Monday, August 5, 2013

Who Will Disrupt Real Estate? | TechCrunch

I don?t even want to imagine what looking for a house was like in the 80s. Over the last few years, Zillow, Trulia, Redfin and others have done a lot to make more information available to those who want to buy and sell their homes. Today, I can easily get an alert on my phone when a house comes on the market. Indeed, I?ll probably know about it long before our real estate agent does. In a competitive market, that can be a big advantage over less tech savvy buyers. It?s just as easy to look at comparable and figure out if a price has any wiggle room for negotiations or if a house is badly overpriced for its neighborhood.

That?s all great ? and I really can?t imagine what house hunting would be like without Redfin?s mobile app, for example. It seems, however, that this is about as far as real estate startups go. With their IPOs, Zillow and Trulia have obviously shown that you can build a very successful startup in the real estate information world ? though it?s worth noting that both of them have lately put a lot of emphasis on rentals, too. In their current form, however, most real estate startups remain squarely within the confines of providing users with more information and traditional agents with leads. That?s great, but there?s so much more startups could to do shake up the real estate market.

Redfin, too, is rumored to be looking at an IPO, but unlike most of its competitors, the Seattle-based company describes itself as ?technology-powered real estate brokerage? and as such, it has the advantage of being able to give its users just about the same kind of information an agent would get from a local Multiple Listing Service. Even though many users probably look at Redfin as a direct competitor to Zillow, the company actually works with local agents to let you schedule tours of houses and walk you through the buying process. In the end, though, Redfin?s website is basically a sophisticated lead generation tools for its agents and while the company clearly has traction in the relatively limited number of markets it operates in, it won?t put your local Century 21, Prudential or Windermere office out of business anytime soon.

So where is the real disruption in real estate? Startups are taking on commercial real estate and apartment rentals all the time, but when it comes to private properties, we?re still basically stuck with the same sales model today as somebody who bought a house in the 60s. We?re still working with agents and pay them fees (directly as least as sellers ? and indirectly as buyers), even though we often know more about a house and neighborhood then they do. They do, however, have the key to the house we want to see and unless there?s an open house, there is basically no other way to get into a place that?s for sale.

Real estate transactions are big and complicated (and you can bet your agent will often remind you that it?s the biggest financial decision you?ll ever make), but where is the startup that tries to change this or at least tries to make some aspects easier and more transparent? Sure, it?s a well-regulated industry with plenty of (local) quirks, but the same could be said for taxis and it looks like some companies have been able to change that landscape pretty effectively. If Airbnb can rent out houses, there sure must be a way to at least make home showings easier in the age of Lockitron (once it starts shipping) and internet-connected surveillance.

Don?t get me wrong ? there are plenty of good real estate agents out there, but I can?t help but think that in the long run, real estate agents will go the way of travel agents. There will also be a need for a few good ones that can help you out in special circumstances and some people will always want to rely on them instead of handling things themselves. It took some ambitious startups to change how we book our travel today and it?ll take even more ambitious startups to change real estate as we know it.

There is a huge opportunity here, however, and I?m looking forward to seeing somebody try to really shake things up.

Photo credit: Images_of_Money

Source: http://techcrunch.com/2013/08/04/who-will-disrupt-real-estate/

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Barack Obama overrules Apple import ban

Barack Obama's trade representative has vetoed an import ban on some Apple iPads and older iPhones, in a setback to rival South Korean electronics company Samsung.

US Trade Representative Michael Froman overruled a June decision by the US International Trade Commission, which had banned imports of the iPhone 4 and some variations of the iPad 2.

The commission ruled that the Chinese-made Apple devices violated a patent held by Samsung and could not be imported. But the ban never went into effect, because the Obama administration had 60 days to decide if it would uphold the commission.

President Obama is against import bans on the basis of the type of patent at issue in the Samsung case. The White House has recommended that Congress limit the ITC's ability to impose import bans in these cases.

Samsung and Apple are in a global legal battle over smartphones. Apple argues Samsung's Android phones copy vital iPhone features and Samsung is fighting back with its own complaints.

Apple spokeswoman Kristin Huguet said the company applauded the administration "for standing up for innovation". A message seeking comment from Samsung was not returned.

In a letter to the commission Mr Froman said he had concerns about patent holders having too much leverage over competitors that use their technology under licences.

Companies license patented technology to competitors so the devices can communicate as part of an industry standard for mobile phones. Under the "standards-essential patent" legal theory prevailing in US courts, holders of such patents are obligated to license them to all-comers on "fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory" terms.

US courts have ruled that such patents cannot be the basis for import bans. The International Trade Commission follows a different standard than the courts, but the Obama administration wants it to follow the same principles.

Mr Froman wrote that he shared the Obama administration's concerns that the holders of standards-essential patents could get "undue leverage" over their competitors.

Last year, a federal court ruled that Samsung owed Apple one billion dollars in damages for infringing on non-essential Apple patents. But the judge refused to impose an import ban on Samsung phones and later struck 450 million dollars from the verdict, saying the jurors miscalculated. The case is set for a rematch in the appeal court.

Samsung is the world's largest maker of smartphones. Analysts estimate it outsold Apple nearly two to one in the first three months of the year. However, Apple's smartphone business is more profitable.

The iPhone 4 was launched in 2010 and is the oldest iPhone still sold by Apple. The ITC ruling applied only to the AT&T version of the phone. Apple is likely to retire the model.

Apple launched the iPad 2 in 2011. The ruling applies only to the version equipped with a mobile modem for AT&T's network.

The ruling also applies to older iPhones, though these are no longer sold by Apple.

AP

Source: http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/266/f/3492/s/2f880c10/sc/21/l/0L0Sindependent0O0Cnews0Cworld0Camericas0Cbarack0Eobama0Eoverrules0Eapple0Eimport0Eban0E87451580Bhtml/story01.htm

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Now You Can Live Stream On YouTube Without Being A Queen Bee

Now You Can Live Stream On YouTube Without Being A Queen Bee

The internet is a constant popularity contest, and everyone is trying to collect followers, friends, shares, likes, hearts, views, +1s etc. You know the soul crushing drill. But YouTube wants to change the conversation. They've lowered the bar so you only need 100 or more subscribers to be able to live stream.

Read more...

Source: http://gizmodo.com/now-you-can-live-stream-on-netflix-without-being-a-quee-1018733261

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Monster Truck Nationals a Hit with Fans at Lucas Oil Speedway!

Wheatland, Missouri - July 28th, 2013 -They say a picture is worth a thousand words, here are a few photos that sum up the amazing Monster Truck Nationals at Lucas Oil Speedway. For the second year in a row, fans of all ages were thrilled with the smashing, crashing, banging, high jumping, engine roaring excitement of the Lucas Oil Monster Truck Nationals! The night kicked off with an awesome Party in the Pit and Autograph session, plus rides in the Raminator Ride-A-Long Monster Truck.

In opening ceremonies Lucas Oil welcomed home Jessica Carter, who returned from an 11 month tour of duty in Kuwait. Jessica surprised her family as the crowd roared with appreciation.

Special thanks to Chris Bork with CB Race Photos for capturing a great night at the Diamond of Dirt Tracks.

Up next at Lucas Oil Speedway is the Racing to Save the Hunt Night presented by the NWTF. Join the National Wildlife Turkey Federation "Race to Save the Hunt" at Lucas Oil Speedway for the Weekly Championship Racing Series on?August 3rd. The NWTF is dedicated to the conservation of wild turkey and preservation of our hunting heritage. Also, it is Public Safety Appreciation Night as all Police, Fire, and Rescue Personnel are admitted FREE to the Speedway with ID. The ALPS Food Stores Late Models, the Pitts Homes A-Modifieds, the Carson's Corner Napa Factory Stocks, and the Tri-Lakes RV B-Mods will all be in action. The Pitts Homes A-Modifieds will be the evening's featured class as the Top Open Wheel Modified drivers in the region hit the "Diamond of Dirt Tracks" for a special 25 Lap, $750 to win Main Event courtesy of Clearlight Inn.

**Please note, this is also a double feature night for the ALPS Food Stores ULMA Late Models, Pitts Homes USRA Modifieds and the Tri-Lakes RV B-Mods from the rain forced early night on July 20th. Pit gates will open at?3 PM. Racing will begin 1 hour earlier.**

Saturday, August 3rd, 2013?Event Information

Gates open at?5:00, Hot Laps at?6:00, and racing at?6:30. **Note schedule adjustment for double-features**

Adults (16 and up) $12
Seniors (62 and up) $8
Youth (6-15) $5
Kids (5 and under) FREE
Family Pass $25?
Pit Pass $25

For complete event information and to keep up with the latest news at Lucas Oil Speedway, visit?LucasOilSpeedway.com. ?

2013 Official Lucas Oil Speedway Marketing Partners

AAA Missouri

"The Official Auto Club" of Lucas Oil Speedway

Bill Roberts Chevrolet

"The Official Truck" of Lucas Oil Speedway

Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr. Pepper?

"The Official Soft Drink" of Lucas Oil Speedway?

iON Cameras

"The Official Camera" of Lucas Oil Speedway

The lightest, fastest, fully-waterproof HD action camera on the market

?E3 Spark Plugs

"The Official Spark Plug" of Lucas Oil Speedway?

GEICO?

"The Official Insurance" of Lucas Oil Speedway

General Tire?

"The Official Tire" of Lucas Oil Speedway

Lucas Oil Products?

"The Official Oil" of Lucas Oil Speedway?

?MAVTV?

"The Official Television Network" of Lucas Oil Speedway?

Optima Batteries?

"The Official Battery" of Lucas Oil Speedway???

Speedco?

"The Official Truck Lube and Tire Center" of Lucas Oil Speedway

Sunoco Race Fuels?

"The Official Fuel" of Lucas Oil Speedway

2013 Lucas Oil Speedway Supporters Include:

AAA Missouri, A-1 Disposal, A & G Electric, Advanced Automotive Repair, All About Smiles, ?ALPS Food Stores, American Broadband, American Racer Race Tires, Amerigas of Bolivar, ?Andy's Frozen Custard, Anglers Port Marine, Ash Grove Aggregates, Bank of Urbana, Big Surf Water Park, Bill Roberts Chevrolet/Buick, Bridal Cave, Budweiser, Carson's Corner Napa Auto Parts, Casey's General Stores, Citizens Memorial Healthcare, Clearlight Inn, Eibach Springs, Elite Auto Repair, Fast Shafts, Friendly Fuel America, Frog Signs, G2 Gemini, Gathering Place, Goody's Resort, Great Southern Bank-Weaubleau, Harbor Campground & Marina, Heart of America Beverage, Hermitage Lumber, Hobby Time Motorsports, Hoosier Race Tires, Hot Rod Processing, Impact Signs, Awnings and Wraps,?inthepits.net, JH Custom Wheel & Accessory, Kirkey Racing Fabrication, Lucas Cattle Company, MFA Bolivar, Midwest Low-E Insulation, Midwest Sheet Metal, Missouri Baptist Convention, Nemo Marina, Nemo Quarry, O'Bannon Bank, Old Kinderhook, O'Reilly Auto Parts, Ozark Harley-Davidson, Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr. Pepper, Petro Truck Stops, Pitts Homes, Pitts Realty, Pitts Cattle, Poly Lift Boat Lifts,Racinboys.com,?RacinDirt.com, Rains Ice Company, Ron Jenkins Accounting & Tax Service, Ron's Racing Collectibles, SBU Athletics, Shadow Lake Golf, S & H Farm Supply, Sleep Inn-Camdenton, Sugarfoot BBQ, Sunoco Race Fuels, Sunflower Resort, Travel Centers of America, Tri-Lakes RV, Triangle Quick Shop, TNT Quick Shop, Twisted Tea, Vickie and Tim's Pub & Grub, Wheatland Motel, ?White's Marine Center?

?


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Source: http://www.lucasoil.com/articles1-5327/MonsterTruckNationalsaHitwithFansatLucasOilSpeedway

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Chinese troops stop Army from patrolling in Indian territory

Amid a spate of incursions by China in Ladakh, its troops are also resorting to tactics like preventing Indian Army from patrolling posts in this sector along the border which was well within India's territory.

In what is being described as an aggressive approach by China, the tactics have come to the fore in the wake of yet another incident last week when Indian troops launched its patrol "Tiranga" from Trade Junction area in north of Ladakh for two posts located 14 km up in the higher reaches along the line of actual control (LAC).

The Indian Army personnel were stopped by Chinese troops who came mounted on heavy and light vehicles, official sources said on Sunday.

The patrol party was shown a banner that it was Chinese territory and that they cannot proceed to the posts, they said.

The sources said the Chinese troops were aggressive in their approach while stopping the Indian patrol who were at their posts.

These posts are well inside Indian territory, the sources said, adding that from April this year, the patrol for these forward bases were launched 21 times and only twice it could complete its mission.

Chinese have *****ed an observation post which kept a vigil on movement of Indian troops and as soon as an Indian patrol party is ready to leave, they are intercepted midway and sent back, the sources said, adding the matter would be taken up during the next Border Personnel Meeting (BPM) at Chushul.

In the same sector in Ladakh, there were instances when Chinese military vehicles were spotted in Depsang Bulge and Daulat Beg Oldi(DBO) sector where the two armies had seen a 21-day stand-off from April 15 this year.

Indian troops comprising mainly Indo-Tibetan Border Police(ITBP) immediately swung into action and prevented the "free-run" of Chinese military vehicles in the Indian territory.

In the last BPM meeting held on July 27, India also raised objections to a tower being constructed in the Chinese side on the LAC in Demchok-***hche sector.

During the meeting with the Chinese side which was led by Colonel Wang Jun Xian, the Indian side said the construction was in violation of peace and tranquality agreement signed between the two countries in 1993.

According to the agreement, no construction work has to be undertaken at the LAC by either country.

The Chinese side claimed that the tower was actually a weather station for the benefit of the people of the area and instead informed the Indian delegation that its Army was engaged in military activities in ***hche.

The Indian side led by Brigadier Sanjeev Rai told the Chinese team that PLA troops were regularly entering into the Indian area, sources said.

It gave instances like on July 16 and 19 when the Chinese troops entered 1.2km deep into Indian territory, on July 17 (2.5km), on July 20 (aggressive patrol entered 200 metres) and intervening night of July 25-26 (3.5km).

These incursions mainly happened in Chumar and Demchok areas, located 300km from Leh.

The sources said that the "assertive posturing" by the Chinese troops was a worrying trend which had been seen lately after the April 15 faceoff at the DBO sector.

Chumar is the last town after which Himachal Pradesh starts. This area also has the distinction of having a defined international border with China. This area is not accessible from the Chinese side whereas the Indian side has a road almost to the last point on which the army can carry a load upto nine tonnes.

All Indian units located along the LAC have been asked to maintain a tight vigil in their area of responsibilities (AOR) and launch frequent patrols to the higher reaches, the sources said.

Source: http://forum.santabanta.com/showthread.htm?326329-Chinese-troops-stop-Army-from-patrolling-in-Indian-territory&goto=newpost

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Sunday, August 4, 2013

Leica Elmarit-M 28mm f/2.8 ASPH.


The Leica Elmarit-M 28mm f/2.8 ASPH. ($2,195 list) is an impressively small wide-angle lens with a modest f/2.8 maximum aperture. It's compatible with Leica rangefinder cameras, although it's easy enough to use with Sony NEX and Micro Four Thirds cameras using an inexpensive adapter. It's an impressive performer, delivering sharp images at its maximum aperture, but you don't get the edge-to-edge performance that Leica shooters adore until f/4. That's still pretty reasonable for a wide-angle design, and it's even more impressive when you consider just how compact and light the lens is.

The Elmarit measures just 1.2 by 2 inches (HD) and weighs in at 6.3 ounces. The included clip-on plastic hood adds a bit of height, but not much, and its weight is impressive when you consider its all-metal construction. It can focus as close as 0.7 meter and accepts 39mm filters, the standard for smaller Leica lenses. Its aperture ranges from f/2.8 down to f/22 in half-stop clicks, and there's a tab on the focusing ring to make adjusting focus a more pleasant experience. There's no such thing as an autofocus M camera, so be prepared to focus this one yourself.

I used Imatest to check the performance of the Elmarit when paired with the full-frame Leica M. The lens was released and designed for use on the older digital M8 camera, which featured a smaller-than-full-frame image sensor. Imatest shows that average sharpness, calculated using a center-weighted methodology, is 2,311 lines per picture height. This is in excess of the 1,800 lines that we require to call a photo sharp, but there is some softness at the extreme edges of the frame. Performance there is limited to a mere 1,347 lines, which is noticeably fuzzy upon careful examination.

Stopping down to f/4 fixes everything. The overall resolution jumps to 2,736 lines, and edges are quite impressive at 1,879 lines. At f/5.6 the overall sharpness is 3,104 lines, with edges that cross 2,700 lines, and things are just about the same at f/8. This is a wide-angle design, and it doesn't focus as close as some 28mm SLR lenses, so you won't be missing out on much bokeh by narrowing the aperture when corner-to-corner sharpness is a requirement for a shot.

There is a modest amount of barrel distortion, about 0.9 percent, which is a bit much compared to some Leica glass, but is barely relevant in field conditions. If you do notice some curvature in your images, a quick slider adjustment in Lightroom will straighten them out.

The Elmarit-M 28mm f/2.8 ASPH. is a good choice for Leica shooters who want to buy a wide-angle lens, but can't afford the Summicron-M 28mm f/2 ASPH. ($4,295). Its aperture isn't as ambitious, but its price tag is significantly lower and it's compact to boot. The lens is the widest you can use on a full-frame M without resorting to an accessory viewfinder for framing. Leica shooters who value performance over size often seek out the older, larger 28mm Elmarit on the used market, as it is said to produce sharper corners at its maximum aperture. But if you prefer the more modern look that an aspherical lens produces, and don't want to have the need for an f/2 wide-angle or the budget for the Summicron, the Elmarit-M is a solid choice. Just remember to stop it down a bit when you're going for edge-to-edge sharpness in a shot.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ziffdavis/pcmag/~3/moo6aPBGAdc/0,2817,2422563,00.asp

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Allcare president surrenders Indiana dental license

INDIANAPOLIS ? The head of a well-known dental company has agreed to give up his state dental license after suddenly closing six of his Indiana dentist offices, including one in Mishawaka.

In early 2011, Allcare Dental & Dentures, a former national chain, abruptly shut the doors of its offices in Mishawaka, Fort Wayne, Muncie, Indianapolis, Avon and Evansville.

A complaint was filed claiming Allcare failed to reimburse patients who paid upfront for services that were not finished, not completing dental procedures and failure to provide dentures that were already made.

The state attorney general?s office last month received a consent judgment against Allcare President Robert Bates and the company which called for more than $1.3 million in total restitution to be paid to 443 consumers who filed complaints.

Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller says his Consumer Protection Assistance Fund will pay a portion of the restitution still owed.

The CPAF allows the attorney general?s office to use money recovered from judgments against companies that violated consumer protection laws to reimburse consumers in cases where restitution cannot be collected.

The Indiana State Board of Dentistry accepted the agreement reached between Bates and the attorney general?s office which requires him to surrender his dental license and removes his ability to reapply for a license. Last year, Zoeller?s office filed an administrative complaint against Bates for closing his businesses and abandoning hundreds of patients.

?The abrupt closure of these businesses left patients without the promised services, dental devices or refunds,? Zoeller said. ?Today?s licensing action is welcomed as we turn to the patients and make every effort to make them whole again.?

People included in the judgment are eligible to receive reimbursements and should have received a copy of the claim form. Zoeller says his office will begin paying a portion of the restitution to patients once the August 26 claim form deadline has passed.

The amounts to be paid to each eligible consumer will be determined after all of the claim forms have been received.

If you have a question, you can call 1-800-382-5516.

Bates has also faced licensing actions for similar violations in Connecticut, Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Tennessee and West Virginia.

Source: http://www.wsbt.com/news/wsbt-allcare-president-surrenders-indiana-dental-license-20130802,0,1563419.story?track=rss

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Episcopalian leads youth ministry at Christ Lutheran Church in Rossview community

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Source: http://www.facebook.com/leafchronicle/posts/10151607284841849

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Jahlil Okafor's AAU coach thinks Duke is the frontrunner for Tyus Jones package deal

Posted by: Amelia Rayno under College basketball, Gophers players Updated: August 2, 2013 - 2:10 PM "); } check=false; } else { jQuery("#senderName1").removeClass("fc-field-error"); jQuery("#errorName1").remove(); check=true; } if(!yourEmail.match("[a-zA-Z0-9!#$%&'*+/=?^_`{|}~-]+(?:\.[a-zA-Z0-9!#$%&'*+/=?^_`{|}~-]+)*@(?:[a-zA-Z0-9](?:[a-zA-Z0-9-]*[a-zA-Z0-9])?\.)+[a-zA-Z0-9](?:[a-zA-Z0-9-]*[a-zA-Z0-9])")) { jQuery("#senderMail1").addClass("fc-field-error"); if(jQuery("#errorMail1").length

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When it comes to the Tyus Jones sweepstakes, many Gophers fans have started admitting the facts:

  • As one of the most highly touted recruits in the nation, with offers from just about every impressive program out there, the odds of Jones choosing to stay home and go to a school without much in the way of facilities, immediate winning potential or tradition, are not good.
  • Although new coach Richard Pitino and staff may be flexing their recruiting muscle already, jumping in during the finishing stretch for a?Jones-caliber recruit is, well, tough.

Jones has repeatedly said Minnesota is still in the mix, and the Gophers remain on his short list of seven. But a smart recruit would not eliminate his home state school until the very end anyway, so as to ruffle as few feathers as possible.

Interesting, then, if Jones isn't talking, that someone very close to Jahlil Okafor -- the player Jones has talked about choosing a college with for years -- is. At least according to the @BlueDeviIs twitter account.

Just one man's opinion here, even if that man is Okafor's AAU?coach. It is very far from an official word. But in the absence of any public leanings from either player, interesting nonetheless ...?

Source: http://www.startribune.com/sports/preps/218132321.html

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The benefits of Internet porn | The Daily Caller

Editor?s note: The author of this piece was recently fired from the?Chattanooga Times Free Press for running a headline harshly critical of President Obama?s economic policies during his recent visit to the city. The paper has defended its decision, saying the only other time Mr. Johnson has been denied the opportunity to freely state his views was last week, when they declined to run a piece on pornography.?The following is that editorial:

A miracle product exists that is responsible for dramatically reducing the number of rapes and sexual assaults in America. This invention has even contributed to lower divorce and teen pregnancy rates.

Even though this invention has proven so beneficial, millions of Americans want to moderate and even eliminate it. Why? Because the thing reducing rape and sexual assault, and producing a safer, more family-friendly society, is really, really offensive to a lot of Americans: low or no-cost, high quality online pornography.

That?s right, Internet porn.

Some consider porn a gateway to rape and sexual abuse. Many claim that it objectifies women and riles men sexually in a way that makes society less safe. (As if only men view pornography.) Certain anecdotes may even serve to reinforce that notion. The numbers, however, tell a different story. Internet pornography has served as a firewall, satiating would-be rapists and protecting their potential victims.

This link between an increase in web porn and a decrease in rape was first noted in 2006 by Clemson economist Todd Kendall. Kendall?s study, which was supported by the National Bureau of Economic Research, concluded that ?Internet access appears to be a substitute for rape; in particular, the results suggest that a 10 percentage point increase in Internet access is associated with a decline in reported rape victimization of around 7.3 percent.?

Recent statistics indicate that Kendall?s research was no fluke. In fact, as Internet access ? as well as the amount of cheap or free online porn ? has further increased, incidences of rape and sexual assault have continued to plummet.

According to the National Crime Victimization survey, an annual report published by the Department of Justice?s Bureau of Justice Statistics, the rape/sexual assault rate fell from 5 per 1,000 American women over age 12 in 1995 to 1.8 per 1,000 in 2011.

?Over the past two decades, as pornography has become much more easily accessible over the Internet, the rate of rape and sexual assault has declined by about 60 percent,? according to Ronald Bailey, a science correspondent at Reason magazine.

Even one 2009 Texas A&M study that began with an assumption that easy access to porn led to more rapes found that the opposite was true. The study?s authors admitted that ?the increasing availability of pornography appears to be associated with a decline in rape.?

While crime rates are on the decline for all types of offenses, ?it?s only rape (and sexual assault) that appears to be pegged to online connectivity,? Bailey reports.

Besides reducing the horrendous crimes of rape and sexual assault, online porn also appears to reduce several societal ills, as well. Over the last dozen years, since Internet pornography use first became widespread in the U.S., rates of divorce and teen pregnancy have also fallen.

It might seem strange at first blush that porn, something that so many of us on the right side of the political spectrum have worked so hard to restrict, is responsible for preventing so many crimes and even appears helpful in supporting family values. But it makes sense when you think about it.

The numbers indicate that many would-be rapists are satisfied engaging in porn-assisted solitary sexual activity and are no longer as motivated to forcibly take a sexual partner. Further, some individuals who may have broken up their marriages by cheating on their spouses in the past now find sexual gratification through porn, rather than searching for intimate relationships outside their marriages.

Source: http://dailycaller.com/2013/08/03/the-benefits-of-internet-porn/

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Facebook CFO David Ebersman Sells 200K Shares At IPO Price Of $38

Facebook Chief Financial Officer David Ebersman sold 200,000 class-A shares in the company at its initial public offering price of $38 per share this past week, as well as 11,700 shares at $37.29 apiece and another 11,700 at $37.68, according to his Form 4 filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Ebersman still holds 2,075,085 class-A shares of Facebook common stock.

Source: http://allfacebook.com/sec-080213_b123030

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M 5.0, 17km NE of Toyota, Japan

U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey
Page URL: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/usb000iul2
Page Contact Information: Contact Us
Page Last Modified: August 03, 2013 13:19:55 UTC

Offsite LinkDOI and USGS link policies apply. Privacy Act Statement You are not required to provide your personal contact information in order to submit your survey. However, if you do not provide contact information, we may be unable to contact you for additional information to verify your responses. If you do provide contact information, this information will only be used to initiate follow-up communications with you. The records for this collection will be maintained in the appropriate Privacy Act System of Records identified as Earthquake Hazards Program Earthquake Information. (INTERIOR/USGS-2) published at 74 FR 34033 (July 14, 2009). Paperwork Reduction Act Statement The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et. seq.) requires us to inform you that this information is being collected to supplement instrumental data and to promote public safety through better understanding of earthquakes. Response to this request is voluntary. Public reporting for this form is estimated to average 6 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions and completing the form. A Federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB Control Number. Comments regarding this collection of information should be directed to: Bureau Clearance officer, U.S. Geological Survey, 807 National Center, Reston, VA 20192.

Source: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/usb000iul2

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ITC postpones its decision on Apple's complaint against Samsung

Yesterday, August 1, 2013 was the day that the US International Trade Commission (ITC) was supposed to make a decision on Apple's complaint against Samsung. According to Florian Mueller at FOSS Patents, the ITC gave notice yesterday that it is postponing that decision by eight days until August 9, 2013.

Not to be confused with the possible ban on importation of older Apple iPhones and iPads due to infringement by Apple of some Samsung technical patents, this ruling was to determine possible sanctions against Samsung after Administrative Law Judge Thomas Pender found in October 2012 that Samsung had infringed on three Apple technical patents and one design patent. Additional violations by Android's text-selection feature were found after the ITC had remanded some issues to Judge Pender.

August 9 is going to be an important day for Apple. Not only will the ITC announce its decision (unless it is postponed again), but that's the day that the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit holds a hearing on Apple's appeal of a court denial of an injunction against a number of Samsung products found to be infringing on Apple patents.

The next three days are also critical for Apple, as the presidential review period for the Samsung ban against older iPhones and iPads expires. As noted yesterday, a bipartisan group of US senators has called on US Trade Representative Michael Froman to veto the ban, and today Washington, DC-based antitrust lawyer Jay Jurata called for the White House to "rein in the ITC" on Standard and Essential Patents."


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Source: http://www.tuaw.com/2013/08/02/itc-postpones-its-decision-on-apples-complaint-against-samsung/

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Saturday, August 3, 2013

Spare parts for Apple iPhone 5S leak out; no fingerprint scanner revealed

Pictures of what are alleged to be spare parts for the Apple iPhone 5S give us a revelation. Apparently there will be no fingerprint scanner on the phone, at least not one that is connected to the Home button. Last month, the oft-rumored fingerprint sensor was blamed for a slowdown in production of the next iteration of the iPhone. Even PayPal's Chief Information Security Officer hinted that the feature was coming.

The parts that we are happy to pass along to you are said to include the Apple iPhone 5S card holder, the charger connector flex for the device, the front camera flex, the Home button flex, speaker button, vibrator flex, Wi-Fi flex, On-Off flex cable and the Speaker flex. According to the latest word we have, Apple will introduce the Apple iPhone 5C and the Apple iPhone 5S on September 28th with a launch on the 27th of the same month.

Thanks, Anonymous Tipster!

source: Techkiddy

Source: http://www.phonearena.com/news/Spare-parts-for-Apple-iPhone-5S-leak-out-no-fingerprint-scanner-revealed_id45996

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India makes investment in retail attractive, raises FDI caps

Opening the floodgates to overseas investors, government on Thursday relaxed investment norms in multi-brand retail and raised FDI caps in several sectors?while making it 100 per cent in telecom.

The Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh diluted the mandatory 30 per cent local sourcing norms for multi-brand retailers and permitted states to include cities?with population less than 1 million for allowing multi-brand retailing.

Announcing the decisions taken by the Cabinet, Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma said the relaxation in multi-brand retail norms will give "more clarity and more?space to investors".

He made no reference to raising of FDI cap in insurance sector, over which an inter-ministerial group had last month agreed to raise it from 26 per cent to 49 per cent.

The Cabinet, he said, has by and large cleared the decisions taken at the inter-ministerial group meeting chaired by Prime Minister on July 16 to raise foreign direct?investment caps and eased the route for some like oil refineries.

Sharma said multi-brand retailers like Walmart and Tesco will now have to source 30 per cent of their products from small and medium enterprises only at the time of start of?business.

With investment in back-end infrastructure, he said the investor will have to make the mandatory $50 million at the first engagement only. Thereafter, the investment would depend upon the business needs.

Economic Affairs Secretary Arvind Mayaram, whose recommendations for raising FDI in several sectors were by-and-large accepted, said: "We are expecting FDI flows will?increase and the foreign investors will have much greater confidence in the Indian foreign investment policy.

"I certainly think it will have a positive impact on the forex flows in the current year," he added. The second wave of reforms comes within 10 months of the government opening up foreign investment in sectors like civil aviation.

Elaborating on the proposal to relax norms for multi-brand retail, Sharma said: "50 per cent of the FDI in back-end infrastructure, will be of the first tranche of $100 million. Thereafter, this would be need-based business decisions by the investor and their domestic partner."

He further said, "all states have now been allowed to add cities with a population of one million" for foreign investment in multi-brand retail.?While the FDI cap in defence sector remained unchanged at 26 per cent, higher limits of foreign investments in 'state-of-the-art' technology manufacturing will be considered?by the Cabinet Committee on Security, Sharma said, adding the changes will be incorporated in the FDI policy.

In single-brand retail, he said, FDI up to 49 per cent will be under the automatic route and beyond that through the FIPB route.?In case of PSU oil refineries, commodity bourses, power exchanges, stock exchanges and clearing corporations, FDI will be allowed up to 49 per cent under automatic route as against current routing of the investment through FIPB.

In basic and cellular services, FDI was raised to 100 per cent from current 74 per cent. Of this, up to 49 per cent will be allowed under automatic route and the remaining through?FIPB approval.

A similar dispensation would be allowed for asset reconstruction companies and tea plantations.?FDI of up to 100 per cent was allowed in courier services under automatic route. Earlier, similar amount of investment was allowed through FIPB route.

In credit information firms, 74 per cent FDI under automatic route has been been allowed.?These decisions come in the backdrop of country's economic growth plunging to 4.8 per cent in the January-March quarter. It slumped to a decade's low of 5 per cent for the?2012-13 fiscal.?

? Copyright 2013 PTI. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of PTI content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent.

Source: http://www.rediff.com/business/report/govts-fdi-proposals-clear-final-hurdle/20130801.htm

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U.S.-India Homeland Security Cooperation

Building a Lasting Partnership via Transportation Sector Security

India?s growing strategic importance, coupled with the gaps in its homeland security enterprise, provides an opportunity to extend its partnership with the United States and become a key partner in ensuring stability and security in Asia. Extending the U.S.-India partnership to homeland security is a natural evolution of the countries? shared interests and could be aided by each nation?s experience countering internal threats and working within a federal system. However, the development of an effective Indian homeland security enterprise faces a variety of challenges at the political, organizational, technological, and even societal levels. This report seeks to explore these challenges, while focusing on tangible areas within the transportation security sector, including the rail, aviation, and maritime industry, where cooperation between the United States and India can advance the homeland security interests of both nations.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CSIS-Homeland-Security-Related-Publication/~3/ssZYmFjgQwg/us-india-homeland-security-cooperation

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Friday, August 2, 2013

British Journalists Receive Bomb Threats Via Twitter

British police have launched an investigation after several female British journalists received bomb threats on Wednesday evening.?TIME?s Europe editor Catherine Mayer,?Hadley Freeman, a columnist for the Guardian newspaper, and Grace Dent, a columnist for the Independent newspaper,?all received identical tweets from an anonymous user or users whose Twitter handle contained a mix of letters and numbers. It appears the account has either been suspended or deleted. The threats follow threats of violence directed at other British women via their Twitter accounts.

Dent posted a screen grab of the tweet, which read:

?A BOMB HAS BEEN PLACED OUTSIDE YOUR HOME. IT WILL GO OFF AT EXACTLY 10.47PM ON A TIMER AND TRIGGER DESTROYING EVERYTHING.?

Several other women were also targeted with the same threat: Sara Lang, a social media manager at the American Association of Retired Persons in Washington (Lang appears to be the only non-British-based woman targeted); Katie Hartwill, an assistant to British Member of Parliament Chloe Smith and Anna Leskiewicz, editor of Oxford University?s student newspaper, Cherwell.

(MORE: Put to the Test: Colleges Grapple with Bomb Threats)

Mayer says that she did not take the message seriously because ?it was phrased in a way that I found more amusing than sinister. I take it seriously as abuse but I didn?t actually believe at any point there was a bomb outside my house.? She adds that she did not retweet it, because that ?was in some way to validate that person,? but took a screen shot and notified police as well as Twitter.

Wednesday?s bomb threats come in the wake of nearly a week of threats of rape and murder targeted at Caroline Criado-Perez, a freelance journalist and feminist campaigner who successfully lobbied the Bank of England to feature a female face (other than the Queen?s) on British bank notes. Parliamentarian Stella Creasy, who took part in the currency campaign, was also targeted.

A recently started Change.org petition to get Twitter to add an abuse button has now received over 110,000 signatures. Twitter announced earlier in the week that it had introduced a button for reporting abuse on its iPhone app, and said it would look to do the same for its Android app and on its website.

(MORE: Prominent Journalist Chrystia Freeland in Surprise Canadian Political Bid)

Freeman, whose latest column for the Guardian, ?How to use the Internet without being a total loser,? addressed the issue of online abuse, told a reporter at her own newspaper that the sort of abuse and threats she already received on Twitter had escalated since the barrage of threats made against Criado-Perez and Creasy.

?Because of the bomb threat this time I called the police. There was that guy arrested for threatening to blow up an airport. If it?s illegal to threaten to bomb an airport, it?s illegal to threaten to bomb me,? said told the Guardian.

Twitter has come under criticism for its lack of communication in handling the threats to Criado-Perez and Creasy. Creasy, who said on BBC?s Newsnight that Del Harvey, Twitter?s head of safety, had admitted personally to her that she felt ?they had not got it right? in dealing with online abuse.

Mayer says that she is yet to receive a response from Twitter regarding the bomb threats. ?It?s funny because what I think is wrong on Twitter is that they?re supposed to be this wonderful interactive service and yet they don?t interact with us.?

Recent data shows that there has been a jump in the number of cases processed by Britain?s Crown Prosecution Services involving abusive messages sent online and through texts, with over 1,700 processed last year, according to the BBC. Twitter has responded to criticism saying, ?manually reviewing every Tweet is not possible due to Twitter?s global reach and level of activity.??Mayer notes that the social media giant is ?still trying to operate like it is a tiny little start-up, and it needs the infrastructure? to respond to claims of abuse in each country.

Criado-Perez and other Twitter users have begun using the hashtag #SHOUTINGBACK in response to threats as well as to other Twitter users who say the best policy is to ignore the abusers. Mayer says that the hashtag, and projects such as the Everyday Sexism Project, which catalogues on its website the abuse experienced by women on a day-to-day basis, serve as useful reminders that abuse should not be ignored. ?That?s why I reported it [the bomb threat]?because you have to log these things in order to make people understand that in the overall scheme of things, even small things matter.?

MORE: Refuge for the Truth-Tellers: Inside the World?s Only Journalist Safe House

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/time/topstories/~3/5Ep94hWn-m4/

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Procession set for body of Texas soldier

NEDERLAND, Texas --?

A procession will take the body of a 22-year-old Southeast Texas soldier who succumbed to injuries suffered in Afghanistan through the town where he attended high school.

The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office says the body of Spc. Anthony R. Maddox of Port Arthur is scheduled to arrive Friday morning at Jack Brooks Regional Airport in Nederland. The procession will pass Nederland High School and its football stadium before ending at a Port Arthur funeral home.

The funeral for Maddox is Saturday at Antioch Baptist Church in Beaumont.

Military officials have said Maddox died Monday in Germany. He was injured in a noncombat-related incident in Afghanistan that remains under investigation.

Maddox was assigned to the 10th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, N.Y.

Source: http://www.fortmilltimes.com/2013/08/01/2861562/procession-set-for-body-of-texas.html

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Stocks hold steady on Federal Reserve announcement

Stocks held near record levels Wednesday?after wavering in response to the latest economic assessments by the Federal Reserve.?July was still the best month for stocks since January.

By Steve Rothwell / July 31, 2013

A television screen on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange shows the rate decision by the Federal Reserve, as specialist Jeffrey Berger works at his post, Wednesday. Steady growth in the US economy and higher company earnings helped stocks hold near record levels Wednesday.

Richard Drew/AP

Enlarge

The?stock?market was poised to end July with its biggest monthly gain in close to two years after the Federal Reserve reaffirmed its commitment to support the economy.

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Steady growth in the U.S. economy and higher company earnings also helped the?stock?market hold near record levels Wednesday. The Standard & Poor's 500 rose for the seventh day out of the past eight, putting it on track to end the month with its biggest monthly advance since October 2011.

Stocks?climbed after the Federal Reserve released its updated policy statement at the end of a two-day meeting. The central bank said it will keep buying $85 billion of bonds to help bolster the economy and slightly downgraded its assessment of the economy's growth in the first half of the year.

Markets surged this month after Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke assured investors that the central bank wouldn't pull back on the stimulus until the economy had recovered sufficiently.

"It's not like the economy is accelerating so fast that they need to" ease back on stimulus immediately, said Jerry Braakman, chief investment officer at First American Trust. "It's beneficial for the?stock?market."

The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose eight points, or 0.5 percent, to 1,693 as of 3:24 p.m. (1924 GMT). The index has gained 5.4 percent in July, its best monthly performance since October 2011.

The Dow Jones industrial average was up 39 points, or 0.3 percent, to 15,560. The Nasdaq composite gained 24 points, or 0.7 percent, to 3,640.

Stocks?gained in early trading after the government said that the economy grew at a faster pace in the second quarter than economists had forecast. There was also an encouraging report on hiring ahead of the government's monthly jobs survey due out Friday.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/IPkSZ_GVXWM/Stocks-hold-steady-on-Federal-Reserve-announcement

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Senate kills effort to cut off aid to Egypt (Washington Bureau)

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Budget plans imploding, Congress is heading home

FILE - In this July 30, 2013 file photo, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nev. speaks with reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington. Senate Republicans Thursday killed a $54 billion funding bill for transportation, housing and community development grants because it exceeded the punishing spending limits required under automatic budget cuts that are the product of Washington's failure to deal with its fiscal problems. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

FILE - In this July 30, 2013 file photo, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nev. speaks with reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington. Senate Republicans Thursday killed a $54 billion funding bill for transportation, housing and community development grants because it exceeded the punishing spending limits required under automatic budget cuts that are the product of Washington's failure to deal with its fiscal problems. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky., right, Senate Minority Whip John Cornyn of Texas, walk on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2013, at the conclusion of a news conference after Republicans defeated a $54 billion funding bill for transportation, housing and community development grants because it exceeded the punishing spending limits required under automatic budget cuts. Congress leaves for a five week recess Friday. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Part of the President Barack Obama's motorcade sits outside on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, July 31, 2013, as Obama arrived for a meeting with Senate Democrats . Obama?s trip to Capitol Hill, just days before Congress breaks Friday for a five-week summer recess, comes amid growing concerns among Democrats over the president?s stalled domestic agenda. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

(AP) ? Leaving piles of unfinished business for the fall, Congress began exiting Washington Thursday for a five-week vacation with its accomplishments few, its efforts at budgeting in tatters and its collective nerves frayed by months of feuding.

The House's chief accomplishment for the week was a bipartisan Wednesday vote to deal with spiking student loan interest rates, readying that legislation for President Barack Obama's signature. But that bit of progress came the very day that a Republican strategy of embracing painful automatic budget cuts imploded with the collapse of a major transportation and housing bill.

That measure fell victim, top lawmakers said, to opposition from both conservative and more moderate Republicans and laid bare the flaws in the party's budget strategy, which promised deeper cuts to domestic programs than the rank and file were willing to deliver in votes on funding bills implementing the pledge.

Before leaving town, the GOP House prepared its 40th attack on Obama's signature health care law on Friday and slated votes on other legislation aimed at embarrassing the administration and sharpening the party's political message for encounters back home with constituents.

Also on Friday, GOP leaders looked forward to an easier time with two other votes, one to block the Internal Revenue Service from enforcing "Obamacare's" penalties on people who don't buy health insurance and another on the "Stop Government Abuse Act," which among its provisions would allow people to tape record conversations they have with IRS agents and other federal workers.

As the Senate raced out its own doors on Thursday, it confirmed Obama's nomination of Samantha Power as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. That capped an unusually productive run of advancing administration nominations ? but one that came only after majority Democrats threatened to rewrite the rules to take away the GOP's right to filibuster such nominees.

Senators also held a bipartisan closed-door luncheon in hopes of continuing the fragile sense of comity that has enveloped the chamber since it defused the filibuster battle.

But that session came just minutes after Republican Senators banded together to shut down the Democrats' attempt to advance their own, far more generous version of the transportation and housing bill, which was filled with funding for popular items such as road and bridge repairs and community development grants for local projects,

Republicans united to kill the $54 billion measure, following the instructions of Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who kept GOP defections to only one: moderate Susan Collins of Maine, who co-wrote the measure from her position on the Appropriations Committee. Republicans killed the bill because it exceeded the punishing spending limits required under automatic budget cuts that were themselves the product of Washington's failure to deal with its fiscal problems.

McConnell said moving ahead on the bill would have been seen as backing away from the spending cuts promised in a deficit-cutting deal enacted two years ago that promised $2.1 trillion in deficit cuts over 10 years. The automatic cuts are to total $1.2 trillion through 2021.

Collins, trying to persuade other Republicans to break with McConnell, at first struggled to be heard above the Senate's din.

That prompted an unusual outburst from Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.:

"Madame President, have senators sit down and shut up, OK?" he barked at presiding officer Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., who broke into a wide smile captured by C-SPAN cameras.

After the vote, Democrats rushed to news cameras, appearing with union construction workers in hard hats to accuse Republicans of killing jobs.

"We had a bill that would have put people to work, fixed bridges and highways, improved public safety," said a disappointed but combative Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., the chair of Appropriations. "It would have gotten America moving. It would have gotten America working."

The demise of the transportation measure in both House and Senate leaves Congress at the drawing board when it comes to the budget as it prepares to leave Washington for a month. The new fiscal year begins on Oct. 1, and it'll take a stopgap funding bill to prevent a government shutdown.

Tea party Republicans are willing to force a partial government shutdown over "defunding Obamacare," an idea that House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, opposes privately but is unwilling to criticize in public. A more likely outcome is a plain vanilla stopgap measure to keep the government operating at current levels for a few weeks or months. That measure would also keep the food stamp program running while lawmakers figure a way to approve a broader rewrite of food stamps and farm subsidies.

An even bigger showdown comes later in the fall over must-pass legislation increasing the government's borrowing cap to prevent a first-ever, market-rattling default on U.S. obligations.

GOP leaders had sought to set up a budget showdown this summer with the need to pass legislation increasing the government's $16.7 trillion borrowing cap. But the economy's better-than-expected performance has delayed that showdown ? and contributed to the sense of drift this summer.

Republican want to link the debt limit measure to a broader budget deal, but Obama says he won't negotiate over the debt limit as he did two years ago, a promise he repeated to his House and Senate allies in closed-door meetings on Capitol Hill on Wednesday.

All sides want to reverse the crippling automatic cuts, but a partisan impasse ? over tax increases sought by Obama and his Democratic allies and cuts to so-called mandatory programs like Medicare and food stamps demanded by Republicans ? shows no signs of breaking.

The glass-half-full perspective is that the barely functioning Congress will return in September willing to make agreements and tackle problems whose solutions have thus far proven elusive.

Said Boehner: "I'm sure the August recess will have our members in a better mood when they come back."

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2013-08-01-Budget%20Battle/id-e85b3c2513354f5590a951ad0e573b0d

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