Congress passes spending bill without drama (Reuters)

WASHINGTON (Reuters) ? Congress on Thursday found a rare moment of accord in the budget fights that have paralyzed Washington this year as lawmakers voted to extend government funding through December.

The Democratic-controlled Senate by a vote of 70 to 30 passed a bill that would allow the government to keep running when current funding expires on Saturday and sent it to President Barack Obama to sign into law.

The Republican-controlled House of Representatives had approved the bill by a vote of 298 to 121 earlier in the day.

Though 101 House Republicans voted against the bill, the debate lacked the drama of other spending battles this year that have shaken consumer confidence and led to a first-ever debt downgrade.

Congress's most basic task is to oversee the federal purse strings, yet lawmakers took the government to the brink of a shutdown in April and the edge of default in August. Another round of brinkmanship ensued in September over what is normally a routine vote to extend funding.

This time, lawmakers who oversee more than $1 trillion in discretionary spending resolved their differences in an orderly manner.

"It's like a breath of fresh air has blown through this chamber," said Republican Representative Steven LaTourette. "This wasn't a my-way-or-the-highway negotiation."

Republicans have pushed for steep spending cuts to rein in the federal government and slow the growth of the $15 trillion debt, while Democrats have warned that cutbacks could hurt those struggling to make ends meet in a shaky economy.

After a bruising fight to extend the government's borrowing authority in the summer, Republicans agreed to a spending cap of $1.043 trillion, only $6 billion below last year. That figure does not include spending on benefit programs that are outside the reach of the yearly budget cycle.

REDUCED SPENDING FOR TWO YEARS IN A ROW

Congress is now on track to reduce discretionary spending for the second year in a row after a decade of steady increases.

"This bill is the next step in breaking the status quo of excessive federal spending that is throwing our budgets out of whack," said Representative Hal Rogers, who oversees spending as chairman of the Appropriations Committee.

Democrats managed to restore funds to food stamps, housing subsidies for the poor and other programs that had been targeted by Republicans.

The bill sets new funding levels for a wide range of government activities, from law enforcement to public housing to space exploration, for the fiscal year that started on October 1. Congress is supposed to pass its spending bills by that date each year but rarely manages to do so.

Other programs not covered by the bill, from financial regulation to the Pentagon, are funded at last year's levels through December 16. Lawmakers hope to resolve their differences on the remaining programs by then.

The bill is not without its flash points.

It would increase the maximum size of mortgage loans that can be insured by the Federal Housing Administration, over the objections of conservatives who want to scale back the government's role in the mortgage markets.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission was denied the big budget boost that the White House had requested as it puts in place financial reforms and investigates bankrupt brokerage MF Global.

Democratic Representative Barney Frank warned that inadequate funding could lead to a repetition of the 2008 financial crisis.

The bill also restricts the Agriculture Department from requiring schools to serve more fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains as part of an effort to fight obesity. Republicans said that would have cost $7 billion more over five years.

(Editing by Xavier Briand)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/obama/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111118/pl_nm/us_usa_congress_spending

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And now I return.

I finally have time on my schedule to return to this site. And I can't help but say how much I missed it. I'm ready to get back into the roleplaying world and say that my long term writer's block is gone. I'm looking for all the roleplays that I can get my hands on and immediately make myself a part of it.

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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RolePlayGateway/~3/qTG3sQ1oPKU/viewtopic.php

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ASUS' Origami-like Transformer Prime Smart Cover hits Amazon, sporting luxurious folds

The Eee Pad Transformer Prime has yet to start shipping, but when it does, you'll be able to wrap it up in this specialized Smart Cover, from ASUS. Spotted on Amazon's German site, this Origami-like accessory will prop up your Prime in either a vertical or horizontal lying position, much like some of those other "intelligent" covers we've seen. The folds look decidedly ornate, but we'll have to wait a little longer before trying it out for ourselves. It's available now for €39 (about $53), though at the time of this writing, it's also out of stock.

ASUS' Origami-like Transformer Prime Smart Cover hits Amazon, sporting luxurious folds originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 Nov 2011 06:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Engadget Chinese (Translated)  |  sourceAmazon.de  | Email this | Comments

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/17/asus-origami-like-transformer-prime-smart-cover-hits-amazon-sp/

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Winehouse wrote third CD, planned supergroup

Amy Winehouse had written all the songs that were to appear on her third album. She even picked out song titles.

But music producer Salaam Remi said the soul singer, who died over the summer, was not rushing to release that new material, instead planning to drop a jazz album first with a "supergroup" including ?uestlove of the Roots.

"She had written down everything she wanted to do," Remi said Tuesday.

Only two of the tracks Winehouse wrote were recorded and appear on her compilation album, "Lioness: Hidden Treasures," out Dec. 5 in the United Kingdom, and a day later in America.

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Winehouse died from accidental alcohol poisoning at age 27. Her body was found at her London home July 23.

Remi, who worked on the singer's two albums, "Frank" and "Back to Black," produced most of the upcoming CD, saying Winehouse was a perfectionist when it came to composing music.

"She was taking her time with it, and at the end of the day all of her songs are somewhat autobiographical, so she had to live through something, then get out of it and then look back at it to be able to write about it," he said.

Story: Posthumous Amy Winehouse album set for release

"Who knows what will happen in the future with that," he said of the songs she penned.

Remi held a press listening for "Lioness" on Tuesday. The 12-track set features covers and stripped-sounding versions of released Winehouse songs, with some completed in one take.

Slideshow: Amy Winehouse (on this page)

Before her third album would come out, Remi said, Winehouse wanted to record with Roots drummer ?uestlove and saxophone player Soweto Kinch.

"There were a bunch of other names bouncing around," Remi said.

Story: Coroner: Amy Winehouse died from too much alcohol

?uestlove did make the new album, though. He appears on the track "Half Time." There's also a song by an 18-year-old Winehouse, another about her ex-husband's infidelity and "Best Friend," which opens with the line: "I can't wait to get away from you."

Remi has produced for the Fuguees, Nas, Jazmine Sullivan and Nelly Furtado. He produced the song "Block Party" from TLC member Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, and Winehouse sought him out after hearing the track. Remi says that Winehouse usually wrote songs while playing the guitar and that the new album sounds just as good as her critically acclaimed predecessors.

He also said he wanted to release new material from the late singer before others did so.

"Before somebody comes up with some weird song ... this is what it really is," he said. "This is the quality."

Source: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/45336444/ns/today-entertainment/

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Dissident Chinese artist pays to fight tax bill

Outspoken Chinese artist Ai Weiwei said he deposited a $1.3 million guarantee into a government bank account Tuesday out of concern for his associates after tax officials threatened to turn their investigation into his company over to police.

The move represents a concession by Ai in a dispute that arose this week between the dissident and Chinese tax authorities who say Ai's Beijing Fake Cultural Development Ltd. owes 15 million yuan ($2.4 million) in back taxes and fines, and enables him and the company to challenge the tax bill.

Ai, an internationally acclaimed conceptual artist, was taken away by police to a secret location for nearly three months earlier this year during a wide-ranging crackdown on dissent.

Ai Weiwei tackles tax bill, with Chinese help
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He disputes the government's tax-evasion allegations and says he does not even own the company involved, but added that under China's authoritarian government none of that matters.

"It's very simple," Ai said in a phone interview. "Those in power have the right to do anything and their power faces no restrictions."

The company wants to fight the tax bill but had to put down a guarantee of 8.5 million yuan ($1.3 million) to do so.

Tax bureau's demands illegal?
Beijing tax bureau officials told Ai's wife Lu Qing, the company's legal representative, that they wanted the bond paid into one of the tax bureau's bank accounts and that if the company missed the Wednesday deadline to do so, the case would be sent to police, Ai said. "They were of course issuing a threat to us, but the threat is real."

Supporters have sent Ai nearly 8.7 million yuan ($1.4 million), but Ai and his company's lawyers said transferring the money into the tax bureau's accounts could be seen as admitting guilt and that if they win the case it would be difficult to get the money back. Instead, Ai was planning to be the guarantor and offer a bank certificate of deposit as collateral.

Ai said he gave in to the tax bureau's demand out of concern for the safety of his associates.

Read reports in Behind the Wall on Ai Weiwei

"If you don't do it this way, they might send you to the public security, then the public security organ can use some other procedure, under the charge of refusing to pay taxes, to do what, I don't know," Ai said. "Of course, this would have been very unsafe for a lot of people."

His company's lawyers say the tax bureau's demand is illegal. Repeated phone calls to the Beijing Local Taxation Bureau's propaganda department rang unanswered Tuesday.

Ai said that if the case were to go to the police it was possible that they would detain his wife, because she is the firm's legal representative, and the company's manager and accountant, who he says have been unreachable in the months since his release. He said police could also go after him even though he's not the owner of the company, just a designer.

Ai said the company has 60 days to seek a review of the case.

The artist was the most high-profile target of a sweeping crackdown on activists that started in February in a bid to prevent protests similar to those in the Middle East and North Africa. Dozens of bloggers, writers, rights lawyers and other activists were detained, arrested or questioned. Many have since been released but continue to face restrictions on whom they can see and talk to.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45301362/ns/world_news-asia_pacific/

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'Mirror Mirror' Trailer: Five Key Elements

Sneak peek shows us a sassy Julia Roberts, a vibrant Lily Collins and a princely Armie Hammer.
By Kara Warner


Lily Collins in "Mirror, Mirror"
Photo: Relativity Media

Boy, oh, boy, has this been a great couple of weeks for trailer debuts! First, Kristen Stewart kicked some butt in her "Snow White and the Huntsman" clip, then we finally saw Katniss, Gale and Peeta preparing for battle in "The Hunger Games," and now we get our first look at Tarsem's take on Snow White, "Mirror Mirror."

Even better, now that we have seen both trailers for the two upcoming Snow White-themed flicks, it is much easier to tell them apart, as "Huntsman" is clearly more of an action/drama, while "Mirror" is action/comedy. Here's a look at five key elements that make "Mirror Mirror" worth some extra reflection:

A Comedic Twist on an Old Tale
A dramatic and dry story, this is not. From the moment the trailer begins, there is an air of whimsy and fantasy and a slew of snarky one-liners from Julia Roberts as the Evil Queen, like when she contests the color of Snow White's hair — "It's not black, it's raven" — and quipping that she's white as snow because "she's 18. Her skin has never seen the sun, of course it's good." Another deviation from the familiar tale is that this Evil Queen is broke and therefore much more concerned with trying to marry a much younger, wealthier prince than obsessing too much over her beautiful adversary.

A New Side of Julia Roberts
She has always been our favorite "Pretty Woman," with an all-American appeal and almost royal status in Hollywood. However, it's been awhile since Roberts has done a film with such mainstream appeal. (No, "Eat Pray Love" doesn't count.) Not only that, she's playing the bad guy, er, lady, and from what we can see in the trailer, she tackled her character's sassy nuances with considerable aplomb. And did we mention that she looks absolutely stunning while doing it? Because she does.

The Visuals
Speaking of stunning, the film's production design, costumes, effects, etc., make it look like we'll be transported to the most gorgeous, fantastic fairy-tale land of all time. And the costumes! Lordy, are they magnificent. Where the look of Kristen Stewart's Snow White seems cool, fierce and serious, Lily Collins is sweet, feminine and vibrant. There's even a little nod to the famous Disney princess' blue and yellow dress in there. Roberts' wardrobe is just breathtaking — literally; there's a scene in which she has a team of people trying to squeeze her into a corset.

A Perfect Prince Charming
True to his word awhile back that the MPAA might have to change the film's rating due to its dreamy factor, Armie Hammer's Prince Andrew Alcott is one charming, handsome man. Except for the scene in which the Evil Queen puts a puppy-love spell on him and he momentarily turns into an overexcited, slobbering mess. That is forgotten soon enough when we get a few glimpses of Hammer sans shirt. Also, Hammer just has a royal air and stature to him (pun intended — he's a tall man), which makes possibly cheesy lines like "I think Snow White is the most beautiful woman in the whole world" believable, not exaggerated.

Tarsem
The man is a wonderfully vivid and creative storyteller. As demonstrated in his previous films like "The Cell," "The Fall" and his most recent box-office hit "Immortals," Tarsem's enthusiastic direction produces movies that are big, bright and bold. You are guaranteed to be entertained by his work in some way shape or form. Plus, he admitted he cast Lily Collins because he loved her eyebrows.

Check out everything we've got on "Mirror Mirror."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1674446/mirror-mirror-trailer-five-key-elements.jhtml

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Buffett: European concerns, US housing woes linger (AP)

OMAHA, Neb. ? Billionaire investor Warren Buffett says Europe's debt concerns and the anemic U.S. home construction business will continue to hurt the economy even though many businesses are performing well.

Buffett told CNBC on Monday that the recent leadership changes in Italy and Greece should help, but investors are losing confidence in the euro. And Buffett said Europe doesn't have anyone with the authority to take the measures needed to defend the currency.

He said stopping a run on a currency is difficult. He said that when the U.S. economy began to contract in late 2008, the Federal Reserve and Treasury were willing to do whatever it took to revive business.

Buffett says no one in Europe has comparable authority to the Federal Reserve.

"They have a situation where they found a fundamental flaw in that they can't print money," said Buffett, who is chairman and CEO of the conglomerate Berkshire Hathaway Inc.

Buffett said much of the American economy is performing well, but any business related to residential home construction continues to struggle because of the oversupply of homes.

"You have a huge segment of the U.S. economy that's doing quite well, and you have a segment that's in a depression," Buffett said.

Berkshire owns a variety of roughly 80 businesses, and Buffett uses reports from those companies to gain insight into the economy. He said several of Berkshire's biggest subsidiaries, such as Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad, will post record years. But Berkshire's housing-related businesses, like Acme Brick and Shaw Carpet, continue to struggle.

But Buffett said he doesn't think the U.S. housing market needs more government stimulus from either Congress or the Federal Reserve. He says what's needed is for more households to be created and that will happen over time.

"It doesn't solve itself as fast as people like, but it does solve itself," Buffett said.

Buffett said he met informally with officials from the Securities and Exchange Commission in June to answer questions related to Berkshire's $9 billion purchase of specialty chemical maker Lubrizol earlier this year.

That deal generated headlines in the spring after it was revealed that former Berkshire executive David Sokol had bought nearly 100,000 Lubrizol shares for about $100 apiece in early January, when he knew Lubrizol's board had been discussing a possible Berkshire acquisition. Sokol resigned after disclosing his trades to Berkshire.

Buffett said he and Berkshire officials cooperated with the SEC, but he doesn't know what government investigators are planning. Buffett has called Sokol's actions unethical and inexcusable.

Sokol has denied any wrongdoing in the Lubrizol deal, and he says he left Berkshire to start his own firm.

Later Monday, Buffett is scheduled to speak at an event to raise money for one of his favorite charities, Girls Inc. Buffett will be interviewed by a CNBC reporter at the luncheon event at Omaha's CenturyLink Center Arena.

Girls Inc. provides educational and recreational programs for girls.

___

Online:

Berkshire Hathaway Inc.: http://www.berkshirehathaway.com

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/economy/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111114/ap_on_bi_ge/us_buffett_economy

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Evaluation of Ron Paul's Platform -- Anti-Union, Pro-Wealthy (ContributorNetwork)

COMMENTARY | Hopefuls Mitt Romney , Herman Cain , Ron Paul and Newt Gingrich were recently determined to hold a four-way tie for the front-running position in the race for the GOP nod in Iowa. Political platforms are usually loaded with flowery speech and can be hard to decode. This article interprets Paul's platform documents and shows what they might mean, in plain English instead of political-speak.

Abortion

I'm a doctor. I saw an abortion in medical school and it grossed me out so now I am pro-life. I have Christian values on life beginning at conception and want to write that into law despite the fact it would outlaw many forms of birth control, which should be obvious to me since I am an ob/gyn. I'll repeal Roe v. Wade. I don't believe in the right to an abortion and I'll make sure you can't have one.

Health Care

I'll make it easier for you to get health care but there's still some privatization there. I am against universal health care. Don't get sick after you're born because my commitment level drops a notch.

Economy

I want to get rid of the Fed and stabilize the dollar. I believe in balanced budgets and not letting corporations control the President. Let's get rid of estate, capital gains and income taxes even though that mostly benefits the rich.

Military

Troops should only go to war when necessary, have proper tools, clear objectives, and guaranteed benefits I'll get rid of the Patriot Act, obey the law, and keep TSA officers from groping and ogling you.

Gun Rights

Law-abiding people should be allowed to own guns. Pilots should be able to carry them to defend their planes.

Labor

Unions are evil. I'm all about right-to-work laws that will crush them.

Immigration

Why are we messing around in other countries when we have stuff to fix here? Secure the border and stop reducing American rights as a cop-out.

Energy

Dig up our resources. Build nuclear plants. Get rid of the EPA but watch out, corporations - if you pollute something you'll answer to every citizen you affect.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/gop/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ac/20111116/us_ac/10457847_evaluation_of_ron_pauls_platform__antiunion_prowealthy

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AirTran to add routes to Mexico, Puerto Rico

Southwest Airlines Co. and its AirTran subsidiary are adding new routes next year including additional foreign destinations.

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The airline said Sunday that AirTran Airways will add nonstop flights between Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and San Juan, Puerto Rico, and will add routes to Mexico from both San Antonio, Texas, and Orange County, Calif.

Southwest still needs to get government approvals for the routes, so it can't sell tickets yet.

Dallas-based Southwest bought AirTran this year to give it an opening in Atlanta ? the biggest U.S. city it didn't already serve ? and add AirTran's international service. Southwest itself does not fly beyond U.S. borders.

The new AirTran flights to Mexico include San Antonio to Mexico City and Cancun beginning next May 2012, and Orange County, Calif., to Mexico City and Cabo San Lucas beginning in June. The company said it would announce prices once it gets regulatory approvals.

Southwest said it will add three new nonstop flights from Houston to Seattle, Kansas City and Raleigh-Durham, N.C., and one between Chicago and Oklahoma City. The company said AirTran will add seven new routes, including Denver-New York, Baltimore-Los Angeles and Baltimore-San Francisco. It said it started selling those seats Sunday.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45287780/ns/travel-news/

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