Sprint outlines LTE coverage plans at RCA Expo originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Mar 2012 05:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink
Technobuffalo | 
@saschasegan (Twitter) | Email this | Commentsdenver weather super bowl recipes planned parenthood what time does the superbowl start kobayashi roseanne barr margaret sanger
The LG Lucid ($79.99) may be a budget Android?smartphone?for Verizon Wireless, but it never seems?inexpensive. It wasn't too long ago that 4G LTE data, 1080p video recording, and a dual-core processor were considered high-end, even if cutting edge handsets are just now moving past those specs. That makes the Lucid a good choice if you don't need the absolute fastest speeds or latest features, but don't want to miss out on anything important either.
Design and Call Quality
The LG Lucid measures 4.69 by 2.45 by 0.45 inches (HWD) and weighs 5 ounces. The shell is made entirely of glossy plastic, and appears completely black from the front. There's an attractive, maroon-colored fade on the tapered back panel that gives the Lucid a classier, more translucent look, at least from that angle.?
The 4-inch IPS glass capacitive touch screen is made of Gorilla Glass, and sports a typical-for-Android 800-by-480-pixel resolution. The display is suitably bright and colorful, if not as vivid or with as deep blacks as a Super AMOLED panel. The Lucid supports plenty of gestures, including flipping the device to mute the incoming call, snoozing the alarm, or pausing video playback, as well as tapping on the sides of the device to advance the cursor in either direction while typing; I had trouble triggering the side motions, though.
For typing, you get a choice of either LG's default keyboard or Swype. Typing in portrait and landscape modes was easy in my tests, but the predictive text still needs work. For the typo "laxy," I saw five initial suggestions, none of which were "lazy" even though the z is right next to the x, and it capitalized words automatically that weren't proper names.
The Lucid hits dual-band EV-DO Rev A (850/1900 MHz) and single-band 4G LTE (700MHz) speeds with 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi. The phone also works as a mobile hotspot for up to 10 devices over LTE, or five over 3G, with the appropriate data plan. Voice quality was good, with a full, loud tone in the earpiece, and clear transmissions through the microphone. Reception was an issue during my tests; I heard plenty of dropouts and computerized syllables, whereas calls to the same numbers with an Apple iPhone 4 on Verizon in the same spot didn't exhibit these problems. Calls sounded fine through a Jawbone Era headset ($129, 4.5 stars) and voice dialing worked well over Bluetooth. The speakerphone was a disappointment, with only average gain and an unusually tinny and harsh timbre. The 1700mAh battery is good for a solid 6 hours and 43 minutes of talk time.
Hardware, Android, and Apps
The dual-core 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8660 CPU and 1GB RAM is now standard fare for current Android phones. Our benchmark tests pit it roughly equivalent with comparably equipped dual-core Android phones?which means fast, generally speaking, except for occasional sluggishness in the user interface and in scrolling up and down Web pages, which we've seen on plenty of Android devices. The poor reception noted above may play a role with data speeds, too?I saw an average of 7Mbps up and just 1.5 Mbps down in a series of tests, which is several Mbps lower than what the more-expensive LG Spectrum ($199.99, 3.5 stars) achieved.
The LG Lucid is yet another of a slew of phones hitting the market with the older Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) OS, which is frustrating. Verizon promises an upgrade to Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich), but hasn't set a date yet. There are five home screens you can swipe between, and LG's customized notifications bar offers one-touch settings for the phone's various radios. You'll also find LG's collapsible categories in the main menu, which helps if you like grouping icons, but it can't be turned off if you don't.
As far as bundled apps, LG throws in a copy of Polaris, which is a document-editing suite for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files. Verizon also preloads Netflix and Kindle apps, cordons off its bloatware into a single menu category. You also get Google Maps Navigation for free, voice-enabled, turn-by-turn GPS directions. The Lucid shares media wirelessly to DLNA-enabled devices, though I don't know how many people actually use this feature. You also get access to Google Play (formerly the Android Market), with its 400,000+ array of third-party apps, as well as books, music, and movies.
Multimedia, Camera, and Conclusions
There's 4GB of free internal storage for media, plus 1.34GB of free system memory for installing apps. There's also a microSD card slot underneath the battery cover; my 32GB SanDisk card worked fine. Music tracks sounded clear through?Samsung Modus HM6450?Bluetooth headphones ($99, 4 stars), and the modified music player displayed huge album art screens and a jukebox view in landscape mode. Google Play Music is preloaded, which gives you access to millions of tracks, cloud-based storage, and inexpensive MP3 purchases. Our standard suite of test movies played smoothly in full screen mode and looked vibrant at resolutions up to 1080p, and including H.264, DivX, and XviD files.
The 5-megapixel auto-focus camera features an LED flash, face tracking, and geotagging, but no image stabilization. Test photos looked sharp, albeit with a slightly cool cast. In lower-light settings, focus was a bit softer, and details were lost in dark areas, but the amount of noise was acceptable. Recorded 1920-by-1080-pixel and 1280-by-720-pixel videos played smoothly at 29 frames per second, although they looked a little dark, and the lack of image stabilization made the 1080p video in particular look a bit jumpy. You can record and edit 1080p high-definition videos right on the handset using Video Producer, a basic moviemaking app, and there's also a front-facing camera for video chats.
It's tough to fault the Lucid purely on specs. For a budget-priced Android phone, it's quite impressive, and closer to what was called high-end just six months ago, even if it falls a bit flat with voice calls and LTE data speeds. Consider this: The Lucid absolutely destroys the Samsung Illusion ($79.99, 3 stars), which has a much lower resolution screen, a single-core processor, and lacks 4G LTE support. On the other hand, the LG Spectrum bumps the Lucid's display to a stunning 1280-by-720-pixel, 4.5-inch panel and includes a faster processor, but it exhibited uneven voice quality and overall performance in our review. Our favorite touch-screen phone on Verizon remains the Motorola Droid Razr Maxx ($299.99, 4.5 stars), which offers insanely long battery life, a slightly larger and sharper screen, and a thinner overall design, although it's considerably more expensive than the Lucid.
Benchmarks
Continuous talk time: 6 hours 43 minutes
More Cell Phone Reviews:
??? LG Lucid (Verizon Wireless)
??? Samsung Brightside (Verizon Wireless)
??? ZTE Fury (Sprint)
??? Samsung Galaxy S II (U.S. Cellular)
??? Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G (T-Mobile)
?? more
topamax lexapro trazodone voting sharon bialek call of duty elite dragonfly
On "Good Morning America," they recently featured a story about foolish mistakes people make when following the guidance of a GPS (Global Positioning System). One driver found the device guiding him from a gravel road into thick mud. The map forgot to show the nine miles of water between the island and the mainland. He tried to get back to solid ground, but as the tide rose, he was forced to abandon his car.
I shook my head wondering why people continue to follow GPS directions when the course they are on is clearly going in the wrong direction. This prompted me to ask the same question about people going through divorce. Why do people listen to the navigation of others when it is not in their best interest?
When it comes to divorce, the acronym GPS stands for General Perceived Standards. This is the way most people think they should go about getting a divorce -- each spouse hires an attorney, the attorneys litigate about everything, and both people fight to win. Naturally, that means there is always a loser.
While historically this has been the standard way people approach divorce, it is no longer the best path for everyone. In fact, mediation is growing in popularity as people discover a less destructive and more cost-effective way to divorce.
When you decide to take action and get your divorce started, your first call should be to a divorce mediator -- not an attorney. Attorneys are trained to litigate, not mediate. Here are four "Dos" to help you determine if mediation is right for you.
Do: Understand What Mediation Does
A common misconception is that the mediation process only completes part of the divorce. Many mediation firms, like The Divorce Help Clinic? are full service and can help with filing the divorce petition, serving the other spouse, making decisions on support, dividing finances and debt and hammering out custody and visitation. In addition, they complete the legal documentation, notarize the final Marital Settlement Agreement and file everything with the court. Best of all, the couple never has to go to court.
Do: Question Your Motive
If you let your emotions dictate your divorce ("I'm going to get her back for leaving me" ... "I'm going to take him to the cleaners"), many attorneys will gladly help you achieve your goal. However, you need to decide if the cost (emotionally and financially) is worth it. Sure, this route will hurt your spouse, but it will also damage you in the process.
In mediation, the emotional issues are acknowledged, but the focus is on working together to identify the situation and what's important to everyone concerned. It is the mediator's job to help you talk together directly in a way that gets you to the solutions you need. The mediator guides you and your spouse through a series of step-by-step confidential sessions to resolve issues that might block agreement. There is no game playing or siding with one spouse over the other. It stays on task and gets the job done.
Do: Use Common Sense
You can get into trouble when you blindly follow the General Perceived Standard of divorce. It is not a one size fits all. Just because it is the perceived way of doing things, it does not guarantee a smooth, headache-free ride. Instead, use your common sense in how you proceed.
You'll want to bring more sound judgment to the divorce table. Don't assume your spouse is against mediation; bring up the topic and discuss it. Many mediation firms offer free consultations so take advantage of the opportunity. It's the logical step to take.
Do: Keep It Private
The entire process of mediation is done discreetly and confidentially, and the details of your private information does not become public record. If you don't want busy bodies or employers to read your sordid details, mediation will protect you.
When using attorneys to divorce, private matters (real and false accusations, addictions, abuse, financial information) are displayed in the public court records. For those who try to persuade the court to seal the records, know that recently the courts have been a lot more hard-nosed about not sealing them.
Divorce is not a fun process, but mediation does make it more tolerable and less time-consuming, and people adjust to their new lives more quickly. Using the old-school, attorney-driven route often leads to more misery and expense than people bargained for. The choice is up to you --stick with ignorance and preconceived ideas that may screw you or use the most effective way, in my opinion, to end your marriage.
?
?
?
Follow Nancy Fagan on Twitter: www.twitter.com/DivorceHowTo
twisted metal sea lion si swimsuit 2012 westminster dog show abe lincoln vampire hunter detroit red wings red wings
Graduating school? It?s time to celebrate all those long years of hard work, homework, and test grades. Add something a little special to your grand day by arriving and/or leaving in a limousine. It?s a great day to really kick back and treat yourself. But there are plenty of choices out there, which means the real question is not whether or not to bring out a limo, but which limo to get. Do you want something more classic, or will you need some more room to bring in all your friends? Is it going to be a big group party or just a fun family splurge?
Today you?ll find yourself faced with several questions regarding limousines. How long will you need it? Where will you want to go? Are there any particular colors you like? Any specific amenities you need? How many people will you bring? What kind of entertainment will you want? Answer these questions and you?ll have a better idea of which limo you?ll need. Choose among the three below for an excellent graduation party.
Classic Stretch
Typically a Lincoln Limousine, this is the classic stretch limo that always makes a person turn his or her head and wonder who is inside. This type of limousine is excellent if you intend to have a small party join you, or if you plan on going with just one or two people. You can ride the limo to your graduation and then once the ceremony is over, or you can surprise everyone by having it arrive after the graduation and hop inside to head off to whatever activities you want to do next. Many of these limos have everything you could want in them, from excellent sound systems to plush carpets, sun roofs to floor lights. You can even choose different colors for your limo, ranging from the traditional jet black to full-on girly pink.
The Hummer
Hummers are definitely a newer addition to the limousine line. A typical limousine can hold up to 12 passengers at a time, but because of their design having that many people can feel a bit crowded. Enter the Hummer. These limos can take on up to twice the number of people and offer very spacious accommodations. Twenty-four people at a time can jump into a Hummer limo and then be off to graduation or leave in total style (and envy of those around them!). Even better, if you want to go somewhere different after graduation, such as out to a country house for a grand gala or down onto the beach for an all night swim party, Hummers are better suited for the terrain and types of roads they might encounter along the way, from sand to chunky gravel. Some Hummers even come with a lighted dance floor!
Entertainment Galore
This is the ultimate choice if you intend to have a large group of people and want to have all kinds of great stuff on board. While these larger vehicles ? often Grand Illusion Cruisers ? can?t take quite as many people as the Hummer, they can still handle up to 16 people. The benefits are in what these limos have to offer. They provide everyone with room to stand and walk around and can have everything from laser shows to LCD televisions on both ends of the vehicle. Everyone can put in the music of their choice and then party in the center. You may even have the option of a hostess on board to make sure everyone has what they need to have a good time. If you want to be entertained as you travel and have plenty of friends to travel with, then this is a great choice once you?ve got that diploma in your hand.
What Will It Be?
The decision over which limo to get should depend on what you want the most. Will you have a lot of people joining you? Are you going to want a lot of entertainment, or is your limo simply going to be a fun mode of transportation? How much do you intend to invest on your limousine? All of these can factor into your choice of limo, though chances are no matter which you choose, you?ll have a great time.
Learn more about napa limo service at Elite Limousine. Elite Limousine is one of the oldest limo companies in Northern California which provides limo services for all of your transportation needs.
bloom energy franklin graham jambalaya taylor swift and zac efron basketball wives manny ramirez easter 2012
underwood buffalo wings superbowl kick off time 2012 new york giants hot wings recipe 7 layer dip recipe chris carter
tomb of the unknown soldier reo reo chilis philip rivers 11 11 11 meaning miracle berry
Please post all "Players Wanted" threads in the Roleplayers Wanted forum!
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.Rebekah Cooper - RaeRaeButterfly
Dave Cooper - RaeRaeButterfly
Jasmine Wilkinson - lovechanningforever
James - lovechanningforever
Names can be changed
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.
Users browsing this forum: Google Feedfetcher, SlayerofYaks and 12 guests
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RolePlayGateway/~3/Azo2OP1Ale8/viewtopic.php
board of elections senate bill 5 senate bill 5 joe paterno press conference joe paterno scandal joe paterno scandal election day 2011
[ [ [['A JetBlue flight from New York to Las Vegas', 3]], 'http://yhoo.it/GV9zpj', '[Related: View photos of the JetBlue plane in Amarillo]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['Afghan security forces and police killed three', 3]], 'http://yhoo.it/H9BcJE', '[Related: Bales\' wife on his alleged shooting: \'He would not do that\']', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['looking for fireworks between the opposing camps', 16]], 'http://yhoo.it/GSvEsj', '[RELATED:\?It?s going to be a circus\?: Activists begin protests outside Supreme Court]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['entirely respectable way to put off the searing constitutional controversy', 8]], 'http://yhoo.it/GE6jSh', '[RELATED: Obama\?s health care law passed 2 years ago, but where are we now\?]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['Witnesses said the gunman pulled up on a black scooter', 7]], 'http://yhoo.it/GzwOIW', '[Related: New York police tighten security at Jewish sites]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['test Zimmerman for alcohol or drugs', 11]], 'http://yhoo.it/Gzn6VF', '[Related: White House says Trayvon Martin is local issue]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['Trayvon Martin decked the Neighborhood', 7]], 'http://yhoo.it/GUovUP', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/2/61/261d2c36bccf0971c2734a4d4398aa5a.jpeg', '512', ' ', 'AP/David Goldman', ], [ [['Can you create commerce in order to regulate it', 9]], 'http://yhoo.it/GSgtu8', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/7/78/778e2416573870cd705774e92403447d.jpeg', '630', ' ', 'AP/Charles Dharapak', ], [ [['associated with such a small earthquake', 4]], 'http://yhoo.it/GTco9z', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/0/b4/0b493c1a47b6e3f97f8f48a2b251d7d4.jpeg', '630', ' ', 'AP Photo/Carrie Antlfinger', ], [ [['Fox News host Geraldo Rivera sparked outrage', 3]], 'http://yhoo.it/GKMVTk', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/2/7c/27c7367bc512d233ae1790b320a5e92c.jpeg', '630', ' ', 'AP Photo/John Minchillo', ], [ [['The charges signed against Bales include', 1]], 'http://yhoo.it/wZT5zV', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/7/a0/7a07c51b2aa0f39b1a23355046d13870.jpeg', '512', ' ', 'AP Photo/DVIDS\, Spc\. Ryan Hallock\, File', ], [ [['George Zimmerman, if I had a son', 6]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/thousands-protest-fla-teen-death-1332387124-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/os/152/2012/03/22/d761a49f3fcc99080a0f6a70670053cd-jpg_150905.jpg', '500', ' ', 'AP Photo/John Minchillo', ], [ [['Mohamed Merah', 10], ['prosecutor Francois Molins', 5]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/four-dead-in-french-jewish-school-shooting-1332173151-slideshow', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/cv/ip/ap/default/120321/2012_03_21t151508z_425380421_gm1e83l1sqs01_rtrmadp_3_france_shootings_raid.jpg', '630', ' ', 'REUTERS/Jean-Paul Pelissier', ], [ [['Shortly after he wrapped up his victory remarks', 2]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/4-straight-romney-wins-washington-gop-caucus-1330835515-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/3/e9/3e9b0082c3c3111dcc19e3527ae94cc7.jpeg', '500', ' ', 'AP Photo/Steven Senne', ], [ [['best understands the problems of average Americans', 2]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/4-straight-romney-wins-washington-gop-caucus-1330835515-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/3/e9/3e9b0082c3c3111dcc19e3527ae94cc7.jpeg', '500', ' ', 'AP Photo/Steven Senne', ], [ [['Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery', 7]], 'http://yhoo.it/GB2RVy', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/os/152/2012/03/20/photo-1332257995646-4-0-jpg_171722.jpg', '630', ' ', 'AFP', ], [ [['xxxxxxxxxxxx', 11]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/russian-grannies-win-bid-to-sing-at-eurovision-1331223625-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/1/56/156d92f2760dcd3e75bcd649a8b85fcf.jpeg', '500', ' ', 'AP', ] ]
[ [ [['matter what you do in this case', 5]], '28759848', '0' ], [ [['presume laws are constitutional', 7]], '28747556', '0' ], [ [['has destroyed 15 to 25 houses', 7]], '28744868', '0' ], [ [['short answer is yes', 7]], '28746030', '0' ], [ [['opportunity to tell the real story', 7]], '28731764', '0' ], [ [['entirely respectable way to put off the searing constitutional controversy', 7]], '28723797', '0' ], [ [['point of my campaign is that big ideas matter', 9]], '28712293', '0' ], [ [['As the standoff dragged into a second day', 7]], '28687424', '0' ], [ [['French police stepped up the search', 17]], '28667224', '0' ], [ [['Seeking to elevate his candidacy back to a general', 8]], '28660934', '0' ], [ [['The tragic story of Trayvon Martin', 4]], '28647343', '0' ], [ [['Karzai will get a chance soon to express', 8]], '28630306', '0' ], [ [['powerful storms stretching', 8]], '28493546', '0' ], [ [['basic norm that death is private', 6]], '28413590', '0' ], [ [['songwriter also saw a surge in sales for her debut album', 6]], '28413590', '1', 'Watch music videos from Whitney Houston ', 'on Yahoo! Music', 'http://music.yahoo.com' ], [ [['keyword', 99999999999999999999999]], 'videoID', '1', 'overwrite-pre-description', 'overwrite-link-string', 'overwrite-link-url' ] ]
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/susan-boyle-musical-hit-fans-critics-121838482.html
minnesota vikings packers vs vikings packers vs vikings randall cobb google x lisfranc injury lisfranc injury
Here's a tale of two photo apps. One has 27 million users after a year and a half, and comes from a company with 13 employees and $7.5 million in venture funding. But there's nary a revenue model in sight. The other app is smaller with just over 4 million users in less than a month. But it's packed with in-app purchases of filters. Plus, the company behind it is totally bootstrapped and has enough revenue to profitably support a headcount of 100 employees. Nothing illustrates how varied the path to success in the app store is more than these two. They're Instagram and Camera Awesome. So it's fitting that Camera Awesome's maker Smugmug is sending an update to the app store today that links the two and lets users publish to Instagram.Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/3h9WGFR3Rqs/
barista san diego chargers san diego chargers j.r. martinez lance ball lance ball kansas city chiefs
[ [ [['Afghan security forces and police killed three', 3]], 'http://yhoo.it/H9BcJE', '[Related: Bales\' wife on his alleged shooting: \'He would not do that\']', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['looking for fireworks between the opposing camps', 16]], 'http://yhoo.it/GSvEsj', '[RELATED:\?It?s going to be a circus\?: Activists begin protests outside Supreme Court]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['entirely respectable way to put off the searing constitutional controversy', 8]], 'http://yhoo.it/GE6jSh', '[RELATED: Obama\?s health care law passed 2 years ago, but where are we now\?]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['Witnesses said the gunman pulled up on a black scooter', 7]], 'http://yhoo.it/GzwOIW', '[Related: New York police tighten security at Jewish sites]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['test Zimmerman for alcohol or drugs', 11]], 'http://yhoo.it/Gzn6VF', '[Related: White House says Trayvon Martin is local issue]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['entirely respectable way to put off the searing constitutional controversy', 12]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/tea-party-activists-defy-rain-to-rip-obama-health-care-law-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/4/31/431f2f4f7ed388d5bc5557b0a76267fa.jpeg', '450', ' ', 'Reuters/Jonathan Ernst', ], [ [['associated with such a small earthquake', 4]], 'http://yhoo.it/GTco9z', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/0/b4/0b493c1a47b6e3f97f8f48a2b251d7d4.jpeg', '630', ' ', 'AP Photo/Carrie Antlfinger', ], [ [['Fox News host Geraldo Rivera sparked outrage', 3]], 'http://yhoo.it/GKMVTk', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/2/7c/27c7367bc512d233ae1790b320a5e92c.jpeg', '630', ' ', 'AP Photo/John Minchillo', ], [ [['The charges signed against Bales include', 1]], 'http://yhoo.it/wZT5zV', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/7/a0/7a07c51b2aa0f39b1a23355046d13870.jpeg', '512', ' ', 'AP Photo/DVIDS\, Spc\. Ryan Hallock\, File', ], [ [['George Zimmerman, if I had a son', 6]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/thousands-protest-fla-teen-death-1332387124-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/os/152/2012/03/22/d761a49f3fcc99080a0f6a70670053cd-jpg_150905.jpg', '500', ' ', 'AP Photo/John Minchillo', ], [ [['Mohamed Merah', 10], ['prosecutor Francois Molins', 5]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/four-dead-in-french-jewish-school-shooting-1332173151-slideshow', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/cv/ip/ap/default/120321/2012_03_21t151508z_425380421_gm1e83l1sqs01_rtrmadp_3_france_shootings_raid.jpg', '630', ' ', 'REUTERS/Jean-Paul Pelissier', ], [ [['Shortly after he wrapped up his victory remarks', 2]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/4-straight-romney-wins-washington-gop-caucus-1330835515-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/3/e9/3e9b0082c3c3111dcc19e3527ae94cc7.jpeg', '500', ' ', 'AP Photo/Steven Senne', ], [ [['best understands the problems of average Americans', 2]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/4-straight-romney-wins-washington-gop-caucus-1330835515-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/3/e9/3e9b0082c3c3111dcc19e3527ae94cc7.jpeg', '500', ' ', 'AP Photo/Steven Senne', ], [ [['Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery', 7]], 'http://yhoo.it/GB2RVy', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/os/152/2012/03/20/photo-1332257995646-4-0-jpg_171722.jpg', '630', ' ', 'AFP', ], [ [['xxxxxxxxxxxx', 11]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/russian-grannies-win-bid-to-sing-at-eurovision-1331223625-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/1/56/156d92f2760dcd3e75bcd649a8b85fcf.jpeg', '500', ' ', 'AP', ] ]
[ [ [['short answer is yes', 3]], '28736494', '0' ], [ [['opportunity to tell the real story', 7]], '28731764', '0' ], [ [['entirely respectable way to put off the searing constitutional controversy', 7]], '28723797', '0' ], [ [['point of my campaign is that big ideas matter', 9]], '28712293', '0' ], [ [['As the standoff dragged into a second day', 7]], '28687424', '0' ], [ [['French police stepped up the search', 17]], '28667224', '0' ], [ [['Seeking to elevate his candidacy back to a general', 8]], '28660934', '0' ], [ [['The tragic story of Trayvon Martin', 4]], '28647343', '0' ], [ [['Karzai will get a chance soon to express', 8]], '28630306', '0' ], [ [['powerful storms stretching', 8]], '28493546', '0' ], [ [['basic norm that death is private', 6]], '28413590', '0' ], [ [['songwriter also saw a surge in sales for her debut album', 6]], '28413590', '1', 'Watch music videos from Whitney Houston ', 'on Yahoo! Music', 'http://music.yahoo.com' ], [ [['keyword', 99999999999999999999999]], 'videoID', '1', 'overwrite-pre-description', 'overwrite-link-string', 'overwrite-link-url' ] ]
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/japan-goes-off-script-summit-slam-north-korea-031143211.html
my sisters keeper kirby sarah palin muhammad ali cbi the shins atomic clock
?? Carlos Macias is a Baruch graduate in Journalism and History. Last year, Macias was elected president of the PorColombia National group. In an interview with him we discussed general aspects relevant to the VI Student/Professional Conference the organization will be holding at Cornell University next month.
1. What makes this year?s conference at Cornell so special?
This year marks the 6th installment of our annual signature event. This conference brings 14 speakers, 3 Panels, 6 workshops, the exclusive & avante-garde art exhibition of?Edwin Gil??Quilting Differences: Blending Art & Social Media?, and of course, Colombian rumba.
2. How people/students who do not have a (exclusive) Colombian background could also benefit from attending such event/or future conferences? What could be of interest to them?
This conference brings a wide view of how Colombia interacts in the hemisphere as a key economic player, it will show how we have used urban planning and architecture to address social inequality in Colombia and how these examples can be used elsewhere. Also, our 4 pillars: cultural, social, academic, philanthropic help us provide an experience where our members sharpen their?entrepreneurial, networking and leadership skills. These are some of the reasons why in our national board we have people from other Latin American countries like Per? and Ecuador.
3. How does the topic(s) of this year?s conference relate to any international business/cultural issues?
This year?s topic ?Construyendo Pa?s? is particularly relevant with international business and?hemispheric?culture. We navigate between two worlds. One, we are an integral part of the American society and we contribute to its progress. At the same time, we keep deep and constant connections with our homeland. This duality makes us very aware of the potential of our commercial relations in the Americas giving us a professional edge thanks to our cultural intelligence.
4. What is a good example of an impact created by a PC conference? Does it go beyond being an informational forum? What usually happens after the conference is over?
The conference serves several?purposes: Strengthen our growing organization and networking, create a forum for?thoughtful?discussion?and debate, and cement our foundations to keep attracting the best talent from universities across the U.S. and Canada. Once the conference is over, we use these connections to keep growing and create a sense of community. The event also shows potential recruiters, the quality of the people in PorColombia and generates many job opportunities. We have several stories of people getting jobs and internships thanks to our networking.
?
Source: http://blsciblogs.baruch.cuny.edu/weissmancenter/2012/03/27/interview-with-porcolombias-president/
corporal kelsey de santis corporal kelsey de santis juan manuel marquez juan manuel marquez stanford oregon velasquez vs dos santos velasquez vs dos santos
Pope Benedict XVI waves to faithful from his popemobile as he makes his way to Plaza de la Paz or Peace Plaza in Guanajuato, Mexico, Saturday, March 24, 2012. At the entrance to Guanajuato, Benedict received the keys to the city. The pope reserved his only public remarks Saturday for a gathering of about 4,000 children and their parents massed in the plaza. (AP Photo/Alexandre Meneghini)
Pope Benedict XVI waves to faithful from his popemobile as he makes his way to Plaza de la Paz or Peace Plaza in Guanajuato, Mexico, Saturday, March 24, 2012. At the entrance to Guanajuato, Benedict received the keys to the city. The pope reserved his only public remarks Saturday for a gathering of about 4,000 children and their parents massed in the plaza. (AP Photo/Alexandre Meneghini)
Pope Benedict XVI arrives at the symbolic key ceremony in Guanajuato, Mexico, Saturday March 24, 2012. At the entrance to Guanajuato, Benedict received the keys to the city. The pope reserved his only public remarks Saturday for a gathering of about 4,000 children and their parents massed in the Plaza de Paz or Peace Plaza, where he arrived via his popemobile after the key ceremony. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)
Faithful wait for the arrival of Pope Benedict XVI to the symbolic key ceremony in Guanajuato, Mexico, Saturday March 24, 2012. At the entrance to the historic city, Benedict received the keys to the city. The pope reserved his only public remarks Saturday for a gathering of about 4,000 children and their parents massed in Guanajuato's Plaza de la Paz or Peace Plaza. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)
A man waves a Mexican flag as a woman holds a portrait of Pope Benedict XVI, prior his arrival at the symbolic key ceremony of the city of Guanajuato, Mexico, Saturday March 24, 2012. At the entrance to Guanajuato, Benedict received the keys to the city. The pope reserved his only public remarks Saturday for a gathering of about 4,000 children and their parents massed in the plaza. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)
Faithful wave to Pope Benedict XVI as he passes by in his popemobile on his way to the Plaza de la Paz or Peace Plaza, in Guanajuato, Mexico, Saturday March 24, 2012. Benedict arrived in Mexico Friday afternoon, a decade after the late Pope John Paul II's last visit. The pontiff's weeklong trip to Mexico and then to Cuba on Monday is his first to both countries. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)
GUANAJUATO, Mexico (AP) ? Pope Benedict XVI reached out to the future of the church in Mexico on Saturday, telling a gathering of children to be messengers of peace in their often-violent country.
The pope reserved his only public remarks of the day for a gathering of about 4,000 children and their parents massed in Peace Plaza in the city of Guanajuato, telling them that they are each a "gift of God to Mexico and the world."
Referring indirectly to the drug-fueled violence plaguing Mexico, he urged them all to be messengers of peace.
"The disciple of Jesus does not respond to evil with evil, but is always an instrument of good instead, a herald of pardon, a bearer of happiness, a servant of unity," Benedict said. "I will pray for all of you, so that Mexico may be a place in which everyone can live in serenity and harmony."
He was interrupted several times by the cheering crowd that had gathered hours beforehand for an intimate encounter with the 84-year-old pope on one of his few public outings in Mexico.
Tens of thousands, many of them teenagers, watched his remarks on big screen televisions in a nearby pilgrim camp at the site of the papal Mass planned for Sunday. The atmosphere was like a rock concert as the TVs showed the pope emerging on a balcony in nearby Guanajuato, with campers letting go a roaring chant of "Benedicto, Benedicto."
"We're excited to hear his words, not just for this moment, but to carry in our lives and to know God better," said 17-year-old Fabiola Gonzalez, who traveled by bus with a group of 45 teenage girls from Guadalajara to the plaza. "We hope they will last more than this week."
At the entrance to Guanajuato, Benedict received the keys to the city and then traveled by popemobile past faithful crowded along the cobblestone streets of the historic colonial-era city, which was the birthplace of Mexican independence and an armed uprising against harsh anti-clerical laws in the 1920s.
People packed narrow streets, balconies and rooftops and cheered wildly even as it started to sprinkle. Children and teenagers ran through crowds as Benedict passed to catch another glimpse of him. At one point, someone handed him a baby through an open window of the bulletproof popemobile. He kissed the baby and an aide passed the child back.
As he left his residence in the city of Leon in late afternoon for his meeting with President Felipe Calderon in Guanajuato, Benedict went out of his way to bless dozens of babies handed up to him by their parents. While such gestures are routine papal fare, Benedict seemed to zero in on the children in the crowd.
"We young people are getting closer to the church and to God, instead of getting closer to drugs and violence," said Juan Daniel Pacheco, 18, of Apaseo el Grande in Guanajuato state as he sought shade with his friends at one of the campgrounds that were quickly filling with faithful arriving for Sunday's Mass. "We are young people who will be able to change Mexico."
Benedict has taken up Pope John Paul II's drive to reach out to young Roman Catholics, following in his footsteps by rallying millions of young faithful to join him for World Youth Days, the Catholic youth festivals held once every three years. The next edition is scheduled for Rio de Janiero.
He awoke to the pre-dawn serenade of two dozen youths from a Guadalajara church group who sang him a traditional folk song after getting as close as security would allow to the college in Leon where the pontiff is staying during his three-day visit to Mexico.
"We sang with all our heart and all our force," said Maria Fernanda de Luna, a member of the group. "It gave us goose bumps to sing 'Las Mananitas' for him."
The focus on youth fits with the Vatican's drive to re-evangelize parts of the world where Catholicism has fallen by the wayside, trying to rally the next generation to embrace a faith that their parents may have abandoned. While Europe has certainly been Benedict's focus to date, Mexico also has seen its number of Catholics fall.
"The Mexican church feels like it's lost a few generations of Catholics," said Joseph Palacios, a professor of Latin American studies at Georgetown University, citing the battles over liberation theology that drove many left-leaning Catholics away. To get back its numbers, the Mexican church is "moving forward with the new generation," he said.
Yet as much as Benedict was receiving a rapturous welcome from young Catholics, his first full day in Mexico was not without criticism ? particularly concerning the church's treatment of children and sexual abuse.
On the second day of the pope's visit, victims of Marcial Maciel launched a new book containing documents on the Vatican's alleged cover-up of sexual abuse of seminarians by Maciel, the founder of the Legionaries of Christ.
Alberto Athie, former priest and one of three co-authors of "The Desire Not to Know," called on Benedict to publicly recognize the church's responsibility for Maciel's abuse.
"The church won't fall. On the contrary, it will be reconstructed," he said.
The pope did not talk about this abuse scandal in his limited remarks.
Of the 43.5 million Mexicans under age 20, 36.2 million are Catholic, or 83.2 percent, just under the national average. The largest group of Mexicans overall are children aged 5 to 9 ? a prime target for Benedict's efforts to rebuild a church that has fallen victim to the same secular trends that have emptied churches across Europe.
Benedict will greet tens of thousands of young faithful Sunday, when he celebrates Mass in the enormous Bicentennial Park.
The weeklong trip to Mexico and Cuba is Benedict's first to both countries, and only his second to Latin America. He visited Brazil in 2007.
Many said the pope's message of peace and unity would help heal their country, traumatized by the deaths of more than 47,000 people in a drug war that has escalated during a government offensive against cartels that began at the end of 2006.
Teens on Saturday said the damage of violence and drug use emphasized the importance of staying on a religious path.
"I've been drawn closer to all that is spiritual because it helps me in life," said Carla Patricia Maldonado Moreno, 15, of nearby Celaya. "I know I'm not going to surrender to whatever obstacle."
Pilgrims streamed into the camps from all over Mexico and as far away as Phoenix, Arizona.
Paula Zazueta traveled 40 hours by bus from Phoenix with 43 people, who first went to Mexico City to see the shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe and later to the camp in Silao to await the Mass.
"The blessings he will give us are important," said Zazueta, who owns a video production company.
"It is faith that moves us," said Alejandra Angoa, 34, a handicrafts-maker from the state of Tlaxcala. She walked alongside people of all ages carrying sleeping bags, coolers, backpacks, rolling suitcases and jugs of water.
Marcela Perez, 35, was exhausted after the trek and huddled in the only shade she could find alongside a portable toilet. But she did not regret coming.
"I think it's worth it," she said. "He is the head, the rock for us who have been baptized, for the church. It's a unique experience."
___
Associated Press writer Adriana Gomez Licon reported this story in Guanajuato and Nicole Winfield reported in Leon. AP writers Michael Weissenstein in Silao and E. Eduardo Castillo in Leon contributed to this report.
___
Follow AP reporters covering the pope: twitter.com/(hashtag)!/AP/pope-visit
Associated Pressbobby brown suzanne somers colbert colbert report legionnaires disease underwear bomber randy travis
EL CAJON, Calif. (AP) ? A 32-year-old woman from Iraq who was found severely beaten next to a threatening note saying "go back to your country" died on Saturday.
Hanif Mohebi, the director of the San Diego chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said he met with Shaima Alawadi's family members in the morning and was told that she was taken off life support around 3 p.m.
"The family is in shock at the moment. They're still trying to deal with what happened," Mohebi said.
Alawadi, a mother of five, had been hospitalized since her 17-year-old daughter found her unconscious Wednesday in the family's house in El Cajon, police Lt. Steve Shakowski said.
The daughter, Fatima Al Himidi, told KUSI-TV her mother had been beaten on the head repeatedly with a tire iron, and that the note said "go back to your country, you terrorist."
Addressing the camera, the tearful daughter asked: "You took my mother away from me. You took my best friend away from me. Why? Why did you do it?"
Police said the family had found a similar note earlier this month but did not report it to authorities.
Al Himidi told KGTV-TV her mother dismissed the first note, found outside the home, as a child's prank.
A family friend, Sura Alzaidy, told UT San Diego (http://bit.ly/GYbfB7) that the attack apparently occurred after the father took the younger children to school. Alzaidy told the newspaper the family is from Iraq, and that Alawadi is a "respectful modest muhajiba," meaning she wears the traditional hijab, a head scarf.
Investigators said they believe the assault is an isolated incident.
"A hate crime is one of the possibilities, and we will be looking at that," Lt. Mark Coit said. "We don't want to focus on only one issue and miss something else."
The family had lived in the house in San Diego County for only a few weeks, after moving from Michigan, Alzaidy said. Alzaidy told the newspaper her father and Alawadi's husband had previously worked together in San Diego as private contractors for the U.S. Army, serving as cultural advisers to train soldiers who were going to be deployed to the Middle East.
Mohebi said the family had been in the United States since the mid-1990s.
He said it was unfortunate that the family didn't report the initial threatening note.
"Our community does face a lot of discriminatory, hate incidents and don't always report them," Mohebi said. "They should take these threats seriously and definitely call local law enforcement."
El Cajon, northeast of downtown San Diego, is home to some 40,000 Iraqi immigrants, the second largest such community in the U.S. after Detroit.
Associated Pressrich forever mixtape blow i am legend the unit bob weston david wilson bill obrien
? 2012 WDWRadio? and Second Star Media?
Please note that WDW Radio, Lou Mongello, and Second Star Media are in no way part of, endorsed or authorized by, or affiliated with the Walt Disney Company or its affiliates. Visit Disney's official web site at Disney.com - As to Disney artwork/properties: ? Disney - Disclosure.
Powered by vBulletin? Version 4.0.1
Copyright ? 2012 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.
chris morris chris morris mike stoops mike stoops end of the world end of the world jerome harrison
Is your new iPad as hot as a tabletop grill? Why not put it to use as a warming pad? Yeah, just navigate Safari to this little web app and the script takes care of the rest! The new iPad is truly a magical device. What will Apple think of next? A Siri-controlled RC car that can open a can of beer? Oh...yeah.Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/gPQ5yUXrP98/
whitney houston found dead i will always love you whitney houston 2012 grammy awards powerball results pebble beach golf beverly hilton roland martin
States without an income tax have higher sales or property taxes, on average, than states with an income tax.? No-income-tax states have property taxes that are 8 percent to 12 percent above the national average and sales taxes 18 percent to 21 percent above the national average.
These data are of particular relevance in the three Plains states ? Kansas, Oklahoma, and Nebraska ? that are considering proposals to sharply reduce and/or gradually eliminate their state income taxes. In those states, income taxes represent about one-third to one-half of all general fund tax revenues and pay a huge share of the cost of services that benefit taxpayers and that businesses and economies rely on, including K-12 education, higher education, services for the elderly and disabled, public safety and the courts, and much more. Since states must balance their budgets, cutting or eliminating the income tax will result in steep cuts in those areas, increases in property and sales taxes, or ? most likely ? a combination of cuts in services and tax increases.? Those three states now have lower sales and property taxes than most no-income-tax states, a circumstance that will likely change if they repeal or deeply cut their income taxes.
A good way to gauge how other taxes will fare if income taxes in Kansas, Nebraska or Oklahoma are repealed or sharply cut is to see how other states without income taxes finance public services.?
| Table 1: Property and Sales Taxes Per Capita and as a Share of Personal Income | ||||||||
| ? | Property Taxes | Sales Taxes | ||||||
| States Without an Income Tax | Per Capita | Rank | % of Personal Income | Rank | Per Capita | Rank | % of Personal Income | Rank |
| Plains States | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| South Dakota | $1,098 | 32 | 2.8% | 34 | $1,274 | 7 | 3.3% | 10 |
| Texas | $1,461 | 14 | 3.9% | 14 | $1,071 | 14 | 2.8% | 13 |
| Wyoming | $2,321 | 4 | 4.9% | 5 | $2,238 | 1 | 4.7% | 1 |
| Other Regions | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| Alaska | $1,714 | 10 | 3.9% | 13 | $288 | 46 | 0.7% | 46 |
| Florida | $1,593 | 13 | 4.1% | 12 | $1,111 | 12 | 2.9% | 12 |
| Nevada | $1,331 | 21 | 3.5% | 19 | $1,134 | 10 | 2.9% | 11 |
| New Hampshire | $2,424 | 3 | 5.6% | 1 | $0 | 47 | 0.0% | 47 |
| Tennessee | $746 | 42 | 2.2% | 43 | $1,318 | 6 | 3.8% | 7 |
| Washington | $1,217 | 26 | 2.8% | 33 | $1,850 | 3 | 4.3% | 3 |
| Average 9 States | $1,545 | ? | 3.7% | ? | $1,143 | ? | 2.8% | ? |
| % above national average | 11.9% | ? | 7.7% | ? | 20.5% | ? | 18.4% | ? |
| National Average | $1,381 | ? | 3.5% | ? | $948 | ? | 2.4% | ? |
| Plains States w/Income Tax Cut Proposals | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| Kansas | $1,354 | 19 | 3.4% | 20 | $1,048 | 15 | 2.7% | 17 |
| Oklahoma | $598 | 48 | 1.7% | 49 | $1,018 | 17 | 2.8% | 15 |
| Nebraska | $1,443 | 17 | 3.6% | 17 | $1,000 | 20 | 2.5% | 21 |
| Source: ?Center on Budget and Policy Priorities tabulations based on data from the Bureau of the Census and the Bureau of Economic Analysis. | ||||||||
In particular, people in states without an income tax generally pay more in property or sales taxes than people in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Nebraska.
Higher sales and property taxes can occur in at least two ways.? The state legislature, faced with the need to fund schools, health care and other services and without the income tax revenue, may increase sales taxes or property taxes (as well as other revenue sources such as fees or excise taxes) itself.? Or, the legislature may reduce funding to local governments and school districts or shift spending obligations to localities, which in turn may raise taxes locally.
Families with moderate and low incomes pay more sales and property taxes, as a share of their incomes, than higher-income families because they spend a higher proportion of their earnings on taxable goods and housing.? Thus, increased sales and property taxes would shift a larger share of the responsibility for paying for schools, health care, and other services onto those with relatively less ability to afford it.
Higher sales and property taxes will affect businesses, too.? In every state, a substantial share of sales taxes comes from business-to-business purchases, and a large share of property taxes is paid directly by businesses too. Any reduction in income tax on business profits is likely to be offset, at least in part, by higher taxes on business purchases and on agricultural and commercial property.
Businesses and families could be harmed even if income tax cuts or elimination didn?t lead to higher sales or property taxes.? The income tax (personal and corporate) is a major share of all general fund tax revenue in Kansas (46 percent), Oklahoma (35 percent), and Nebraska (45 percent). Without raising other taxes, those states would have to pay for the income tax cuts with reductions in education, health care, and other services?areas already hard hit by recession-induced budget cuts. For example, each of these states just reduced per pupil education funding by hundreds of dollars from last year?s levels.[1] They will be hard-pressed to continue cutting investments like these that are so important to business success, family well-being, and long-term economic prosperity.
Source: http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3718
nitrous oxide rihanna thug life tattoo chuck pagano arizona governor seal team 6 patrick witt nflx
Jordan Pfeiler talks about the mystery booms she's heard over the past few days as she stands outside her house Wednesday, March 21, 2012, in Clintonville, Wis. City officials are trying to record the mysterious booming sounds that have roused residents from their beds, sometimes still in pajamas, but their attempts have so far come up empty. (AP Photo/Carrie Antlfinger)
Jordan Pfeiler talks about the mystery booms she's heard over the past few days as she stands outside her house Wednesday, March 21, 2012, in Clintonville, Wis. City officials are trying to record the mysterious booming sounds that have roused residents from their beds, sometimes still in pajamas, but their attempts have so far come up empty. (AP Photo/Carrie Antlfinger)
People turn out to get their questions answered at a meeting with city officials about the mysterious booming and rumbling in Clintonville, Wis., Wednesday, March 21, 2012. Sleepless families in the small Wisconsin town longed for quiet Wednesday after mysterious booming noises over the past few nights roused them from bed and sent residents into the street ? sometimes still in pajamas. (AP Photo/Carrie Antlfinger)
Sharon Binger points to a crack on Wednesday, March 21, 2012 in the basement of her home in Clintonville, Wis. Binger said it was caused by vibrations and booms that city officials are unable to explain. Sleepless families in the small Wisconsin town longed for quiet Wednesday after mysterious booming noises over the past few nights roused them from bed and sent residents into the street ? sometimes still in pajamas. (AP Photo/Carrie Antlfinger)
Liza Braaten of Clintonville talks with a Today Show crew from NBC Chicago in town to cover the unexplained booming noises being heard by residents in Clintonville, Wis., Wednesday, March 21, 2012. Sleepless families in the small Wisconsin town longed for quiet Wednesday after mysterious booming noises over the past few nights roused them from bed and sent residents into the street ? sometimes still in pajamas. (AP Photo/The Post-Crescent, Ron Page)
A resident ask questions at a public meeting with city officials at Clintonville High School in Clintonville, Wis., Wednesday, March 21, 2012. Sleepless families in a small Wisconsin town longed for quiet Wednesday after mysterious booming noises over the past few nights roused them from bed and sent residents into the street ? sometimes still in pajamas. (AP Photo/The Post-Crescent, Ron Page)
CLINTONVILLE, Wis. (AP) ? Sleepless families in a small Wisconsin town longed for quiet Wednesday after mysterious booming noises over the past few nights roused them from bed and sent residents into the street ? sometimes still in pajamas.
The strange disturbance sounds like distant thunder, fireworks or someone slamming a heavy door. At first, many people were amused or merely curious. But after three restless nights, aggravation is mounting. And some folks are considering leaving town until investigators determine the source of the racket.
"My husband thought it was cool, but I don't think so. This is not a joke," said Jolene Van Beek, who awoke early Sunday to a loud boom that shook her house. "I don't know what it is, but I just want it to stop."
The booming in Clintonville continued Monday and Tuesday nights and into Wednesday morning, eventually prompting Van Beek to take her three sons to her father's home, 10 minutes away, so they could get some uninterrupted sleep.
There have been no reports of injury, despite some residents saying they could feel the ground roll beneath their feet.
City officials say they have investigated every possible human cause. They checked water, sewer and gas lines, contacted the military about any exercises in the area, reviewed permits for mining explosives and inspected a dam next to city hall. They even tested methane levels at the landfill in case the gas was spontaneously exploding.
"People in the area are certainly frustrated," City Administrator Lisa Kuss said.
The city is also investigating geological causes. Officials plan to bring in vibration-detection devices to try to determine the epicenter of any underground activity.
Authorities set up audio and video equipment overnight but didn't capture any evidence of shaking or booming despite at least one loud noise about 5 a.m. Wednesday, Kuss said.
About 300 people attended a public meeting Wednesday night in a local high school auditorium to get an update on the situation. Kuss assured residents that officials are doing everything they can to determine the source of the booming.
Sharon Binger said the disturbance has left cracks in her basement walls and floor, and that they're getting worse. She said her insurance company won't pay for the damage until she knows what caused it.
"This is an issue," she said, demanding answers from officials at the meeting. "There is something else going on."
Kuss urged Binger to write down when the cracks occurred and promised to send officials to the woman's home to look over the damage.
Debby Ernst has not heard the sound or felt the tremors but said she is still considering going elsewhere until the mystery is solved.
"It worries me. I'm scared," Ernst, a gas station cashier, said in a phone interview. "Who's to say it ain't going to get worse?"
However, a local scientist said nothing has surfaced that suggests townspeople should be afraid.
Steve Dutch, a geologist at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, said the ground beneath them is solid, and that there are no known earthquake fault lines in the area.
Dutch said he heard some people worrying that a sinkhole might open up and swallow homes. That can happen in areas where the ground is rich with limestone and other rocks that can be dissolved by water, he said. But the rock below Clintonville is mainly solid granite that's largely impermeable.
However, he speculated that water and granite could hold the key to the mystery. Granite has small cracks that water can fill, but if the underground water table falls especially low, water can seep out, leaving gaps that cause the rocks to settle and generate loud noises.
"Maybe the very dry winter caused more water to be removed from the water table, either through pumping or natural flow," he said.
A seismic station near Clintonville, a town of about 4,600 people about 40 miles west of Green Bay, has recorded unusual ground shaking since Sunday night. Scientists say such activity can be caused by mining and heavy truck traffic, but since there are no mines or major construction in the area, the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey will take a closer look at the data.
Some residents are having fun with the mystery, which has drawn media attention from around the nation.
Jordan Pfeiler said people stayed up late on the first two nights to walk around listening for booms. They came up with outlandish theories to explain the noise ? for example, that the White House was building an underground bunker in the area or that mole men had found a home there.
"And the aliens, of course, there's always the aliens," she said.
Van Beek understands the temptation to crack jokes, but it's no laughing matter to her.
"Everything people think it is has been ruled out. They just don't have answers," she said. "At this point all I want is for it to stop."
___
Dinesh Ramde reported from Milwaukee. He can be reached at dramde(at)ap.org.
Associated Pressneil degrasse tyson davy jones death born this way foundation lytro camera lytro camera andrew brietbart us soccer
