Nook Video Service Launches In U.K. As Barnes & Noble Expands Licensing Deals With HBO, Sony, Warner And Others

Nook HD Nook HD+Barnes & Noble's Nook HD and Nook HD+ tablets went on sale in the UK towards the end of last month -- without an on-board video service. That has been added today, with the tablet maker expanding its licensing partnerships -- including with BBC Worldwide, HBO, NBCUniversal, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, STARZ, and Warner Bros -- to offer the Nook Video service in the U.K.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/fKvo5gf4dDY/

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When Hamas launches a rocket, Israeli iPhones buzz

Thanks to Color Red, a new app thought up by a 13-year-old, Israelis all over the country know exactly when and where each rocket from Gaza is headed.

By Christa Case Bryant,?Staff writer / November 20, 2012

Rockets launched by Palestinian militants towards Israel make their way from the central Gaza Strip, seen from the Israel Gaza border, Monday. Thanks to an app thought up by an Israeli teenager, Israelis all over the country know exactly when and where each rocket from Gaza is headed.

Lefteris Pitarakis/AP

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Adi Pito and his friend Avi Genasia were checking out the damage from the first ? and so far only ? fatal rocket attack of the past week when there was a deep rumble on the horizon.

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There was also a buzz from Mr. Genasia?s iPhone. A rocket had been fired from Gaza.

Thanks to Color Red, a new app thought up by a 13-year-old, Israelis all over the country know exactly when and where each rocket is headed.

The geeky solution for Israel?s more than 3 million residents threatened by rocket fire isn?t the first time Israel?s high-tech prowess has been applied to its security threats. In fact, much of Israel?s innovation economy ? which is considered second only to Silicon Valley ? is spurred by the demands of its military and related security industries.

Perhaps adversity whets Israel?s competitive edge, as suggested by the 2009 best-seller Start-Up Nation. According to Israeli press reports, the young teenager behind Color Red is from Beersheva, one of the cities that bears the brunt of Gaza rocket fire ? and thus pops up most frequently on the app.

You can choose to have all alerts sent to your phone, or just those for areas you select from a long list ? all in Hebrew. The system efficiently delivers its notifications based off the government's public warning alerts.

Depending on where Israelis live, they have between 15 and 90 seconds to reach a bomb shelter once the sirens begin to wail. Lately, the sirens have been followed by a large BOOM as Israel?s Iron Dome system kicks in.

Then, if you also have the app from daily newspaper Haaretz, you see an alert pop up while sipping your latte on the Mediterranean coast: Iron Dome intercepts rocket over Tel Aviv.

Apps may not blunt the rockets, but it?s nice to know where they?re falling ??and where they?re not.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/csmonitor/globalnews/~3/54ntnZ-_zCU/When-Hamas-launches-a-rocket-Israeli-iPhones-buzz

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Italian political uncertainty sends markets into spin

LONDON (Reuters) - The euro slipped towards a two-week low on Monday while shares and Italian bond prices also fell after Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti's decision to resign deepened euro zone uncertainty.

Monti announced over the weekend he would resign once the 2013 budget is approved, raising questions over who will take the reins of the euro zone's third largest economy after elections expected in February.

The competent economist has become an investor favorite over the last year for guiding through a string of reforms and the prospect of scandal-tainted former leader Silvio Berlusconi launching a bid to reclaim power rattled markets.

Top European shares on the FTSEurofirst 300 index fell as much as 0.5 percent and were down 0.3 percent by 8 a.m. EDT with Wall Street also expected to open lower.

A 3.5 percent fall on Milan's Ftse Mib and 2 percent on Madrid's IBEX were flanked by smaller falls in London , Paris and Frankfurt in some of the biggest moves of the year.

The euro was trading near Friday's two-week low of $1.2876 before early afternoon support helped it climb back to $1.29125. In bond markets, Italian bonds fell sharply, with yields on benchmark 10-year debt up 36 basis points at 4.87 percent.

"The political maneuverings of Il Cavaliere (Berlusconi) have already caused the sharpest sell-off in Italian financial markets since ECB president Mario Draghi's game-changing pledge in late July," said Nicholas Spiro, head of Spiro Sovereign Strategy.

"Mr. Berlusconi is not the cause of Italy's deep-seated and long-standing economic problems, but he epitomizes the dysfunctional nature of Italian politics."

The government bonds of Spain, the other major euro zone economy deep in crisis, fell in tandem with their Italian counterparts while the cost of insuring both countries' debt against default also rose.

PROPER CONTRACTION

Spanish Economy Minister Luis de Guindos appeared to be watching as he warned his country would suffer contagion from Italy's political turmoil.

Poor economic data compounded the jitters. French industrial output was much weaker than expected in October and tepid export growth reduced Germany's trade surplus to its lowest level in over half a year.

This pointed to more than a brief, shallow economic dip as Germany's euro zone export markets struggle.

"Besides weak industrial output this is another bleak piece of data that points to contraction in the fourth quarter - and a proper contraction at that," said Thomas Hessler, an economist at HSBC Trinkaus said of the German trade data.

Things were not going completely smoothly in Greece either, where the country's debt buyback offer was extended in a bid to drum up enough investor uptake for the deal.

Despite the initial lack of investor interest, the scheme is expected to ultimately hit its targets since Greek banks - whose own fate depends on a successful buyback - are expected to stump up the shortfall.

CHINA LIFT

Balancing the European concerns were data from China which showed factory output in the world's number two economy accelerated to an eight-month high in November.

The figures followed a surprise drop in U.S. unemployment on Friday and allowed investors to look past some more disappointing Chinese trade numbers.

Copper prices hit their highest in almost two months on the upbeat Chinese sentiment, gold firmed 0.4 percent to around $1,711 an ounce and oil snapped five straight days of losses to climb back to $108 a barrel.

"It does appear, based on the evidence of the data, that the Chinese economy has bottomed out," said Ben Le Brun, a market analyst at OptionsXpress in Sydney.

In contrast to the later European gloom, the Chinese data helped Asian equity investors push MSCI's broadest index of Asia Pacific shares outside Japan to a fresh 16-month high.

Back in currency markets, the dollar rose roughly 0.3 percent against a basket of major currencies due to the euro's weakness although an expected announcement later this week of more Federal Reserve bond buying limited the gains.

Many economists expect the Fed will announce on Wednesday that it will keep pumping money into the economy during 2013 in a bid to bring down unemployment.

"People are just positioning themselves for the last decent week we could have in terms of data before getting into the Christmas period," said David Bloom, global head of FX research at HSBC. "The Fed meeting will be important."

(Additional reporting by Anooja Debnath in London and; Manash Goswami in Singapore,; Editing by David Stamp and Philippa Fletcher)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/asian-shares-firm-china-u-data-brighten-outlook-032108726--sector.html

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As You Like It - Triangle Arts and Entertainment

Burning Coal Theatre Company?s cast for ?As You Like It? includes (from left) Lori Mahl, Rebecca Bossen, Steph Scribner, and Jade Arnold (photo by the Right Image Photography, Inc.)

Burning Coal Theatre Company?s cast for ?As You Like It? includes (from left) Lori Mahl, Rebecca Bossen, Steph Scribner, and Jade Arnold (photo by the Right Image Photography, Inc.)

The ever-adventuresome Burning Coal Theatre Company, whose Henry V on Trapeze was by far the best local production of 2011, works its theatrical magic once again with a high-spirited presentation of William Shakespeare?s early pastoral comedy As You Like It, performed with brio by a stellar seven-member cast, under the direction of Davidson College professor Mark Sutch. The inspired contributions of set designer Natalie Hart of Elon University, lighting designer Chris Popowich of Pittsburgh, costume designer Jane Stein of Virginia Tech University, and properties creator Elizabeth Newton of Raleigh also contribute to the merriment.

Jade Arnold cuts a handsome figure as young Orlando, much abused by his ambitious older brother Oliver (Jeff Aguiar), who is currying the favor of the odious usurper Duke Frederick (Tom McCleister). Arnold also plays luchador-masked wrestler Charles, whom Orlando humbles in a hilarious match as Arnold wrestles himself.

After vanquishing Charles, much to the consternation of the Duke Frederick?s court, Orlando flees to the Forest of Arden, where the rightful ruler, Duke Senior (also played by Tom McCleister), is living in exile with a few of his loyal followers.

Meanwhile, Duke Senior?s daughter Rosalind (the luminous Rebecca Bosson) and her BFF, Duke Frederick?s daughter Celia (Lori Mahl), decide to run away, too, in the company of the court fool Touchstone (John Allore).

These six imaginative and resourceful actors plus Steph Scribner ? who plays LeBeau, Audrey, and Jaques De Boys ? each impersonate multiple Shakespearean characters with warmth and wit.

Jade Arnold is terrific as the lovelorn Orlando, who falls in love with Rosalind at first sight and proceeds to write love poem after love poem and paper the trees in the Forest of Arden with his poems praising Rosalind?s virtues.

Rebecca Bosson, who is a newcomer to the Raleigh stage, is altogether delightful as Rosalind; and she shows great promise to rise to the top of the Triangle theatrical firmament.

Lori Mahl is likewise amusing Celia and shepherdess Phebe, who falls for Rosalind (disguised as a boy) and disdains the romantic overtures of the lowly shepherd Silvius (Jeff Aguiar). Tom McCleister is alternately admirable and odious in his dual roles as Duke Senior and Duke Frederick, Jeff Aguiar is hissable as Oliver and hilarious as Silvius, John Allore is delightful as Touchstone, and Steph Scribner is amusing as the motley fool?s shepherdess sweetie Audrey.

Burning Coal?s rollicking rendition of As You Like It has other virtues too numerous to list here. Suffice it to say that the small professional theater located adjacent to the Historic Oakwood Section of downtown Raleigh burnishes its reputation as one of the area?s finest interpreters of Shakespeare with light-and-lively productions such as this one. Bravo!

SECOND OPINION: Dec. 5th Durham, NC Independent Weekly review by Glenn McDonald (who awarded the show 3.5 of 5 stars): http://www.indyweek.com/indyweek/a-featherweight-tone-in-burning-coals-as-you-like-it/Content?oid=3208321; Dec. 4th Raleigh, NC News & Observer review by Roy C. Dicks: http://www.newsobserver.com/2012/12/04/2524455/7-actors-play-22-shakespeare-parts.html; and Dec. 3rd Raleigh, NC BroadwayWorld.com Raleigh review by Larissa Mount: http://raleigh.broadwayworld.com/article/BWW-Reviews-Burning-Coals-AS-YOU-LIKE-IT-20121203. (Note: To read Triangle Arts & Entertainment?s online version of the Nov. 30th Triangle Theater Review preview by Robert W. McDowell, click http://triangleartsandentertainment.org/2012/11/burning-coal-will-present-william-shakespeares-pastoral-comedy-as-you-like-it-nov-29-dec-16/.)

Burning Coal Theatre Company presents AS YOU LIKE IT at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 8, 2 p.m. Dec. 9, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 13-15, and 2 p.m. Dec. 16 in the Burning Coal Theatre at the Murphey School Auditorium, 224 Polk St., Raleigh, North Carolina 27604.

TICKETS: $25 ($15 students and active-duty military personnel and $20 seniors), except $5 Student Rush Tickets (sold at the door, 5 minutes before curtain), $10 Thursdays, and $15 per person for groups of 10 or more.

BOX OFFICE: 919-834-4001 or http://www.etix.com/.

SHOW: http://burningcoal.org/as-you-like-it/.

VIDEO PREVIEW: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=GHroCDn4oR4.

PRESENTER: http://www.burningcoal.org/.

VENUE/DIRECTIONS: http://burningcoal.org/murphey-school-auditorium/.

OTHER LINKS:

As You Like It (background): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/As_You_Like_It (Wikipedia).

As You Like It (e-text): http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/toc/modeng/public/ShaAYLF.html (1623 First Folio Edition text, courtesy the University of Virginia Library).

As You Like It (study guide): http://www.bard.org/education/studyguides/AsYou/likeit.html (Utah Shakespeare Festival).

William Shakespeare: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Shakespeare (Wikipedia).

Mark Sutch: http://www3.davidson.edu/cms/x23187.xml (Davidson College).

EDITOR?S NOTE:

Robert W. McDowell is editor and publisher of Triangle Theater Review, a FREE weekly e-mail theatrical newsletter that provides more comprehensive, in-depth coverage of Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill theater than all of the other news media combined. This review is reprinted with permission from Triangle Theater Review.

To start your FREE subscription to this newsletter, e-mail RobertM748@aol.com and type SUBSCRIBE TTR in the Subject: line.

To read all of Robert W. McDowell?s Triangle Theater Review previews and reviews online at Triangle Arts & Entertainment, click http://triangleartsandentertainment.org/author/robert-w-mcdowell/.

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Tagged as: As You Like It, Burning Coal, Burning Coal Theatre Company, Mark Sutch, Murphey School Auditorium, William Shakespeare

Source: http://triangleartsandentertainment.org/2012/12/burning-coal-adds-another-laurel-to-its-crown-with-an-uproarious-rendition-of-as-you-like-it/

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Business-Ethics Stories Prominent In Global Coverage

Dec 10th, 2012 ? Posted in: News

British employees say they are feeling pressure to cut ethical corners during recession; Wall Street Journal looks at ethics of granting pay raises to execs of companies headed for bankruptcy; many U.K. investors protest that ?ethical? investment funds often are ethical in name only

LONDON and NEW YORK

Developments at the intersection of business and morality were the subject of several headlines last week. Among them:

  • The recession is apparently prompting U.K. employees to take ethical shortcuts, reports the London-based Guardian. A report from the Institute of Business Ethics says 84 percent of British employees indicate that they work honestly ?always or frequently,? but 9 percent say they have been pressured to compromise their ethical standards. Eighteen percent say there is an ?unethical culture? prevalent within their organization. A fifth of British employees say they have witnessed unethical acts, but of them only half say they reported it, notes the Guardian.
  • Relationships between management and workers at the troubled Hostess Brands, Inc., began to sour months ago after workers learned executives received pay raises shortly before seeking bankruptcy protection, reports the Wall Street Journal. The Journal reports that such practices are common and often stir emotions, but are not entirely clear-cut in terms of ethics. On one hand, ?financially ailing companies often pay bonuses and other compensation to executives, directors, and private-equity owners in the months before filing for bankruptcy protection. Federal law restricts ?retention? bonuses paid to such ?insiders? after a bankruptcy case is filed but not before,? notes the Journal. ?Companies often say they are using their best business judgment when paying bonuses to executives who are working overtime to keep operations afloat. A firm?s fate often isn?t known when bonuses are paid, and companies argue they must motivate some executives to stay lest they suffer exoduses that further destabilize troubled situations.?
  • Angry investors are dumping some ?ethical? funds after concluding that not all funds so labeled are really that good, according to a report from Investors Chronicle, a publication of the Financial Times group. The Chronicle writes: ?Independent financial advisers claim the ethical investment market, which has almost trebled in size over the last decade, is clogged with a growing number of ?disillusioned? investors who have bought the funds while under the impression they are more ethical than they are in reality.? Morley reports that a recent study by FairPensions, a charity that promotes responsible investment by pension funds, claimed that almost half of ethical funds fail to fully disclose their investments.

Sources: Investors Chronicle, Dec. 8 ? Guardian, Dec. 7 ? Wall Street Journal, Dec. 3.

For more information, see: Related Newsline story, Dec. 3 ? Related Newsline story, Nov. 26 ? Related Newsline story, Nov. 19 ? Related Newsline story, Nov. 19 ? Related Newsline story, Nov. 12.

This entry was posted on Monday, December 10th, 2012 at 9:43 pm and is filed un News der . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site. -->

User content does not reflect the views of the Institute for Global Ethics or its affiliates. IGE neither guarantees the truthfulness, accuracy, or reliability of any user content, nor endorses any opinions expressed therein.

Our goal is to provide substantive commentary for a general readership; lively debate and opposing opinions are welcome. While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic, non-proselytizing, and not abusive, moderating decisions are subjective. We will make them as carefully and consistently as we can.

Source: http://www.globalethics.org/newsline/2012/12/10/business-ethics-48/

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Antonin Scalia Defends Legal Writings Some View As Offensive, Anti-Gay

PRINCETON, N.J. ? U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia on Monday found himself defending his legal writings that some find offensive and anti-gay.

Speaking at Princeton University, Scalia was asked by a gay student why he equates laws banning sodomy with those barring bestiality and murder.

"I don't think it's necessary, but I think it's effective," Scalia said, adding that legislative bodies can ban what they believe to be immoral.

Scalia has been giving speeches around the country to promote his new book, "Reading Law," and his lecture at Princeton comes just days after the court agreed to take on two cases that challenge the federal Defense of Marriage Act, which defines marriage as between a man and a woman.

Some in the audience who had come to hear Scalia speak about his book applauded but more of those who attended the lecture clapped at freshman Duncan Hosie's question.

"It's a form of argument that I thought you would have known, which is called the `reduction to the absurd,'" Scalia told Hosie of San Francisco during the question-and-answer period. "If we cannot have moral feelings against homosexuality, can we have it against murder? Can we have it against other things?"

Scalia said he is not equating sodomy with murder but drawing a parallel between the bans on both.

Then he deadpanned: "I'm surprised you aren't persuaded."

Hosie said afterward that he was not persuaded by Scalia's answer. He said he believes Scalia's writings tend to "dehumanize" gays.

As Scalia often does in public speaking, he cracked wise, taking aim mostly at those who view the Constitution as a "living document" that changes with the times.

"It isn't a living document," Scalia said. "It's dead, dead, dead, dead."

He said that people who see the Constitution as changing often argue they are taking the more flexible approach. But their true goal is to set policy permanently, he said.

"My Constitution is a very flexible one," he said. "There's nothing in there about abortion. It's up to the citizens. ... The same with the death penalty."

Scalia said that interpreting laws requires adherence to the words used and to their meanings at the time they were written.

___

Follow Mulvihill at http://www.twitter.com/geoffmulvihill

Earlier on HuffPost:

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/10/antonin-scalia-book-tour-legal-writings-antigay_n_2274413.html

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Clapham personal trainer beating the Christmas pounds | Clapham ...

What do holiday parties and get together all have in common?

Food and drinks?high-calorie food and drinks, that is!

No wonder most people gain weight during the holidays.

Everywhere you turn, you?re surrounded by sweet temptations ? cookies, gingerbread houses, mince pies, and more. Even healthy foods like sweet potatoes and green beans are magically transformed into high-calorie dishes that will make you want to do nothing but fall asleep. And don?t forget the drinks. Eggnog and alcoholic beverages are loaded with calories.

Want to sidestep those holiday pounds?

Stay Focused
Yes, the holidays bring yummy foods and drinks, but friend gatherings and family traditions aren?t about food. Before a party, remind yourself what the holiday season is all about ? friends, family, giving, and religious traditions. Then stay focused on the reason for the season rather than the plate full of hors d?oeuvres in front of you.

Second, stay focused on your dieting goals. Remind yourself of where you?ve come from and where you?re going. Keep your goals in the forefront of your mind. A few bites of food aren?t worth hours on the treadmill.

The holidays can be a time of emotional eating. For many people, the holidays bring stress, family conflict, or depression. Learn to address the root of your problems with solutions other than food or drink.

Strategise
Is your holiday social calendar filled with night after night of parties and events? It?s time to come up with a plan. If you want to keep your diet on track, you?ll need to pace yourself. Don?t come to a party hungry but eat a small low-calorie snack ahead of time. Otherwise, you?ll overeat.

Before and after a meal, chew gum so you won?t be tempted to overindulge on appetizers and desserts. During a party, don?t stand right next to the food table, but keep a safe distance. And before you get a plate of food, choose your plate wisely. Go with a small plate instead of a large dinner plate and don?t go back for seconds!

Another important strategy is figuring out how to get in the gym between parties. Leaving room in your busy holiday schedule for exercise will help you fight off the extra weight trying to attach itself to your midsection and rear.

Wise Choices
Be smart about what you choose to eat. Don?t deprive yourself of all the foods you love or you?ll likely spurge and ruin all your good intentions. Enjoy the goodness of the season, but in moderation. Trim calories where you can by limiting your trimmings-cheeses, gravy, sauces, creams, and nuts.

The holidays offer many food choices not available the rest of the year. Because of this, you may want to overindulge before they?re gone. Instead of doing this, survey what foods are available and make your choices. Indulge in your favorites and leave the everyday dishes for another time. Only eat what you love, and don?t just eat something because it?s on the buffet.

Also, be sure to limit the amount of alcoholic beverages you drink. While you may not know it, they?re filled with calories, too. Try alternating an alcoholic drink with a non-alcoholic drink.

Follow these simple tips, and you will avoid holiday weight gain this season and start the New Year off right!

Exercise is a huge part of the equation when it comes to achieving weight loss.

About David & Carol Petersen

David & Carol Petersen run Results by Design Personal Training - a personal training gym in Clapham at 292 Battersea Park Road SW11 - Call 020 3551 6739 to book a free week of personal training. Quote DAVIDWKPT or complete the blue form on the right hand side of our blog and we will call you. We provide one to one personal triaining, group personal training, 14 day fat flush program as well as bespoke healthy eating plans and more. We help our clients lose body fat, tone and sculpt their body and look great outside while feeling great inside.

Source: http://www.claphamgym.co.uk/beat-holiday-pounds/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=beat-holiday-pounds

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'Skyfall,' 'Guardians' duel for box-office win

FILE - This undated file photo released by Columbia Pictures shows Daniel Craig as James Bond in the action adventure film, "Skyfall." According to studio estimates Sunday, Dec. 9, 2012, "Skyfall" took in $11 million to move back to No. 1 in its fifth weekend. That puts it narrowly ahead of "Rise of the Guardians," the animated adventure of Santa, the Easter Bunny and other mythological heroes that pulled in $10.5 million.(AP Photo/Sony Pictures, Francois Duhamel, File)

FILE - This undated file photo released by Columbia Pictures shows Daniel Craig as James Bond in the action adventure film, "Skyfall." According to studio estimates Sunday, Dec. 9, 2012, "Skyfall" took in $11 million to move back to No. 1 in its fifth weekend. That puts it narrowly ahead of "Rise of the Guardians," the animated adventure of Santa, the Easter Bunny and other mythological heroes that pulled in $10.5 million.(AP Photo/Sony Pictures, Francois Duhamel, File)

FILE - This undated handout file photo released by Columbia Pictures shows Daniel Craig as James Bond in the action adventure film, "Skyfall." According to studio estimates Sunday, Dec. 9, 2012, "Skyfall" took in $11 million to move back to No. 1 in its fifth weekend. That puts it narrowly ahead of "Rise of the Guardians," the animated adventure of Santa, the Easter Bunny and other mythological heroes that pulled in $10.5 million.(AP Photo/Sony Pictures, Francois Duhamel, File)

(AP) ? James Bond is in a box-office photo finish with Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny over what looks to be the last slow weekend of the holidays.

According to studio estimates Sunday, Sony's Bond tale "Skyfall" took in $11 million to move back to No. 1 in its fifth weekend.

That put it narrowly ahead of Paramount's "Rise of the Guardians," the animated adventure of Santa, the Easter Bunny and other mythological heroes that pulled in $10.5 million.

The two movies inched ahead of Summit Entertainment's "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn ? Part 2," which had been tops for three-straight weekends. The "Twilight" finale earned $9.2 million, slipping into a tight race for No. 3 with Disney's "Lincoln," which was close behind with $9.1 million.

The top movies were bunched up so closely that rankings could change once final weekend revenues are released Monday.

The weekend's only new wide release, Gerard Butler's romantic comedy "Playing for Keeps," flopped with just $6 million, coming in at No. 6.

"Skyfall" raised its domestic total to $261.6 million and added $20.3 million overseas to bring its international income to $656.6 million. At $918 million worldwide, "Skyfall" has the best cash haul ever for the Bond franchise and surpassed "Spider-Man 3" at $890 million to become Sony's top-grossing hit.

The "Twilight" finale also is a franchise record-breaker, surpassing the $710 million worldwide haul of last year's "Breaking Dawn ? Part 1." The finale's domestic total now stands at $268.7 million.

"Rise of the Guardians" led the international box office with $26 million, followed by 20th Century Fox's "Life of Pi" at $23.8 million.

It was another traditionally quiet post-Thanksgiving weekend, with big November releases continuing to dominate in the lull before a pre-Christmas onslaught of movies.

The box office is expected to soar next weekend with the arrival of part one of "The Hobbit," Peter Jackson's "The Lord of the Rings" prelude. After that comes a steady rush of action, comedy and drama through year's end, including Tom Cruise's "Jack Reacher," Quentin Tarantino and Jamie Foxx's "Django Unchained," Seth Rogen's "The Guilt Trip" and Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe's "Les Miserables."

"The last couple of weeks of the year are some of the strongest every year," said Paul Dergarabedian, an analyst for box-office tracker Hollywood.com. "We are on the cusp of some really huge box office. There's a lot of money still left in the year despite this slow period right now."

Hollywood's domestic revenues have topped $10 billion so far this year, with the industry expected to finish 2012 ahead of the all-time high of $10.6 billion set in 2009.

Trashed savagely by critics, FilmDistrict's "Playing for Keeps" stars Butler as a washed-up soccer star trying to reconnect with his ex-wife (Jessica Biel) and young son. The all-star cast includes Catherine Zeta-Jones and Uma Thurman as soccer moms with the hots for Butler.

In limited release, Bill Murray's Franklin Roosevelt drama "Hyde Park on Hudson" opened solidly with $83,280 in four theaters, averaging a healthy $20,820 a cinema. By comparison, "Playing for Keeps" averaged $2,115 in 2,837 theaters.

Released by Focus Features, "Hyde Park on Hudson" stars Murray as Roosevelt, whose intimate relations with a distant cousin (Laura Linney) become both a source of strength and distraction as the president plays host to the king and queen of England on the eve of World War II.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Hollywood.com. Where available, latest international numbers are also included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.

1. "Skyfall," $11 million ($20.3 million).

2. "Rise of the Guardians," $10.5 million ($26 million international).

3. "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn ? Part 2," $9.2 million ($23.5 million international).

4. "Lincoln," $9.1 million.

5. "Life of Pi," $8.3 million ($23.8 million international).

6. "Playing for Keeps," $6 million ($500,000 international).

7. "Wreck-It Ralph," $4.9 million ($5.8 million international).

8. "Red Dawn," $4.3 million.

9. "Flight," $3.1 million.

10. "Killing Them Softly," $2.7 million ($1.4 million international).

___

Estimated weekend ticket sales at international theaters (excluding the U.S. and Canada) for films distributed overseas by Hollywood studios, according to Rentrak:

1. "Rise of the Guardians," $26 million.

2. "Life of Pi," $23.8 million.

3. "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn ? Part 2," $23.5 million.

4. "Skyfall," $20.3 million.

5. "Wreck-It Ralph," $5.8 million.

6. "26 Years," $4.3 million.

7. "Whatcha Wearin'? (My P.S. Partner)," $3.9 million.

8. "Hotel Transylvania," $3.6 million.

9. "Killing Them Softly," $1.4 million.

10. "Playing for Keeps," $500,000.

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Universal and Focus are owned by NBC Universal, a unit of Comcast Corp.; Sony, Columbia, Sony Screen Gems and Sony Pictures Classics are units of Sony Corp.; Paramount is owned by Viacom Inc.; Disney, Pixar and Marvel are owned by The Walt Disney Co.; Miramax is owned by Filmyard Holdings LLC; 20th Century Fox and Fox Searchlight are owned by News Corp.; Warner Bros. and New Line are units of Time Warner Inc.; MGM is owned by a group of former creditors including Highland Capital, Anchorage Advisors and Carl Icahn; Lionsgate is owned by Lions Gate Entertainment Corp.; IFC is owned by AMC Networks Inc.; Rogue is owned by Relativity Media LLC.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/4e67281c3f754d0696fbfdee0f3f1469/Article_2012-12-09-Box%20Office/id-1b2a0e6426824518963a1597a7fa96ac

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Weakened typhoon set to make second landfall in Philippines

NEW BATAAN, Philippines (Reuters) - A much-weakened storm was set to make landfall in the Philippines' northwest on Sunday, five days after the year's strongest typhoon killed 540 people and caused crop damage worth about 8 billion pesos ($195.38 million) in the south.

The Philippines weather bureau issued storm alerts for northern provinces on the main island of Luzon as Bopha, with greatly reduced winds at its centre of 55 kph (35 mph), changed course back towards land after heading into the South China Sea.

Typhoon Bopha first hit land on Tuesday with winds stronger than Hurricane Sandy that devastated the U.S. East Coast in October.

Residents in typhoon-hit areas on southern Mindanao island have been appealing for food, water and other relief supplies.

On Saturday, President Benigno Aquino declared a state of national calamity in the typhoon-hit areas to control prices of basic commodities and allow local governments to draw special calamity funds for relief operations.

The official death toll rose to 540 people and nearly 850 are still missing, mostly in the Mindanao provinces of Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental. More than 1,000 were injured and about 370,000 are in temporary shelter areas.

"They have neglected us," farmer Cresencia Blanco, 57, told Reuters. Blanco said she and her neighbors around Osmena town in Compostela Valley had lost their homes and crops.

"They are focused on New Bataan," she said, referring to another town in the valley. "Since the typhoon struck, we only got a total of four kilos of rice, that's all."

Nearby, Blanco's son, Monching, held up a placard that read: "We're hungry. We don't have relief goods. Have mercy on us."

As people from Osmena gathered along a highway, a convoy of trucks carrying food supplies rumbled past, with people scrambling madly for packs of noodles thrown from the trucks.

Benito Ramos, executive director of the national disaster agency, said the United States had offered to send transport planes and helicopters to help bring food supplies to remote and isolated areas.

Security forces were sent to guard government warehouses and commercial centers to prevent looting after people raided a rice warehouse in a coastal area in Davao Oriental province.

Humanitarian agencies said some 5.4 million people affected by the typhoon urgently need food, potable water and shelter after Bopha wiped out 90 percent of houses in the worst-hit towns in Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental.

Donations from the international community have poured in, with U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta also ordering the Pacific Command to support relief and rescue operations.

Pope Benedict XVI also sent a message of support to typhoon victims. "I am praying for the victims, for their families and for the many who lost their homes," the Pope told Catholics gathered in St. Peter's Square.

In some parts of Mindanao, people took to gold panning as floodwaters swept a mining area in Mawab town. "Now, I can repair the roofs of my house," Alexander Chavez told Reuters as entire families descended on a river to gather gold tailings.

Gold traders were buying ingots at 1,600 pesos ($39) per gram, he said, adding they are earning 2,000 pesos a day. "Sometimes, the flood brings something good for us." ($1 = 40.9450 Philippine pesos)

(Reporting by Erik de Castro; Additional reporting By Manuel Mogato in MANILA,; Editing by Paul Tait)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/weakened-typhoon-set-second-landfall-philippines-051018295.html

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Buying a Fannie Mae REO - Zillow Real Estate Advice

We were in process of buying a Fannie Mae REO and about one week before closing the house was broke into and vandalized.? This event caused quite a delay in the closing and it didn't happen on the date listed in the contract.? Sellers broke contract early morning on that date.? How fair was that to me, it was their responsibility to maintain the house.? The house went back on the market the next day.? What if anything can be done?

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Source: http://www.zillow.com/advice-thread/Buying-a-Fannie-Mae-REO/470820/

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