Actor takes MTV News behind the scenes of upcoming 'City of Bones' adaptation.
By Amy Wilkinson, with reporting by Josh Horowitz
Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1706470/mortal-instruments-city-of-bones-simon.jhtml
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ALBANY - The Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences President James Gozzo is stepping down.
Gozzo has served as president for 15 years.
He says the decision to leave the college was a difficult one, but the right one for himself and his family.
His resignation takes effect June 30 2014.
Source: http://albany.wnyt.com/news/news/279212-college-president-steps-down
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The 7-year-old cancer patient who became an Internet sensation for his touchdown run in Nebraska's spring football game has yet another fan ? President Barack Obama.
Jack Hoffman, his family and former Cornhuskers running back Rex Burkhead visited Obama for 15 minutes in the Oval Office on Monday. Obama presented Jack with a new football and told him he was proud of him.
"I thought it was awesome," Jack said.
Burkhead, who was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday, befriended Jack shortly after the boy was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2011. Their friendship led to the "Team Jack" campaign that has raised awareness and funds for research.
The trip to Washington came about after Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., mentioned Jack's touchdown run to the president in casual conversation, said Jack's father, Andy Hoffman. Obama told Fischer that he knew about Jack from watching his touchdown run on television and that Jack should visit him at the White House.
The Hoffmans, from Atkinson, Neb., arrived in Washington on Saturday, did some sightseeing Sunday and plan to go home Tuesday.
Jack met first with Obama, and then he introduced the president to parents Andy and Bri, little sisters Ava and Reese, and Burkhead. Obama spoke briefly to Burkhead about his NFL prospects and thanked him for all he has done for Jack. The Hoffmans, in turned, thanked Obama for meeting with them.
"It was just such a great opportunity for us to visit him and raise national awareness for pediatric brain cancer," Andy said. "He talked about his commitment to research and science."
Jack has been a familiar face to Huskers fans who have rallied around the "Team Jack" campaign and saw him help lead the team's traditional Tunnel Walk before last September's game against Wisconsin.
The rest of the nation got to know Jack from the April 6 spring game, after the coaching staff invited Jack to run a play in the fourth quarter. Wearing a miniature Burkhead uniform, he took a handoff from Taylor Martinez and scooted 69 yards to the end zone.
Players on both sidelines poured onto the field, followed him across the goal line and mobbed him, lifting him on their shoulders to the delight of the crowd of 60,000. ESPN and national news networks showed video of Jack's TD run for several days, and it received almost 8 million views on YouTube.
___
Online:
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsrfBoocIrE
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/obama-meets-neb-boy-won-hearts-spring-game-200507552.html
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WASHINGTON (AP) ? Two government officials tell The Associated Press that U.S. intelligence agencies added the Boston bombing suspects' mother to a federal terrorism database about 18 months before the attack.
Officials say this was done after Russia contacted the CIA late in 2011 with concerns that the now-dead suspect, Tamerlan Tsarnaev (TAM'-ehr-luhn tsahr-NEYE'-ehv), and his mother, Zubeidat Tsarnaeva (zoo-bay-DAHT' tsahr-NEYE'-eh-vuh), were religious militants about to travel to Russia. The CIA asked that Tsarnaev and Tsarnaeva be added to a classified intelligence database called TIDE. Being on the database does not automatically mean the U.S. suspects a person of terrorist activity and does not automatically subject a person to surveillance, security screening or travel restrictions.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the investigation.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/bombing-suspects-mom-terror-database-170007222.html
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CANBERRA, Australia (AP) ? A wealthy Australian who is rebuilding the Titanic plans to do the political equivalent. Clive Palmer said Friday he intends to refloat the United Australian Party, a once dominant force in Australian politics that sank without a trace in the 1940s.
The mining magnate plans to revive the Great Depression-era party and stand candidates for every seat in the House of Representatives and Senate at general elections on Sept. 14. Palmer intends to run himself in the electoral district in Queensland state where he owns a golf resort.
"I'm standing to be the next prime minister of Australia," he said.
"I have no personal interest. I have made enough money in my life. I'm not seeking any enrichment of wealth for myself, I'm seeking it for the Australian people," he added.
Analysts say the UAP could win a few conservatives seats with a campaign bankrolled by Palmer. But any gains by the party are unlikely to alter the election result, with opinion polls pointing to a crushing victory by the conservative opposition.
Palmer said he decided to enter politics because of poor policy decisions by the center-left Labor Party government and a lack of confidence in the opposition coalition.
He said his party would stand on a platform of honesty in government free of vested interests.
"Politicians are being compromised by the reliance on lobbyists and their client's check books," he said.
He described the historic example of UAP as a "shining light" for where Australia needed to go.
Palmer had been the leading donor to the conservative Liberal National Party which governs Queensland and is part of the federal opposition. But he quit the party in November after failing to win its endorsement to run for federal politics against Deputy Prime Wayne Swan and public clashes with the Queensland Premier Campbell Newman.
The 59-year-old businessman has cultivated a reputation for bold and unconventional plans. In February, he announced that construction will soon commence in a Chinese shipyard on a replica of the famously doomed ocean liner Titanic that could set sail in 2016.
Last month, he announced he had ordered 117 mechanical dinosaurs from China as added attractions to his luxury Palmer Coolum Resort north of the Queensland capital Brisbane.
Australian National University political scientist Norm Abjorensen described the original UAP as a divided and "hastily cobbled together alliance" during a period of economic crisis that met an end analogous to the Titanic hitting an iceberg.
"It's really the only time in our political history where a major political party ... has just about totally imploded," Abjorensen said. "I don't think Clive's inspiration is all that bright."
But bankrolled by Palmer's fortune, the revamped party could win a few seats, he said.
Palmer said an application for the party's registration has been made to electoral authorities. Two Queensland state independent lawmakers are considering joining the party.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard declined to comment on Palmer's political bid other than to tell Australian Broadcasting Corp. the registration of the UAP was "a question for Mr. Palmer and the appropriate party registration processes."
Opposition leader Tony Abbott dismissed the prospect of Palmer splitting the conservative vote.
"The people of Australia are very savvy here and they are going to vote for the people who are serious; they are going to vote for the people who have done the work, who have put in the hard yards, and who can deliver competent, stable and trustworthy government," Abbott told reporters.
Palmer will not reveal his wealth. Forbes estimates he is worth $895 million while Australia's Business Review weekly last year estimated his fortune at almost $4 billion.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/australian-behind-titanic-plans-political-bid-060114997.html
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The European Commission believes that, alongside the rise of smartphones, tablets and other TV replacements, by 2016 connected TVs could be used in the majority of European homes — up from around 40.4 million today. Today it released a Green Paper to lay the groundwork for how it might cope with that. To be clear, this is not a re-writing of the Audiovisual Media Services Directive, the basic set of rules first introduced in 2010 covering areas single-market convergence, although it could lead to that. Initially, the purpose of the Green Paper will be to get a better handle on an area that is rapidly changing with the boom in mobile broadband, the rise of tablets and video apps, those connected TVs and more. It’s part of Kroes’ wider Digital Agenda strategy, which has covered areas like addressing the digital divide, the role of regulation in childrens content, cybersecurity, tech brain drain and more. As part of the Green Paper, the EC seeks feedback on things like how TV is watched, the limitations of digital content distributed on a per-country basis, exclusivity deals for films and other media, and whether self-regulation (used widely today) is doing enough — issues that could potentially impact, among others, device makers like Samsung, LG and (perhaps!) Apple; streaming companies like Amazon and Netflix; and publishers/creators. Neelie Kroes, the outspoken Commission VP who oversees this area, focuses her attention on connected TVs specifically today: “Connected TV is the next big thing in the creative and digital worlds,” she is expected to note in a statement today. But Kroes also acknowledges that even if it’s not a huge LG set in a TV room that will be the lever for how things transform, the evolution is certainly an issue regardless. “Convergence between sectors means people can enjoy a wider choice of great content – but it also creates disruptions and challenges. We need a converged and EU-wide debate to help deal with these changes.” Indeed, figures from Cisco’s most recent Visual Networking Index, a huge study it puts out annually, mobile video consumption worldwide exceeded 50% for the first time last year and shows no sign of slowing down, with Europe accounting for over 20% of all global mobile traffic. Part of the issue in Europe is that, at the moment, there are some cross purposes at work. For example, when it comes to content, dealsSource: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/eg-v9ybeeTU/
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SYDNEY, April 24 (Reuters) - Australia named the following squad for the Ashes test series against England in July and August. Squad: Michael Clarke (captain), Brad Haddin (vice captain), Ed Cowan, David Warner, Phillip Hughes, Shane Watson, Usman Khawaja, Chris Rogers, Matthew Wade, Nathan Lyon, James Faulkner, Peter Siddle, Ryan Harris, James Pattinson, Mitchell Starc, Jackson Bird (Compiled by Greg Stutchbury; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/britain-proposes-airwaves-shake-meet-broadband-demand-170904589--finance.html
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The internet allows businesses to reach consumers way beyond their physical presence, as well as wider sourcing of materials and lots of other things.
But of the 40m small- and medium-sized businesses in India, only 500,000 are present on the web, according to Karim Temsamani, president of Google Asia Pacific.
Small and medium sized enterprises contributed 25 per cent of India?s GDP in the 2009-11 period. They were responsible for 40 per cent of the country?s exports and 75 per cent of total employment, according to McKinsey.
But only 81 per cent of India?s SMEs have access to high speed internet ? compared with 86 per cent in Malaysia and 96 per cent in China, and behind Vietnam and Taiwan. Just 36 per cent of SMEs in India have what McKinsey calls ?online enterprise solutions?, such as online customer relationship and supply chain management.
However, McKinsey calculate that 43 per cent of SMEs have online sales ? higher than Google?s number as it includes companies that sell some of their products through online marketplaces, whereas Google count companies that have their own website or other listing.
These companies are missing a big opportunity. Take Bharat Plaza, a Jodphur-based apparel producer with a staff of 80. The company first used the internet to find local artists whose designs they could add to their line. To reach Indians abroad Bharat Plaza began marketing online, spending Rs150 ($2.77) per day on AdWorks, Google?s pay-per-click advertising product. In the last year, online ad spending has grown six-fold and the company now sees 25 per cent of sales come from the US, with 14 per cent from both the UK and Australia.
On average Indian companies say using the internet raised revenues by 9.1 per cent, reduced the cost of goods sold by 6.3 per cent, and cut the cost of operations and administration by 8.4 per cent.
The hope is that the introduction of faster 4G services will increase internet adoption by reducing the cost of access and increasing speed. Airtel is piloting 4G services in four cities and Reliance has spent a lot of money acquiring licences to launch 4G in some 40 cities.
Until then, Google is trying to drive Indian companies to set up websites or get a listing online.
?This figure needs to rise if these companies want to reach their consumers at lowest cost and raise their profits,? Temsamani said at a press conference in Singapore on the proportion of India?s SMEs with an online presence. ?We need all the businesses to help drive the ecosystem and we can also do all the work ourselves. It is good that Microsoft, Facebook and other companies are participating in developing the ecosystem, and I can only see this as a benefit.?
Google sees SMEs as the future growth engine for the internet. ?India get your business online?, an initiative by Google, has developed websites for 200,000 businesses ? and hopes to hit the 500,000 mark by the end of 2015. In just 15 minutes and at no cost at all, it lets you create a website with a ?.in? domain name using a professional template.
The internet may be a standard part of life in many parts of the world. But these numbers show just how far the web in India still has to go.
Related reading:
India, elections and Facebook kids, beyondbrics
Africa?s digital divide: still gaping, beyondbrics
Source: http://blogs.ft.com/beyond-brics/2013/04/24/indias-smes-missing-an-online-trick/
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It's a natural reaction to throw every due date you have into your calendar or task list, but podcaster and blogger David Sparks suggests you only use those due dates for tasks that absolutely need them.
Due dates are incredibly handy for big projects and small reminders, but they're not necessary for everything. When every item on your task list has a due date, you end up with tons of notifications and badges that don't mean anything. Sparks suggests never using using due dates unless a project will totally blow up if you don't get it done by that day. It's a simple trick, but it pulls your focus back to what needs to get done right now. Check out David Sparks video above for a few more tips on how he uses OmniFocus (or any productivity app) to keep things organized.
Do Stuff! | Vimeo via 99U
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Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner went out for dinner in Hollywood, Calif., on April 19.
Carey Mulligan was spotted out and about in the East Village in New York City on April 18.
Zac Efron stopped by "Good Morning America" on April 18 in New York City.
Emily Blunt and John Krasinski were seen arriving on a flight at LAX airport in Los Angeles, Calif., on April 17.
Kate Hudson and Matthew Bellamy grabbed breakfast at Bubby's Restaurant with children Bingham and Ryder in New York City on April 17.
Jennifer Aniston attended the world premiere of the Lifetime Original Movie Event "Call Me Crazy: A Five Film" held at The Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood, Calif., on April 16.
"The Big Wedding" star Katherine Heigl went out for lunch with her mom in Los Feliz, Calif., on April 16.
Rachel Bilson enjoyed a day on the beach with friends and boyfriend Hayden Christensen while on vacation in Barbados on April 16.
Ashton Kutcher wore a Boston hat in London following the Boston Marathon bombings on April 15 as he left girlfriend Mila Kunis' apartment on April 16.
'The Hunger Games' actor Liam Hemsworth hit up the gym for a workout in West Hollywood, Calif., on April 15.
Selena Gomez flaunted her gorgeous gams in short shorts while shopping in Beverly Hills on April 15.
Sienna Miller walked hand-in-hand with her fiance Tom Sturridge through the West Village in NYC on April 15.
Zendaya was spotted leaving her "Dancing With The Stars" rehearsal studio snacking on Fruity Pebbles in Los Angeles, Calif., on April 15.
Gwyneth Paltrow and Robert Downey Jr. cozy up at the premiere of "Iron Man 3" at the Grand Rex in Paris, France on April 14.
Brittany Snow rocked a short dress at the 2013 MTV Movie Awards in Los Angeles, Calif., on April 14.
Zoe Saldana looked amazing at the 2013 MTV Movie Awards in Los Angeles, Calif., on April 14.
Coachella buddies Ashley Benson and Katy Perry posed together at the McDonald's Premium McWrap launch party in Palm Spring, Calif., on April 13.
Julianne Hough rocked short shorts at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif., on April 13.
Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson hold hands at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif., on April 13.
Angelina Jolie and her son Maddox Jolie-Pitt arrived on a flight at LAX in Los Angeles, Calif., on April 12.
Halle Berry played tourist and visitied Sugarloaf Mountain while in Rio de Janeiro on April 12. Berry, who showed off her growing pregnancy curves in a black tank top and jeans, has been in Brazil promoting her movie "The Call."
Tom Cruise was at the "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" show in Hollywood, Calif., on April 11.
Gwyneth Paltrow was spotted leaving "Good Morning America" in New York City on April 10.
Michelle Williams showed off her new short hair cut while out and about in New York City on April 9.
Zachary Quinto attended the Manhattan Magazine Men's Issue Party at PH-D Rooftop Lounge at Dream Downtown in New York City on April 9.
Lindsay Lohan greets fans as she heads into a taping of 'The Late Show with David Letterman' in New York
"True Blood" star Alexander Skarsgard was spotted out and about in New York City on April 9. He spent time signing autographs for his fans on the street.
Cameron Diaz grabbed an iced tea after a workout at the gym on April 8 in Los Angeles, Calif.
Olivia Wilde took her dog Paco out for a walk with her brother Charlie in New York City, New York on April 8.
Rumor Willis was spotted wearing the U by Kotox Generation Know bracelet while playing with her dog in Beverly Hills, Calif., on April 8.
Taylor Swift walked the red carpet at the 2013 Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas, Nev., on April 6.
Jessica Alba flaunted her amazing bikini body as she hit the beach while on vacation in St. Barts on April 7.
Giuliana Rancic was all smiles at The Naked Grape Wine's `Peel It Off to Give Back` event in Chicago on April 6.
Pregnant Jessica Simpson's curves were on full display in a tight black shirt as she took her family to lunch at King's Fish House In Calabasas, Calif., on April 6.
Chris Hemsworth took his adorable daughter India Rose grocery shopping at the 'Whole Foods' in Los Angeles, Calif., on April 5. Hot dad alert!
Angelina Jolie attended the Women in the World Summit 2013 on April 4 in New York City.
Jada Pinkett Smith spotted out and about in New York City on April 3.
Emmy Rossum was all smiles in New York while sporting the Henri Bendel Sutton Mini Bag on April 2.
Jon Hamm and his girlfriend Jennifer Westfeldt took their dog for a walk in West Hollywood, Calif., on April 2.
Charlize Theron was seen bundled up in a dark pea coat and scarf as she hurried out of her hotel to run some errands around New York City on April 2.
Rihanna performed at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, Canada on April 1. Looking good, RiRi!
Kate Beckinsale was spotted stocking up on spring fragrances from Jo Malone London in Los Angeles, Calif., on April 1.
Heidi Klum walked on the beach at the North Shore in Oahu, Hawaii on April 1.
Sarah Jessica Parker walked her kids to school on April 1 in New York City. How adorable are those army jackets?
A bikini-clad Hayden Panettiere enjoyed a peaceful Easter Sunday on the beach in Miami, Fla., on March 31.
Kourtney Kardashian took her kids Mason and Penelope to Church on Easter Sunday, where they were joined by Kendall, Kylie and Kris Jenner in Los Angeles, Calif.
Lily Collins attended Day 2 of WonderCon 2013 at Anaheim Convention Center on March 30 in Anaheim, Calif.
Britney Spears, her two sons Sean and Jayden Federline and her father Jamie were spotted arriving on a flight in New Orleans, La., on March 29.
Diane Kruger posed for pictures outside ABC Studios for an appearance on "Good Morning America" on March 28 in NYC.
Taylor Swift went casual in a black sweater and red pants as she headed out and about in New York City on March 27.
Sandra Bullock gave her son Louis a piggyback ride after picking him up from school in Los Angeles, Calif., on March 26.
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So, you've built yourself a nice little product. Maybe you've raised a small friends-and-family round; maybe you're still bootstrappin' it solo. Either way, now you're looking to raise at least a million dollars to help with the next steps. While there's no perfect formula for stuff like this, these stats from AngelList's Ash Fontana are a solid indication of the metrics you should be aiming for.Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/FHI0yRz8244/
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During the summer of 2012, while working in venture capital, one of the early-stage companies I stumbled upon was founded by a trio of guys based in Singapore. We met a few times in the Valley and quickly became friends, and I informally helped them, from time to time, navigate the waters of moving to the Valley and getting situated here. I hadn't talked to them in a while but we recently reconnected, and I thought their journey from starting a company in Asia to raising venture capital in California would be interesting to share with others, not only for those who reside outside the Valley and hope to move here to build their businesses, but also because this team is focused on building software exclusively for developers. This is an interest-area of mine because I've found there are some investors who are betting long on developer-focused businesses, while others like them but worry about their ability to scale to venture "size." Below is an edited transcript of an informal Q&A we all coordinated over email with founders?of Nitrous.IO, Arun Thampi, Peter Kim, and A.J. Solimine:
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/vJLrNpensqQ/
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Comfort is guaranteed when individuals opt for this travel means. A variety of food would be tabled, be it dietary needs, quality champagne and all cuisine types. Additionally, larger jets offer comfortable and cozy quarters for resting or even sleeping in case of long flights. Masseuses as well as hairstylists would also be availed, depending on the jet size and company. The wish of the customer is therefore the command of the service providers. Thus, an individual is guaranteed a safe and luxurious flight to whichever destination he or she wishes to travel.
It is very flexible to travel on these charters. One can make advance bookings, or even on short notice. This is however quite impossible with commercial planes. It might even be quite impossible to get a seat on such planes without advance booking. That would mean inconveniences especially when seeking emergency services.
Private flight services do not experience delays in comparison to most commercial flights. Airport delays, maintenance services and such like things are less, which means one easily arrives at their destination immediately. This convenience is one major attraction.
Another reason to prove that jets do not cause delays is the lack of stopovers. Once the plane takes off, it only lands at the specified destination, thus saving on time. There would not be any frustrations caused by layovers and such like problems, something that troubles most people.
Working on charters is possible since there are very few people. No one would try to interfere or interrupt in your business affairs. One can even call clients and many other things. Commercial flights on the other hand can be quite noisy and without privacy.
Such a service would also be ideal for families. Going on vacation or any other venture, parents do not have to worry about their children getting on the way of other passengers. Moreover, they have the whole plane to themselves, playing games and chatting with the cabin crew. This reduces the stress of commercial planes.
Air charter New England has offered a better travel option to meet various needs. It does not have to be a business meeting. Families could also enjoy these unique services for their convenience, safety and comfort. To lessen the expense burden, most people decide to travel together as families. This is cheaper and more enjoyable since the kids can play games among other things.
Source: http://bidding-travel.blogspot.com/2013/04/benefits-of-hiring-air-charter-new.html
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WEST, Texas (AP) ? The neighborhood surrounding a Texas fertilizer plant that erupted in a thunderous explosion is gone, and the residents here know they've lost more than the buildings that went up in flames.
Even as investigators were tight-lipped about the number of dead from the blast ? authorities say more than 160 are injured but have not yet released a firm death toll ? the names of the dead were becoming known in the town of 2,800, even if they hadn't been officially released.
Believed to be among them is a small group of firefighters and other first responders who may have rushed toward the fire to fight it before the blast. At a church service at St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church on Thursday night, the mourning was already starting.
"We know everyone that was there first in the beginning," said Christina Rodarte, 46, who has lived in West for 27 years. "There's no words for it. It is a small community, and everyone knows the first responders, because anytime there's anything going on, the fire department is right there, all volunteer."
One victim who Rodarte knew and whose name was released was Kenny Harris, a 52-year-old captain in the Dallas Fire Department who lived south of West. He was off duty at the time but responded to the fire to help, according to a statement from the city of Dallas.
Authorities spent much of the day after Wednesday night's blast searching the town for survivors. It was not clear why they were having trouble tallying an official death toll. At one point, they said they believed 5 to 15 people were among the dead, but later backed off giving any firm estimate. Three to five volunteer firefighters were believed to have perished.
Searches continued early Friday morning, and authorities may release more information about the death toll later in the day, said Texas State Trooper D.L. Wilson. "Hopefully," he said.
Even without a full picture of the loss of life, what was becoming clear was that the town's landscape was going to be changed forever by the four-to-five block radius leveled by the blast. An apartment complex was badly shattered, a school set ablaze, and as many as 80 homes were seriously damaged.
Residents were still being kept out of a large swath of West, where search and rescue teams continued to pick through the rubble. Some with permission made forays closer to the destruction and came back stunned, and it was possible that some residents would be let closer to their homes on Friday, emergency workers said.
Homes had garage doors ripped off and porches twisted. Fans hung askew from the porches. At West Intermediate School, which was close to the blast site, all of the building's windows were blown out, as well as the cafeteria.
"I had an expectation of what I would see, but what I saw went beyond my expectations in a bad way," said Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott after his visit. "It is very disturbing to see the site."
McLennan County Sheriff Matt Cawthon said the area surrounding the destroyed fertilizer plant is a highly populated neighborhood. He described it as "devastated" and "still very volatile." Ammonium nitrate ? commonly used as fertilizer ? was found at the scene, but he didn't know if any of the chemical remained.
Fifteen years ago, Brenda Covey, 46, lived in that now leveled apartment complex across the street from the plant.
On Thursday, she learned that two men she knew, both volunteer firefighters, had perished. Word of one came from her landlord because they live in the same complex in nearby Hillsboro. The other was the best man at her nephew's wedding.
"Word gets around quick in a small town," said Covey, who spent her whole life living in and around West.
Firefighter Darryl Hall, from Thorndale, which is about 50 miles away from West, was one of the rescue workers who was going from house to house and checking them to see if anybody might have been inside.
"People's lives are devastated here. It's hard to imagine," he said.
The Wednesday night blast was apparently touched off by a fire, but it remained unclear what sparked the blaze. A team from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives still had not been able to begin investigating the scene because it remained unsafe, agency spokeswoman Franceska Perot said.
The West Fertilizer Co. facility stores and distributes anhydrous ammonia, a fertilizer that can be directly injected into soil, and a blender and mixer of other fertilizers.
Records reviewed by The Associated Press show the U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration fined West Fertilizer $10,000 last summer for safety violations that included planning to transport anhydrous ammonia without a security plan. An inspector also found the plant's ammonia tanks weren't properly labeled.
The government accepted $5,250 after the company took what it described as corrective actions, the records show. It is not unusual for companies to negotiate lower fines with regulators.
In a risk-management plan filed with the Environmental Protection Agency about a year earlier, the company said it was not handling flammable materials and did not have sprinklers, water-deluge systems, blast walls, fire walls or other safety mechanisms in place at the plant.
State officials require all facilities that handle anhydrous ammonia to have sprinklers and other safety measures because it is a flammable substance, according to Mike Wilson, head of air permitting for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
But inspectors would not necessarily check for such mechanisms, and it's not known whether they did when the West plant was last inspected in 2006, said Ramiro Garcia, head of enforcement and compliance.
That inspection followed a complaint about a strong ammonia smell, which the company resolved by obtaining a new permit, said the commission's executive director Zak Covar. He said no other complaints had been filed with the state since then, so there haven't been additional inspections.
At the church service, the Rev. Ed Karasek told the hundreds gathered that it would take time for the community to heal.
"Our hearts are hurting, our hearts are broken," he said. The non-denominational gathering for prayer and song was intended to honor those who rushed toward the danger and those who found themselves too close.
"I know that every one of us is in shock," he said. "We don't know what to think."
"Our town of West will never be the same, but we will persevere."
___
Associated Press writers Michael Brick, Nomaan Merchant and Angela K. Brown and video journalists John L. Mone and Raquel Maria Dillon in West; writers Jamie Stengle in Dallas, Ramit Plushnick-Masti in Houston and Seth Borenstein and Jack Gillum in Washington contributed to this report.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/official-toll-mystery-residents-know-lost-085242560.html
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WEST, Texas (AP) ? Rescue workers searched the smoldering ruins of a fertilizer plant Thursday for survivors of a monstrous explosion that leveled homes and businesses in every direction across the Texas prairie. As many as 15 people were feared dead and more than 160 others injured.
Daybreak revealed a breathtaking band of destruction extending outward from the West Fertilizer Co. in this small farming community about 20 miles north of Waco. The thunderous blast shook the ground with the strength of a small earthquake and could be heard dozens of miles away.
Several buildings with smashed roofs and leveled walls still were smoking early Thursday.
"They have not gotten to the point of no return where they don't think that there's anybody still alive," Waco Police Sgt. William Patrick Swanton said of rescuers.
The explosion that struck around 8 p.m. sent flames shooting into the night sky and rained burning embers and debris down on shocked and frightened residents. It leveled a four-block area around the plant that a member of the city council, Al Vanek, said was "totally decimated."
There is no indication the blast was anything other than an industrial accident, Swanton said.
The toll included 50 to 75 houses, an apartment complex with about 50 units that one state police officer said was reduced to "a skeleton," a middle school and the West Rest Haven Nursing Home, from which first-responders evacuated 133 patients, some in wheelchairs.
Swanton said earlier that authorities believe between five and 15 people were killed in the blast, but stressed it was an early estimate.
Three to five volunteer firefighters were among those believed to be dead, Swanton said. A single law enforcement officer who responded to a fire call at the West Fertilizer Co. shortly before the blast was accounted for early Thursday.
In the hours after the blast, residents wandered the dark, windy streets searching for shelter. Among them was Julie Zahirniako, who said she and her son, Anthony, had been playing at a school playground near the fertilizer plant when the explosion hit. She was walking the track, he was kicking a football.
The explosion threw her son four feet in the air, breaking his ribs. She said she saw people running from the nursing home and the roof of the school lifted into the sky.
"The fire was so high," Zahirniako said. "It was just as loud as it could be. The ground and everything was shaking."
William Burch and his wife, a retired Air Force nurse, entered the damaged nursing home before first responders arrived. They split up, searching separate wings, and found residents in wheelchairs trapped in their rooms. The halls were dark and the ceilings had collapsed. Water filled the hallways and electrical wires hung eerily from the ceilings.
"They had Sheetrock that was on top of them. You had to remove that," Burch said. It was "completely chaotic."
Some witnesses compared the scene to the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, and authorities said the plant made materials similar to that used to fuel the bomb that tore apart that city's Murrah Federal Building.
Although authorities said it will be some time before they know how many lives were lost, they put the number of those injured at more than 160 early Thursday. West Mayor Tommy Muska told reporters that his city of about 2,800 people needs "your prayers."
"We've got a lot of people who are hurt, and there's a lot of people, I'm sure, who aren't gonna be here tomorrow," Muska said. "We're gonna search for everybody. We're gonna make sure everybody's accounted for. That's the most important thing right now."
At the Hillcrest Baptist Medical Hospital in Waco, elderly people were wheeled in on stretchers. A man in a wheelchair with his T-shirt covered in blood winced as medical professionals tended to wounds on his head and left arm.
The town's volunteer firefighters had responded to a call at the plant at 7:29 p.m., Swanton said. Due to the plant's chemical stockpile, "they realized the seriousness of what they had," he said.
Muska was among the firefighters, and he and his colleagues were working to evacuate the area around the plant when the blast followed about 20 minutes later.
The main fire was under control as of 11 p.m., authorities said, but residents were urged to remain indoors because of the threat of new explosions or leaks of ammonia from the plant's ruins. Swanton said early Thursday authorities were not concerned about lingering smoke from the fire, and noted that rain from a morning thunderstorm helped their efforts.
Dozens of emergency vehicles amassed at the scene in the hours after the blast. Firefighters used flashlights to search the still-burning skeleton of an apartment complex that was all but destroyed. All that remained of a nearby house was the fireplace and chimney, standing tall among smoldering embers of what was once someone's home. Smoke filled the air.
A flood-lit football field initially was used as a staging area, then other triage centers sprung up around the blast site. At one, an army of first responders evaluated senior citizens, many of whom were disoriented, dazed and panicked.
"Get them into an ambulance now," workers shouted.
Those who were OK were loaded onto school buses, many in wheelchairs, to be taken to evacuation centers.
About 100 of the injured were treated at Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center in Waco, where five people were in intensive care. Another 65 were taken to Providence Health Center in Waco. Officials said the injuries included broken bones, bruises, lacerations, respiratory distress, and some head injuries and minor burns.
Erick Perez, 21, of West, was playing basketball at a nearby school when the fire started. He and his friends thought nothing of it at first, but about a half-hour later, the smoke changed color. The blast threw him, his nephew and others to the ground and showered the area with hot embers, shrapnel and debris.
"The explosion was like nothing I've ever seen before," Perez said. "This town is hurt really bad."
The U.S. Chemical Safety Board said it was deploying a large investigation team to West. An Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms national response team that investigates all large fires and explosions also was coming in, bringing fire investigators, certified explosives specialists, chemists, canines and forensic specialists. But entry to the blast site wasn't expected until later. "It's still too hot to get in there," said Franceska Perot, an ATF spokesperson.
There were no immediate details available from police on the number of people who work at the plant, which was cited by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality in 2006 for failing to obtain or to qualify for a permit. The agency acted after receiving a complaint in June of that year of a strong ammonia smell.
In 2001, an explosion at a chemical and fertilizer plant killed 31 people and injured more than 2,000 in Toulouse, France. The blast occurred in a hangar containing 300 tons of ammonium nitrate, which can be used for both fertilizer and explosives. The explosion came 10 days after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the U.S., and raised fears at the time it was linked. A 2006 report blamed the blast on negligence.
___
Associated Press video journalist Raquel Dillon in West; Schuyler Dixon, Nomaan Merchant and Terry Wallace in Dallas, and Betsy Blaney in Lubbock, contributed to this report.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/frantic-search-ongoing-deadly-texas-blast-135733543.html
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AL_LS600???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
Las?Cruces,?NM????Thu?Apr?18,?2013????USDA?Market?News?????????????????????????
???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
Texas?to?Mexico?Daily?Livestock?Exports????????????????????????????????????????
Species????????????????????Exports??????Current???Current???Previous???????????
??????????????????????????4/17/2013????Week-T-D????Y-T-D??????Y-T-D????????????
???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
Dairy?totals?include?149?head?of?Canadian?Dairy.???????????????????????????????
Hog?totals?include?539?head?of?Canadian?Hogs.??????????????????????????????????
Beef?Cattle????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
???Slaughter?????????????????????0???????????0????????0???????????0????????????
???Breeding?Males????????????????0???????????0??????171?????????150????????????
???Breeding?Females??????????????0???????????4??????255?????????221????????????
???Total?Beef?Cattle?????????????0???????????4??????426?????????371????????????
Hogs???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
???Slaughter?????????????????????0???????????0????????0???????????0????????????
???Breeding?Males????????????????0???????????0??????239?????????398????????????
???Breeding?Females??????????????0???????????0????1,905???????3,236????????????
???Total?Hogs????????????????????0???????????0????2,144???????3,634????????????
Sheep??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
???Slaughter?Lambs???????????????0???????????0????????0???????????0????????????
???Slaughter?Ewes????????????????0???????????0????5,074???????????0????????????
???Breeding?Males????????????????0???????????0????????0???????????0????????????
???Breeding?Females??????????????0???????????0????????0???????????0????????????
???Total?Sheep???????????????????0???????????0????5,074???????????0????????????
Dairy?Cattle???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
???Breeding?Males????????????????0???????????0????????7??????????10????????????
???Breeding?Females????????????110?????????110????4,456???????1,649????????????
???Total?Dairy?Cattle??????????110?????????110????4,463???????1,659????????????
Goats??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
???Angora????????????????????????0???????????0????????0???????????0????????????
???Spanish???????????????????????0???????????0????????0???????????0????????????
???Other?????????????????????????0???????????0????????0???????????0????????????
???Total?Goats???????????????????0???????????0????????0???????????0????????????
Horses?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
???Slaughter???????????????????380?????????775???27,357??????23,601????????????
???Breeding?Males????????????????6???????????6??????442?????????463????????????
???Breeding?Females??????????????3???????????3??????642?????????594????????????
???Geldings??????????????????????2???????????2??????135?????????109????????????
???Burro/Mule/Pony???????????????0???????????0??????157??????????83????????????
???Total?Horses????????????????391?????????786???28,733??????24,850????????????
Exotics??????????????????????????3???????????3???????41??????????24????????????
Grand?Total?All?Species????????504?????????903???40,881??????30,538????????????
Source:???USDA?Market?News?Service,?Las?Cruces,?NM???????????????????
??????????John?Langenegger?(575)527-6861?FAX(575)527-6868????????????
??????????LasCruces.LGMN@ams.usda.gov????????????????????????????????
??????????www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/AL_LS600.txt????
0841M?LG????????????????
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Judges go head to head to steal Caroline Glaser during the second night of battle rounds Tuesday night.
By James Dinh
Usher on "The Voice"
Photo: NBC
Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1705822/the-voice-recap-adam-levine-usher.jhtml
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NEW YORK (AP) ? U.S. wireless carriers have started revealing prices for Samsung's new flagship phone, the Galaxy S 4, which goes on sale starting next week.
AT&T Inc. has started taking advance orders and says phones will ship starting April 30. It's charging $200 for the base model, with 16 gigabytes of memory, under a two-year contract. Staples says it will start selling the AT&T model on April 26.
Sprint Nextel Corp. starts taking advance orders Thursday and says in-store sales start April 27. It charges $250 for the base model, or $150 if the buyer is coming over from another carrier.
T-Mobile USA starts taking advance orders next Wednesday, and in-store sales start May 1. It's charging $150 up front and $20 per month for two years under its new installment plans. Those plans replace two-year service contracts that most carriers require. T-Mobile has abandoned them in favor of cheaper month-to-month plans.
Verizon Wireless has said it will sell the phone, but hasn't announced a release date or price. Smaller carriers U.S. Cellular, Leap Wireless' Cricket and C Spire will also sell the phone.
Samsung Electronics Co.'s Galaxy S 4 is the successor to the Galaxy S III, which has been the biggest competitor to Apple Inc.'s iPhone.
The Galaxy S 4 has a slightly bigger screen, a larger battery and a faster processor than its predecessor.
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SAN FRANCISCO (AP) ? A federal appeals court is to hear arguments Wednesday on whether a first-of-its-kind law that prohibits licensed mental health professionals in California from offering therapies aimed at making gay and lesbian teenagers straight violates the civil rights of practitioners and parents.
A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is considering two legal challenges to the ban on "sexual orientation change efforts" that was passed by the California Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown last fall.
The ban, which was scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, was put on hold by the 9th Circuit pending resolution of the closely watched cases. It spurred similar legislation still being considered by lawmakers in New Jersey,
The law states that therapists and counselors who treat minors with methods designed to eliminate or reduce their same-sex attractions would be engaging in unprofessional conduct and subject to discipline by state licensing boards. The activities of pastors and lay counselors who are unlicensed but provide such therapy through church programs would not be covered.
The cases before the appeals court ? brought by professionals who practice sexual orientation change therapy, two families who say their teenage sons benefited from it and a national association of Christian mental health counselors ? argue that the ban infringes on their free speech, freedom of association and religious rights, and in the case of the counselors, jeopardizes their livelihoods.
"The state has determined that the only permissible message (is that) same-sex attractions, behavior or identity are to be accepted, supported and understood, thus suppressing all other viewpoints to the detriment of licensed professionals and their vulnerable minor clients," lawyers for the families, several practitioners and the professional group said.
"The viewpoint of counselors who in their professional judgment determine that same-sex attractions conflict with the religious and moral beliefs of clients and are not desired, is silenced by SB 1172. This raises a serious constitutional question."
Supporters, including the governor and Attorney General Kamala Harris, say the prohibition on "reparative" and "conversion" therapy is necessary to protect children from a coercive practice that can put them at increased risk of suicide and whose efficacy has been questioned or rejected by every major mental health professional association.
Harris has argued that the law "is based on a scientific and professional consensus reached decades ago that homosexuality is a normal expression of human sexuality and not a disease, condition, or disorder in need of a 'cure.'"
Reflecting the competing issues before the appeals court, the two Sacramento-based trial judges who handled the lawsuits in December reached differing conclusions on whether the ban violates the U.S. Constitution.
One refused to block the law after ruling that the plaintiffs were unlikely to prove the prohibition unfairly tramples on their civil rights and should therefore be overturned. The other said he found the First Amendment issues presented by the ban to be compelling and ordered the state to temporarily exempt the three people named in the case before him.
The panel hearing the cases Wednesday consists of Chief Judge Alex Kozinski, who was appointed by Ronald Reagan in 1985, Judge Susan Graber, a 1998 appointee of Bill Clinton's, and Judge Morgan Christen, a 2012 appointee of President Barack Obama. The judges do not have a deadline for issuing a decision.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/appeals-court-hear-challenge-gay-therapy-ban-073913241.html
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Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne have been through hell together, but they're a match made in heaven...right? A recent report claims that the rocker and his talk-show host wife, who have been married for 31 years, are leading separate lives. According to the UK Sun, Sharon and Ozzy live two miles apart, are "not spending any time together," and "they row a lot." Both have also been spotted in public without their wedding rings. Could this be the end for the Prince of Darkness and his bride?
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(Reuters) - A 52-feet section of Exxon Mobil Corp's damaged Arkansas crude oil pipeline will be cut and removed on Monday, the company said.
The portion of the Pegasus pipeline, which ruptured on March 29 resulting in a 5,000-barrel oil spill, will be transported to an independent third-party laboratory for metallurgy testing, the company said in a statement on Sunday.
Early last week, Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel, who launched an investigation into the oil spill, said the rupture was more than 22 feet long and two inches wide.
The Pegasus pipeline, which can transport more than 90,000 barrels per day of crude oil from Pakota, Illinois, to Nederland, Texas, was carrying Canadian Wabasca Heavy crude at the time of the spill. This grade is a heavy bitumen crude diluted with lighter liquids to allow it to flow through pipelines.
Some residents evacuated from their neighborhood in Mayflower, a town about 25 miles north of Little Rock, when the rupture sent crude spilling in yards and streets have the option to return to their homes, a spokesman for the Arkansas Department of Health said on Friday.
For 13 consecutive days, data from the air monitors in the Mayflower community have shown levels that are either non-detect or below action levels established by the Arkansas Department of Health, according to the statement.
At least 26 private residences and public buildings have had indoor air quality monitoring conducted at the requests of the public and all have been cleared by the Arkansas Department of Health and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The cause of the spill is under investigation.
(Reporting by Ratul Ray Chaudhuri in Bangalore; Editing by Gopakumar Warrier)
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/exxon-remove-damaged-part-arkansas-oil-pipeline-monday-033317133--finance.html
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MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) ? Witnesses in Somalia say that gunmen stormed the capital's main court complex, firing guns and detonating two blasts.
Yusuf Abdi, who was near the court when the attack happened Sunday morning, said that armed men forced their way inside and immediately set off an explosion.
A government spokesman, Mohamed Yusuf, confirmed the attack and said security forces had responded and were battling the militants.
An Associated Press reporter at the scene reported hearing a second explosion and said gunmen were on top of a court building, firing their weapons.
No casualty toll was immediately available because the fighting was ongoing.
Most militant attacks in Mogadishu are blamed on fighters for al-Shabab, the al-Qaida-linked Islamic extremist rebel group in Somalia.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/gunmen-attack-mogadishu-court-complex-witnesses-102653845.html
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This isn't the first time a Korg synth has been re-imagined in software form, it's not even the first (or second) time on Nintendo's DS. But, when Detune releases its M01D for the handheld console, it'll spark more than a little nostalgia for synth enthusiasts. Why? Because it's heavily inspired by Korg's legendary M1 synth, complete with all its sounds (and yes, the famous piano patch included), plus some new ones thrown in for good measure. The DS version includes a step sequencer (eight tracks with up to 64 steps per sequence) that you can compile together in "scenes." Borrowing from other parts of the Korg family, the M01D app also offers a KAOSS mode, too, no doubt using one of those screens serving as the touchpad. You can preserve your creativity by saving to SD card, or the usual internet sharing options, and heck there's even a 3D viewing mode too. Lordy! How that will actually look, we don't know, or at least we won't until its May release in Japan. Let's just hope they do the right thing and bring it to the rest of the world. Pretty please.
Filed under: Misc, Gaming, Nintendo
Via: Joystiq
Source: Detune
Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/14/korg-m01d-for-nintendo-3ds/
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Amateur Guan Tianlang, of China, discusses his shot with caddie Brian Tam on the first fairway during the second round of the Masters golf tournament Friday, April 12, 2013, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Amateur Guan Tianlang, of China, discusses his shot with caddie Brian Tam on the first fairway during the second round of the Masters golf tournament Friday, April 12, 2013, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Amateur Guan Tianlang, of China, touches fists with his caddie Brian Tam after putting on the third hole during the second round of the Masters golf tournament Friday, April 12, 2013, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Amateur Guan Tianlang, of China, wears an Augusta National golf course hat while competing in the second round of the Masters golf tournament Friday, April 12, 2013, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Amateur Guan Tianlang, of China, talks to his Brian Tam on the first green during the second round of the Masters golf tournament Friday, April 12, 2013, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Amateur Guan Tianlang, of China, hold up his ball after putting on the first green during the second round of the Masters golf tournament Friday, April 12, 2013, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) ? Guan Tianlang will surely remember his first trip to the Masters.
Everyone else, too.
Already in the history books as the youngest ever to play the Masters, the 14-year-old added to his legend Friday. Hours after being the first player penalized for slow play at the Masters, he became the youngest to make the cut at Augusta National.
"I made it," Guan said afterward on Weibo, China's version of Twitter. "I hope I can continue to make miracles. Thanks to my parents! Thanks to everyone who has helped me, supported me and cared about me."
The eighth-grader is one of the most endearing stories at this year's Masters. He's too young to drive, and his mom still makes him snacks to take on the course. He arrived at Augusta National lugging six textbooks ? English, math and history are his favorite subjects at his public school in Guangzhou, China ? and has been juggling study sessions with his rounds.
The kid has game, though, and he was on track to make the cut when he headed for the 17th tee. But he was assessed a one-shot penalty after his second shot at the 17th hole, turning what would have been a par into a bogey.
He finished at 3-over 75 for the round, giving him a 4-over 148 total. With the top 50 players making the cut, as well as those within 10 strokes of the lead, Guan had to wait until the very last group finished to know whether he was in or out.
Jason Day went to 6 under with two holes left, but he missed a birdie putt by inches on 17, and was in the sand off the tee on 18.
"Obviously, it's an amazing achievement to get to the weekend at Augusta. And being able to play and experience what he's going to experience on the weekend, you can't buy that stuff," Day said. "I talked to him earlier and he seems like a really, really good kid. It's unfortunate that he received the penalty, but he can learn from that and move on and hopefully can play well over the next two days."
Slow play is a frequent complaint among golfers, particularly at major events, but it's rarely enforced. The last player to be penalized at a major was Gregory Bourdy in the 2010 PGA Championship at Whistling Straits, and you have to go all the way back to 1995 ? before Guan was born ? for the last player to be penalized in a regular PGA Tour event.
"That's unfortunate," Brandt Snedeker said. "I wish they would have made an example out of somebody else except for a 14-year-old kid, you know? Make an example out of me or somebody else. But a kid just trying to make a cut in his first week of the Masters? I understand that slow play is a problem and it's just a tough situation. I feel bad for the kid."
Guan said he has never had issues with slow play before, and he wasn't warned Thursday. But conditions at Augusta National are notoriously tricky in perfect weather, and the swirling, gusty wind blowing Friday only made them more difficult.
Though Guan had played about a dozen practice rounds before the tournament, it often takes golfers years to figure out the best way to play Augusta National and Guan repeatedly sought the advice of his caddie, Brian Tam, a regular caddie at the course. The teenager tossed blades of grass into the air before many of his shots to test the wind. He was often indecisive about his clubs, pulling one, taking a few practice swings and then asking for another one.
"I just changed my routine before the Masters and the routine is good, but I think today is pretty hard," Guan said. "You need to make the decision, but the wind switched a lot. But that's for everybody."
Guan and his playing partners, Ben Crenshaw and Matteo Manassero, never held up the group behind them. But Fred Ridley, the competition committee chairman at Augusta National, said they were first warned for being out of position at No. 10.
The Masters follows the Rules of Golf, written by the U.S. Golf Association and the Royal & Ancient. Rule 6-7 requires golfers to keep up "with any pace of play guidelines that the committee may establish." For a threesome at Augusta National, those guidelines set a target of 4 hours, 38 minutes to play 18 holes. Once a group is warned it is "out of position" ? too far behind the group just ahead ? each player is timed and allotted 40 seconds to play the shot.
Guan went on the clock on 12 and received his first warning at the 13th.
"In keeping with the applicable rules ... he again exceeded the 40-second time limit by a considerable margin," Ridley said in a statement.
Guan said he understood the warning, and tried to pick up his pace.
"A little bit," he said. "But I think my routine is good. The only problem is I have to make the decision."
There was another long delay on the par-3 16th after a gust of wind dunked Manassero's tee shot in the water. Guan, hitting next, spent more than five minutes debating clubs with Tam.
"When the caddie pulls the club for him, I think he's ready. But he just sometimes ? most of the times ? he takes a little too long. He just asks questions that I think he knows, just to be sure, just to be clear in his mind," Manassero said. "If I would have took more time on 16, I probably would have saved two shots, as well."
John Paramor, the chief referee for the European Tour, said he warned Guan as the group walked to the 17th tee that he needed to speed it up. But Guan had another long delay before his second shot on the hole as he tried to read the wind, and Paramor pulled him aside as the teenager approached the green. Paramor informed Guan he was being assessed a one-stroke penalty, and they had an animated discussion for several minutes.
"You give him the news, the best you can," Paramor said.
Guan said he was aware of the rule, which has been part of golf etiquette since 1934 and was added to the rule book in 1952. But the penalty rattled him, and he missed an easy birdie putt on 17. He pulled himself together on 18, nearly holing out from a greenside bunker. When the ball hit the back of the cup and bounced a few inches past the hole, leaving Guan an easy putt for par, his father yelled, "Yes!" and clapped his hands several times.
"No problem," Han Wen said. "No problem."
It sure was for Masters officials, who were horrified that anything might spoil the coming out party of a youngster who has the potential to be golf's biggest star since Tiger Woods. Several "green jackets" were waiting for Guan at the scoring building when he finished his round, and he spent almost 90 minutes talking with rules and tournament officials.
"I respect the decision they make," Guan said. "They should do it because it's fair to everybody."
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