Saturday 31 December 2011

How Symbian's Endurance Leaves Room for Windows Phone


There's a semi-shocking stat going around today for those of us who live in the U.S.: according to StatCounter, which tracks mobile Web traffic, Symbian is still the number-one smartphone OS in the world.

There's a lot of strangeness in StatCounter's numbers, which don't entirely sync up with other methods of measuring OS popularity. But Symbian apparently still dominates in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, while it has faded into the background in the U.S. and Europe.

This is a potential rebuttal of MG Siegler's and Jon Gruber's assertion that Microsoft is "way too late" with Windows Phone, although you could make an argument that Apple and Google have the U.S., Canada, and Western Europe sewn up.

Microsoft + Nokia = The Whole Developing World
Mopping up after Symbian is where Microsoft's purchase of Nokia?did I say that out loud??comes into play, and Nokia CEO Stephen Elop has talked about converting Symbian fans into Windows Phone owners several times.

In much of Asia and Africa, especially, phones are sold independently of their carriers?that's one reason dual-SIM phones sell so well in places like India. So Microsoft/Nokia?let's call it MiKia?starts to look a lot more like Apple. MiKia now controls the OS, MiKia controls the OEM, the carrier isn't terribly relevant in the process, and?the real kicker?MiKia has a huge network of retailers in those countries.

The persistence of Symbian, a dying OS, is going to create a vacuum in Asia and Africa over the next few years. A lot of that vacuum will be sucked up by cheap Android phones, especially in places like China where domestic manufacturers are popping them out like gumball-machine toys. But with a good OS to OEM to retailer link and a void to fill, MiKia at least has a chance among those 3 billion-plus consumers.

(By the way: Yes, I'm not mentioning RIM's BlackBerry, which is doing pretty well in the developing world. But I don't think RIM's current short-term strategy, or lack of such, changes the playing field for Microsoft.)

If you want to know why Microsoft is prioritizing low-cost phones with "Tango" sotware over super-phones running "Apollo," that's why. It's aiming at countries where phones aren't generally subsidized, and where average incomes are lower. It hasn't been able to make a big move there yet because the phones have been too expensive. It's boring for all of us U.S.-based tech blogs to write about, but that doesn't mean it's dumb.

The counterargument, of course, is that where America and Europe go, developing countries are sure to follow. This is similar in some ways to my own argument about Windows Phone needing to attract a core of influencers before selling low-cost phones to the influencers' families and friends, but there's a key difference.

Mobile phones are an essentially social product, and the phones your immediate circle of friends and family carry are much more relevant than what people in faraway countries use. I'm also not sure that Indians and Brazilians aspire to use American and European toys anymore; that kind of northward-looking aspiration may be an artifact of the late 20th Century.

What About Here?
So it's not too late for MiKia in much of the world, where Symbian still dominates?many people still hold Nokia phones and the company has a strong retail network. That brings us back to the U.S. and Europe, of course. What about here?

First of all, I disagree with Siegler that Windows Phone has "essentially no third-party developer support." I've been hacking at some Windows Phones this week, and there are plenty of third-party apps. They just aren't the same apps as you find on Android and iPhone, which alienates Windows Phone owners in a Robert Scoble dinner party full of Android and iPhone owners trading app tips.

(You'll see this phenomenon in other criticisms of Windows Phone: critics say "I looked for my favorite Android/iPhone apps and didn't find them," as opposed to looking for apps that serve those functions but may be from a different developer, under a different name.)

Siegler's right, though, that Windows Phone needs to be disruptive, which it hasn't been. In the U.S., Microsoft's hardware strategy, its carrier strategy, and even its TV ads have been basically conservative. The phones are all black slabs, the platform went for big GSM carriers first, and Microsoft is running vague lifestyle ads. Yawn.

Former Windows Phone exec Charlie Kindel, meanwhile, criticized Microsoft's Windows Phone strategy recently, saying that OEMs, carriers and retailers never really got behind the platform.

There's always room for disruption, but Microsoft has to disrupt. It could do this with Xbox or Kinect integration, with hardware designs or by subsidizing the heck out of devices so they're far less expensive than gadgets with similar specs. (Hey, that last one is working for Amazon with the Kindle Fire.) Just puttering along hoping the carriers will anoint it as the "third force" isn't enough, at least in markets where friends and family generally push buyers in Android and iOS directions.

For more, see PCMag's year in review of Apple, Microsoft, and RIM.

For the top stories in tech, follow us on Twitter at @PCMag.

Source: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2398217,00.asp?kc=PCRSS05039TX1K0000762

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Avastin disappoints against ovarian cancer | The Associated Press ...

Avastin, the blockbuster drug that just lost approval for treating breast cancer, now looks disappointing against ovarian cancer, too. Two studies found it did not improve survival for most of these patients and kept their disease from worsening for only a few months, with more side effects.

The Genentech drug won approval in Europe last week for advanced ovarian cancer. But its maker has no immediate plans to seek the same approval in the United States. After talking with the Food and Drug Administration, "we do not believe the data will support approval" although no final decision has been made, said Charlotte Arnold, a spokeswoman for Genentech, part of the Swiss company Roche.

Results of the studies are in Thursday's New England Journal of Medicine.

In November, the FDA revoked Avastin's approval for breast cancer because it did not meaningfully extend life and can have serious side effects. Without approval, doctors can prescribe the drug but insurers may not pay. Treatment with it can cost $100,000 a year.

Avastin can still be sold for some colon, lung, kidney and brain cancers. The new research was aimed at adding ovarian cancer to the list.

One study, led by Dr. Robert Burger of Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, involved nearly 1,900 women with advanced ovarian cancer given one of three treatment combinations. The time until the disease got worse was a median of 10 months in those given just chemotherapy; adding Avastin improved that by just one to four months for the other two groups.

Survival was similar among the groups, and side effects were higher among those on Avastin ? mostly high blood pressure but also some stomach and gut problems that needed treatment.

In the other study, led by researchers from England, more than 1,500 ovarian cancer patients were given chemo with or without Avastin. The drug kept cancer at bay just one to two months longer than chemo alone did, with more cases of high blood pressure. There was a trend toward improved survival for those on Avastin, but the difference was too small to say the drug was responsible.

Genentech helped pay for the studies and some of the researchers consult for the company.

Dr. Gary Lyman, a Duke University researcher who was on the FDA advisory panel that recommended revoking Avastin's approval for breast cancer, wrote in an email that he agreed with the company's decision not to seek approval for ovarian cancer.

"The situation is very similar" to the results in breast cancer, and approval is unlikely unless a biological marker or test can show which patients might benefit, he wrote.

About 220,000 new cases of ovarian cancer are diagnosed each year around the world, and it causes 140,000 deaths. In the United States, the National Cancer Institute estimates 22,000 new cases and 15,000 deaths each year.

___

Online:

Studies: http://www.nejm.org

___

Marilynn Marchione can be followed at http://twitter.com/MMarchioneAP

Source: http://www.sfexaminer.com/news/2011/12/avastin-disappoints-against-ovarian-cancer

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Friday 30 December 2011

Today on New Scientist: 29 December 2011

Best videos of 2011: Jet-powered levitation

In our third-ranked video of the year, see how a water-powered jetpack could propel you in the air

Brand new island rises from Red Sea depths

Satellite images have confirmed local fishermen's reports of a new island being created by volcanic activity in the Red Sea

2011 review: The year in space

The year saw the final shuttle flight, the discovery of what might be a 1031-carat cosmic diamond and the discovery of the smallest exoplanet yet

Smart Guide to 2012: Higgs hunt is all about catching Zs

Confirming the existence of the Higgs boson will be like trying to identify the tracks of a zebra after a herd of horses has passed by

Best videos of 2011: Animals feast on dead elephant

In fourth place, a time-lapse shows wild animals devouring an elephant carcass

Spot of Culture: John P. Holdren loves...

President Obama's chief science adviser John P. Holdren tells CultureLab what tops his list

Pigeons match monkeys in abstract counting skills

They may look dim, but pigeons are the first non-primates to master an abstract counting task

Scott, Amundsen... and Nobu Shirase

Japan also had a heroic explorer dashing to the South Pole 100 years ago - and he did it on a shoestring, says Stephanie Pain

Subscribe to New Scientist Magazine

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Shooting in Royal Palm Beach community

ROYAL PALM BEACH, Fla. -- One person is dead after an early morning shooting in Royal Palm Beach Thursday.

?

According to PBSO, at around 4:30 a.m., a group of suspects stole a pick-up truck from the Royal Village Townhouse community.

?

After stealing the pick-up truck, the suspects went to a different area in the community and attempted to steal a motorcycle, PBSO reports. The owner of the motorcycle saw the suspects as they attempted to steal his motorcycle and fired at the group, killing one person.

?

The shooting took place at 139 Sparrow Drive. PBSO says the other suspects fled the scene and left behind the pick-up truck and motorcycle.

?

Ashleigh Walters WPTV contributed to this report.

Copyright 2011 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Source: http://www.wptv.com/dpp/news/region_c_palm_beach_county/royal_palm_beach/shooting-in-royal-palm-beach-village-townhouses-community

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Thursday 29 December 2011

vtdnews: Mid-Winter Showcase: Tulare Union cruises past El Diamante http://t.co/jnGuU179

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Visalia Times-Delta

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U.S. citizen goes on trial in Iran on spying charges (Reuters)

TEHRAN (Reuters) ? An American man of Iranian descent, accused by Iran of spying for the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, went on trial in Tehran on Tuesday, the semi-official Fars news agency reported.

Iranian authorities announced Amir Mirza Hekmati's arrest earlier this month. State television has shown a taped interview with him in which Hekmati said he was a CIA agent.

"In the indictment (read in court), Hekmati was charged with cooperating with the hostile government of America as well as spying for the CIA," Fars reported.

It said the indictment was based on information provided by Iran's intelligence ministry as well as Hekmati's own confession.

In court on Tuesday, Hekmati confessed to having links with the CIA but said he had no intention to harm Iran.

"I was deceived by the CIA ... Although I was appointed to break into Iran's intelligence systems and act as a new source for the CIA, I had no intention of undermining the country," Fars quoted Hekmati as saying.

Later Hekmati's lawyer presented his defense and criticized the indictment but that was rejected by the prosecutor.

Iran's Intelligence Ministry has said Hekmati had received training at U.S. bases in neighboring Afghanistan and Iraq.

On Tuesday U.S. State Department spokesman Mark Toner said Washington was aware of news reports indicating that Hekmati's trial had started and again urged Tehran to release him immediately.

He said that Switzerland, which represents U.S. interests in Iran in the absence of formal diplomatic ties between the two countries, had formally requested permission for consular access to Hekmati on December 24 but that Iran had again refused.

Iran said in May it had arrested 30 people on suspicion of spying for the United States and later 15 people were indicted for spying for Washington and Israel. Spying in Iran can be punishable by death.

The United States is leading efforts to tighten sanctions on Iran which it accuses of seeking nuclear weapons, a charge Tehran denies. Washington and Israel say they do not rule out making military strikes on Iran's nuclear sites if diplomacy fails.

(Writing by Ramin Mostafavi Editing by Matthew Jones)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/iran/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111227/wl_nm/us_iran_us_spy

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Wednesday 28 December 2011

iPhone 4S coming to China by end of January

Fortune is reporting that Apple has completed the required steps necessary to bring the iPhone 4S to mainland China by January 23rd.
the People’s Daily, the official news organ of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, reports that a device with the same model
...


Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheIphoneBlog/~3/VdG6otLUGtM/story01.htm

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5 die of food poisoning at Mexican rehab center (AP)

MEXICO CITY ? Medical officials say five recovering drug addicts died and dozens of others were sickened by soy sausage served for Christmas dinner at a rehabilitation center in western Mexico.

Authorities were investigating whether the poisoning at the center in the city of Guadalajara was accidental or intentional. Drug cartels have taken over rehabilitation centers in parts of Mexico, forcibly recruiting addicts as hit men and smugglers. The invasions have led to mass shootings at the centers that have left dozens dead.

Alhy Daniel Nunez is a spokesman for the Red Cross in the western state of Jalisco, where Guadalajara is located. He said Monday that 37 people remained hospitalized, three of them in serious condition.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/world/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111227/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/lt_mexico_rehab_poisoning

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Tuesday 27 December 2011

Video: How do Chinese soldiers throw a grenade? (Major Fail)

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Arab monitors due in Syria as violence flares

A Syrian Kurdish boy carries a banner during a protest outside the Arab League office in Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2011. The protesters said the Arab League was not serious in attempts to stop the Syrian regime crackdown. A man behind the boy was carrying a poster of President Bashar Assad of Syria. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)

A Syrian Kurdish boy carries a banner during a protest outside the Arab League office in Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2011. The protesters said the Arab League was not serious in attempts to stop the Syrian regime crackdown. A man behind the boy was carrying a poster of President Bashar Assad of Syria. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)

(AP) ? Arab League observers were due to arrive Monday in Syria in an attempt to ensure the government's compliance with demands to end a nine-month crackdown on dissent, even as activists reported at least 10 deaths from intense shelling by government forces in the center of the country.

The opposition has warned that the government, which has been besieging the Baba Amr district in the city of Homs for days, was preparing for a massive assault on the area. Activists said Monday's shelling using mortars and heavy machine gun fire was the most intense since Friday.

The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which reported the latest deaths, called on Arab observers to head immediately to Homs to witness the violence, particularly in the "disaster-stricken" Baba Amr district.

Amateur videos posted by activists on the Internet showed gruesome footage of at least four corpses lying in pools of blood in front of a house in Baba Amr, where they reportedly died from mortar shells that struck the neighborhood.

Men could be heard crying for help and women wailing in the video, which also showed several destroyed homes and cars.

"We urge the Arab observers to head immediately to Baba Amr to be witnesses to the crimes against humanity that are being perpetrated by the Syrian regime," the Observatory said in a statement.

The Local Coordination Committees activist network also reported intense shelling "targeting homes and anyone who moves" in Baba Amr.

The Arab observers are tasked with monitoring Syria's compliance with an Arab League plan to end the crackdown on dissent, which the U.N. says has killed than 5,000 people since March.

The Baba Amr district has been a center for anti-government protests and army defections and has seen repeated crackdowns by the Syrian regime in recent months.

A resident of a neighborhood next to Baba Amr said he heard "loud explosions" throughout the night and Monday morning.

"It doesn't stop, it looks like they want to finish off Baba Amr once and for all," he told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, for fear of reprisals.

An Arab League advance team arrived in Syria last week to discuss logistics and prepare for the arrival of the observers.

President Bashar Assad agreed to the League plan only after it warned that it could turn to the U.N. Security Council to help stop the violence.

The plan requires the government to remove its security forces and heavy weapons from city streets, start talks with opposition leaders and allow human rights workers and journalists into the country.

The opposition has accused Assad of agreeing to the plan only to buy time and forestall more international sanctions and condemnation.

Mohamed Ahmed Mustafa al-Dabi, head of the Arab League observer team, traveled to Damascus late Saturday after meeting with Arab League chief Nabil Elaraby to discuss arrangements of the mission.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2011-12-26-ML-Syria/id-2052662cef334ffa9d42a2097b3c9e08

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Monday 26 December 2011

Turkey, Azerbaijan sign pipeline deal (AP)

ANKARA, Turkey ? Turkey and Azerbaijan on Monday signed an agreement to establish a consortium that would build a pipeline to transport 16 billion cubic meters (565 billion cubic feet) per year of Azeri gas to Turkey and Europe.

The two countries' energy ministers signed a memorandum of understanding for a consortium between Azerbaijan's state energy company SOCAR, Turkey's state-run pipeline company BOTAS, and the Turkish petroleum company TPAO. The deal allows other oil and gas companies to join the consortium.

The projected pipeline, the Trans Anadolu, would carry gas from Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz II field, across Turkey.

The deal comes at a time when officials are dithering over plans for the construction of the European Union-backed Nabucco pipeline project aimed at reducing the bloc's deliveries from Russia. The project is slated to ship gas from the Caspian region through southern Europe to Austria, but its viability has been called into question amid doubts that enough suppliers can be found to fill the pipeline.

Turkey's Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said the Trans Anadolu could eventually be connected to Nabucco.

Azerbaijan's Industry and Energy Minister Natiq Aliev said the Trans Anadolu pipeline would initially carry 16 billion cubic meters (565 billion cubic feet) per year of gas but the capacity could, in time, increase to 24 billion cubic meters (847 billion cubic feet) per year.

Six billion cubic meters (212 billion cubic feet) of the gas would be sold to Turkey while some 10 billion cubic meters (353 billion cubic feet) would go to European markets, Aliev said.

SOCAR has an 80 percent stake in the Trans Anadolu consortium, while the Turkish companies share 20 percent, Yildiz said.

Officials said construction is scheduled to begin in 2012 and end in 2017.

The pipeline's route and cost would be announced after a feasibility study by SOCAR, Yildiz told reporters.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111226/ap_on_bi_ge/eu_turkey_azerbaijan_gas

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Sony: Buy $100 Gift Card, get $20 Gift Card Free FREE

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Facebook CSI Game App

Facebook CSI Game App: Dr. Matz discusses science fiction and reality in the biology of AVATAR. Life Science Library?s Science Study Break program will wrap up its season on Wednesday with an examination of James Cameron?s most recent blockbuster Avatar. Dr. Misha Matz of the School of Biological Sciences will decipher biological fact from fantasy in the world of the film AVATAR, examining real life science behind the science fiction. Pop culture and the academy collide as Science Study Break features relevant faculty and experts from The University of Texas at Austin discussing the reality and fantasy portrayed as fact in science-themed books, television and film. Past presentations have featured presentations on bioterrorism and its treatment in the Fox thriller ?24,? artificial intelligence gone wild in ?2001: A Space Odyssey,? the comic realities of Spider-Man and epidemiological models for the proliferation of zombies. Science Study Break occurs twice each semester and is generously supported by the University Federal Credit Union.

Source: http://fbtutor.tv/15986/facebook/facebook-csi-game-app-6/

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Sunday 25 December 2011

Legally Global: Legal Officer at PILnet in Budapest

LEGAL OFFICER
PRO BONO PROGRAM

BUDAPEST


PILnet: the Global Network for Public Interest Law is seeking a full-time Legal Officer for its Pro Bono Program. He/She will be based in PILnet?s Budapest office.

PILnet is an international NGO devoted to building a global network to activate, empower and connect those who use legal tools to work in the public interest (www.pilnet.org). PILnet connects with local partners to develop the institutions essential to rights-respecting societies. It inspires lawyers to serve the public interest, strengthens the ability of civil society to help shape law and policy and makes formal systems of justice more accessible. In addition to its New York headquarters, PILnet conducts its work from offices in Budapest, Moscow, and Beijing.

The Pro Bono Legal Officer is responsible for coordinating the global pro bono clearinghouse run by PILnet, long-term relationship building with NGOs and legal professionals, and managing several projects in Europe, including the annual European Pro Bono Forum. The Legal Officer reports to the Director for Europe and works in close collaboration with the organization?s other legal officers.

Key responsibilities

  • Coordinating the Global Pro Bono Clearinghouse activities, assisting in matching law firms and NGOs for pro bono legal services and supporting the development of other clearinghouses.
  • Collaborating with NGOs in Europe and elsewhere, and strengthening relationships with public interest lawyers, law firms, NGOs, bars and governmental representatives from target countries.
  • Planning and organizing the Annual European Pro Bono Forum and other events, under the supervision of the Director for Europe.
  • Preparing and delivering presentations at conferences and other public events on pro bono topics.
  • Maintaining PILnet?s Pro Bono web pages.
  • Editing and drafting reports, proposals and other documents.
  • Assisting the Director for Europe in developing new projects.
Qualifications
  • A law degree, and at least 5 years relevant work experience.
  • Demonstrated interest in law, human rights, international civil society development. Law firm and especially pro bono experience desirable.
  • Project management and event planning experience.
  • Excellent communication skills including fluency in written and spoken English required; working level in at least one Western European language (French, German, Spanish) required; additional European language skills strongly desireable.
  • Strong research and communication skills.
  • Goal-oriented with strong attention to detail.
  • Ability to manage multiple projects with tight deadlines.
To apply: Interested candidates should submit a CV and cover letter that specifically addresses the candidate?s suitability to perform the job responsibilities detailed above to: legalofficerbp@pilnet.org.
Salary is commensurate with experience; generous benefits package included.
Deadline: January 20, 2012
Start date: February 15, 2012 (or earlier)

Source: http://legallyglobal.blogspot.com/2011/12/legal-officer-at-pilnet-in-budapest.html

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Hajime Research is assembling a robot taller than you, Mr. Stark couldn't be more proud (video)

Not only are robots getting their own social networks, but now the plan is for them to become increasingly taller than us humans -- at least that's what the people at Hajime Research have in mind. The company has in its strategic plans the ultimate goal of building a 59-foot large machine that could be a comic-book character all on its own; before it can do so, though, it's starting with a 13-foot humanoid. Hajime Sakamoto is the man behind the bizarre idea, and if there's anyone that can do, it's him. After all, in 2009 he built a seven-foot droid that remains one of the tallest this side of Saturn. Don't believe us? Catch the video after the break.

Continue reading Hajime Research is assembling a robot taller than you, Mr. Stark couldn't be more proud (video)

Hajime Research is assembling a robot taller than you, Mr. Stark couldn't be more proud (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 23 Dec 2011 21:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AskJune_USAA: RT @BBB_MilLine: #BBB Warns of Phone #Scam Aimed at Hotel Guests http://t.co/Ds7w7LBu #SOT #Military #Troops #MilFam #Vets

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June Walbert

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It Scoops, Measures, and Spreads—Is This the World's Greatest Spoon? [Kitchen]

The 'until it's covered' approach to spreadable toppings only works until diets or recipes call for specific measurements. At that point you either reach for multiple utensils, or the transforming Scoop spoon which handles all of the above with gusto. More »


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Callista Gingrich steps up presence on the trail (AP)

MOUNT PLEASANT, Iowa ? When his top aides walked out this spring and left his campaign in tatters, Newt Gingrich considered dropping out. But he says it was his wife, Callista, who persuaded him to soldier on.

"She told me to stay in the race," Gingrich said recently in eastern Iowa.

He listened.

Now as voting nears in the race to decide the Republican presidential nominee, Callista Gingrich has stepped up her presence on the campaign trail, especially in Iowa where social conservatives hold powerful sway. A visible reminder of her twice-divorced husband's past infidelity, she simultaneously serves as a symbol of his devotion to family. She gives some conservatives pause, and others assurance.

The Gingrich camp is betting that anyone who doubts whether the former House speaker truly has mended his ways need only look to his wife, who stands at his side, ramrod straight and smiling. Prim and petite with striking platinum-blonde hair, the campaign is dispatching her strategically: She appears with her husband, more than 20 years her senior, in a cheery Christmas campaign television ad, and the two frequently host his-and-her book signings after campaign events.

Her children's book about Ellis, a patriotic elephant that loves American history ? conveniently hit The New York Times best-seller list as her husband's White House bid was starting to take off. She is featured prominently on his website. And it is rare for Newt Gingrich to deliver remarks that aren't sprinkled with references to "Callista and I."

His devotion to her is apparent, some say distracting to his White House bid. As his poll numbers started to waver last weekend, he left the campaign trail in Iowa to take a seat at a holiday concert in Virginia, where she played the French horn.

Callista Gingrich was linked to upheaval early in the campaign. It was jewelry Gingrich bought for her that spurred days of bad press coverage focused on a no-interest line of credit at Tiffany's worth up to $500,000, reinforcing the image that he's out of touch with regular people smarting from the economic downturn. His trip with her to the Greek isles fueled the idea that he wasn't taking the campaign seriously.

Aides who fled the campaign earlier this year pointed to Callista Gingrich as the source of the tension between her husband and his staff.

Still, his rebound would seem to give credence to her value as a trusted adviser.

Yet for all her time in the public eye, she is largely unknown, having granted few interviews and rarely speaking from the podium at her husband's events. She works the crowd afterward, instead, posing for photos and shaking hands.

"I think she's just lovely," said 62-year-old Janet McDonald, after shaking Mrs. Gingrich's hand at a Hy-Vee Grocery Store in Mount Pleasant during a recent Iowa campaign swing. "They may not have started out right. But if they have made their peace with God, than there really is nothing else I need to know."

Gingrich, 68, has acknowledged having an extramarital affair with the woman who is now his third wife when he was speaker of the House and she worked for the House Agriculture Committee.

The scandal that colored the beginning of their relationship may explain her wariness of the media.

Callista Gingrich will chat with reporters about the bitter cold weather in Iowa, where she attended college, and discuss an upcoming Christmas celebration near her Virginia home. Questions about anything more substantive are met with a tight smile.

"You'll have to ask R.C," she says politely, referring to Gingrich campaign spokesman R.C. Hammond.

The campaign declined a request from The Associated Press to interview Callista Gingrich.

At a campaign stop in Oskaloosa, Iowa, Gingrich was asked about his wife as she looked on, perched on a counter surrounded by reporters the campaign refused to let her talk to. The former Georgia congressman proudly ticked off her resume as a concert pianist, professional singer, filmmaker and author,

"She's a very talented person who works very hard," he said. "We're waiting to unleash her."

Though she rarely speaks at her husband's events, Callista Gingrich made an exception at an informal gathering of high school government students in Sioux City, Iowa, who were listening to the candidate. One had asked what he should do to prepare himself to run for president himself. Newt Gingrich urged the teenager to gain broad life experience and work on a campaign.

Then his wife interjected. "You should study this country's history. I think that is very important," she said.

Her husband, of course, has done just that.

___

Follow Shannon McCaffrey on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/smccaffrey13

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/politics/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111223/ap_on_el_pr/us_callista_gingrich

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Saturday 24 December 2011

Apple relaunches 12 Days Of Christmas iTunes Giveaway

Liam Martin Wed 21st December 2011

For the good boys and girls gifted with iPads, iPods and iPhones this Christmas, Apple has a little treat in store. For the third year running it has launched its 12 Days of Christmas iTunes giveaway, which means lots of daily freebies starting from Boxing Day. Cheers Apple and merry Christmas to you too.

As an extra little treat to go with those cold turkey sandwiches and left over mince pies, the 12 Days of Christmas iTunes giveaway is a chance to bag daily apps, songs, music videos and books from iTunes for the 12 days immediately following Christmas.

To ensure that you don't forget about the free items, download the 12 Days Of Christmas app, which includes a notification feature outlining what you can download and when. And if you don't have an iOS device, but do have an iTunes account, the freebies will be available to download from your computer.

Perhaps the only drawback is that the goods aren't compatible with devices sporting pre-iOS 4.3 software, although hopefully anybody with an iPhone 3G or first/second generation iPod Touch, will have a newer model waiting in their stockings come Christmas.?

Liam MartinAbout Liam Martin I love gadgets, gizmos and games and look forward to a future where humans and robots can co-exist peacefully. My most wanted includes a Wii U, a Pac-Man heat changing mug and the impressively compact Yamaha YHT-S400 home cinema system.

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Source: http://vouchercodes.co.uk//most-wanted/apple-relaunches-12-days-of-christmas-itunes-giveaway-9932.html

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Asus prevede di vendere 3-6 milioni di tablet nel prossimo anno, sia con Android che con Windows 8

Con l?Asus Transformer Prime alle porte il CEO?Jonney Shih si permette di predire ?alti? numeri per quanto riguarda le future vendite dei suoi tablet. E addirittura si sente cos? forte da poter dire che Asus riuscir? a piazzare sul mercato dalle 3 alle 6 milioni di tavolette nel solo anno 2012. Una prospettiva davvero notevole, non credete?

Il CEO di Asus,Jonney Shih, ha detto che si aspetta che la sua compagnia riesca a ?piazzare? tra i 3 milioni e i 6 milioni di tablet l?anno prossimo, un grande salto visto che per quest?anno Asus si aspettava di vendere 1,8 milioni di tavolette.?Shih crede che il suo nuovo Prime Transformer sia davvero attraente per il pubblico perch?,?a differenza dell?iPad, offre una tastiera hardware.?

Sappiamo per? come un certo numero di unit? di Transformer Prime siano afflitti da un problema al segnale della connessione Wi-Fi anche se?Asus, proprio per rimediare, sta offrendo un programma di scambio per tutti i clienti che hanno le unit? difettose.?

Shih ha anche confermato che Asus sar? presto disponibile con il nuovo sistema operativo Windows 8 sul quale il CEO Asus crede davvero moltissimo. Infatti afferma che il nuovo OS cambier? il modo con cui tutti si sono abituati ad usare il tabelt.?Non ? chiaro quando i dispositivi con Windows 8 ?colpiranno? il mercato, visto che il sistema operativo non ? previsto fino alla seconda met? del 2012.?

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1 commento to ?Asus prevede di vendere 3-6 milioni di tablet nel prossimo anno, sia con Android che con Windows 8?

Source: http://www.meladvice.com/asus-prevede-di-vendere-3-6-milioni-di-tablet-nel-prossimo-anno-sia-con-android-che-con-windows-8/

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Firefox 9 for Android shows off new tablet interface

Firefox 9 hit Mozilla?s servers yesterday, and now it?s rolling out as an automatic update for both desktop and mobile users. On your Windows, Mac, or Linux computer, you?ll be enjoying JavaScript performance that?s up to 30% faster. The new Android version, however, offers some more in-your-face improvements.

The biggest change you?ll notice has to do with Firefox moving from Mozilla?s XUL interface to one built using Android?s native elements. That change has led to dramatically faster start-up times and reduced memory usage in Firefox 9 on Android.

The new Firefox tablet interface has finally landed as well. As you may have seen before in looks at the nightly or beta builds, Firefox 9 introduces a thumbnailed tab strip along the left edge for quick switching between web pages. Mozilla has also introduced the Action Bar (at the far right of the Awesome Bar), which you can tap to access your downloads and add-ons. Action items allow you to share pages, save as PDF, and search for text in-page ? just as tapping the menu button on your Android smartphone does while browsing with Firefox.

There?s also a touch of Boot to Gecko at work in Firefox 9 for Android. Web developers can leverage a bit of direct access to smartphone or tablet hardware, as Mozilla has introduced camera access via HTML5 input fields. If you want to see the HTML5 camera input tag in action, head on over to the demo page Mozilla has posted. It?s a slick example of where things are headed, and it?ll allow web apps to let you do things like scan QR codes for input right inside your browser.

More at Mozilla

Source: http://www.geek.com/articles/news/firefox-9-for-android-shows-off-new-tablet-interface-20111221/

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Friday 23 December 2011

Elmira church distributes hundreds of toys

Hundreds of children in Chemung County will wake up happy Christmas morning, thanks to a massive Toys for Tots distribution organized by one Elmira church. Our Lara Greenberg tells us how Shabach Tabernacle of Praise is getting everyone in the holiday spirit.

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ELMIRA, N.Y. -- Parents and godparents filed into Shabach Tabernacle of Praise Thursday to get their hands on the best toys they could find. This year, the Elmira Church served 600 children with free gifts through Toys for Tots in Syracuse.

"It's important because children look forward to Christmas every year."

"This is what it's all about. Touching the hearts of everyone, children, parents," said Pastor Bobby Smith, of Shabach Tabernacle of Praise.

Pastor Smith tells us that on Wednesday, every single one of these pews was filled with people waiting for gifts. More than 1,200 toys were handed out Wednesday with still hundreds left over to be handed out Thursday.

For parents who can't afford gift shopping, this distribution was a true Christmas miracle.

"I usually provide for my godchildren myself, but this year, I'm not as fortunate as normal," said Joni Vargson of Elmira.

"We all need a miracle. It's really hard out there, right there, especially this time of year for all families."

Pastor Smith chokes up, thinking about all the children and families that are being helped.

"Somebody's got to be there and understand where they are and love on them and give them a sense of hope," said Pastor Smith.

Because that sense of hope is a truly priceless gift.

Whatever toys are leftover after Thursday will be saved for distribution next Christmas.

Source: http://elmira-corning.ynn.com/content/top_stories/567999/elmira-church-distributes-hundreds-of-toys

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Economy ends tough 2011 on a surprising upswing (San Jose Mercury News)

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Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/177746310?client_source=feed&format=rss

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Thursday 22 December 2011

Deutsche Telekom could be forced into arms of Sprint (Reuters)

FRANKFURT (Reuters) ? Deutsche Telekom may be forced into a tie-up of its sub-scale U.S. wireless unit with Sprint Nextel after a $39 billion deal with AT&T collapsed.

AT&T said on Monday it had dropped its bid for T-Mobile USA, bowing to fierce regulatory opposition and leaving both companies scrambling for alternatives.

While Deutsche Telekom is now walking away with a $6 billion breakup package, its chief executive Rene Obermann has lost a lot of time and will now have to invest in the U.S. market or find a new way to exit the country, an option analysts regard as unlikely.

T-Mobile USA "is just crying out for a merger with Sprint. That's the only long-term solution for Deutsche Telekom," Will Draper, head of telecoms research at Espirito Santo, said.

T-Mobile USA, a growth engine in its early days but now a run-down asset, is badly lacking in the spectrum it needs to build a network capable of handling the vast data volumes that U.S. consumers and businesses use on smartphones.

Bleeding money and losing customers, it ranks fourth among U.S. carriers behind AT&T, Verizon and Sprint.

Obermann offered no detailed plan of how the company will bounce back from the collapse of talks with AT&T, only assuring investors he was working on a long-term plan for T-Mobile USA.

"In the long term, we need more spectrum and network capacity. We are working on that. But we will not speculate about any inorganic steps or deals," he told reporters during a conference call.

He also said it was incomprehensible to him that U.S. regulators blocked a transaction that would have made a decisive contribution to the U.S. National Broadband Plan.

Deutsche Telekom shares were down 1.3 percent at 8.77 euros at 1339 GMT, one of the biggest decliners in the blue-chip DAX index on investor concern the company is back at square one with its American problem child.

Before talks with AT&T were announced in March, sources said Deutsche Telekom was looking at a potential deal with Sprint. Reportedly, it was considering a sale of T-Mobile USA to Sprint in exchange for a stake in the combined company.

But instead of pursuing a tie-up with Sprint, Obermann bet all his chips on a deal with AT&T.

Now the company can go back to Sprint or pursue network partnerships with regional operators such as Leap Wireless International Inc. It could also offload some non-core assets to fund investments in the United States.

"Whilst a merger with Sprint is probably the best long-term strategic option in the United States, there would be pain for Deutsche Telekom in the near term, starting with the need to invest in Sprint/T-Mobile USA," Espirito Santo said.

SPECTRUM SQUEEZE

Adding to its woes, Deutsche Telekom missed out on spectrum sales in the United States while it was busy negotiating the T-Mobile mega-merger, leaving it even more vulnerable.

Carriers like AT&T, Verizon Wireless and Vodafone, have clamored for access to more airwaves to stave off a looming spectrum crunch that would mean clogged networks, more dropped calls and slower connection speeds for wireless customers.

"For the operators the main issue for the coming years will be to obtain enough frequencies... and to roll out 4G networks," said Heinrich Ey, Global Research Sector Head Telecommunications & Media at RCM, part of Allianz Global Investors.

As part of the breakup with AT&T, Deutsche Telekom will receive mobile spectrum in cities such as Los Angeles, Dallas and Boston, in addition to about $3 billion in cash.

While that will go toward helping T-Mobile USA grow, Obermann said it will not solve the long-term problem.

"One imaginable option would be a network partnership with Clearwire," LBBW analyst Stefan Borscheid said, adding he would also not rule out that Deutsche Telekom could find a financial investor willing to take T-Mobile USA off its hands.

Analysts have said a collapse of the deal could also be a catalyst for the sale of Deutsche Telekom's stake in Britain's biggest mobile company Everything Everywhere, unless it manages to clinch a deal with another U.S. operator.

(Additional reporting by Georgina Prodhan and Harro ten Wolde; Editing by Erica Billingham and Mike Nesbit)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/business/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111220/bs_nm/us_deutschetelekom

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Monday 19 December 2011

HBT: Are Cardinals in play for Fielder?

After Albert Pujols signed with the Angels, the assumption was that the Cardinals would move Lance Berkman to first base and potentially make a play for free agent outfielder Carlos Beltran. However, in a series of tweets this morning, Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch indicates that any such plan isn?t necessarily set in stone.

source:

We?ve heard some conflicting reports this week about whether the Cubs are actually a legitimate suitor for Fielder. The Blue Jays have been mentioned, but we can probably rule them out if they land Japanese right-hander Yu Darvish. The Mariners and Orioles are also believed to be in the mix, but it?s not known whether either club would be willing to give him the massive long-term contract he desires. Fielder doesn?t turn 28 until May, so it?s not inconceivable that he could take a shorter deal and test free agency again in a couple of years, but it?s also possible that his agent Scott Boras is just trying to get more teams involved in the conversation.

Source: http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/12/17/could-the-cardinals-become-a-suitor-for-prince-fielder/related/

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Sunday 18 December 2011

Judge hears 'Sister Wives' challenge of Utah law (AP)

SALT LAKE CITY ? Attorneys for a polygamous family made famous on a reality television show on Friday asked a Utah federal judge not to block their challenge of the state's bigamy law.

Kody Brown and wives Meri, Janelle, Christine and Robyn filed a lawsuit in Salt Lake City's U.S. District Court in July.

The stars of the TLC show "Sister Wives" contend the law is unconstitutional because it violates their right to privacy ? prohibiting them from living together and criminalizing their private sexual relationships.

Under Utah law, people are guilty of bigamy if they have multiple marriage licenses, or if they cohabitate with another consenting adult in a marriage-like relationship.

Formerly of Lehi, the Browns and their 17 children moved to Nevada in January after police launched a bigamy investigation. The Browns practice polygamy as part of their religious beliefs.

U.S. District Court Judge Clark Waddoups heard oral arguments in the case on Friday in Salt Lake City and took the matter under advisement. It's not clear when he will rule.

For the case to go forward, the judge must decide the Browns have been harmed by the bigamy law.

In court, the Browns' Washington-based attorney, Jonathan Turley, said the family has suffered losses of income and been forced to move out of state because they were under investigation for bigamy.

They've also suffered "reputational harm" because the law labels the Browns' family a "criminal association," and because some Utah County prosecutors have said publicly that it would be easy for authorities bring charges because the Browns have already acknowledged felonies on national TV.

"This family was fearful of arrest ... they still are," Turley said. "It's why they are not here (in court) today."

Assistant Utah Attorney General Jerrold Jensen called the Browns' lawsuit "great TV drama" but said there's no real threat to the family, which has neither been arrested or charged with any crime.

Jensen said it's more likely the Browns were harmed by publicizing their lifestyle on television, not by actions taken by the state.

"The Browns have perceived that they will be prosecuted," Jensen said. "That is a misperception, at least at this point."

Jenson also said the Browns assume that an ongoing investigation by Utah County authorities is related to allegations of bigamy.

"It's over something else," Jensen said.

Utah County Attorney Jeff Buhman has not disclosed the nature of their investigation publicly and a message left for him Friday was not immediately returned.

Buhman's office has no stated policy related to the prosecution of polygamists.

On Friday, Jensen said the attorney general's office policy is to only file bigamy charges against a polygamist in connection with other crimes, such as underage marriages, child abuse or welfare fraud. A straight bigamy prosecution hasn't been filed in Utah for more than 50 years, Jensen said.

A check of state court records by The Associated Press, however, found at least two cases.

Bob Foster had three wives when he was arrested and charged with bigamy in 1974. He pleaded no contest and was sentenced to six months in jail. He was released after 21 days and ordered to serve five years of probation. A judge also said Foster was not allowed to live with his families. Foster died from cancer in 2008. He was still married to all three women.

Mark Easterday was arrested and charged with bigamy in 1999. Authorities were alerted to Easterday's multiple marriage as part of a custody battle during his divorce from his first wife. He ultimately pleaded no contest to adultery because the divorce was finalized before the bigamy case went to trial. Easterday was sentenced to probation.

Easterday, who left Utah and is currently married to two women, told The Associated Press he believes the Browns are right to fear a bigamy prosecution.

"I know from experience that they do prosecute," Easterday said. I think they should change the law over the entire country. Why it is that in some places a woman and a woman can be married, but a man can't have another wife?"

Polygamy in Utah and across much of the Intermountain West is a legacy of 19th century Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Mormons abandoned the practice of plural marriage in the 1890s as a condition of Utah's statehood and now excommunicates members found engaging in polygamy.

An estimated 38,000 self-described Mormon fundamentalists continue the practice, believing it brings exaltation in heaven. Most keep their way of life a secret.

Typically, polygamous men are legally married to their first wives and wed subsequent brides only in religious ceremonies. The couples consider themselves "spiritually married."

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/entertainment/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111216/ap_en_ot/us_sister_wives_lawsuit

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Corrected: Mexico drug gangs up ante with high-tech tunnels (Reuters)

MEXICO CITY, Mexico (Reuters) ? When architect Felipe de Jesus Corona built Mexico's most powerful drug lord a 200-foot-long tunnel under the U.S.-Mexican border with a hydraulic lift entrance opened by a fake water tap, the kingpin was impressed.

The architect "made me one f---ing cool tunnel" Joaquin "Shorty" Guzman said, according to court testimony that helped sentence Corona to 18 years in prison in 2006.

Built below a pool table in his lawyer's home, the tunnel was among the first of an increasingly sophisticated drug transport system used by Guzman's Sinaloa cartel. U.S. customs agents seized more than 2,000 pounds of cocaine which had allegedly been smuggled along the underground route.

In the past five years, a crackdown on drug smugglers in Mexico and tighter U.S. border security above ground has led to a dramatic increase in the use, and the sophistication, of tunnels under the border.

There have been more than 100 tunnels discovered during President Felipe Calderon's five years in office, double the number found over the previous 15 years.

Officials suspect most recently found tunnels belong to the Sinaloa cartel, which has been perfecting its technique for two decades using specialized technology and a cadre of trained builders.

Agents of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, are trying to shut the tunnels down, working with the few companies that have the technology and equipment to dig deep and long horizontal shafts to prevent tunnel construction.

Two drug passageways were discovered along the California border in the past month, including one about 1,600 feet long in San Diego.

Authorities seized over 32 tonnes of marijuana, worth $65 million, there after busting drivers hauling drugs from the tunnel's end at a faux produce warehouse to an industrial suburb outside Los Angeles.

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Graphic on tunnels: http://link.reuters.com/maw45s

Full coverage of drugs war: http://link.reuters.com/wam89p

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"It's evident that those who constructed these tunnels are specialists, not only for the size but also because it requires study of the soil to prevent it from caving in," said General Gilberto Landeros, a Mexican army commander, during the recent discovery of a Tijuana tunnel. "The machinery they use for construction is really sophisticated."

That tunnel, replete with a hydraulically controlled steel door, elevator and electric rail tracks, was built by the Sinaloa cartel, which controls the California-Mexico border area where the bulk of subterranean passages are, he said.

To burrow deep and long - one tunnel stretched 2.5 miles - smugglers employ powerful machinery, some of which can bore a small hole deep in the soil and create a walled shaft without having to send anyone below ground.

"It's super fast, it's really actually scary," said Tim Durst, assistant special agent in charge of ICE's San Diego office. "You can have a tunnel done in a couple of weeks."

PROFESSIONALS RECRUITED

The drilling equipment costs between $50,000 and $75,000, and officials say they have no way to stop cartels from obtaining the high-powered gear.

"If it's the Sinaloa cartel, they have unlimited resources," Durst said. A well built tunnel could be used to move 25 tonnes of drugs in one or two days, he said.

Officials believe cartels are turning to smaller horizontal drills that dig the length of a tunnel fast and can easily be hidden in warehouses, a favored location among smugglers trying to blend into industrial areas along the border.

Only a handful of companies produce the specialized drills normally used for laying subterranean pipelines and other infrastructure projects. ICE officials are pushing to find the purchasers, but vendors say it is difficult to be sure of buyers' identities.

"If these guys have business cards that say (Mexico's state oil company) Pemex and they want to do a pipeline here, how am I to know exactly what they are going to do?" said Gregg Shelton, who sells large-scale drilling equipment for American Auger, an Ohio-based manufacturer.

Hauling tons of drugs is no easy task. Even with industrial-sized equipment, construction can take weeks and requires skilled workers.

"The profile is somebody who has engineering or mining experience," said Joe Garcia, deputy special agent in charge for homeland security investigations in ICE's San Diego office. "It has to be somebody who is going to use tried and true surveying techniques with a compass and line of sight."

Authorities are still searching for the architect of an Arizona tunnel discovered in 1999 and constructed by unemployed and striking miners. Operated by the Tijuana and Juarez cartel, smugglers slipped about 30 tonnes of cocaine through the tunnel.

"We all know that they have access to equipment such as hydraulic lifts, elevators, generators, water pumps," said Ramona F. Sanchez, a spokeswoman for the Drug Enforcement Administration in Phoenix. "It's not your pick and shovel operation."

(Additional reporting by Tim Gaynor in Phoenix; Editing by Kieran Murray)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/latam/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111215/wl_nm/us_mexico_drugs_tunnels

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