Olympia Entertainment Claims City Tax Roll Error ? CBS Detroit

Mike Ilitch, owner of the Detroit Tigers celebrates with the American League Championship trophy after the Tigers won 6-3 against the Oakland Athletics during Game Four of the American League Championship Series October 14, 2006 at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan. (Credit: Daniel/Getty Images)

Mike Ilitch, owner of the Detroit Tigers celebrates with the American League Championship trophy after the Tigers won 6-3 against the Oakland Athletics during Game Four of the American League Championship Series October 14, 2006 at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan. (Credit: Daniel/Getty Images)

DETROIT (WWJ/AP) -?One day after it made headlines that companies owned by Mike Ilitch ? one of Detroit?s most prominent citizens ? owed back taxes, the operator of Joe Louis and Cobo arenas is disputing it.

Olympia Entertainment said Thursday the $971,000 listed as ?unpaid taxes ?have been accrued to ?the company ?in what appears to be an error.?

?Olympia Entertainment has not received any notices about the taxes in question? Olympia Entertainment is incorrectly listed as the property owner of record on the tax rolls, and our organization will be in touch with the Assessment Division within the City of Detroit?s Finance Department to have the property owner of record corrected on the tax rolls,? the statement read.

Olympia Entertainment is part of Mike Ilitch?s stable of companies, which include Major League Baseball?s Detroit Tigers and the NHL?s Detroit Red Wings. The Red Wings play in Joe Louis Arena, which is leased from the city.

Earlier Thursday, reports circulated that tax documents show Olympia Entertainment has been in arrears on the taxes since 2009.

The Michigan House on Thursday approved legislation?to help Ilitch finance a $650 million multi-use development, which would include an events center where Red Wings games could be held.

The bill would?allow tax dollars collected by Detroit?s Downtown Development Authority to be used for the project. Supporters of the stadium bill claim it will create upward of 8,300 new construction jobs and pump $1 billion into Michigan?s economy. The bill now heads to Gov. Rick Snyder?s desk for his signature.

TM and ? Copyright 2012 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Source: http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2012/12/14/olympia-entertainment-claims-city-tax-roll-error/

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I Don't Have a Best Friend.

I Don't Have a Best Friend.As a child, I always had a best friend. In elementary school, it was Naomi ?- our best friendship was so exclusive that one of my teachers expressed concern that we were alienating the other children at my parent-teacher conference. Halfway through middle school, I moved to a new state. Despite our truly valiant letter-writing and mixtape-making efforts, the move effectively severed ties, and set a precedent for all my successive best friendships.

Today, I don't have a best friend. This means a lot of things. For starters, no one's going to hold my bouquet for me when I get married. There will be no slightly funny, slightly embarrassing, but totally heartfelt speech at the reception. And should the need arise, no one will fly in from Atlanta on a redeye midnight flight to help me kill Earl.

My high-school best friendships all ended in the expected ways ? I moved away or she did; she started dating an asshole or I did. Things happen. People change. But this best friend turnover rate has left adult-me without a real, honest-to-goodness boon companion. I don't have late-night hours-long chats and I can't even remember the last time someone drunk-dialed me (please, drunk dial me! I find it hilarious and life-affirming!).

Sure, I have some friends I've known for a very, very long time, and I keep in touch with my younger self's best friends. But best friends are like significant others -? it has a lot to do with proximity and frequency of contact, and you're not really supposed to have more than one. Like dating, the decision to be exclusive -? or "best" ?- is not to be taken lightly, and can't really be forced.

But unlike romantic relationships, friendships are often ranked according to age ?- your oldest friend is usually your best friend. But since all my old best friends have moved on and replaced me with newer, shinier models, where does that leave me? Our society may view romantic relationships as the only kind of relationship worth actively pursuing, but there's no good reason why we shouldn't have to work at friendship like we work at dating.

Pursuing a friend ?- best or otherwise -? can sometimes feel a little creepy. What's a best-friendless girl to do? Not having a best friend means that to everyone in my life, save family and my special ladyfriend, I can only ever rank in second place. My pursuit of a best friend goes a little like this:

I meet a nice girl or boy. We hit it off, and I get friend-butterflies (frienderflies!) and begin to think, "Could this be it? Could this be my new best friend??" But then, casually, s/he will drop the best friend bomb. We'll be swapping childhood stories, perhaps, or telling lies about our wild college days, when suddenly, out comes the best friend. "So my best friend and I were at this shindig when all of a sudden (insert funny anecdote here)," she/he will say.

I'll laugh it off, but inside my heart will sink. "Oh," I'll think. "Well then. I guess I'll only ever be second-best to this person."

Certainly, I have a litany of good friends. Great friends, even. Amazing, funny and responsive people who I'm happy and grateful to have in my life. But like with almost everything I do, I harbor a secret, gnawing desire to be the very best. I want to be the best to someone ?- not just anyone's best, but someone who's worthy of being my best's best.

But of course, having a best means automatically seconding everyone else ?- best by its very definition also means only. Best friends create a hierarchy that makes everyone else feel less than best. It leaves the best-friendless wondering what's wrong with us. Are we not worthy of a friendship pedestal of our very own?

And maybe that's what's wrong with the whole idea of a best friend in the first place. Maybe expanding the idea of soulmates beyond the realm of the romantic (where, let's admit it, it's caused enough problems already) into the jurisdiction of the platonic isn't such a great idea.

I don't know that I could find a single, perfect friend willing and able to supply everything I need out of a friendship -? someone to both drink and work out with, a wild partier and a driven achiever, an encourager and a hard-truth-teller, a shoulder and a confidante, a spontaneous free spirit and pragmatic tether. Instead, I have a small circle of friends each of whom fill different roles in my life.

Maybe it's time for me to set aside the notion of a best friend. Unless, of course, anyone wants to be best friends?


This post originally appeared on XO Jane. Republished with permission.

Want to see your work here? Email us.

Source: http://jezebel.com/5967878/i-dont-have-a-best-friend

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Graphic design news ? Graphic design magazine ? Graphic design agencies

Graphic designing is a fine art to convey a particular message to a set of audience through a flow of visual images. Graphic magazines play a crucial role in advertising and promoting business and educational field. Designing a magazine or a newspaper literally means to display the contents in such a way that it becomes easier to the readers. The modern newspaper revolution has started two centuries back and over the time has passed, graphical designing has improved the printing technology. And this has changed the look and feel of newspaper and magazine. With the tremendous growth in IT field, graphic designing has gained popularity.

Today, graphics is used in almost all the fields. Starting from educational field to Business field. In the field of entertainment, graphics build up visual story telling for children. To attract more customers, business people use advertise their products in a different way. Catchy keywords are given by the graphic designer to hit great profits to the entrepreneurs. The main objective is to bring in huge profits. Today, for graphic designing there are lots of tools that are available to develop attractive website, newspaper, pamphlet, magazine. Some of it are Adobe Photoshop with ImageReady, Flash, CorelDraw, Illustrator, etc.

graphic design magazine

Popular PC magazine will contain lots of information that would surely help you in any way. Some of the popular magazines are HOW, Game Developer Magazine, Layers Magazine, CGIndia, and Cmyk. These magazines get updated regularly, so that you stay updated in the graphics world. In each magazine you will find amazing solutions. HOW magazine is a business magazine mainly concentrates on creativity, innovative ideas and web designing. CGIndia is an online magazine for computer graphics that presents information on 3d animation, Visual Effects(VFX).

?Cmyk? magazine focuses on publishing the work of students on computer graphics. ?Computer Arts? is another magazine that presents digital expert?s advice on how to create 3D animation, typography, web design tactics, etc. ?Graphic Exchang? is a Canadian magazine for the professionals in graphic arts. ?Graphics.com? is a reference site for the web and design community. This site also includes tips, forums and software downloads. This magazine covers a wide range of design, copywriting, development, marketing, security and lots more.

Graphic design agencies are the one who presents innovative and creative work on graphics. Starting from website creation to creative advertisements. If you like to run your graphics agency smoothly, then there are five tips that might be helpful to do so. Firstly, you have to boot the customers. You have to sort out the customers who are good enough to promote your business. Choose your customer who can pay you fully. They must pay you extra if there is a need for constant revisions. Secondly, is encouraging the creative team. If any of the team member shows exceptional creativity just have him applauded for it. Thirdly, is the omission of unnecessary expenses to make an optimum package.

Source: http://blogger.horizzoninfotech.com/2012/12/find-latest-graphic-design-news-magazines/

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Michigan Senate OKs new emergency manager bill

LANSING, Mich. (AP) ? The Republican-led Michigan Legislature cleared the way Thursday for GOP Gov. Rick Snyder to sign a replacement for an emergency manager law struck down by voters, delivering another punch to Democrats still reeling from this week's rapid passage of right-to-work legislation limiting unions' power.

On the final hours of the legislative session that capped an acrimonious week in the state capital, the Senate approved the legislation mostly along party lines. It contains key provisions from a law rejected in November but includes more choices for local school districts and communities deemed by the state to be in a financial emergency.

The House passed the bill Wednesday night. Snyder spokeswoman Sara Wurfel said the bill is a priority for him to sign but there's no timetable.

The new version proposed by Snyder and GOP legislative leaders requires financially troubled governments to choose from four mandatory options: Accept an emergency manager, undergo bankruptcy, enter into mediation or join the state in a partnership known as a consent agreement ? similar to the current one involving Detroit.

Critics say the options menu is a false choice, because each is trip-wired to ensure the same thing that voters rejected at the polls: state-imposed oversight.

"We are not asking for anybody's help," said Detroit Democratic Sen. Virgil Smith. "This is control, takeover, gimme-what-you-got legislation. ... And I'm tired of this."

The legislation also includes a $770,000 appropriation to cover managers' salaries, a provision that would prevent a second defeat at the polls because spending bills are legally shielded from referendums.

As with the rejected law, the manager would have the power to change or cancel contracts, but local officials also could develop an alternative plan provided it generates equal financial savings. Should a local government choose an emergency manager, the state would pay for the manager, and local officials would have the option of removing the manager after one year and with a two-thirds vote of its governing body.

The state has been operating since under a previous law that gives managers fewer powers, but leaders argue it's inadequate to deal with failing cities or schools.

Snyder and other backers of the plan argue adding the choices and other steps to provide more local input respects the will of the voters because it doesn't force an emergency manager on any local government.

Democrats see it as a blow to democracy because it subverts local control. They say it's the same as the rejected law with an opportunity for distressed communities to "pick their poison."

Democratic Sen. Bert Johnson, from the Detroit enclave of Highland Park, offered several changes that failed to garner support, including one that would have enabled a consent agreement between the state and financially struggling local government that's "binding to both parties" and lasts for no more than two years.

"What we need is a partnership," he said. "We do not need a dictator in Lansing."

Hillsdale Republican Sen. Bruce Caswell said he voted no because he was "following the dictates" of his constituents who voted against the emergency manager bill.

Opponents also contended the measure was being rushed similar to the way right-to-work legislation reducing union strength sailed through the legislative process in recent days amid widespread protests at the Capitol. But supporters noted that the emergency manager bill was considered during a committee hearing this month.

Johnson echoed a feeling of helplessness among Democrats, but he vowed it would be temporary.

"Our grievances will be settled at the next ballot," Johnson said. "Continue to do what you're doing if you want to give away this majority ... and the governorship."

Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville disputed critics' claims that it's merely a rehash of the failed law with poisonous extras.

"There are very different paths they can take," he said. "These are usually people who are in a situation that has a financial emergency. They're saying, 'Don't help us, don't help us, and you give us another option, we don't like that either.' The problem isn't being solved."

Richardville said the only option some local officials are leaving themselves is bankruptcy.

"And they'll have the option to choose that if they want, but I don't think they'd be representing their people very well if they did that," he said.

The new emergency manager proposal was announced last week on the same day that Michigan Treasurer Andy Dillon said he'll likely order a review of Detroit's municipal finances, a 30-day process that could lead to a state takeover of its largest city that's deep in debt and has a budget deficit of more than $200 million.

Since the spring, Detroit and the state have been partners in a consent agreement that allows limited state oversight of Mayor Dave Bing's fiscal restructuring plans. Tied to the deal is millions of dollars in bond money held in escrow by the treasurer's office and released to Detroit when certain benchmarks are achieved.

The deal averted the placement of an emergency financial manager in Detroit.

Managers are in place in Benton Harbor, Ecorse, Flint, Pontiac and Allen Park, as well as in the Muskegon Heights, Highland Park and Detroit school districts.

Lou Schimmel, Pontiac's emergency financial manager, said the new legislation will give him the authority to pass ordinances and deal with labor matters, and without those powers "you can't fix the problems."

___

Associated Press writer Corey Williams in Detroit contributed to this report.

___

Follow Jeff Karoub on Twitter: http://twitter.com/jeffkaroub

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/michigan-senate-oks-emergency-manager-bill-232840300.html

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Belkin @TV Plus

The Belkin @TV Plus ($129.99 direct) is a set-top box that lets you watch live and recorded TV anywhere you go, on a laptop, smartphone, or tablet computer, and over both Wi-Fi and cellular networks. The @TV Plus competes directly with the Sling Media Slingbox 350, which costs $50 more and does the same basic things. But unlike the Slingbox 350, the @TV Plus works over Wi-Fi; you'd have to step up to the $299 Slingbox 500 ?for that capability. Another key difference: You can record TV directly to your mobile devices, instead of just being able to watch already-recorded content from your home DVR while on the go. Some significant software issues keep the Belkin @TV from being on top, but if you're a little patient, it's a solid pick at a budget price.

Design, Connectivity, and Setup
The Belkin @TV Plus is a flat, glossy plastic square measuring 9 by 9 by 1.4 inches (HWD). The design tapers as it goes down, with hard cut lines around the edges.?There are waves in the plastic surface that bend reflections unevenly, and you can see indentations when the top piece has been fastened to the rest of the unit; it feels flimsily constructed, and the top panel scratches easily.?The package contains a short guide for getting started, an Ethernet cable, component video cables, stereo RCA cables for audio, the power supply, and an infrared blaster for controlling your cable-company-issued receiver or DVR.

The front panel is clean save for an infrared port. The right side contains a USB port, a WPS button for enabling Wi-Fi Protected Setup if your router supports it, and a small indented Reset button near the corner. Around back, there's an IR blaster port, an Ethernet port, component and composite inputs and outputs, and a power input. The Belkin @TV Plus has no built-in tuner.?There's no HDMI input or output, either; the value of this is somewhat questionable, since so much of what's on cable TV or your DVR is encrypted, as we were reminded when testing the Slingbox 500, but at least an HDMI out to the TV would have been nice.

One pesky aspect of the Belkin @TV Plus is that despite its wireless capability, you still need the Ethernet cable during setup?even if you're going to use it over Wi-Fi later. The software installs via a Web-based download. The manual directs you to Belkin's website, but you have to download the software from one of the HTML links in the list, as it's actually a support page with no welcoming information of any kind. Plus, after I began downloading it, Belkin's page crashed the browser tab in Google Chrome. I installed the software?which served up cryptic messages like "installing prerequisites" in various dialog boxes?only to then be asked to run a setup wizard, which then downloaded and installed a firmware update. None of this is a dealbreaker, but the setup process could use some polish.

Belkin @TV Plus Screenshot

Video Quality, Mobile Apps, and Conclusions
After the firmware update, the Belkin @TV Plus reconnected to my wireless network. Video quality was good, but not great, overall. The Belkin @TV Plus smoothly adapted to whatever bandwidth was available and adjusted picture quality accordingly, with an emphasis on smooth frame rate and audio over picture detail (as it should be). I would have preferred a more detailed image, though. I saw an eminently watchable, widescreen picture that worked reliably, but without high-definition capability, it's not particularly sharp at 480p (see photo above). There's no Web-based interface, so you can only watch using one of the dedicated PC or Mac apps. You can timeshift video, meaning that you can pause and rewind live TV as well.

If you've got an iPad or Android tablet, you can watch your @TV Plus on the go; Sling Media charges $14.99 for its SlingPlayer iPad app, and again for its Android app, so this is a nice freebie. Android smartphone and iPhone owners have to pay $12.99 for Belkin's mobile app. These apps aren't just for watching TV; you can actually record content to your device's internal storage and then watch it later, which is a handy capability to have. I tested the Belkin @TV app on an iPad 2, and saw occasionally jerky but still quite watchable video. Recordings played back smoothly and looked identical to the streaming picture. The recording process disturbed the video smoothness a bit?I saw a few one-second-long freeze-ups?but again, it wasn't too objectionable. You can't schedule recordings, unfortunately.

Overall, the Belkin @TV Plus is a flawed, but still worthy and less expensive alternative to Sling Media's offerings. It performs well, even if it's a little rough around the edges. The Slingbox 350 doesn't work wirelessly and doesn't let you record directly to mobile devices, the way Belkin @TV does. But its smoother setup process and more polished interface lead me to feel better in recommending it as an all-purpose device for watching TV or recorded DVR content on the go. Finally, the Slingbox 500 remains our Editors' Choice, thanks to its smooth wireless performance and simple on-screen setup; it's significantly more expensive than the Belkin @TV Plus and Slingbox 350, but worth the additional cost.

More Media Hub Reviews:
??? Belkin @TV Plus
??? Sling Media Slingbox 350
??? Sling Media Slingbox 500
??? TiVo Stream
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?? more?

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ziffdavis/pcmag/~3/H5KP0Q2w550/0,2817,2412971,00.asp

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Candied Orange Peels Recipe (WATCH)

There's no reason to spend a fortune on candied orange peels, as Chef Jaques Pepin assures us in his sweet French accent, you can make them easily for the cheap price of an orange and a little bit of sugar.

Candied orange peels make a nice holiday gift -- and with the guidance of Chef Pepin -- you know yours will be just as good as the ones you can find in Parisian chocolate shops. And if you want, you can still eat the orange. Watch the video above to see how it's done.

Want to read more from HuffPost Taste? Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and Tumblr.

Don't want to make candy with your oranges? Try these citrus dessert recipes instead.

  • Lemon-Orange Loaf Cake

    This simple cake uses both the juice and the zest of an orange and a lemon -- the zest goes in the cake batter and the juice goes making the glaze. The addition of yogurt to the recipe ensures a moist and tender cake. <strong>Get the Lemon-Orange Loaf Cake recipe</strong>

  • Caramel Oranges

    These caramelized orange slices make a sweet topping for chocolate cake, French toast or even ice cream. To get the strong bitterness out of the oranges, you'll need to boil them three times. Then prepare the caramel and add the sliced oranges. <strong>Get the Caramel Oranges recipe</strong>

  • Orange-Chocolate Cupcakes

    The zest and juice of an orange gives these chocolate chip cupcakes a bright flavor. The recipe doesn't use any leavening -- beat the egg yolks and whites separately to ensure the cupcakes rise. <strong>Get the Orange-Chocolate Cupcakes recipe</strong>

  • Orange Crisps With Citrus Fruit Salad

    These thin, crisp cookies make a lovely pairing with citrus fruit salad or even just a cup of tea. Orange zest and juice lend a fresh flavor that make the cookies hard to resist. <strong>Get the Orange Crisps with Citrus Fruit Salad recipe</strong>

  • Cinnamon Oranges

    This simple dessert can serve as a breakfast fruit salad or dessert. Simply toss orange slices in some extra orange juice and lemon juice, and sugar and cinnamon. You could also use it as a topping on cake. <strong>Get the Cinnamon Oranges recipe</strong>

  • Lemon-And-Orange-Glazed Pound Cake

    This rich and dense pound cake is baked in a Bundt pan to give it a festive look. Both the batter and the glaze have lemon and orange zest and juice to ensure a citrus punch. <strong>Get the Lemon-and-Orange-Glazed Pound Cake recipe</strong>

  • Cranberry-Orange Fruit Bars

    These bar cookies are sweet, tart, tender and crumbly. They're packed with orange segments and cranberries -- feel free to use fresh or frozen in the recipe. The recipe is made with whole-wheat pastry flour and chopped nuts to help create the perfect texture. <strong>Get the Cranberry-Orange Fruit Bars recipe</strong>

  • Citrus-Granita And Orange-Mousse Parfaits

    Citrus flavors wind their way through both components of this dessert: the granita and the mousse. Layer the granita with the mousse in dessert glasses and freeze to firm up. Garnish with additional orange zest and chopped almonds. <strong>Get the Citrus-Granita and Orange-Mousse Parfaits recipe</strong>

  • Orange Hot Cross Buns

    Hot cross buns are a classic Easter treat, but that doesn't mean you can't make them all year round. This recipe features the sweet flavor of oranges, using both the juice and the zest. The buns are also studded with raisins and glazed with sugar to create the classic cross on top. <strong>Get the Orange Hot Cross Buns recipe</strong>

  • Citrus Ginger Cake With Spiced Orange Compote

    This citrus cake relies entirely on orange juice and zest to give it that bright flavor. Crystallized ginger helps enhance it even further. The batter uses honey instead of sugar as its sweetener and olive oil instead of butter. The result is a super moist cake. Serve with orange compote. <strong>Get the Citrus Ginger Cake with Spiced Orange Compote recipe</strong>

  • WATCH: How To Segment Citrus Fruit

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/13/candied-orange-peels-recipe_n_2287149.html

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North Korea launch likely delayed 10 days

WASHINGTON (AP) ? North Korea's planned launch of a long-range rocket could be delayed for 10 days or more after it reported technical delays, a U.S. academic institute said Tuesday.

Satellite photos from Monday indicate activity at the Sohae site on the northwestern coast probably related to removal of the rocket from the launch pad for repairs.

An analysis written for 38 North, the website of the U.S.-Korean Institute at John Hopkins Advanced International Studies, predicted it's likely to take until Wednesday or Thursday to remove the Unha-3 rocket and more than a week to repair it, meaning a launch is unlikely before Dec. 21-22.

North Korea has said it plans to fire a satellite into space on the three-stage rocket, defying a U.N. ban. It was scheduled for launch between Dec. 10-22 but state media reported that technical problems prompted it to extend the liftoff window until Dec. 29.

It would be North Korea's second attempt this year, and the fifth since 1998, to launch a long-range rocket that Washington says is a cover for testing technology for missiles that could be used to strike the United States. The previous four attempts all failed.

North Korea has also conducted two nuclear tests since 2006, deepening international concern over its capabilities, although it is not believed to have mastered how to mount a nuclear warhead on a missile.

Past long-range rocket launches have been conducted in spring or summer, and the current frigid Korean winter could further complicate its plans. Temperatures have plunged as low as minus-1.4 F in recent days in the northwestern region near the launch site, according to the North's state media. Forecasts suggest temperatures could plunge again after Dec. 21.

"Our analysis shows the North Koreans are moving at a measured, careful pace to fix the problem with their rocket," said former U.S. State Department official, Joel Wit, 38 North's editor. "It's anyone's guess whether they succeed or not but there may be more challenges ahead, particularly if temperatures drop."

The determination to launch now is likely linked to the anniversary of the Dec. 17 death last year of longtime leader Kim Jong Il. North Korea is also celebrating its centennial this year of the birth of national founder Kim Il Sung, current leader Kim Jong Un's grandfather. Any launch could also be timed for Dec. 19 elections in U.S.-allied South Korea, the North's neighbor and historic rival.

North Korea divulges little about its rocket program, and without independent observers on the ground, it is virtually impossible to discern its plans with any certainty. Its state media reported Monday that scientists found a "technical deficiency in the first-stage control engine module of the rocket." The statement didn't elaborate but said technicians were moving ahead with final preparations for the liftoff.

Commercial satellite images offer a partial window into the plans. 38 North collaborated with North Korea Tech, a website that focuses on technology-related developments in the secretive, socialist country. The analysis was written by Nick Hansen, a retired expert in imagery technology with more than 40 years of national intelligence experience.

An image from last Saturday suggests Pyongyang had completed key preparations, including at an instrumentation site, for a launch, he writes.

The latest image, from Monday, indicates activity probably related to the removal of the rocket from the pad, but there are no indications, such as tracks in the snow, showing that trailers required to carry the rocket stages have transported them from the pad to the missile assembly building about a half-mile away. That leads Hansen to doubt South Korean press reports that the entire rocket had been removed for repairs as of Tuesday.

____

Online: http://38north.org/

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/us-institute-nkorea-launch-likely-delayed-10-days-232707327.html

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West Virginia Natural Gas Explosion - Business Insider

Reports are coming in of a big explosion in Sissonville, West Virginia (scroll down for photos and video).

Via local news outlet WSAZ:

The northbound lanes of Interstate 77 are closed in the Sissonville area, from Tuppers Creek to Pocatalico due to what's being called a major gas line explosion.

Kanawha County Commission President Kent Carper tells WSAZ.com crews were called to what was described as a major gas line explosion in Sissonville.

WSAZ says that right now, no injuries or fatalities have been reported. A "Shelter in Place" has been issued for buildings in the area, though.

The AP reports that according to state police, several structures are on fire.

West Virginia Metro News cites?Kanahwa County Commissioner Kent Carper:

"The flames are shooting 50, 75 to 100 feet. There's fire everywhere," said Carper reporting from the scene on 58-WCHS. "Gas company is on the scene working with emergency officials to get the gas shut off, then we'll assess if we have injuries or casualties. At this time it's a fairly chaotic scene."

...

"Several structures are involved. The fire is so hot it's like a blevy. It's caused houses to melt and burn way far away," he said. "Many structures are on fire in a large fire area stretching hundreds and hundreds of feet."

Now, WSAZ reports that the well has been capped.

The Charleston Gazette is reporting that the fire has been put out, and the search for casualties is underway:

Crews apparently extinguished the fire just before 2 p.m. but a large amount of fumes remain in the air, said Kanawha County Commission President Kent Carper.

Carper said paramedics and emergency responders are going into homes and apartments now to assess injuries or fatalities.

Bloomberg News (via the Bloomberg terminal) cites West Virginia officials confirming earlier reports, saying the gas line has been shut off, there are still no confirmed injuries or deaths, and a search is underway for victims.

Readers can also?follow along via a live audio feed?of Kanawha County's emergency services scanners.

EARLIER:

Below are five photos from Twitter. The first was posted by Charleston Gazette reporter Mackenzie Mays, who says the photo comes from Kanawha County Emergency Services:

The second photo is from Twitter user @tori_eagle:

UPDATE 3:35PM:

Local news outlet WOWK posted this sobering video of the flames towering into the air:
?

And James Hopkins?of?WOWK just tweeted this photo:

WSAZ reporter Bill Murray tweeted this aerial photo, giving some perspective on the fire:

Now, this photo, which shows the site of the fire since it's been put out, is making the rounds on Twitter (h/t @LacyNeff):

Scorched earth.?Click here for live updates >

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/west-virginia-natural-gas-explosion-2012-12

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Extremists among Syrian rebels who seized base

Free Syrian Army fighters take their positions, close to a military base, near Azaz, Syria, Monday, Dec. 10, 2012. The gains by rebel forces came as the European Union denounced the Syrian conflict, which activists say has killed more than 40,000 people. (AP Photo/Manu Brabo)

Free Syrian Army fighters take their positions, close to a military base, near Azaz, Syria, Monday, Dec. 10, 2012. The gains by rebel forces came as the European Union denounced the Syrian conflict, which activists say has killed more than 40,000 people. (AP Photo/Manu Brabo)

A Free Syrian Army fighter holds his weapon as he prepares himself for advance, close to a military base, near Azaz, Syria, Monday, Dec. 10, 2012. The gains by rebel forces came as the European Union denounced the Syrian conflict, which activists say has killed more than 40,000 people. (AP Photo/Manu Brabo)

A Free Syrian Army fighter holds his weapon as he prepares himself for advance, close to a military base, near Azaz, Syria, Monday, Dec. 10, 2012. The gains by rebel forces came as the European Union denounced the Syrian conflict, which activists say has killed more than 40,000 people. (AP Photo/Manu Brabo)

(AP) ? Syrian rebels including Islamic extremists took full control of a sprawling military base Tuesday after a bloody two-day battle that killed 35 soldiers, activists said. It was the latest gain by opposition forces bolstered by an al-Qaida-linked group that has provided skilled fighters but raised concerns in the West.

The Sheik Suleiman military base was the second major base captured in the north by the rebels, who also are making inroads farther south toward the capital, Damascus.

In other violence, dozens of people were reported injured or killed in Aqrab, a village in central Hama province, in a series of explosions. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported the bloodshed, citing activists in the area, but had no immediate death toll or details on who was to blame.

Fighters from jihadi groups, including Jabhat al-Nusra, were among those doing battle in the rebel ranks as they took control of Sheik Suleiman base, near the northern city of Aleppo, according to the Observatory and other activists.

The presence of the jihadi groups has raised concerns in the U.S. and other nations that are supporting the opposition in Syria but do not want to see extremists gain power in the region. The U.S. this week blacklisted al-Nusra as a foreign terrorist organization and said the group was part of al-Qaida in Iraq.

But al-Nusra fighters appear to be among the most effective fighting forces on the rebel side, spearheading many of the recent gains.

The U.S. terror designation freezes any assets members of al-Nusra may have in U.S. jurisdictions and bars Americans from providing the group with material support. It's largely symbolic because the group is not thought to have holdings or support in the United States, but officials hope the penalties will encourage others to take similar action and discourage Syrians from joining.

The administration took further action Tuesday against extremists on both sides, with the Treasury Department setting separate sanctions against two senior al-Nusra leaders and two militant groups operating under the control of Syrian President Bashar Assad's government. Two commanders of the pro-regime shabiha force also were targeted.

"We will target the pro-Assad militias just as we will the terrorists who falsely cloak themselves in the flag of the legitimate opposition," said David S. Cohen, the department's sanctions chief.

The battle for Sheik Suleiman military base ended when the rebels took over the site's main compound and warehouses that housed a military research center. They had first breached the base perimeter on Sunday afternoon, after weeks of fighting with soldiers loyal to Assad, according to the Observatory, which relies on a network of activists inside Syria. The Observatory said 35 soldiers were killed but did not give figures on rebel casualties.

Also Tuesday in Aleppo ? the country's largest city and commercial center ? four mortar rounds hit the predominantly Kurdish neighborhood of Sheik Maksoud, killing 11, including three children and two women, and wounding a dozen other people, the Observatory said.

The reports of violence could not be confirmed as the government restricts independent reporting in the country.

The conflict started nearly 21 months ago as an uprising against Assad, whose family has ruled the country for four decades. It quickly morphed into a civil war, with rebels taking up arms to fight back against a bloody crackdown by the government. According to activists, more than 40,000 people have been killed since March 2011.

Western officials have raised concerns that an increasingly desperate Assad might unleash his chemical weapons stockpiles against rebels in an act of desperation. Last week U.S. officials said there was evidence that Syrian forces had begun preparing sarin, a nerve agent, for possible use in bombs.

But U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Tuesday the Syrian government seems to have slowed preparations for the possible use of chemical weapons against rebel targets.

Speaking to reporters flying with him from Washington to Kuwait, Panetta suggested the threat was no longer escalating, although he was not specific about any Syrian military preparations.

"At this point the intelligence has really kind of leveled off," he said. "We haven't seen anything new indicating any aggressive steps to move forward in that way."

Asked whether he believed Assad was heeding Western warnings against using chemical weapons, Panetta said: "I like to believe he's got the message. We've made it pretty clear. Others have as well."

He noted that the Assad regime is coming under increasing pressure from rebel forces.

"Our concern is that if they feel like the regime is threatened with collapse, they might resort to these kinds of weapons," he said.

Syria is believed to have a formidable arsenal of chemical weapons, including sarin and mustard gas, although its exact dimensions are not known. Syria is not a signatory to the 1997 Convention on Chemical Weapons and thus is not obliged to permit international inspection.

The government in Damascus has been careful not to confirm it has chemical weapons, while insisting it would never use such weapons against its own people.

"Syria doesn't own any internationally banned weapons, whether chemical, nuclear or biological," Syrian Information Minister Omran al-Zoubi told Al-Manar TV, a station owned by the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, which is a Syrian ally. "Even if Syria possessed such weapons, it will not use them for moral reasons."

He said Western statements are similar to those that preceded the 2003 invasion of Iraq that accused Saddam Hussein of hiding weapons of mass destruction. After the U.S.-led invasion, no such weapons were found.

The Obama administration is getting ready to tighten its ties to Syria's main opposition group, the newly formed Syrian National Coalition for Opposition and Revolutionary Forces, at an international conference on the crisis in Morocco this week. The move will pave the way for greater U.S. support for those seeking to oust Assad while the administration tries to blunt the influence of extremists.

Jabhat al-Nusra is a shadowy group with an al-Qaida-style ideology whose fighters come from Libya, Tunisia, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, the Balkans and elsewhere. Many are veterans of previous wars who came to Syria for what they consider a new "jihad" or "holy war" against Assad.

But several hundred fighters from Jabhat al-Nusra ? Arabic for "the Support Front" ? have also been a valued addition to rebel ranks in the grueling battle for control of Aleppo. The group also has claimed responsibility for suicide bombings on Syrian government targets.

Jabhat al-Nusra is the largest grouping of foreign jihadis in Syria, and the rebels say they number about 300 fighters in Aleppo, as well as branches in neighboring Idlib province, the city of Homs and Damascus. U.S. and Iraqi officials also have said they believe members of al-Qaida's branch in Iraq have crossed the border to join the fight against Assad.

Also Tuesday, the U.N. refugee agency said the number of Syrian refugees registered by the United Nations in the Middle East and North Africa has surpassed half a million.

The figure is climbing by more than 3,000 per day, UNHCR said. According to UNHCR's latest figures from Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Turkey and North Africa, more than 500,000 Syrians are either already registered or in the process of being registered.

___

Associated Press National Security Writer Robert Burns contributed to this report from Kuwait City. AP writer Barbara Surk contributed to this report from Sidon, Lebanon.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2012-12-11-Syria/id-06c9f8bb2b5e4612a9c60922b4ca1cf2

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