First lady starts 2nd term style in Thom Browne

President Barack Obama, waves as he walks with his daughters Sasha and Malia, first lady Michelle Obama and mother-in-law Marian Robinson, to St. John's Church in Washington, Monday, Jan. 21, 2013, for a church service during the 57th Presidential Inauguration. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

President Barack Obama, waves as he walks with his daughters Sasha and Malia, first lady Michelle Obama and mother-in-law Marian Robinson, to St. John's Church in Washington, Monday, Jan. 21, 2013, for a church service during the 57th Presidential Inauguration. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

First lady Michelle Obama speaks with her daughter Sasha at the ceremonial swearing-in for President Barack Obama at the U.S. Capitol during the 57th Presidential Inauguration in Washington, Monday, Jan. 21, 2013. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

President Barack Obama applauds with his wife Michelle and daughters Sasha and Malia before his ceremonial swearing-in at the U.S. Capitol during the 57th Presidential Inauguration in Washington, Monday, Jan. 21, 2013. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

First lady Micehlle Obama arrives on the West Front of the Capitol in Washington, Monday, Jan. 21, 2013, for the Presidential Barack Obama's ceremonial swearing-in ceremony during the 57th Presidential Inauguration. (AP Photo/Win McNamee, Pool)

First lady Michelle Obama arrives at the ceremonial swearing-in of President Barack Obama at the U.S. Capitol during the 57th Presidential Inauguration in Washington, Monday, Jan. 21, 2013. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

WASHINGTON (AP) ? The first family headed out to Monday's inaugural festivities with Michelle Obama leading a very coordinated fashion parade in a navy-silk, checkered-patterned coat and dress by Thom Browne that were inspired by a menswear necktie.

The outfit was specifically designed for Mrs. Obama, but Browne said he wasn't 100 percent sure she was going to wear it until she came out with it on at Inauguration. "I am proud and humbled," he said.

The rest of Mrs. Obama's Inauguration Day outfit included a belt from J. Crew, necklace by Cathy Waterman and a cardigan by Reed Krakoff, whose ensemble she also wore to yesterday's intimate, indoor swearing-in ceremony.

President Barack Obama wore a blue tie with his white shirt, dark suit and overcoat. Malia Obama had on a plum-colored J. Crew coat with the hemline of an electric-blue dress peeking out and a burgundy-colored scarf, and her younger sister Sasha had on a Kate Spade coat and dress in a similar purple shade.

"It is an honor that Sasha Obama chose to wear Kate Spade New York," said the company's creative director, Deborah Lloyd, in an email to the Associated Press. "She epitomizes the youthful optimism and colorful spirit of the brand. We are so proud to have been a part of this historic moment."

Jenna Lyons, creative director of J. Crew, said it was "a huge point of pride for all of us" to be a part of the day ? as the brand was back in 2009 when the girls wore outfits by CrewCuts, its children's label.

"It's amazing to see the evolution of the family. I love the way Michelle looks. She looks beautiful in something so clean and tailored. It's such an elegant choice," Lyons said, "and they all look so sophisticated! You can see how the girls have grown up in the four years, and they're still so alive and vibrant, but more sophisticated."

The vice president's wife, Jill Biden, wore a gray coat and dress by American designer Lela Rose.

Mrs. Obama has worn Browne's designs for other occasions, including a gray dress with black lace overlay to one of the presidential debates last fall, and she honored him last summer at the Smithsonian's Cooper-Hewitt National Design Awards for his contribution to fashion.

Browne made his name in modern ? very modern ? menswear, but he launched womenswear in 2011. He was in Paris on Monday, just finishing previews for his next menswear collection. The idea to use the tie fabric came to him because he was indeed designing these men's clothes at the same time, he explained.

"I wanted 'tailored' for her. For me, she stands for strength and confidence, and that's what I wanted to design for her," he said.

Simon Collins, dean of the school of fashion at Parsons The New School for Design in New York, said the Obamas dressed in their typical fashion: one that shows pride in their appearance.

"They are a stylish couple and their children look fabulous. Too many people get dressed in the dark," he said. "They show it's good to dress up, take pride in how you look. ... It's a wonderful example for America and the rest of the world."

He also noted that the Obamas seem to understand that the fashion industry is a driving force in the U.S. economy and that its lobby is a powerful one. They don't treat fashion frivolously, he observed.

The first lady "is so supportive of so many American designers," Browne noted.

But Collins said he was a bit surprised the public doesn't pay much attention to the president's wardrobe. He joked that Obama should perhaps try one of Browne's signature shrunken suits ? the ones that show a man's ankles.

At the end of the Inaugural festivities, Mrs. Obama's outfit and accompanying accessories will go to the National Archives.

___

Samantha Critchell tweets fashion at (at)AP_Fashion, and can be reached on Twitter at (at)Sam_Critchell.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/4e67281c3f754d0696fbfdee0f3f1469/Article_2013-01-21-Inauguration-Fashion/id-1a36d7b3b21a48918f82266cc533a219

horsetail falls ice t new york knicks president day lin j.r. smith espn jeremy lin

George Orwell's 1984 Technology: How Close Are We to Big Brother?

Is George Orwell?s 1984 view of the world really possible? Image by colindunn

George Orwell?s novel,?Nineteen Eighty-Four was the idea behind the reality TV show Big Brother. The idea that the Government knows every move that you make is a scary prospect for many, even law-abiding citizens. So, is the technology used in the sinister classic novel a possibility in this day and age?

Nineteen Eighty-Four More Than Just CCTV

At first, when you consider the world of Nineteen Eighty-Four,?you might think of CCTV and surveillance cameras, but the technology used in the novel is more than just that. While using cameras to monitor crime could be viewed as Big Brother in action, both the U.S. and the U.K use it with the intent to help protect the community. The technology used in George Orwell?s tale actually includes two-way television screens that allow for communication. The screens never explicitly had cameras installed in them as the modern-day technology does; the communication was through the screen itself!

This type of technology has not been developed yet, but it is worth commenting that when the novel was written in 1949, technology had not advanced to what we know today. There were no personal computers, or Internet, and the most significant type of electronic technology most houses had was a radio. ?The screens described in George Orwell?s book must have been developed over time and would have gone through a process of upgrades, so it is likely that it all could have started from the video communication that we have right now.

Winston Smith?s Speakwrite

Winston Smith is the protagonist of the story and works as a copywriter for the London Times. His job is to make changes to history to suit the government?s needs, and he uses a ?Speakwrite? to help him with that. The device hears everything he says and then writes it down, word for word.

Today?s speech-to-text technology is getting closer to this, using a type of artificial intelligence called natural language processing. The downside of the software is that it needs to be trained to understand your voice, accent and dialect, and you still need to proofread everything it creates ? although the software does become more proficient at transcribing your words over time. As with the telescreens described above, the technology Orwell imagined must have grown from somewhere, and today?s voice-to-text software is one step in the right direction.

Click to Read Page Two: Internet Scrubbing and Changing the Past

Pages: 1 2

Source: http://www.decodedscience.com/technology-advances-how-close-is-technology-to-george-orwells-nineteen-eighty-four/24493

gold rush windows 8 Emanuel Steward college board nyc.gov SAT Notre Dame Football Schedule

Video: Barbara Corcoran tackles viewers housing problems

Sorry, Readability was unable to parse this page for content.

Source: http://video.today.msnbc.msn.com/today/50517971/

pi day monta ellis wiz khalifa taylor allderdice mixtape reggie wayne taylor allderdice vincent jackson vicki gunvalson

Slow Cooker Mince

by mediocremum on 20/01/2013

Bit of a laugh yesterday, the team from Netmums sent around a film crew. ?They?re starting a parenting channel on youtube and would like to highlight food for all the family.? They asked if I could knock up a few Slow Cooker recipes that kids would eat. ?In the end, I did Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs, Mince and Macaroni Soup, Sausages with Chutney Gravy and a Banana Bread.? It was really food fun.

I do public speaking everyday and am a fairly confident character and genuinely thought I?d be comfortable in front of the camera but I wasn?t.? Once I see the final version, if it?s not to cringe worthy I?ll pass on the link.

I wasn?t going to post a recipe yet, but, the cooking marathon has resulted in a huge amount of food in the house.? We went sledging today and it was so nice to come home to some hearty soup that helped us unthaw! ?So, I thought I?d share it.

?

Slow Cooker Sunday: Mince and Macaroni Soup

?

Total time

4 hours 10 mins

?

Author: Mediocre Mum

Recipe type: Main

Cuisine: Slow Cooking

Serves: 6

• 1TBSP of oil
• 400g of minced beef
• 1 large onion
• 1 clove of garlic
• 450ml of beef stock or water
• 1 500g carton of passata
• 1 400g tin of chopped tomatoes
• 1 TBSP of soy sauce
• 2 tsp of dried Italian herbs
• 1 bay leaf
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 200g of uncooked macaroni

1. Heat the oil in a frying pan. Brown the mince for approx 5 minutes, add the onion and garlic, saut? for a further 3 minutes.
2. Transfer to the slow cooker. Add the stock, passata, tomatoes, soy sauce, dried herbs, bay leaf and season with salt and pepper. Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours.
3. Fifteen minutes prior to serving cook the macaroni according to the packet instructions. Stir into the soup. Ladle into large bowls and serve with crusty bread.

3.2.1337

?

This is the perfect weather for slow cooking.? So what have you been cooking?? Do add your recipes to the link below.

I will also be adding your recipes to our Pinterest board which is growing rapidly.

Enjoy the snow!

About Chrissie Saunders

A slightly older mum of one, who drinks far too much red wine and has an unhealthy obsession with her slow cooker. During the day she's an ICT Trainer, Social Media/Online Marketing consultant and does a bit of public speaking.

I'd love to hear your thoughts? Please leave a comment, share using the nifty buttons or subscribe to have future posts delivered to your inbox.

Tagged as: cooker, crockpot, kids, macaroni, mince, recipe, slow

Source: http://mediocremum.com/2013/01/slow-cooker-sunday-mince-and-macaroni-soup/

oosthuizen great expectations jake owen oosthuizen louis double eagle bubba masters winner

The Mathisen Corollary: Further meditation on Huo Yuuanjia

Here in California it is still January 18, and I am still continuing the direction of thought from the previous post honoring Huo Yuanjia.?? Huo Yuanjia's achievement in founding the Jingwu Athletic Association in 1909 cannot be underestimated.? In their 2010 book Jingwu: The School That Transformed Kung Fu, authors Brian Kennedy and Elizabeth Guo demonstrate that the establishment of this school marked a significant change in the way that kung fu was taught, one that would reverberate to this day, and one with very important implications.

They write:

The first public martial arts school where one could just walk in the door, pay a fee, and sign up was the Jingwu Association, which opened in 1909 and ushered in a new era in Chinese martial arts training.? The Jingwu's most influential time ran from 1909 to 1924.? The founding of the Jingwu Association, with its focus on "walk in, sign up, and learn Chinese martial arts as a form of exercise and recreation" marks the single most important turning point in Chinese martial arts -- the transition from being a manual trade associated with the military, militias and bodyguards to being a form of cultural recreation.

In fairness, it should be mentioned that there were other privately funded martial arts groups in China who were doing the same things that the Jingwu Association was doing.? But these other groups, for whatever variety of reasons, were all short-lived and not particularly influential.? 3.

Earlier in the book (page x), they noted the other significant "firsts" that the Jingwu Association should be credited with:

• The first public Chinese martial arts training facility.
• The first to teach Chinese martial arts as a sport or recreation.
• The first to place women's programs on an equal footing with men's programs.
• The first to use books, magazines and movies to promote Chinese martial arts.

In other words, Huo Yuanjia's vision (and by all accounts he was central in the founding of the Jingwu Association) in large part created the transition to the way we think of martial arts training today, a vision that clearly established four aspects still very much present in the landscape around the world to this day.

In short, I believe it is no great stretch to deduce that Huo Yuanjia and his fellow founders of this new association believed that martial arts are an important aspect of life, one that goes along with other forms of learning.? In fact, as Brian Kennedy and Elizabeth Guo inform us, the Jingwu Association was not only devoted to training its members in the martial arts, but in providing other forms of learning, including "cerebral activities" including playing chess and learning from books (xi).? In other words, its founders clearly saw a connection between the mental and physical disciplines and the importance of each.

If you study the martial arts, it may be of some interest to think that Huo Yuanjia seems to have wanted you to be able to have the opportunity to do so, and to have believed that such an opportunity is as important to human development as any other form of learning.

In any event, it is also noteworthy that the movie Fearless (2006), which features Jet Li as Huo Yuanjia, takes its name from a line in the Tao Teh Ching of Lao Tzu (33):?

Mastering others is strength --

Mastering yourself makes you fearless.

Source: http://mathisencorollary.blogspot.com/2013/01/further-meditation-on-huo-yuuanjia.html

blackout blackout congress censored jerry yang stop sopa justified

The Underworlders Rebel

The time of civil war has come once again. Our souls fight against the darkness in man. Rebellion is the only way out. FIght with me!

Owner:

Game Masters:

This topic is an Out Of Character part of the roleplay, ?The Underworlders Rebel?. Anything posted here will also show up there.

Topic Tags:

Forum for completely Out of Character (OOC) discussion, based around whatever is happening In Character (IC). Discuss plans, storylines, and events; Recruit for your roleplaying game, or find a GM for your playergroup.
This is the auto-generated OOC topic for the roleplay "The Underworlders Rebel"

You may edit this first post as you see fit.

Soon, everyone shall eat... SYMMETRICAL PASTAAAAAA! =7= ... That is all. -MaskedCity. 8.8

MaskedCity

Member for 1 years

---

---

Post a reply

RolePlayGateway is a site built by a couple roleplayers who wanted to give a little something back to the roleplay community. The site has no intention of earning any profit, and is paid for out of their own pockets.

If you appreciate what they do, feel free to donate your spare change to help feed them on the weekends. After selecting the amount you want to donate from the menu, you can continue by clicking on PayPal logo.

Who is online

Registered users: 0neTailedf0x*, AceofSpade, AdellRazh*, Aftershock*, Alexa [Bot], AmyGotScared*, Anastasia's Arrow, Angela239*, AntleredRabbit, ArgoYamato*, Armageddon*, Asher MstrImmortalis, AugustArria, AuroraDawn*, AvidSmoker*, awesomeskaterdude*, Azrieldemourn, bambi_xrave*, bandgeek*, barney_fife*, bellelaine, Binsetsu*, birthstone_spirits*, bizarre1*, Blackbird26*, blacksky, bladewolf175*, BleedingLover*, bluebirds -- bb, BumbleDrop, Canibelle*, ceh12, chaoticcarrot, ChaoticMarin*, Chari*, CharlotteV*, CherryRed, Chicka, Chocolate~Pyrus*, Circ*, cirrus_sd*, ColeMaibara, Comrade, CookieCupcake, CptxMorgan*, CrashQueen*, cretetts*, Crooked Thoughts*, Curtsive*, CuteAsKaylah, Dante Angelico*, Dark Star*, DarkOne*, Deallo*, Digital_Muse*, DumbDora*, duramon*, Eddy V. Sovorov*, Elrith Eldwind, EmbracingInsanity*, emjajoas, Erik7622*, evolutionofshadow, Exabot [Bot], FairestInVerona*, Finalhazard3, Flame1819*, Forensic_Anthro*, freemixer25*, Geekly*, Genesis Rhapsodos, Ghost_Scar, Google [Bot], Google Adsense [Bot], Google Feedfetcher, GotDraggedIntoThis*, Grace Lynn*, graphicromantics*, Half-Dragon*, Hinasil*, Hitomi-san, HitoriRaven*, Hoga, Hoofprintsonmyheart_*, Horseygirl, Igari*, Insomniatic, iowa90, Jadebud98, Jaffersin*, Jakuri-chan, JayZeroSnake, JEDH3*, JGamer502*, Jo_Tunn, Jusan Kikan, Just Sayin'*, Kai, Kaire23, Kamileon1, Kaname_Takashi*, Karu*, Ken Shiro, kida717*, koalaking555*, Kohananinja*, Korrye, KulasLightShadow*, Kura Ravengade*, Kuro Iro Neko, Kurokiku*, Lady Scarlette*, Lady.Yuuka*, legacy14, Liberator600*, Light_of_the_Fallen*, lilyboo12*, Linnea*, Little Fox, littleblueclover*, Lobos, lostamongtrees*, LostRiver*, LuckyNumber24, Lucy100, Luna Delta*, Maitros, Malfunction*, MaliceInWonderland*, MarchHare*, masato22*, MaskedCity, Mat_z6, MaxwellH, MegaKooala12*, Megraw*, Meun, Midnightclub*, Min Ah Ra*, mkiyogawa, Monroe, Mr. Crow*, MSNbot Media, NasiaWords, Negative Bowser, Nemo*, Nevan, Nevermore90, NightLady, Nikolai, Nivosity, nltniko*, OFortune*, Orion Vryce*, OurStars, Patcharoo*, pepperx3, PirateofPie*, Porecomesis*, PrinceSakuma, Psychroma, Pure Excellence*, pyrotechron*, Qaida*, qbsuperstar03*, radioinvader, Raidose*, rdaydreamer, redorange*, Redred33mer*, Rem?us*, Roku Mushabuki*, roleplay-wizard*, Romaneck, RoseAmedori*, Rougeshadow*, rpannier*, RPGRosa, rue99100*, Ryuu Takeshi, Saken, sam_wolf, Sammael*, Sapphire Tears*, SarcasticIrony*, Sathandra*, Scarlet Loup*, Scorpion01*, Season of the Star, SeraphimLullaby*, Shadetree76*, shadowflame777, ShadtheWerepire*, Shiki29*, Shpleem*, SilverStar89, Sinkai*, SkullsandSlippers*, Skwidge*, slcam*, SlowPlow, snowraven*, Sonata*, SoulSurviver233, Spica, SRincarnate, Stella11*, SugarPlum2*, SylphofSpace, Sylwyn, Tainted Twinkee, Talisman, Tanman*, Thadine, The(Doctor)Horrible*, TheMadBlackRabbit*, TheNoremac42*, ThrillerNight*, Thundergod1020*, Tiko*, TnevdaNai*, Towels0*, usernamesareadrag*, Venom0861*, VenoMiss, vilevixen, VindicatedPurpose, Vinn*, ViviOrunitiaFF9, WaltJRimmer*, WhatsUpWazza, whymymothergoose, WingedOctopus, Woad Princess, wolfoftheage*, XandraT8, xfaithyx123, XianEvermor*, xoxMissClairexox, XShishioX*, xXRawrDarkWolfXx, Yahoo [Bot], Yolo, Yoru-Senpai, Yveine, ZeroTolerance*, Zitacamron95, Zodia195

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RolePlayGateway/~3/dphAdFE4iH0/viewtopic.php

meteor shower 121212 Concert Columbine shooting News Ryan Lanza Facebook usa today foxnews

Japan's Abe nudges China over territorial disputes

JAKARTA (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, pointing a finger at China, said on Friday that disputes plaguing Asia over who owns strings of tiny island groups in the region, had to be resolved legally.

Tokyo's relations with Beijing have chilled over the past few months because of bitter arguments over the ownership of islets in the East China Sea, enough to damage Japan's exports to its giant neighbor, home to the world's second largest economy.

China has also been at odds with several other governments in the region, notably the Philippines and Vietnam, over separate groups of potentially energy-rich islands in the South China Sea, an issue which has caused rare public spats within the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

"There is no question that a rising China is a plus for Japan economically. It is also important for China to behave in a responsible manner in the international society," Abe told reporters in Jakarta at the end of his first overseas visit since becoming prime minister.

Abe ended his trip - which also took him to Vietnam and Thailand - earlier than scheduled to return to Tokyo because of the hostage crisis in Algeria in which 14 Japanese workers are unaccounted for.

The trip was seen as a push by Abe to boost relations with Southeast Asia, home to 600 million people and combined economies worth $2 trillion, which he hopes will help counterbalance the economic and military strength of China and provide Japan's limping economy with new sources of growth.

By leaving early, Abe missed giving what had been billed as a policy speech on his new government's approach to Southeast Asia.

But at the news conference he listed five principles of his ASEAN diplomacy, including an "open ocean, ruled not by power but by law ... and we and ASEAN will protect this with all our might", he said.

It was a concern echoed by his host, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, whose country has no claim on any of the disputed islands but which has frequently expressed worries about the potential for the disputes to turn into military conflict.

"If there are any issues, whether in the South China Sea or East Asia or any part of Asia, the solution must be peaceful, not using military force and referring to international laws," Yudhoyono told reporters.

(Additional reporting by Kiyoshi Takenaka in Tokyo, writing by Jonathan Thatcher; Editing by Ron Popeski)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/japans-abe-nudges-china-over-territorial-disputes-120000326.html

meningitis bobby valentine bobby valentine nicki minaj miguel cabrera Karrueche Tran dodd frank

23 hostages killed after Algerian forces storm gas complex

ALGIERS, Algeria (AP) ? In a bloody finale, Algerian special forces stormed a natural gas complex in the Sahara desert on Saturday to end a standoff with Islamist extremists that left at least 23 hostages dead and killed all 32 militants involved, the Algerian government said.

With few details emerging from the remote site in eastern Algeria, it was unclear whether anyone was rescued in the final operation, but the number of hostages killed on Saturday ? seven ? was how many the militants had said that morning they still had. The government described the toll as provisional and some foreigners remain unaccounted for.

The siege at Ain Amenas transfixed the world after radical Islamists linked to al-Qaida stormed the complex, which contained hundreds of plant workers from all over the world, then held them hostage surrounded by the Algerian military and its attack helicopters for four tense days that were punctuated with gun battles and dramatic tales of escape.

Algeria's response to the crisis was typical of its history in confronting terrorists, favoring military action over negotiation, which caused an international outcry from countries worried about their citizens. Algerian military forces twice assaulted the two areas where the hostages were being held with minimal apparent mediation ? first on Thursday, then on Saturday.

"To avoid a bloody turn of events in response to the extreme danger of the situation, the army's special forces launched an intervention with efficiency and professionalism to neutralize the terrorist groups that were first trying to flee with the hostages and then blow up the gas facilities," Algeria's Interior Ministry said in a statement about the standoff.

Immediately after the assault, French President Francois Hollande gave his backing to Algeria's tough tactics, saying they were "the most adapted response to the crisis."

"There could be no negotiations" with terrorists, the French media quoted him as saying in the central French city of Tulle.

Hollande said the hostages were "shamefully murdered" by their captors, and he linked the event to France's military operation against al-Qaida-backed rebels in neighboring Mali. "If there was any need to justify our action against terrorism, we would have here, again, an additional argument," he said.

In the final assault, the remaining band of militants killed the hostages before 11 of them were in turn cut down by the special forces, Algeria's state news agency said. The military launched its Saturday assault to prevent a fire started by the extremists from engulfing the complex and blowing it up, the report added.

A total of 685 Algerian and 107 foreigner workers were freed over the course of the four-day standoff, the ministry statement said, adding that the group of militants that attacked the remote Saharan natural gas complex consisted of 32 men of various nationalities, including three Algerians and explosives experts.

The military also said it confiscated heavy machine guns, rocket launchers, missiles and grenades attached to suicide belts.

Sonatrach, the Algerian state oil company running the Ain Amenas site along with BP and Norway's Statoil, said the entire refinery had been mined with explosives, and that the process of clearing it out is now under way.

Algeria has fought its own Islamist rebellion since the 1990s, elements of which later declared allegiance to al-Qaida and then set up new groups in the poorly patrolled wastes of the Sahara along the borders of Niger, Mali, Algeria and Libya, where they flourished.

The standoff has put the spotlight on these al-Qaida-linked groups that roam these remote areas, threatening vital infrastructure and energy interests. The militants initially said their operation was intended to stop a French attack on Islamist militants in neighboring Mali ? though they later said it was two months in the planning, long before the French intervention.

The militants, who came from a Mali-based al-Qaida splinter group run by an Algerian, attacked the plant Wednesday morning. Armed with heavy machine guns and rocket launchers in four-wheel drive vehicles, they fell on a pair of buses taking foreign workers to the airport. The buses' military escort drove off the attackers in a blaze of gunfire that sent bullets zinging over the heads of crouching workers. A Briton and an Algerian ? probably a security guard ? were killed.

The militants then turned to the vast gas complex, divided between the workers' living quarters and the refinery itself, and seized hostages, the Algerian government said. The gas flowing to the site was cut off.

Saturday's government statement said the militants came across the border from "neighboring countries," while the militants said they came from Niger, hundreds of miles (kilometers) to the south.

On Thursday, Algerian helicopters kicked off the military's first assault on the complex by opening fire on a convoy carrying both kidnappers and their hostages to stop them from escaping, resulting in many deaths, according to witnesses.

The accounts of hostages who escaped the standoff showed they faced dangers from both the kidnappers and the military.

Ruben Andrada, 49, a Filipino civil engineer who works as one of the project management staff for the Japanese company JGC Corp., described how he and his colleagues were used as human shields by the kidnappers, which did little to deter the Algerian military.

On Thursday, about 35 hostages guarded by 15 militants were loaded into seven SUVs in a convoy to move them from the housing complex to the refinery, Andrada said. The militants placed "an explosive cord" around their necks and were told it would detonate if they tried to run away, he said.

"When we left the compound, there was shooting all around," Andrada said, as Algerian helicopters attacked with guns and missiles. "I closed my eyes. We were going around in the desert. To me, I left it all to fate."

Andrada's vehicle overturned allowing him and a few others to escape. He sustained cuts and bruises and was grazed by a bullet on his right elbow. He later saw the blasted remains of other vehicles, and the severed leg of one of the gunmen.

The site of the gas plant spreads out over several hectares (acres) and includes a housing complex and the processing site, about a mile (1.6 kilometers) apart, making it especially complicated for the Algerians to secure the site and likely contributed to the lengthy standoff.

"It's a big and complex site. It's a huge place with a lot of people there and a lot of hiding places for hostages and terrorists," said Col. Richard Kemp, a retired commander of British forces who had dealt with hostage rescues in Iraq and Afghanistan. "These are experienced terrorists holding the hostages."

While the Algerian government has only admitted to 23 hostages dead so far, the militants claimed through the Mauritanian news website ANI that the helicopter attack alone killed 35 hostages.

One American, from Texas, is among the dead.

French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Saturday that a Frenchman killed, Yann Desjeux, was a former member of the French special forces and part of the security team. The remaining three French nationals who were at the plant are now free, the Foreign Ministry said.

The British government said Saturday it is trying to determine the fate of six people from Britain who are either dead or unaccounted for.

Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain said, "There is no justification for taking innocent life in this way. Our determination is stronger than ever to work with allies right around the world to root out and defeat this terrorist scourge and those who encourage it."

The Norwegian government said there were five Norwegians unaccounted for.

Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta said Saturday one Romanian hostage was killed in the course of the siege, while the Malaysian government said two of its citizens were still missing.

The attack by the Masked Brigade, founded by Algerian militant Moktar Belmoktar, had been in the works for two months, a member of the brigade told the ANI news outlet. He said militants targeted Algeria because they expected the country to support the international effort to root out extremists in neighboring Mali and it was carried out by a special commando unit, "Those Who Signed in Blood," tasked with attacking nations supporting intervention in Mali.

The kidnappers focused on the foreign workers, largely leaving alone the hundreds of Algerian workers who were briefly held hostage before being released or escaping.

Several of them arrived haggard-looking on a late-night flight into Algiers on Friday and described how the militants stormed the living quarters and immediately separated out the foreigners.

Mohamed, a 37-year-old nurse who like the others wouldn't allow his last name to be used for fear of trouble for himself or his family, said at least five people were shot to death, their bodies still in front of the infirmary when he left Thursday night.

Chabane, an Algerian who worked in food services, said he bolted out the window and was hiding when he heard the militants speaking among themselves with Libyan, Egyptian and Tunisian accents. At one point, he said, they caught a Briton.

"They threatened him until he called out in English to his friends, telling them, 'Come out, come out. They're not going to kill you. They're looking for the Americans,'" Chabane said.

"A few minutes later, they blew him away."

_____

Paul Schemm reported from Rabat, Morocco. Associated Press writers Aomar Ouali in Algiers; Oliver Teves in Manila, Philippines; Elaine Ganley in Paris; Sylvia Hui in London, and Jan M. Olsen in Copenhagen contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/algeria-32-militants-killed-23-hostages-190359589--finance.html

evan mathis staff sgt. robert bales jason russell norfolk state st patrick s day parade duke invisible children

Disruptive Technology: New model, better service, a fraction of the ...

The Walrus and the Carpenter

Were walking close at hand;

They wept like anything to see

Such quantities of sand:

If this were only cleared away,?

They said, it would be grand!?-?Lewis Carroll

Disruptive Technology: ?Part 1

It?s been over 4 years since we ran our last article on disruptive technology.?? At that time it was about a new architecture for Servers and Storage oriented technology.? The new architecture called ?virtualization?, utilized existing mature components and enabled businesses to provide better service at a small fraction of the cost.? Virtualization allowed for any number of servers to be consolidated into a single more energy, space and cooling efficient server.? Picture a data center with 19 computer cabinet racks of equipment ? along with the infrastructure they require, operational costs, cooling and manpower now replaced with a single cabinet.? In this model the virtualized architecture pays for itself in less than one year because of the reduction of power and cooling alone.? Now add to that the reduced costs of software, maintenance and manpower and the cost cutting can reach upwards of 90%.

The initial barrier to implementing these technologies was the reduction in manpower.? The business outcome, saving money, is a CEO/CFO function.? But the ?C? level officers of a company aren?t technology savvy about the ?how to?, so they rely on their data center managers.? The data center managers look at the reduction of manpower and think that their jobs are going away; there is resistance.? Humans always resist change.? You don?t need to buy 19 servers and power, cool, license, maintain, update, upgrade, backup and replace them every 3-5 years; you can now get the same performance out of one server for a fraction of the cost.? The manufacturer of this disruptive technology, VMware, has gone from a tiny curiosity of a company to an industry leader in 5 years.? There?s no stopping it.

?That was 5 years ago, ready for the next wave?

The new disruptive architecture is here, now.? Information technologies can now be purchased entirely as a service.? Pay one price and get the latest software operating on your desktop/laptop/mobile device each and every time.? No expired warrantees or no refresh cycle; software is machine independent.? You can purchase the MS-office 365 service and it will always be the latest patched version of the software, all for a determined and metered single price per month.? This remote delivery of services, which some people call ?cloud computing?, is here now.? You need outlook for your email? Simply check off a box on a webpage and it works at your home, at the office or on your mobile.? Firewall security used to require an appliance and an IT department.? Now all you need to do is check off a different box on a webpage and you?ll be protected in the office, at a hotel or on the road.

So here we are at the next crossroads of disruptive technology.? It has gone from mainframes, to mini-computers, to PC?s, to the internet and now to smartphones.? It?s been a remarkable journey, each step with its own proponents, detractors and many imposters along the way.? The change has been fast but disruptive technology cannot be stopped and will always be integrated into our lives.? Each new change impacts our lives in such a way that we can?t imagine living without them just a few short months after their introduction.

62% of the fortune 500 companies that were in business 10 years ago, no longer exist.? If we are slow to change we?ll find that our inability to escape the past will become our inability to create the future.? How can you compete in business If you pay 10x more for your IT architecture than your competitors who use better, faster more agile IT for a fraction of the cost?

Check back next week for our conclusion on disruptive technology.

-?Dan Scolnick
IT Computer Support of New York
President and Chief Technical Officer

Source: http://itcomputersupportnewyork.com/ITCSNYITechBlog/2013/01/disruptive-technology-new-model-better-service-a-fraction-of-the-cost-wildly-compelling/

mega millions lottery jackpot winning numbers mega millions megamillions drawing olbermann mega millions march 30 lucky numbers

Life expectancy lower in US than other rich countries

WEALTHY it may be, but healthy it is not. The US population experiences poorer health at all stages of life than the populations of 16 other rich countries.

Despite leading the world in pioneering anti-smoking laws, cancer screening and controlling high blood pressure, the US trails its richer "peer" countries in almost all other measures of health and longevity, says a US National Research Council report published last week.

At 75 years, men in the US have the lowest life expectancy in the group, while women have a life expectancy of 81 years - higher only than Denmark.

In nine categories of ill health ranging from infant mortality rates to the prevalence of sexually transmitted disease, US citizens consistently came at or near the bottom of the table.

"I was stunned by how pervasive the disadvantages were across so many factors," says Steve Woolf of Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, who chaired the report panel.

Woolf and his colleagues say that the problem is less to do with faults in the US health system, and more to do with behaviours that put US citizens at greater risk. "They consume the most calories per person, have higher rates of drug abuse, are less likely to use seat belts, and are more likely to use firearms in acts of violence," says Woolf.

If you would like to reuse any content from New Scientist, either in print or online, please contact the syndication department first for permission. New Scientist does not own rights to photos, but there are a variety of licensing options available for use of articles and graphics we own the copyright to.

Have your say

Only subscribers may leave comments on this article. Please log in.

Only personal subscribers may leave comments on this article

Subscribe now to comment.

All comments should respect the New Scientist House Rules. If you think a particular comment breaks these rules then please use the "Report" link in that comment to report it to us.

If you are having a technical problem posting a comment, please contact technical support.

Source: http://feeds.newscientist.com/c/749/f/10897/s/279e694a/l/0L0Snewscientist0N0Carticle0Cmg217290A0A30B50A0A0Elife0Eexpectancy0Elower0Ein0Eus0Ethan0Eother0Erich0Ecountries0Bhtml0Dcmpid0FRSS0QNSNS0Q20A120EGLOBAL0Qonline0Enews/story01.htm

cj wilson ellsbury brad pitt and angelina jolie brad and angelina herniated disc luke scott tom benson

How To Stay Motivated At Work After Being Demoted

It can be very stressful, too, and if you fail to handle this situation, you can be demotivated to work, which can lead to the worst ? termination.

So, in order to stay inspired to work after falling a few notches down the job ladder, consider the following:?

1. Know the reason for the decision.

?

Is the demotion done to purposely insult someone? Or is it a way to say, ?Hey, you messed up on this part, and you need to go a step down as a consequence.? If the demotion is a real consequence of your shortcomings, or a mistake that cost your company bigtime, then you should learn to accept it. It seems pretty fair if you just broaden your perspective.

2. Realize that you're not a failure.

At this point, you might be considering yourself a huge failure. Be careful with this line of thinking, because it can destroy you. The only way this is true is if you continue to lose your motivation to work, and fail to do something about it. Remember, failure is not really about ?falling down,? it is about staying stuck down there. Learn how to pick yourself up. If you need to start all over again, then do so. This is easier said than done, yes. But, if that?s the only upright way to do it, then so be it. Sometimes it?s all about acceptance. It?s all about learning how life really works.

3. Console yourself.

?

At least you still have a job! That would be the worst thing that can happen considering the not-so good thing you have done at work. At least you are still able to provide for yourself and your family. At least your company still trusts you. Think of the millions of people begging for jobs. This is a good time to give yourself a pat on the shoulder.?

4. Treat it as a learning experience.

?

Learn how to convert a negative thing into something positive, because it?s possible. This experience can make you a stronger better person. Yes, you?ve heard this many times, but it?s true. You may be able to realize a lot of great things while you are undergoing this very tough situation. Pick up the gold nuggets you find on your way.?

5. Don?t be too harsh on yourself.?

Do not beat yourself up, belittle, or call yourself ugly names during this time. It won?t do you any good. You will, in fact, mirror and live what you tag yourself; and if you get used to it, it would be hard to break free and make yourself believe otherwise. Sometimes you need to use the justification, ?I?m only a human who makes mistakes.??

6. Focus on the solution.

?

Instead of draining your mental, emotional, and physical powers on the problem, focus all your energy on finding solutions. It?s OK to cry over it, question, and blame yourself or other people so you can exhale all your bad feelings, but learn when to stop, dust yourself off, and get moving again.

7. Continue working until you reach the top again!

?

That?s what life is about ? pressing forward. When you're down, the only way is up. If you cannot do it for yourself, do it for those who depend upon you and believe in you. Listen to what your family and friends tell you, soak yourself in their loving words, compassion, and actions. Take their good advice, revive your energy and motivation to work and climb that ladder again. It?s pretty much like love, success is sweeter the second time around.

Photo Credit: Shutterstock.com

Published January 17, 2013 at 5:55 AM

Source: http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-7418/how-to-stay-motivated-at-work-after-being-demoted.html

crystal harris taylor swift taylor swift Texas A Texas A&m cotton bowl Fiscal cliff deal

'Glee': Romance for Finn, a Valentine's Wedding, Sam and Brittany Backlash and More Teasers

Finn will continue to lead New Directions, but it's a romance that will help play a role in his future, Glee executive producer Dante Di Loreto told reporters Wednesday during a visit to the Fox musical's Hollywood set.

During a Q&A with critics to help close out the Television Critics Association's winter press tour, the cast and EP confirmed the Valentine's Day wedding, defended new couple Brittany and Sam and teased that the Class of 2013 could follow in the footsteps of some of their former classmates. Here are 11 teasers from the cast:

STORY: 'Glee': A 'Bold Move' for Rachel, Tina's New Crush and 8 More Spoilers From the Cast

1. Setting examples: Darren Criss still wants Blaine and Kurt to wind up together, despite the recent addition of Kurt's new love interest, Oliver, in the Jan. 24 return episode. "The fact that they've been working hard to stay in each other's lives is a good thing to show, but of course I want to see them together in the end!" he told reporters Wednesday during the set visit. Criss added that showing the former duo's friendship and acknowledging that they're still in each other's lives is "a good example to set."

2. Wedding bells: Exec producer?Di Loreto confirmed Wednesday what THR reported in October: The Valentine's Day episode will feature a wedding. "It's fair to say that there is romance in the air. There is a wedding in the air, and what is exciting about the show is there's certain things about the show that are undeniable. ? There are also some things that are going to shock the heck out of you. That's a the really fun part and that's what's coming down the pike."

3. Class of 2013: Brittany, Tina, Artie and Blaine are among the seniors who will be marching toward graduation this season, with Di Loreto expressing confidence in the Fox musical's ability to capture its characters' evolution. He teased that New York could be in the cards for some of the Class of 2013. "I wouldn't be surprised if you find a few other castmembers in New York," he told reporters. "That story is yet to reveal itself, but it seems like one of those natural conclusions. They're all going in different places, just like we all do in high school, and hopefully those are stories that we can blossom."

PHOTOS: 'Glee' Season 4 in Pictures

4. Finn's future: Finn discovered his passion and gift for teaching (despite New Directions' recent loss), but Di Loreto said it was important to show the journey of someone besides McKinley's students. "Revealing what the challenge is of being a teacher was really important to [Finn's] storyline," he said. "Romance is going to play a part in his future, too, and where that takes us has yet to be determined." Criss, meanwhile, said as of the Valentine's Day episode, Finn is "still going strong" at the helm of New Directions. "It's cool seeing him thrive and inspire," he told THR

5. Milestones and touring, oh my! After taking a year off, Di Loreto said the cast is open to touring again. "We had an amazing time during the last tour, and we'd all love the opportunity to do it again; it's really about finding time to fit it into our lives," he said. "There's a milestone coming up that you're all going to hear about very soon." Color us interested.

6. Minefield! Asked about Santana and Brittany's relationship, Heather Morris called the subject a "minefield." "It's like we were just best friends," she said of the former couple's romantic relationship. "I don't think they were great for each other even though they're best friends. Sam gives her more room to just be herself, and that's a lot of fun." Morris also said Sam allows the ditzy Cheerio more room to really be "weird." As for hope for the former lesbian couple, Morris told THR: "They're friends, but they won't get back together, I don't think." Sad face.

PHOTOS: 'Glee' Season 4 Cast Portraits

7. Life after McKinley: Morris has hilarious plans for Brittany following her graduation -- that is if the second-year senior graduates. "I want my character to go to jail," she said to laughter. "There should be an episode where she raises her hand to go to the bathroom and never shows back up. Then you show her later and she's in jail." Hope her cellmate is equally amusing!

8. Backlash: Chord Overstreet says he understands the backlash to Sam's romantic pairing with Brittany. "People care about a lot of things because it speaks to them, and I feel like that kind of relationship a lot of people are invested in, so they hate to see it go away," he told THR of Brittany and Santana's split. "But I also think there has to be a little separation to have that kind of tension to, 'Are they going to get back together, or are they not?' It adds the drama you need. I don't know who's going to end up together, but I think Sam and Brittany is funny because it gives a bit of comic relief. At the same time, the story she has with Santana is super sweet. I don't think the fans should be as upset -- they should be more excited for what's to come for both scenarios."

9. "Tough" times: As for how Santana will take the news that her bisexual ex-girlfriend has not only moved on with a guy but with someone she knows: "The first person you really love sticks with you the most, so I think it's going to be tough for her," he told THR.

PHOTOS: 'Glee's' Season 4 Premiere Party

10. Back in business: New Directions lost its choir room in the winter finale, but Criss teased that their eviction won't last long. "There was some foul play going on with the Warblers, so that might have something to do with how they come back," he said, adding there's a great potential for growth in defeat. "I like the idea of these guys when they lose: Who are they, and what does a glee club do when they can't perform? What's really the story -- the glee club or the people in the glee club? It's cool to focus on what that's going to do for them, but they will continue to perform."

11. As for Blaine's new connection with Tina (Jenna Ushkowitz) Criss said their friendship "takes an interesting turn." "Blaine and Tina take a new step in their relationship -- for better or worse."

Glee returns Jan. 24 on Fox. Hit the comments with what you're looking forward to seeing. In the meantime, check out a new promo for the "Sadie Hawkins" episode, below.

Email:?Lesley.Goldberg@thr.com; Twitter:?@Snoodit

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/live_feed/~3/vaBssikbMiA/story01.htm

grammy nominations lil boosie bobbi kristina brown new edition austerity rihanna and chris brown back together pebble beach

"The Algerian military launched an operation against armed Islamist extremists h...

Surrounded, Attackers Warn of Explosive End in Algeria

www.nytimes.com

Armed attackers who seized dozens of hostages, including Americans and other foreigners, at a gas field were surrounded by Algerian troops on Thursday, while reports said many of the hostages were able to flee.

Source: http://www.facebook.com/foreignpolicyassociation/posts/272338246227707

metta world peace ron artest gladys knight private practice deion sanders creutzfeldt jakob disease the lone ranger

4 Pinocchios for a slashing NRA ad on security at Sidwell Friends School (Washington Post)

Share With Friends: | | Politics - Top Stories News, News Feeds and News via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/277635135?client_source=feed&format=rss

Walking Dead Season 3 vampire diaries derek jeter Red Bull Stratos Redbull Stratos steve mcnair vice presidential debate

Career advice from Kate Beaton: RESEARCH

I?m sure this post on how to make it as an artist by animator Geneva Hodgson (and reblogged by Kate Beaton, hence my embarrassing ID mixup) doesn?t need any promotion from me, but here it is anyway. IT?s full of solid observations and advice, and you should READ THE WHOLE THING, but she mentions one thing that I don?t think most career advice articles cover enough:

- RESEARCH. Research what people are doing now. Find out what you might be interested in. Write it all out. Here is a sampling of art-related careers that I know, personally, in real life, people doing and making good livings off of it:

Storyboarding
Character design
Prop design
Visual development artists/concept artists (note: this is a really popular field to pursue among young artists and not everyone can make it? but the skills you?d hone prepping to be one would make you a KILLER artist)
Graphic design, especially web-related
User interface design/User experience design
Vector illustration
Flash animation
Video editing software like AfterEffects, often animating in it

Something I recommend doing is looking for what people are looking for. Conduct a mock job hunt and look at the skills people are looking for. Make yourself an ace and teach yourself Adobe CreativeSuite, or any other program you?re interested in using for your career. Buy them if you can, but if you?re a poor teenager stuck in the boondocks like I was, pirate them and pay for them after you know how to use them to make money. I can?t tell you how many doors I opened by downloading Photoshop in 8th grade. You can teach yourself virtually any program or skill with all the resources available online.

This is all so true. Comics are a great way to get your name and style out there, but solid skills in key software programs to back up art chops are usually a prereq for making money at art.

I don?t necessarily agree with Beaton that going to school for comics is not necessary. CCS, SAW, SCAD and SVA are all giving a lot of students valuable networking and instruction. However I DO predict that Beaton?s post will probably become a must read at most of those schools.

Source: http://comicsbeat.com/career-advice-from-kate-beaton-research/

calvin johnson calvin johnson festivus festivus nfl playoff picture nfl playoff picture Peter Billingsley

Company celebrates grand opening; to bring 250 jobs to LV

SOUTH WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. -

A company that's based in Europe is bringing its out-of-the-box approach and hundreds of jobs to the Lehigh Valley.

Credit Safe has set up shop in South Whitehall Township.

Tuesday the company held the grand opening of its new U.S. headquarters.

The company sells business credit reports and the atmosphere is high energy all the time.

The CEO tells us he moved here because of the hard working people.

There's a lot of music and workers say a lot of fun.

This is a normal day at Credit Safe.

The company sells business credit reports to clients all over the world.

So far there are 91 million clients in their database.

Workers in this office make 200 calls a day.

CEO Cato Syversen says one reason he brought the U.S. headquarters to South Whitehall Township is the people.

"We're pretty good at finding these locations, we know exactly what we want," said Syversen. "So we hire for attitude, and we train for skills."

Employees say they love the high energy atmosphere.

People cheer when a sale is made.

There is ping pong, foosball, and a disco ball in the break room.

"When you're around people that are energetic and are very positive you want to be around those people more," said sales rep, Michelle Mosher. "That's what Credit Safe really believes in."

The company is going to hire 250 people and some say this is a good start to attracting more companies to the Lehigh Valley.

"We're very blessed here to have a good work ethic," said Tony Iannelli, president of the Greater Lehigh County Chamber of Commerce. "To have a lot of people who are anxious willing and able work and it shows."

Credit Safe chose the Lehigh Valley over cities like Nashville, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, and New York.

Workers say the main reason for the choice, low cost and the people.

Source: http://www.wfmz.com/news/news-regional-lehighvalley/Company-celebrates-grand-opening-to-bring-250-jobs-to-LV/-/132502/18145868/-/10mq6dj/-/index.html

jo paterno dead south carolina tuskegee airmen mike james red tails red tails heidi klum

2 killed, 1 injured in shooting in parking lot of Kentucky college

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - A gunman firing into a vehicle killed two people and wounded a juvenile Tuesday as they sat in the parking lot of an eastern Kentucky community college.

The campus was locked down for more than an hour while police searched the two buildings of Hazard Community and Technical College in Hazard, Ky., to ensure there was no further danger before allowing students to leave, police told a news conference broadcast live on WYMT-TV's website.

College President Stephen Greiner said that at the time of the shooting, there were probably about 30 students on campus, which is based 90 miles southeast of Lexington, Ky.

Police recovered the weapon, a semiautomatic pistol, at the scene, and a man who walked into an office of the Kentucky State Police in Hazard and said he knew something about the shooting was being questioned as a suspect, Hazard Police Chief Minor Allen said. No charges had been filed and no other suspects had been identified at the time of the news conference, which was held about three hours after the shooting.

A male and female were already dead when police arrived about 6 p.m., Allen said. The wounded juvenile, a female, was taken to University of Kentucky Hospital, he said.

A hospital spokeswoman said she could not provide any information about the juvenile's condition without a name, which police did not release.

Allen said police believe the shooting may have been the result of a domestic dispute. He didn't know the relationship between the victims and the shooter.

Conor Duff, the college's evening co-ordinator, said the outbreak of violence was startling.

"Everybody here's been pretty shook up," he said. "This is definitely something people around here are not used to. We have our fair share of problems, but normally this isn't one of them."

Classes had resumed Monday at the campus after the holiday break, according to the college's website, which also posted that there had been an incident and asked students to stay away from the main campus. The school called off classes for Wednesday.

The college's academic programs range from associate's degrees in arts and sciences to career-focused training in mining technology and heavy-equipment operation.

___

Associated Press writers Janet Cappiello and Teresa Wasson contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/2-killed-1-injured-shooting-parking-lot-kentucky-042223271.html

leslie carter aaron carter sister pfizer signing day 2012 football gasland college football recruiting bjork

Car bomb targets Afghan spy agency in Kabul

KABUL (Reuters) - A car bomb exploded in front of the gates of the Afghan intelligence agency on Wednesday, Reuters witnesses said, near heavily barricaded government buildings and Western embassies.

Shopkeepers and passersby were injured in the blast, which took place at noon (0730 GMT), but it was not immediately clear if anyone had been killed.

Shattered glass and twisted metal lay scattered in front of the gates of the National Directorate of Security (NDS) and gunfire and sirens were heard.

NDS head Asadullah Khalid narrowly survived a suicide bomber's assassination attempt last month in a brazen attack that threatened to derail a nascent and already fragile peace process between the Afghan government and the Taliban.

When contacted by Reuters, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the group was "unaware" of the car bomb.

Wednesday's attack came just days after President Hamid Karzai returned from a trip to Washington, where he discussed the country's future with U.S. President Barack Obama once most NATO-led troops withdraw as planned by the end of 2014.

On that trip, Karzai visited Khalid in a U.S. hospital, where he was recovering from the Kabul assassination attempt by a man who had hidden a bomb in his trousers.

Violence across the country has been increasing in recent months, sparking concern over how the 350,000-strong Afghan security forces will be able to manage once foreign troops withdraw.

(Writing by Amie Ferris-Rotman; Editing by Nick Macfie)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/large-blast-heard-centre-afghan-capital-074107926.html

Stuart Scott Jodi Arias NRA Holly Rowe Chief Keef FRANK ZAMBONI Corvette Stingray