also snow-packed and icy. State transportation officials closed a 90-mile stretch of I-70 between Salina and Hays.

Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback closed executive offices, except for essential personnel.

"If you don't have to get out, just really, please, don't do it," Brownback said.

Some travelers gave up, filling hotels rather than skating across dangerous roadways.

At the Econo Lodge in WaKeeney, Kan., assistant manager Michael Tidball said the 48-room hotel was full by 10 p.m. Wednesday and that most guests were opting to stay an extra day. He said travelers reported that snow was freezing on their windshields faster than wipers could keep them clean.

The blowing snow didn't stop everyone. Christy Walker, a waitress at the Polly Anna Cafe in Woodward, Okla., got stuck in the 8 inches of snow during her drive into work. But business in the western Oklahoma town was brisk, she said.

"It's affecting everybody who is hungry and wants to come out to eat," she said. "I'm extremely busy right now."

Areas in western Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle also had up to 8 inches of snow by Thursday morning. Arkansas saw a mix of precipitation ? some got a combination of hail, sleet and freezing rain, while others got up to 6 inches of snow. Forecasters warned that northern Arkansas could get a half-inch of ice accumulation.

Near the Nebraska-Kansas border, as much as 8 inches fell overnight, while western Nebraska saw about half of that amount, National Weather Service forecaster Shawn Jacobs said.

Two fatal accidents were attributed to winter weather on Wednesday. In Oklahoma, 18-year-old Cody Alexander of Alex, Okla., died when his pickup truck skidded on a slushy state highway into oncoming traffic and struck a truck. And in Nebraska, 19-year-old Kristina Leigh Anne Allen of Callaway died when a sport utility vehicle lost control in snowy, icy conditions, crossed the median and struck her car.

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon declared a state of emergency Thursday morning and activated the State Emergency Operations Center. The declaration allows state agencies to coordinate directly with cities and counties to provide emergency services.

Kansas City-area roads were a mess. Portions of I-70 and I-35 were closed along with many other roads because of snow drifts and slippery conditions. The Missouri Department of Transportation said Interstate 44 near Springfield was completely covered with ice Thursday morning, and traffic was moving very slow.

In Jefferson City, Mo., off-duty police sergeant Randy Werner had been perched atop a hotel for more than 24 hours as a publicity stunt for a charitable fundraiser.

As large snowflakes pelted him in the face Thursday morning, Werner defiantly declared: "The weather's not bothering me, I can assure you."

He then acknowledged that was a lie.

"It's blustery," he said. Werner planned to cut his effort short, having raised less than a third of his goal.

The St. Louis region prepared with some uncertainty. Depending on the temperature and the trajectory of the storm, St. Louis could get snow, freezing rain, ice, sleet or all or some of the above. Crews were hoping to spread enough salt to keep at least the major roadways moving.

Alex Sosnowski, a meteorologist for Accuweather, said the storm will push off into the Great Lakes and central Appalachians, and freezing rain could make it as far east and south as North Carolina. He also said a "spin-off" storm was expected to create heavy snow in New England, and could push Boston to a February record.

Accuweather said that by the time the storm dies out, at least 24 states will be affected.

___

Associated Press writers Chris Clark in Kansas City, Mo.; Jordan Shapiro in Columbia, Mo.; David A. Lieb in Jefferson City, Mo.; Josh Funk and Nelson Lampe in Omaha, Neb.; John Hanna in Topeka, Kan.; Roxana Hegeman in Wichita, Kan.; Tim Talley in Oklahoma City; David Warren in Dallas; Chuck Bartels in Little Rock, Ark.; and Steven K. Paulson in Denver contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2013-02-21-Winter%20Storm/id-e7900c53260b453c88bbeb9da5f2c713

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EU takes France, Luxembourg to court over low VAT on e-books

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Commission is taking France and Luxembourg to court for applying reduced tax rates on the sale of electronic books, which the EU executive says breaks current EU rules.

Since January 2012, France and Luxembourg have applied reduced value added tax (VAT) rates to the sale of e-books of 7 percent and 3 percent respectively. Under EU rules, governments can apply reduced VAT rates to a limited list of goods and services which includes books, but currently not e-books.

"Failure to comply with this legislation by France and Luxembourg results in serious distortions of competition to the detriment of traders from other EU member states," the Commission said in a statement on Thursday.

The Commission has said similar goods and services should be subject to the same tax rates and that technological advances should be taken into account, but legislative proposals under a new VAT strategy are only expected by the end of 2013.

Rules on VAT on e-services that take effect from 2015 will end the unequal treatment of e-books and paper books, the Commission said.

Digital publications such as e-books are designed to be read on mobile and other electronic devices, such as Amazon's Kindle or Apple Inc's iPad.

If the court rules that the two countries have contravened EU law, it could ultimately lead to the imposition of fines.

(Reporting by Claire Davenport; editing by Rex Merrifield)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/eu-takes-france-luxembourg-court-over-low-vat-125143220.html

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Seo4anyone Expands Internet Marketing Company By Now Offering Social Media Marketing Services In South Florida

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February 21, 2013 --

Aventura, Florida (PRWEB) February 21, 2013

Seo4anyone, a leading search engine optimization company in Miami, Florida has expanded its internet marketing services by offering social media marketing to both local South Florida customers and companies outside of the state.

With the addition of social media marketing, our clients can drive more traffic to their website through Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Yelp and other social media sites says Brett Diaz of seo4anyones social media team. The Social media experts at seo4anyone will help clients come up with the best strategy to fit their business and provide a positive ROI on their marketing spend.

The new program allows the experienced social media experts at seo4anyone work with clients to build their social media strategy in a linear fashion in a way that makes sense for each customer. They utilize social media software to assist in automating the sharing of their content to blogs, Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and LinkedIn accounts with one click.

Clients are realizing the advantages of using their social media to reach out to their customers. They form an immediate connection with their customers and potential new customers, get immediate feedback on products and services, and can take advantage of the viral nature of social media to increase sales and traffic to their landing pages.

Soe4anyones team offers several standard social outreach packages to select from. Beyond the standard packages, they also can create, manage and report on more interactive and engaging social media campaigns such as contests, giveaways, sweepstakes and other more viral campaigns.

For E-Commerce clients, seo4anyone has partnered with several social media plugin providers to add social interactions to the shopping cart experience. One such tool allows shoppers to earn loyalty program points simply by adding the company to their friends list or by sharing their products on their wall or Twitter account.

Apart from providing social media marketing services to Florida based companies, seo4anyone also offers clients search engine marketing expertise to increase traffic to their websites. Seo4anyone is a full-service search engine marketing company who has a unique blend of technical and experienced consultants that set them apart from their competitors in the Miami and Ft. Lauderdale area of South Florida.

Combination packages are available that help businesses drive traffic from search engines from both paid and non-paid organic searches. Pay Per Click (PPC) is great for driving immediate traffic to our customers websites while organic SEO traffic may take more time to kick in and drive positive ROI added Diaz.

Search engine optimization is the company's core competency as a consulting agency. Known in South Florida as the best SEO company in Miami, they assist their clients in selecting the best keywords that make sense for driving profitable traffic to their clients websites. The SEO services provided by the company are 100% white hat (ethical) and they have even helped several prominent E-Commerce websites to get out of the latest Google Panda penalties.

Adding social media marketing to their repertoire of being one of the top search engine optimization companies in Miami now allows them to offer these high demand online marketing services to their clients at affordable prices. They customize each project in order to provide a positive return on investment (ROI) for each campaign.

About the Company:

Seo4anyone is a full-service internet marketing agency based in Miami, Florida. They work with local small businesses as well as large multinational companies with websites in multiple languages. The company specializes in Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Pay Per Click Management (PPC), Social Media Marketing (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn), Viral Marketing Strategies, Landing Page Conversation Testing (A/B testing), Website Optimization Testing and Website Design and Development.
For more information, please visit http://www.seo4anyone.com.

Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/social-media-marketing/seo4anyone-seo-specialist/prweb10448178.htm.

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Wall Street gains on M&A optimism; S&P extends seven-week

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Global stock markets rose on Tuesday as U.S. stocks were boosted by news of yet another possible merger that suggested there is still room to the upside, while a pick-up in German economic sentiment supported European stocks.

The S&P 500 Index, hovering near a five-year high, extended its seven-week winning streak. The benchmark index is already up 7 percent for the year.

Office Depot Inc , the No. 2 U.S. office supply retailer, and smaller rival OfficeMax Inc are said to be in advanced talks to merge.

The deal would be the latest addition to more than $158 billion in U.S. deals announced thus far in 2013. Last week, deals were reached for the acquisition of H.J. Heinz Co by Berkshire Hathaway and a partner, and the sale by General Electric of its remaining stake in NBCUniversal to Comcast Corp .

In Europe, stocks posted their best finish in three weeks as stronger-than-expected German sentiment data prompted investors to return to economically-sensitive sectors like autos and technology after a three-session losing streak.

Optimism that the worst of the euro zone debt crisis is over has helped German investor and analyst sentiment soar to its highest level in nearly three years this month.

In the currency market, the yen climbed after two days of losses. Japanese Finance Minister Taro Aso said he was not considering foreign bond purchases.

Further boosting the U.S. market, Google shares rose 1.5 percent to an all-time high of $805.00.

Office Depot rose 11 percent to $5.08 and OfficeMax shares jumped 20 percent to $12.92. Shares of larger rival Staples Inc shot up 13 percent to $14.62.

"Equity investors have to be encouraged by M&A, since if the number crunchers are offering large premiums, that shows how much value is still in the market," said Mike Gibbs, co-head of the equity advisory group at Raymond James in Memphis, Tennessee.

MSCI's world equity index was up 0.7 percent, though markets have been falling for two weeks since a big run-up in January.

The Dow Jones industrial average was up 47.56 points, or 0.34 percent, at 14,029.32. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index was up 9.40 points, or 0.62 percent, at 1,529.19. The Nasdaq Composite Index was up 16.05 points, or 0.50 percent, at 3,208.08.

The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index provisionally closed up 1.1 percent at 1,171.73 - more than recovering the previous three sessions' losses.

YEN GAINS

The yen rose against the dollar and euro as disagreement between Japanese officials raised doubts over how aggressively Japan will ease its monetary policy.

Japanese Finance Minister Taro Aso said on Tuesday he was not considering buying foreign bonds as part of efforts to ease monetary policy, a day after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said this was an option.

Expectations Japan will take further stimulative steps to fight deflation have driven the dollar up 8 percent versus the yen so far this year. But the pace of the yen's fall has slowed lately as investors waited to see if words will translate into action.

"The comments suggested that there may be growing differences between the prime minister and the finance minister, which could threaten the pace of policy easing going forward," said Omer Esiner, chief market analyst at Commonwealth Foreign Exchange in Washington, D.C.

The dollar fell 0.6 percent to 93.36 yen, well below a peak of 94.22 yen hit on Monday after Japan escaped direct criticism from its G20 peers at the weekend.

The euro was down 0.4 percent at 124.99 yen. Against the dollar, the euro rose 0.3 percent to $1.3387.

The euro moved further away from a three-week low of $1.3306 hit on Friday, with traders reporting bids at $1.3310-15.

Europe's shared currency also rose sharply against sterling, gaining 0.5 percent to 86.78 pence on speculation that the UK could lose its triple-A credit rating.

The euro has come under selling pressure in the wake of recent data revealing a deeper-than-forecast euro zone recession and on concerns that Italy's February 24-25 election could fragment parliament, potentially hampering the country's reform efforts.

The dollar index, meanwhile, slipped 0.2 percent to 80.451, still within striking distance of the 80.727 six-week high hit on Monday.

U.S. Treasury debt was little changed. The benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury note was down 5/32, with the yield at 2.0225 percent.

Brent crude for April delivery was down 3 cents at $117.35 per barrel, while U.S. crude for March added 62 cents to $96.47 a barrel.

(Editing by Dan Grebler and Nick Zieminski)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/wall-street-gains-m-optimism-p-extends-seven-202229482--finance.html

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At least 16 hurt in gas explosion, fire in Kansas City

KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Reuters) - A fire triggered by a natural gas explosion engulfed a restaurant in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, injuring at least 16 people and leaving search teams to comb charred debris for remains of anyone who may have perished, authorities said.

Although no known fatalities were immediately reported, Fire Chief Paul Berardi said several patrons were likely inside the restaurant when it went up in flames, and cadaver dogs were brought in to help sift through the ruins of the building overnight.

"We are concerned that there may be additional people that were not able to get out of the structure," Berardi told reporters, adding that the blaze erupted at happy hour. "I always fear there may be fatalities in a situation like this."

He said the results of the search with dogs would not be known "for some time."

The explosion shook the Country Club Plaza, an upscale shopping area about 30 blocks south of downtown Kansas City, around dinner time, just after 6 p.m. CST (0000 GMT), fire officials said.

Berardi said he had initial reports that 14 people were hurt, nine of whom were taken to area hospitals, including two with life-threatening injuries.

But a separate tally of patients from three hospitals showed at least 16 people were injured, three of them listed in critical condition.

"I am just keeping my fingers crossed that this turns out to be what it looks like on first blush - that this is a relatively low number of injuries compared to what it could be," Mayor Sly James told reporters.

"Hopefully, no fatalities will come out of it, but we don't know that at this point," he added.

Appearing earlier in the evening on CNN, Fire Department spokesman James Garrett attributed the explosion to a natural gas leak, and Berardi later said that the odor of gas was reported in the area before the blast.

"It does seem to be an accident," the chief said. "It doesn't appear to be foul play at this time."

The precise origin of the blast was not immediately known, officials said. However, an office building was under construction across the street from the fire scene.

One witness, Bryce McElroy, who lives about two blocks away, said he heard a loud boom and headed toward the noise, arriving on the scene to see flames leaping from a manhole cover and advancing on the restaurant, a popular steakhouse and fine dining venue called JJ's.

Jeff Hansen, who lives about four blocks away, said he went to the scene to offer assistance after hearing the blast and saw six to eight people visibly injured who were leaving the area.

"Obviously there were multiple injuries," he said. "The question is if there is anybody still in there."

Firefighters swarmed into the area to battle flames consuming the restaurant as police officers ordered bystanders to move two blocks back from the fire as a precaution. The smell of gas fumes permeated the air around the scene.

The University of Kansas Hospital received six patients from the blast and fire, two of whom drove themselves from the scene and were treated and released, hospital spokesman Bob Hallinan told Reuters.

Of the four patients transported to the hospital, one was listed in critical condition and two in serious condition, he said. The fourth was being transferred from another hospital.

Eight patients were reported at nearby St. Luke's Medical Center, two of them listed in critical conditions. Two more people were listed in good condition at Research Medical Center, spokeswoman Denise Charpentier said.

Two JJ's employees who were away from the restaurant at the time of the blast said they were told later by fellow workers who were present that staff members were alerted to the smell of gas shortly before the blast and had begun to evacuate the building.

One of those workers who relayed that account, Talley Saey, said she was told that several employees were among those taken to the hospital.

(Additional reporting by David Bailey; Writing by Steve Gorman; Editing by Cynthia Johnston, Eric Beech and Lisa Shumaker)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/several-hurt-explosion-fire-kansas-city-missouri-witnesses-012047389.html

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Record-breaking 320-gigapixel panorama of London is a cause for celebration, vertigo

While the Shard might be the new darling of London's skyline, the BT Tower's still got a few tricks up its sleeve -- such as this record-breaking 320 gigapixel panorama of the English capital. In total 48,640 images, shot with four Canon EOS 7D cameras were stitched together to create this 360 vista. Want a little more perspective? It's said that if this were a physical image, it would be almost as large as Buckingham Palace -- or if you prefer -- 60,000 times larger than an average iPhone photo. Of course, what good would a gigapixel image be without a where's waldo-style hunt? So, UK residents who have a keen eye can try spotting BT's Buzby mascot for the chance of winning some prizes. Us? We're just trying to hunt down a cab. Set your sights on the source for big picture.

Show full PR text

BT TOWER BREAKS WORLD RECORD FOR PANORAMIC PHOTO
To see the gigapixel image and share your favourite views of London visit: www.btlondon2012.co.uk

An amazing image of London taken from the top of the BT Tower has set a new record for the world's largest panoramic photo. The image shows a full 360 degree view of London in incredible detail.
The 320 gigapixel image, taken by expert photography firm 360Cities, comprises 48,640 individual frames, using four, state of the art Canon EOS 7D cameras with EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II USM lenses and Extender EF 2x III teleconverters, provided by Canon. The cameras were driven by high end Rodeon VR Head ST robotic panorama heads, from the Clauss company in Germany. The individual images have been stitched into a single, gigantic panorama over a period of weeks by a powerful Celsius R920 workstation, provided by Fujitsu Technology Solutions Europe.

It is the first time that an image of this magnitude has ever been attempted, and it took several months to create due to the scale of the endeavour. If printed at normal photographic resolution, the BT Tower panorama would be 98 meters across and 24 meters tall, almost as big as Buckingham Palace. In comparison, the last record attempt for a London panorama was 80 gigapixels, taken from Centrepoint in 2010.
The images were taken after the end of London 2012, the first digital Games. Londoners, tourists and those who work in the capital are now being asked to share their favourite views of the capital, as a permanent record of London's year in the global spotlight.

As the official communications services partner for London 2012, BT played a vital role in ensuring the Games were the most connected ever, with millions of people enjoying sharing their experiences of the sporting and cultural action via social media. BT Tower played its part in the celebration, sharing news of every single medal won, live stats and scores on its giant 360 degree LED screen.
Suzi Williams, director, BT Group Marketing & Brand, said, "The BT Tower is such an iconic London landmark, and became a focus for the capital's celebrations in 2012, what better way to capture that remarkable year than with a full panoramic photograph taken from its roof. This isn't just a world record for the BT Tower, it's for London and the people who live, work in or visit the capital. Take a look, and share your favourite London places and landmarks."

Steve Hercher, director, 360Cities, said, "We were honoured to be chosen by BT to attempt this world record panorama and make our own contribution to commemorating the wonderful London 2012 Games. So many unknowns and variables had to be addressed in the planning of this unprecedented shoot, really the first of its kind. Software and hardware were pushed to the limits, and rain, wind and other potential stumbling blocks had to be dealt with. Our photography team of Jeffrey Martin, Tom Mills and Holger Schulze did an amazing job and not a single individual frame from the more than 48,000 planned was missed."

Rainer Fuehres, Head of Consumer Imaging Group, Canon Europe, said: "The goal of empowering people to take the next step on their personal photographic journeys drives every product we create, and this breath-taking image truly takes this philosophy to the extreme. Since its launch, the EOS 7D has caught the imagination of enthusiasts around the world so we were pleased to support such an exciting and challenging project with a camera that so many people are using to capture their own moments of inspiration."

Also, our old friend Buzby is hiding in the gigapixel image too. Find him, and you could be one of three winners in our competition. People are selected at random, the first winner will receive an iPad, a year's free broadband, and a trip to the top of the BT Tower to see the view in person. Second and third place win an iPad. Full terms and conditions, please see http://www.btplc.com/gigapixel/

Filed under: Cameras, Misc

Comments

Source: BT London 2012

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/tRkTRWekDXk/

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Winning python from Florida hunt released

A new prize in the Florida python hunt has been announced and everybody wins.

The two men who caught the giant Burmese python collected a $1,000 prize. The giant snake was released back into the Everglades. And Florida wildlife experts expect the python -- outfitted with a pair of transmitters -- to show them where to find the thousands of snakes hiding in the wild and lead them to breeding females.

Two other pythons were also implanted with transmitters and sent back into the wild.

"It's breeding time and females attract males and we have three eager young lads sitting out there with radio transmitters on them who can lead us to the breeding female and we can catch her," Frank Mazzotti, professor of wildlife at the University of Florida who helped organize the challenge, told ABC News.

The Florida Python Challenge ended on this weekend with the round up of a mere 68 snakes. Officials held the snake hunt because the pythons have multiplied into the thousands in the Everglades and have become a threat to native species.

PHOTOS: Python Challenge in Florida Everglades

Mazzotti was not deterred by the number of snakes captured.

"We've never collected so many pythons in such a short period of time. It really is an unprecedented sample," he said. "It provides us with a sort of autopsy of the wildlife. There's going to be recommendations coming out of this that will help us be able to remove more snakes from the wild."

Initially the prize for the longest snake went to a man who brought in a 10-foot long python, but on Sunday another longest snake prize was given to Blake Russ and Devin Belliston of Miami who wrangled an 11-foot long python. The error in measurement, according to Mazzotti, has to do with the difficulty of measuring a live python.

Mazzotti worked with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to design the challenge. The challenge's purpose was to not only remove Burmese pythons from the Everglades, but to also collect data from the snakes that were euthanized, and to track the three which were tagged with transmitters.

Mazzotti said the department weighed the risks of releasing the tagged pythons, but to ensure they can be recaptured, two transmitters were implanted in each snake. If one transmitter were to fail, another one would take its place.

"I absolutely never want to explain to someone that we left a snake out in the wild, so we make sure to put two transmitters in them so that they can be tracked," Mazzotti said.

The tagged pythons help Mazzotti and his team determine the full extent of the invasion both in terms of location and habits.

"Many of the snakes we catch we catch along roads, and we learn where else in the landscape they go. We also learn basic activity patterns. We then use that information to find when the best time to look for them and to remove them is."

Mazzotti plans to recapture the three snakes in April at the end of the breeding season. That's when Mazzotti hopes they'll be led to pregnant female snakes, which can also be captured and prevented from releasing baby pythons into the ecosystem.

Because the pythons are such a large predator, and aren't native to the Everglades, they have a negative effect on the top down food structure of the ecosystem.

Until the snakes are recaptured, Mazzotti and his team will focus on analyzing the data they collected from the 65 snakes which were euthanized. This data includes dietary and mercury samples.

Also Read

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/biggest-python-release-back-wild-164938965--abc-news-topstories.html

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Ohio college student's online parody goes viral

CINCINNATI (AP) - An Ohio college student's online parody of the Korean pop hit "Gangnam Style" has gone viral.

The parody by Brian Schwing, who grew up in Cincinnati, has nearly 4.5 million views on YouTube and counting.

The 22-year-old is working as an intern at NASA in Houston and is a senior at Ohio State University.

His video, "NASA Johnson Style," shows his fellow interns at Johnson Space Center dancing like "Gangnam Style" singer PSY and singing altered lyrics.

Schwing tells the Cincinnati Enquirer (http://cin.ci/159g0lQ) that it took him about 200 hours to produce the video, with 15 hours of footage that had to be edited down to four minutes.

Schwing says he hopes the video gets more people interested in science and spaceflight.

Information from: The Cincinnati Enquirer, http://www.enquirer.com

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://www.fox19.com/story/21232307/ohio-college-students-online-parody-goes-viral

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Windows Phone 8X is best Windows Phone offering yet, but app and storage limitations hold it back: Tech Time Review

Windows Phone 8X

In the grand scheme of the smartphone world, Windows Phones still make up a very small percentage of the overall market.
But that hasn't stopped Microsoft from continuing to improve on their phone offerings on the various carriers, and this year there have been several offerings aimed at raising the profile of the Windows Phone ecosystem, as they try to dent the market domination of Apple and Android phones.
One such offering from Verizon Wireless is the new Windows Phone 8X by HTC, which I recently had the chance to test.
I'm back with a full report of what it offers compared to its smartphone competition.

LOOKS
One demand that smartphone buyers today have is that their phones are thin and light. Gone are the thick, heavy phones of the past, and even big-screen phones are low in the ounce count these days.
Windows Phone 8X delivers in this department, with dimensions of 5.21 (H) x 2.61 (W) x 0.40 (D) inches. The weight is 4.66 oz.
My test phone was an attractive blue color on the back and on the front border, but there are also black and red options from Verizon if that suits your tastes more.
The rubbery material on the back of the phone provides a decent grip, and overall, while it's not the sturdiest of all smartphones, it's still well-made and should withstand the usual amount of abuse and spills a phone might take.

DISPLAY
Overall screen size on the Windows Phone 8X is 4.3 inches, not as big as some of the new phones coming out, but big enough for most people. It's a size that fits quite comfortably in the hand, and allows for one hand typing on the on-screen keyboard.
The resolution on the phone is 720p, so it's HD but not 1080p full-HD like some other new phones. Corning Gorilla Glass 2 helps keep your screen safe from damage.

OPERATING SYSTEM
As the name might indicate, the Windows Phone 8X runs the Windows 8 operating system.
While I wasn't too big on the new crop of Windows Phone offerings when they first came out a couple years back, I must admit that Windows 8, especially the tile setup out front that gives you quick access to your favorite apps and features, and live updating tiles, is starting to grow on me. Once you figure out how to use it and make your most common features quickly accessible, it's as easy to use as most Android or Apple phone offerings.
The other nice feature about Windows Phone devices is their strong integration with other Microsoft products (such as Outlook, Office, OneNote, SharePoint,SkyDrive, Xbox), if you are invested in the Microsoft ecosystem.
For those of you with kids who like to use your phone, a feature called Kid's Corner gives them access only to the aspects of the phone you choose to give them access to.
If you're into cloud storage of your files, SkyDrive keeps your items online and they are accessible from any device that can access the Internet.

APPS
The biggest knock on Windows Phone offerings that helps keep down the food chain in smartphones is the apps gap. Basically, that means that, in my view, Microsoft's store for apps comes nowhere near what is offered by Apple and Android, leaving users frustrated with the offerings they have to choose from. This will continue to be a main problem for Microsoft, and is a byproduct of them being late to step up their game in the smartphone arena while their competitors soared.

PROCESSOR, STORAGE
No complaints here, as the 1.5GHz dual-core processor and 1GB of RAM keep the phone humming along without delays. Web browsing, game play and other duties on the phone were not a burden on the system. In terms of storage, you get 16GB of internal memory, but there is no way to upgrade. This will be a concern for people who like to store a lot of apps and large files on their phone, as the room will go away very quickly.

BATTERY LIFE
The Windows Phone 8X and its 1800 mAh Li-Ion battery do a solid job of keeping the phone running, as it got me through each day.
The concern, though, is that the battery is nonremovable, meaning that you don't have the option to carry a spare in case you're going to be unable to charge it for a longer period of time.

WIRELESS CHARGING
The good news: This phone features the ability to do wireless charging.
The bad news: Wireless charging port sold separately, which is disappointing.

NETWORK, CALLS
You get access to Verizon's 4G LTE network on the Windows Phone 8X, and the download and upload speeds are super snappy as usual.
Phone calls that I made were clean, which no dropped calls, and little noise or interference.
For messaging, the on-screen keyboard is responsive, but was a little too tiny for my tastes, especially when held vertically (horizontal was more manageable even for larger fingers).

CAMERA
One of the camera features that I like the most on the Windows Phone 8X is more of a design feature -- and that is the button on the side of the phone that works as a camera shutter.
That dedicated camera button is much better than what I've seen on many phones where they want you to tap the screen to take a picture. That just isn't natural with how we are trained to take pictures. So I like the dedicated button.
You get a 8MP auto-focus rear-facing camera with flash, and photos were decent -- though not the best I've seen on newer smartphones. Sharing your photos to social networking sites on online storage like Skydrive is very easy.
The front-facing camera is 2.1 megapixels, and features an 88-degree ultra-wide angle; this is used primarily for video chat or self-portraits; and again, it's nothing too special.
One thing I do like about the camera is how you can instantly launch the camera, even from a locked screen, by pressing the shutter button on the side of your phone -- so a shorter delay before shooting. In terms of video, both the front and rear cameras can record in 1080p HD quality.

MUSIC
Like almost all of HTC's new phones, the Windows Phone 8X features Beats Audio, which aims to improve the overall sound quality.
It's a decent improvement, but is only really noticeable when listening via headphones. Out loud, a cell phone is still going to sound like a cell phone.

OTHER FEATURES
-- The phone is global ready
-- You can use data and voice simultaneously
-- For an extra monthly fee, you can use the phone as a Mobile Hotspot, with support for up to 8 Devices on 3G or 4G
-- NFC allows for Tap and Share of files with other NFC devices
-- Voice commands: Make a call, launch an app, send a text, take a note, find something online

PRICE
The Windows Phone 8X will cost you $99.99 with a 2-year contract from Verizon, or $549.99 without contract.

BOTTOM LINE
The Windows Phone 8X is a fast and easy-to-use phone, and probably the best Windows Phone that has been released to date.
But it lacks in some key areas and is not as great as it needs to be to truly compete against phones like the Samsung Galaxy phones or iPhones.
It will find some fans, particularly those who are big fans of the Windows Phone OS as compared to Apple or Android. And maybe some people new to smartphones who don't yet have a favorite system might go for it.
But with no real standout features that puts it above those competitors, there's no way it can expect to be a big hit and make a major impact on the smartphone market overall.

On the Web
For more information on the Windows Phone 8X, visit www.verizonwireless.com

Source: http://feeds.denverpost.com/~r/dp-business/~3/N4p3nRus0l0/windows-phone-8x-is-best-windows-phone-offering

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Anker? Ultra Slim Mini Bluetooth Wireless Keyboard for iPad Mini / iPad 4 / New iPad 3 / iPod Touch / Android 3.0 and Later Tablet ? White

Anker? Ultra Slim Mini Bluetooth Wireless Keyboard for iPad Mini / iPad 4 / New iPad 3 / iPod Touch / Android 3.0 and Later Tablet ? White

• Ergonomic tilted design reduces wrist strain; Bluetooth technology provides a sleek cable-free, clutter-free connection.
• QWERTY layout with dedicated function keys. Compatible with the iPad and all Bluetooth-enabled tablets, laptops, and computers.
• Slim and compact design is easily stowed and transported in a backpack, messenger, or case.
• Super easy and fast set-up. Auto sleep/wake function conserves battery life.
• Product dimensions: 285 x 120 x 6 mm, requires 2 x AAA batteries (NOT INCLUDED).

Anker?
Anker offers diverse consumer tech solutions including batteries, adapters, networking devices, and more. We are passionate about excellence so that with every Anker brand purchase, you can expect to find quality materials, reliable performance, affordable prices, and great customer service.

Supports:
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Bluetooth-enabled iMac / Macboo

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License to Print ? Japan evades G20 criticism

License to Print ? Japan evades G20 criticism

As widely anticipated, there?s little in the way of nourishment to be taken away from the G20 statement released over the weekend, with the world?s largest economies simply reiterating their commitment to refrain from using policy to devalue respective currencies. ?We will refrain from competitive devaluation. We will not target our exchange rates for competitive purposes,? the statement noted.

Notably, it also bought the ?fair-value? element into the equation, adding ?We reiterate our commitments to move more rapidly toward more market-determined exchange rate systems and exchange rate flexibility to reflect underlying fundamentals, and avoid persistent exchange rate misalignments, and in this regard, work more closely with one another so we can grow together.?

With some of the world?s largest economies indulging in a veritable smorgasbord of policy stimulus in the form of quantitative easing or similar, it?s hardly the time to target one particular nation seemingly guilty of the very same thing which has led to the deterioration of the world?s ?reserve? currency ? the US dollar. Nonetheless, one can never really prove with certainty a country such as Japan is using stimulus as a direct means of currency devaluation, however, it is abundantly clear currency weakness is a much welcomed side-effect.

Yen bears vindicated

Yen weakness after the release is perhaps the best indication of how the G20 draft statement was received across markets. In short, the status quo has been maintained ? Japan has a license to continuing printing under the guise of economic stimuli.

After looking vulnerable to further downside earlier in the session, the Yen resumed weakening with the USD-JPY rate climbing to highs of Y93.85. Similar moves were noted across the board with the Yen finish lower against all of the majors.

With the G20 risk now off the table and Yen bears suitably vindicated, it?s now a question of how much is enough? Has the market already priced-in Prime Minister Shinzo Abe?s grand effort engineered to bring the Japanese economy truly back from the ?lost decade/s??

Apart from natural periods of consolidation, the case to expect further weakness remains the most convincing. While the risks are clearly present, markets remain firmly focused on how Bank of Japan Governor Masaaki?Shirakawa?s departure in April will change the bank?s current stimulus plans. It?s expected a pro-stimulus ally of Abe?s will be given the top job, in turn increasing the likelihood of new or existing stimulus plans being launched sooner than anticipated.

For all its perceived safe-haven credentials, dig a little deeper and you will find a currency that has been severely disjointed from its fundamental worth. With a debt to GDP ratio of over 200 percent of which is funded by an ageing population, it could be argued the markets willingness to thrash the Yen is merely an excuse to price in Japan?s rather uninspiring fundamentals.

Among advanced and emerging economies, Japan is the undisputed champion of the debt race, with current estimates showing the public debt at an alarming 235 percent of GDP and projected to rise to 250 percent by 2017.

An alternative view...

On the flip side, 3-months of one-way traffic can be extremely dangerous should the underlying catalysts change to a great degree. Ironically, we see the greatest risk coming from the Japanese Government itself. Although the have taken significant steps to encourage currency weakness through policy, there may be a point where they judge the Yen is at a desired level. If and when this happens is anyone?s guess (100 Yen to the dollar perhaps), but it wouldn?t be surprising to see the government begin to talk the currency higher when they judge an appropriate level of exchange has been overshot.

We saw this recently with Japan?s Finance Minister Taro Aso stating the Yen has weakened ?more than then we [the Government] intended?. Traders quickly squared and reversed short-term bets for a brief period of time. Although we consider Aso?s comments more of an attempt to deflect attention before the G-20 meeting, they demonstrate how effective a little jawboning can be. The use of the word ?intended? may reveal two important things, firstly the Government has a desired exchange rate in mind, secondly (and more importantly in the context of the latest G-20 meeting), the Government has sought to devalue their currency through policy.

A$ fails to launch; RBA minutes in frame

The Aussie dollar notched up its 5th consecutive week of losses, finishing a moderate 0.13 percent lower from its previous weekly close. Negative to neutral risk trends kept demand for high beta currencies to a minimum on Friday with the Kiwi leading the commodity bloc lower after a solid week of buying. In early trade the local unit is buying just shy of 103 US cents in extremely light liquidity, but we anticipate moderate support will carry price action back above the figure in the domestic session.

While we expect the usual gyrations from global risk barometers will ultimately decided the Aussie?s trajectory over the week, Tuesday?s RBA minutes may once again serve as a reminder of the bank?s willingness to ease further.

The meeting saw the RBA hold the official cash rate steady at 3-percent, while flagging the potential for policy easing should downside risks materialise. Although Governor Stevens acknowledged the more positive themes (particularly improvements from a global perspective) the statement left the door for further policy easing well and truly open. ?The inflation outlook, as assessed at present, would afford scope to ease policy further, should that be necessary to support demand.?

The statement also expressed the need to wait until prior cuts to the cash rate have penetrated the economy, noting ?the full impact of this will still take further time to become apparent?. One again, the high exchange rate received only a partial mention noting the ?exchange rate remains higher than might have been expected?.

The usual adjectives were littered throughout the statement, with ?moderate? growth in private consumption spending and ?subdued? investment outside of the resource sector while noting ?the peak in resource investment is approaching.? With the exception of a relatively upbeat global assessment, the statement erred slightly to the dovish side of neutral when referring to the local economy.

Source: http://www.fxstreet.com/fundamental/analysis-reports/fundamental-fx-commentary/2013-02-17.html

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Chinese New Year Celebration Sweeps Through Flushing

By Zachary Stieber
Epoch Times Staff Created: February 16, 2013 Last Updated: February 17, 2013

A dragon team entertained the audience by sweeping close to onlookers during the annual Chinese New Year parade in Flushing, New York, on Feb. 16. (Dai Bing/The Epoch Times)

NEW YORK?As the dancing dragon teased a delighted crowd, they reached, trying to touch it as if it would give them good luck for the year ahead.?

But it is the end of the Year of the Dragon, and time to celebrate the Year of the Snake.

Thousands marched in the Chinese New Year parade in Flushing, Queens, on Saturday, while others lined the streets to watch; entertained by costumes, music, and colorful dragons.

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Sean Dou, 34, who hails from from Mainland China, said the parade connects all Asians together.

?It ties the Chinese people together; not just the Chinese, also the Koreans [and all Asians],? he said. Dou and his wife Vanessa Bai were watching the parade, enjoying the celebration of traditions.

The Chinese calendar differs from the Western (Gregorian) calendar, so the beginning of the Chinese New Year falls on a different day every year, with dates ranging between late January and late February. The Chinese zodiac is a rotating cycle of 12 years, with each year being represented by an animal, this year being the snake.

Celebrations of the Chinese New Year last for two weeks and end on the 15th day with the Lantern Festival (Feb. 24 this year).

People of all age groups enjoyed the annual Chinese New Year parade in Flushing, New York, on Feb. 16. (Dai Bing/The Epoch Times)

About 1 million Asians, half of which are Chinese, live in New York, according to the 2010 Census. And around half of all Asians live in Queens.

Cathy Wang lives in Flushing and is part of the Divine Land Marching Band, which consists of practitioners of the spiritual practice Falun Gong, who wish to revive the values of traditional Chinese culture. Band members wear colorful attire reminiscent of the Tang Dynasty.

Wang said traditional Chinese culture is for everyone because it is tied to universal values. Stemming from the three religions of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, Chinese culture traditionally guided human beings by setting a high moral standard.

?It?s very important; I think traditional Chinese culture doesn?t just belong to Chinese, it belongs to all human beings,? Wang said.?

However, over the years, the parade has been targeted by groups backed by the Chinese Communist Party, extending the Party?s persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China to the United States. In previous parades, members of the band have been attacked and heckled. Two years ago, a Chinese man was arrested after jumping the police barrier and destroying a banner carried by Falun Gong participants.?

Wang sees the marching band?s success on Saturday as evidence that the persecution in China can?t carry over into America.

The Divine Land Marching Band entertains onlookers during the annual Chinese New Year parade in Flushing, New York, on Feb. 16. (Dai Bing/The Epoch Times)

?Here in New York, in the U.S., we can practice our beliefs freely, and we are very welcomed in our society,? she said. ?And every year we are invited to celebrate the Chinese New Year, and we hear overwhelming feedback that people love to see us.? The band is highly regarded because of their discipline and music, as well as their very beautiful uniforms, she said.

People traveled to Flushing on Saturday to watch the parade from across New York, New Jersey, and Long Island.

Kevin Miller, 31, from Brooklyn and in administration at the City University of New York, came to Flushing for the first time to see the parade.?

?It?s amazing that there are so many cultures in one place,? he said. ?Only an hours ride to come here; it?s pretty awesome.??

Dayong Li, 48, of New Jersey, stood after the parade watching fireworks crackle. He said that?s part of the tradition, too; to drive away evil ghosts and other bad spirits, and to help bring in the new year.

The significance of celebrating Chinese culture, he said, is that there are so many Chinese people in New York, ?who want to keep our culture, who want to keep the tradition.?

The Epoch Times publishes in 35 countries and in 21 languages.?Subscribe to our e-newsletter.

Source: http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/united-states/chinese-new-year-celebration-sweeps-through-flushing-348521.html

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Playing 'Contender or Pretender' with NBA Playoffs Hopefuls

We have a pretty clear picture of what the playoffs will look like right now, save for some teams on the bubble. The Lakers are always lurking, and they've been on a hot streak of late.

Other franchises are looking to crash the playoff party for this first time in awhile. In the East, the Toronto Raptors and Detroit Pistons stalk from the fringes. In the West, the Warriors try to hold on to their first playoff appearance in six seasons.

Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1531826-playing-contender-or-pretender-with-nba-playoffs-hopefuls

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Chane Behanan / Video: Louisville 59, South Florida 41

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