scrofulous chow: November 2012

Friday, November 30, 2012

Plextor PX-256M5P

Historically, Plextor has been known for its optical drives, not solid-state storage. The company first made a name for itself in the early days of CD and DVD burning, when the quality of drives and blank media could vary enormously from company to company. Plextor's drives offered a welcome respite from such problems, and the company has extended its product lineup into SSDs as well. The PX-256M5P is the first SSD to use Marvell's 88SS9187 SSD controller, and it packs a bevy of high-end capabilities. Its random read/write performance is significantly better than some of the other SSDs we've tested, but it's also more expensive.

The drive contains 512MB of DDR3 cache, and integrates a dual-core Marvell CPU to ensure maximum performance, even in non-optimal test conditions. The M5P is one of the first drives to use Toshiba's next-generation 19nm Toggle Flash, and the new controller adds the ability to queue TRIM commands without needing to pause regular operations to perform garbage collection. The M5P family consists of 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB entries, all in a 2.5-inch form factor. All three include a substantial DRAM cache, from 256MB of DDR3 on the 128GB drive to 768MB on the 512GB unit. We tested the Plextor M5 Pro on an Intel DZ77GA-70K motherboard with a Core i7-3770K.

Plextor claims the M5 Pro can hit read speeds of up to 96,000 IOPS and sequential read/write speeds of 5 40MBps and 450MBps, respectively. Our performance tests bear those figures out; the M5 Pro may be the first SSD to use Marvell's new controller, but it won't be the last. In AS-SSD, the M5 Pro handily beat OCZ's 512GB Vertex 4 and 480GB Vertex 3 in every test. Its sequential read performance topped out at 504MBps compared to 492GMBps for the Vertex 4 and 429.3MBps for the Vertex 3. Sequential read/write tests measure a drive's sustained performance over contiguous blocks of data and are most relevant to people who frequently copy large files.

In AS-SSD's 4K 64-thread read/write tests, the M5 Pro put up scores of 362MBps read and 310MBps write. The Vertex 4 managed a reasonable second-place (275MBps read, 218MBps write), but the Vertex 3 could only manage 257MBps and 149MBps in the same tests. The PX-256MP delivers the random write performance that Plextor promised as well. SiSoft Sandra's random tests show the M5 Pro hitting 520.34MBps read. 432MBps write. The Vertex 3 matches the PX-256MP's read performance at 516MBps (the OCZ Vertex 4 hit 427KMBps), but neither OCZ drive can match the random write performance. The OCZ Vertex 4 manages a little more than half, at 218.2MBps; the OCZ Vertex 3 tops out at 149MBps.

In PCMark 7, the results were closer, but still favored the Plextor SSD. The PX-256MP was our top performer, with a score of 5,458, compared with 5,147 for the OCZ Vertex 4 and 5,430 for the OCZ Vertex 3. PCMark's storage tests are designed to replicate real-world data sets and application usage patterns; OS boot times, file copies, random data access, and streaming data workloads are all part of the final score.

This leaves the drive's price/performance ratio for consideration, and here the PX-256MP is on shakier ground. At $249 for a 256GB drive, it's priced well above the OCZ Vertex 3 & Vertex 4, which are currently $199 and $184, respectively, at NewEgg.

Whether the PX-256MP is worth the cash may depend on what you plan to do with it. Not all storage controllers support TRIM, and Plextor claims that the PX-256MP's performance remains excellent even when the drive is "dirty " (i.e., has blocks of unused storage that need to be erased) Those with highly random write workloads might also want to give the drive serious consideration; it's far faster than the OCZ Vertex 3 and Vertex 4 in certain specific tests.

If you're looking for a general-purpose SSD, however, the $50 premium of the Plextor PX-256M5P may not be worth it. Plextor's five-year warranty is good, but other companies match it on this front. With multiple drives slipping well below the $1/GB mark, Plextor may trim prices sooner rather than later.

COMPARISON TABLE
Compare the Plextor PX-256M5P with several other solid-state drives side by side.

More hard drive reviews:
??? Western Digital My Book (4TB)
??? Seagate Backup Plus Desktop Drive for Mac (3TB)
??? Seagate Backup Plus Portable Drive for Mac (1TB)
??? LaCie Little Big Disk Thunderbolt (1TB SSD)
??? Western Digital My Book Thunderbolt Duo
?? more

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ziffdavis/pcmag/~3/HtWwXKfcJSw/0,2817,2412685,00.asp

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caprice sacrilege: EDU702 Research Methodology: References ...

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Chang, M. (2004, July). Why some graduates are more marketable than others: Employers? perspective. Paper presented in a Workshop on Enhancing Graduate Employability in a Globalised Economy, Economic Planning Unit, Malaysia.

Chapman, K. (2010, march 7). Earning a place. Retrieves September 17, 2010, from the Star Online: http://thestar.com.my?education/story.asp?file=/2010/3/7/education/5782565&sec=education
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Hoyle, E. (1986). Policies of School Management, Suffolk. The press ltd.

Jailani, Wan Mohd Rashid, Noraini & Wahid (2005). Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) from Malaysia Perspective. Paper presented at 2nd International TT-TVET EU-Asia-Link Project Meeting, VEDC Malang.

Kyoshaba Martha, 2009. Factors Affecting Academic Performance of Undergraduate Students at UgandaChristianUniversity.

Lleras, Christy. 2008. ?Do Skills and Behaviors in High School Matter? The Contribution of Noncognitive Factors in Explaining Differences in Educational Attainment and Earnings.? Social Science Research 37 (3): 888-902.

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has 60,000 graduates unemployed. (2005). Retrieved from http://www.malaysia-today.net/Blog-e/2005/11/malaysia-has-60000-undergraduates.htm

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Nabi, G. R. and Bagley, D. (1998) Graduates? perceptions of transferable personal skills and future career preparation in the UK, Career Development International, 3(1), 31-39.
Bennett, N., Dunne, E. and Carr?, C. (2000) Skills Development in Higher Education and Employment. Buckingham: The Society for Research into Higher Education and Open University Press.
Nathan, S. and Dunn, K.A. (1997). Business Press Articles and Higher Level Learning Skills in Accounting Courses. Education & Training. 39, 4/5, 189-194
Noorlaila Yunus, Salina Noranee and Rohana Ehsan, 2004.The Perception of Employer towards Office Management (OM) Industrial Trainees? Performance during the Internship: A Case Study of Public/Private Organizations in Klang Valley.

Secretary?s Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills. (1992, April). Learning a Living: A blueprint for High Performance. Executive Summary. A SCANS Report for America 2000. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Labor.

O?Connor, M. C. & Paunonen, S. V. (2007). Big Five personality predictors of post-secondary academic performance. Personality and Individual Differences.
Raymond Young and Chadi Aoun, 2008. Generic Skills to Reduce Failure Rates in an Undergraduate Accounting Information System Course. Asian Social Science, Vol. 4, 10, October 2008. www.ccsenet.prg/journal.html

Santrock, J. W. (2006). Educational Psychology (rd ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.

Thelma Young Monk, 1998. Variables Associated with Academic Achievement of African-American Males in Four-year Undergraduate Educational Institutions: A Synthesis is Studies. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and StateUniversity.

The New Straits Times. (2006, March 21). Experts: Go back to drawing board. Kuala Lumpur

Usoff, C. & Feldmann, D. (1998). Accounting Students? Perceptions of Important Skills For Career Success. Journal of Education for Business. 73, 4, 215-220

Worthington, R. L., & Juntunen, C. L. (1997). Vocational Development of Non-College-bound??

Youth: Counseling Psychology and the School-to-Work Transition of Movement. The Counseling Psychologist, 25(2), 23-24.
30,000 grads in unsuitable jobs (2012,May 10). New Straits Times. Retrieved from http://www.mohr.gov.my/mygoveg/extras/isunov05.htm#nst101105

Source: http://edu725nurule.blogspot.com/2012/11/references.html

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Turn tax strategies upside down: year-end planning ? Business ...

man planning for taxes year-end tax planning in 2012 is topsy-turvy.

Strategy: Throw out the traditional game plan. Usually, tax pros advise high-income tax??payers to push taxable income from the current year into the following year in order to delay taxes. Con????cur??rently, they may pull de??duc??tions from next year into the current year to offset income in the current year and lower the tax bill for that year.

This basic ?push-and-pull? strategy works well in most years. But there?s a major tax storm brewing on the horizon. Unless Congress acts soon to stem the tide, taxes will go up next year, while certain tax breaks will be curtailed or eliminated. Plus, taxpayers face two new Medicare surtaxes on certain types of income under the ?Affordable Care Act? (ACA), beginning in 2013.

Crazy as it sounds, this year you might want to do the exact opposite of what you normally do at the end of the year. In other words, the best approach might be to...(register to read more)

To read the rest of this article you must first register with your email address.

Source: http://www.businessmanagementdaily.com/33602/turn-tax-strategies-upside-down-year-end-planning

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Thursday, November 29, 2012

The X Factor Recap: A Frey-ed Mess

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2012/11/the-x-factor-recap-a-frey-ed-mess/

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Chinese police plan to board ships in disputed seas

BEIJING (Reuters) - Police in the southern Chinese island province of Hainan will board and search ships which enter into what China considers its territorial waters in the disputed South China Sea, state media said on Thursday, a move likely to add to tensions.

The South China Sea is Asia's biggest potential military trouble spot with several Asian countries claiming sovereignty.

New rules, which come into effect on January 1, will allow Hainan police to board and seize control of foreign ships which "illegally enter" Chinese waters and order them to change course or stop sailing, the official China Daily reported.

"Activities such as entering the island province's waters without permission, damaging coastal defense facilities and engaging in publicity that threatens national security are illegal," the English-language newspaper said.

"If foreign ships or crew members violate regulations, Hainan police have the right to take over the ships or their communication systems, under the revised regulations," it added.

The Philippines, which also has claims to parts of the South China Sea, said the move could violate international maritime laws allowing the right of passage and accused Beijing of trying to escalate tension in the area.

"That cannot be. That's a violation of the international passage (rights)," Marine Lieutenant-General Juancho Sabban, commander of military forces in the western Philippines, which covers the contested area.

"That's too much. While we are exerting all peaceful means, that is what they are doing."

Raul Hernandez, a spokesman for the Philippines' foreign ministry, was more circumspect, saying the government was still checking the reports.

"If it is true, it will pose a concern to the Philippines and the international community," he added.

China's assertion of sovereignty over the stretch of water off its south coast and to the east of mainland Southeast Asia has set it directly against Vietnam and the Philippines, while Brunei, Taiwan and Malaysia also lay claim to parts.

China occasionally detains fishermen, mostly from Vietnam, whom it accuses of operating illegally in Chinese waters, though generally frees them quite quickly.

Hainan, which likes to style itself as China's answer to Hawaii or Bali with its resorts and beaches, is the province responsible for administering the country's extensive claims to the myriad islets and atolls in the South China Sea.

The newspaper said that the government will also send new maritime surveillance ships to join the fleet responsible for patrolling the South China Sea, believed to be rich in oil and gas and straddling shipping lanes between East Asia and Europe and the Middle East.

The stakes have risen in the area as the U.S. military shifts its attention and resources back to Asia, emboldening its long-time ally the Philippines and former foe Vietnam to take a tougher stance against Beijing.

China has further angered the Philippines and Vietnam by issuing new passports showing a map depicting China's claims to the disputed waters.

(Reporting by Ben Blanchard in Beijing and Manuel Mogato in Manila; Editing by Jonathan Thatcher)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/chinese-police-plan-board-vessels-disputed-seas-034120436.html

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Review: Samsung Galaxy Note II Smartphone

If you must have a gigantic smartphone, the Note II is a solid performer. But the problems of the first-generation Note -- unwieldy size, messy software, gimmicky stylus -- still haunt the sequel.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/GearFactor/~3/0p-6OI6Y5OQ/

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Red Dawn Movie Review | Entertainment | Know your city

Director:?Dan Bradley

Cast:?Chris Hemsworth, Josh Peck, Josh Hutcherson, Adrianne Palicki, Connor Cruise, Jeffrey Dean Morgan

b! Says:?**1/2

Red Dawn is a Junior Expendables movie in disguise

?Red Dawn? is a mindless entertainer, featuring plenty of coming-of-age beefcake and boom boom. Think of it as a Junior Expendables ? where aeging, alpha superstars are replaced with pimply teenagers doing what they do best ? huff and puff till they make a million teenage girls feel faint. The movie may prove a little too ?pretty boy? for fans of the original 1984 movie, but it?s still a fun ride.

A sleepy American town receives a nasty jolt when the North Koreans launch a surprise invasion. As enemy paratroopers fall from the skies, a bunch of youngsters manage to escape arrest. The group consists of jaded marine (Chris Hemsworth), his love interest (Adrianne Palicki), his little brother (Josh Peck) and others (Josh Hutcherson, Connor Cruise, Steve Lenz). As more refugees add to their group and some see their parents brutally murdered, the gang christen themselves the Wolverines and decide to fight back, in the hope that more will rebel and overthrow Korean rule.

The movie has as many adrenaline filled moments as it does those that will make you roll your eyes. These kids might be at war, but still find time to make goo-goo eyes at each other and even break out the beer to celebrate a bloody skirmish. There are lapses in logic aplenty and in true Hollywood fashion, the first casualties of the group are black and Hispanic characters (Connor Cruise lasts a little longer and he probably has to thank celebrity parents, Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman, for it). Still, some of the renegade attacks and the invasion sequence (see video below) are well played out and with a running time of less than two hours, it?s ends before turning intolerable.

As for the actors, Hemsworth hasn?t seemed to have shaken off his Asgardian accent yet, but still makes for a dishy ringleader. The other stars (read: teenage pin-up sensations), that include Hutcherson (The Hunger Games) and Peck (Drake & Josh), are less impressive.

?Red Dawn? will please action buffs with low standards. The rest had best stay away.

Source: http://know.burrp.com/arts-entertainment/red-dawn-%E2%80%93-movie-review/46822

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Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Energy efficient windows ? Home Improvement: House Plans ...

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Daily news roundup: November 26, 2012

Another day full of Android news that no sane person could keep up with. No worries, we're here to help. Here's a quick recap of what you might have missed.

The devices in the news

The software that runs on them

Other news you won't want to miss

Told ya it was a bunch of stuff! We'll see you tomorrow, bright and early.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/g_RRlCv8Ny0/story01.htm

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Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Mursi opponents rally in Cairo's Tahrir

CAIRO (Reuters) - Opponents of President Mohamed Mursi rallied in Cairo's Tahrir Square for a fifth day on Tuesday, stepping up calls to scrap a decree they say threatens Egypt with a new era of autocracy.

The protest called by leftist, liberal and socialist groups marks an escalation of the worst crisis since the Muslim Brotherhood politician was elected in June and exposes the deep divide between newly empowered Islamists and their opponents.

The crowd is expected to grow in the late afternoon but hundreds were already in the square after many camped overnight. Police fired tear gas and organizers urged demonstrators not to clash with Interior Ministry security forces.

One person - a Muslim Brotherhood activist - has been killed and hundreds more injured in violence set off by a move that has also triggered a rebellion by judges and battered confidence in an economy struggling to recover from two years of turmoil.

Mursi's opponents have accused him of behaving like a modern-day pharaoh. The United States, a big benefactor to Egypt's military, has voiced its concerns, worried by more turbulence in a country that has a peace treaty with Israel.

The protest will test the extent to which Egypt's non-Islamist opposition can rally support. The Islamists have consistently beaten more secular parties at the ballot box in elections held since Hosni Mubarak was toppled in February, 2011.

"We don't want a dictatorship again. The Mubarak regime was a dictatorship. We had a revolution to have justice and freedom," said Ahmed Husseini, 32, who was speaking early on Tuesday in Tahrir Square.

Activists have been camped out in Tahrir Square, scene of the historic uprising against Mubarak, since Friday, blocking it to traffic and clashing intermittently with riot police in nearby streets.

The decree issued by Mursi on Thursday expanded his powers and protected his decisions from judicial review until the election of a new parliament expected in the first half of 2013.

The New York-based Human Rights Watch said it gives Mursi more power than the military junta from which he assumed power.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon noted judges had challenged the decree in remarks to Austria's Die Presse, adding: "But I have also noted that Mursi wants to resolve the problem in a dialogue. I will encourage him to continue to do so."

AVOIDING CONFRONTATION

In a bid to ease tensions with judges outraged at the step, Mursi has assured the country's highest judicial authority that elements of the decree giving his decisions immunity would apply only to matters of "sovereign" importance. Though that should limit it to issues such as a declaration of war, experts said there was room for a broader interpretation.

In another step to avoid more confrontation, the Muslim Brotherhood cancelled a mass protest it had called in Cairo for Tuesday in support of a decree that has also won the backing of more hardline Islamist groups.

But there has been no retreat on other elements of the decree, including a stipulation that the Islamist-dominated body writing a new constitution be protected from legal challenge.

Its popular legitimacy undermined by the withdrawal of most of its non-Islamist members, the assembly faces a raft of court cases from plaintiffs who claim it was formed illegally.

The new system of government to be laid out in the constitution is one of the issues at the heart of the crisis.

"The president of the republic must put his delusions to one side and undertake the only step capable of defusing the crisis: cancelling the despotic declaration," liberal commentator and activist Amr Hamzawy wrote in his column in al-Watan newspaper.

"We asked for the cancellation of the decree and that did not happen," said Mona Amer, spokeswoman for the opposition movement Popular Current, part of a coalition of parties that are joining forces to challenge the Mursi decree.

Mursi issued the decree a day after his administration won international praise for brokering an end to eight days of violence between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

The decree was seen as targeting in part a legal establishment still largely unreformed from Mubarak's era, when the Brotherhood was outlawed.

MEETING HALF WAY

Rulings from an array of courts this year have dealt a series of blows to the Brotherhood, leading to the dissolution of the first constitutional assembly and the parliament elected a year ago. The Brotherhood had a major say in both.

The judiciary blocked an attempt by Mursi to reconvene the Brotherhood-led parliament after his election victory. It also stood in the way of his attempt to sack the prosecutor general, a Mubarak hold over, in October.

In his decree, Mursi gave himself the power to sack that prosecutor and appoint a new one. In open defiance of Mursi, some judges are refusing to acknowledge that step.

But in a sign that other judges were willing to meet Mursi half way, the Supreme Judicial Council, the nation's highest judicial body, proposed Mursi limit the scope of decisions that would be immune from judicial review to "sovereign matters", language the presidential spokesman said Mursi backed.

"The president said he had the utmost respect for the judicial authority and its members," spokesman Yasser Ali told reporters in announcing the agreement on Monday.

Mursi's administration has defended his decree as an effort to speed up reforms and complete a democratic transformation. Leftists, liberals, socialists and others say it has exposed the autocratic impulses of a man once jailed by Mubarak.

Before the president's announcement, leftist politician Hamdeen Sabahy said protests would continue until the decree was scrapped and said Tahrir would be a model of an "Egypt that will not accept a new dictator because it brought down the old one".

Mursi has repeatedly stated the decree will only stay in place until a new parliament is elected - something that can only happen once the constitution is written and passed in a popular referendum.

Though both Islamists and their opponents broadly agree that the judiciary needs reform, his rivals oppose Mursi's methods.

(Additional reporting by Seham Eloraby in Cairo and Michael Shields in Vienna; Editing by Anna Willard)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/mursi-opponents-rally-cairos-tahrir-091805404.html

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Thin Film Flexible Solar Panels Are The Soon To Be Future Of ...

Thin Film Flexible Solar Panels Are The Soon To Be Future Of Personal Solar

An unprecedented convergence of private technology is soon coming that is going to transform the way persons operate, play and employ their individual electronics . Till incredibly not too long ago , individuals hadn?t ever incredibly heard of developing private hotspots for wireless online access. The technology existed , but was commonly relatively pricey . These days, it really is being extremely preferred and is stretching across the nation . This new breakthrough , with each other with private solar technology, is set to alter how men and women employ their individual electronics and exactly where and how they function.

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Source: http://www.techmobiz.com/thin-film-flexible-solar-panels-are-the-soon-to-be-future-of-personal-solar.html

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Galapagos Tortoise 'Lonesome George' may have had relatives after all

Genetic samples showed that some tortoises recently DNA tested were hybrids that had a parent like Lonesome George from the subspecies Chelonoidis abingdoni.

By Megan Gannon,?LiveScience News Editor / November 26, 2012

A giant tortoise named 'Lonesome George' is seen in the Galapagos islands, an archipelago off Ecuador's Pacific coast in 2008. Lonesome George, the late reptile prince of the Galapagos Islands, may be dead, but scientists now say he may not be the last giant tortoise of his species after all.

Galapagos National Park/AP

Enlarge

The death of Gal?pagos tortoise Lonesome George this summer was thought to mark the extinction of a subspecies, but a new study hints that the reptile may not have been the last of his kind after all.

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Researchers from Yale University recently trekked to the northern tip of Isabella Island, the largest of the Gal?pagos, and collected DNA from more than 1,600?giant tortoises. The genetic samples showed that 17 of these tortoises were hybrids that had a parent like?Lonesome George?from the subspecies?Chelonoidis abingdoni.

What's more, five of those hybrids were juveniles, suggesting purebred?C. abingdoni?tortoises may still be roaming a remote part of the island.

"Our goal is to go back this spring to look for surviving individuals of this species and to collect hybrids," Yale ecology researcher Gisella Caccone said in a statement. "We hope that with a selective breeding program, we can reintroduce this tortoise species to its native home."

But even if examples of?C. abingdoni?are found on Isabella Island, how did they get there? Lonesome George's species is native to?Pinta Island, 37 miles (60 kilometers) across the seas from the Volcano Wolf area on Isabella Island where the hybrid samples were collected.

These tortoises are massive, reaching nearly 900 pounds (408 kilograms) and almost 6 feet (1.8 meters) in length, and the researchers don't think ocean currents carried them between the islands. The team does suspect, however, that 19th-century sailors did.

Volcano Wolf is nearby Banks Bay, where naval officers and whalers marooned giant tortoises picked up from other islands after they were no longer needed for food. Researchers have previously found other hybrid turtles in the region with genetic ancestry of another tortoise,?C. elephantopus, which was thought to be lost. This species was native to Floreana Island, where it was hunted to extinction some 150 years ago. But the new evidence suggests several members must have been brought to Isabella Island, where they mated with?C. becki?tortoises.

The new findings are detailed in the journal Biological Conservation.

Follow LiveScience on Twitter?@livescience. We're also on?Facebook?&?Google+.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/loHlWzNT1g0/Galapagos-Tortoise-Lonesome-George-may-have-had-relatives-after-all

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Monday, November 26, 2012

'Twilight,' Bond, 'Lincoln' lead record weekend

LOS ANGELES (AP) ? Bella Swan, James Bond and Abe Lincoln have combined to lift Hollywood to record Thanksgiving revenue at the box office.

Kristen Stewart's finale as Bella in "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn ? Part 2" was No. 1 again with $64 million during the five-day holiday stretch that began Wednesday, according to studio estimates Sunday.

Daniel Craig's Bond adventure "Skyfall" came in at No. 2 with $51 million, while Daniel Day-Lewis and Steven Spielberg's Civil War saga "Lincoln" finished third with $34.1 million.

According to box-office tracker Hollywood.com, the three films paced Hollywood to an all-time Thanksgiving week best of about $290 million from Wednesday to Sunday.

That tops the previous record of $273 million over Thanksgiving in 2009, when "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" led the weekend.

This Thanksgiving also was a huge 25 percent jump from a year ago, when domestic revenues were a weak $232 million as some big holiday releases fizzled.

With a strong December lineup ahead, Hollywood has resumed its record revenue pace for the year after a brief box-office lull in late summer and early fall.

Domestic revenues for 2012 are at $9.75 billion, putting Hollywood potentially on track for its first $11 billion year, which would beat the 2009 record of $10.6 billion, said Hollywood.com analyst Paul Dergarabedian.

"We're barreling toward a record-breaking box-office year," Dergarabedian said. "It's built on the back of just a lot of really strong movies that have come out over the past few weekends. It bodes very well for the rest of the holidays."

The "Twilight" finale, "Skyfall" and "Lincoln" finished in the same top-three rankings for the second-straight weekend as new releases were unable to dislodge the holdovers.

Released by Lionsgate's Summit Entertainment banner, "Breaking Dawn ? Part 2," pulled in $43.1 million from Friday to Sunday, raising its domestic total to $227 million. The movie added $97.4 million overseas to bring its international total to $350.8 million and its worldwide take to $577.7 million.

Sony's "Skyfall" also topped $200 million domestically, ringing up $36 million for the three-day weekend to put its U.S. total at $221.7 million. With $41.3 million more overseas, "Skyfall" raised its international revenues to $568.4 million and its worldwide sales to $790.1 million.

"Lincoln," a DreamWorks film distributed by Disney, took in $25 million over the weekend to lift its domestic revenue to $62.2 million.

Leading the newcomers was Paramount and DreamWorks Animation's tale "Rise of the Guardians" at No. 4 with $24 million for the weekend and $32.6 million since opening Wednesday.

Based on William Joyce's "Guardians of Childhood" books, "Rise of the Guardians" gathers Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy and other mythical beings as a team of heroes battling an evil overlord.

Close behind at No. 5 was director Ang Lee's shipwreck saga "Life of Pi" at No. 5 with $22 million over the weekend. The 20th Century Fox release has taken in $30.2 million domestically since its Wednesday debut and added $17.5 million in four Asian markets.

"Life of Pi" was adapted from Yann Martel's best-selling novel about an Indian youth adrift on a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger. Many fans considered the introspective novel impossible to film, but Lee has charmed audiences and critics with an inspiring survival story told through dazzling 3-D images.

The weekend's other new wide release, a remake of the 1980s U.S.-invasion tale "Red Dawn," opened at No. 7 with $14.6 million, raising its total to $22 million since debuting Wednesday.

"Red Dawn" sat on the shelf for three years while studio backer MGM went through bankruptcy, with distributor FilmDistrict eventually picking it up for domestic release. The movie's cast includes Chris Hemsworth ("Thor") and Josh Hutcherson ("The Hunger Games") in a story of young guerrillas battling North Korean invaders.

In limited release, Fox Searchlight's "Hitchcock" opened solidly with about $300,000 in 17 theaters. The movie stars Anthony Hopkins as Alfred Hitchcock in a behind-the-scenes story of the making of "Psycho."

The weekend's overall strength came from a broad range of films that clicked with various audiences, from action and family fare to thoughtful drama.

"This is a marketplace that has something for everyone," said Chris Aronson, head of distribution for 20th Century Fox. "You have something deeper like 'Life of Pi,' yet you have a very successful sequel in 'Twilight' at the same time. Adult bio-drama, if you will, in 'Lincoln,' and you have Bond. That's the secret to a very successful and balanced marketplace."

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Hollywood.com. Where available, latest international numbers are also included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.

1. "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn ? Part 2," $43.1 million ($97.4 million international).

2. "Skyfall," $36 million ($41.3 million international).

3. "Lincoln," $25 million.

4. "Rise of the Guardians," $24 million.

5. "Life of Pi," $22 million ($17.5 million international)

6. "Wreck-It Ralph," $16.8 million ($2.1 million international).

7. "Red Dawn," $14.6 million.

8. "Flight," $8.6 million.

9. "Silver Linings Playbook," $4.6 million.

10. "Argo," $3.9 million.

___

Online:

http://www.hollywood.com

http://www.rentrak.com

___

Universal and Focus are owned by NBC Universal, a unit of Comcast Corp.; Sony, Columbia, Sony Screen Gems and Sony Pictures Classics are units of Sony Corp.; Paramount is owned by Viacom Inc.; Disney, Pixar and Marvel are owned by The Walt Disney Co.; Miramax is owned by Filmyard Holdings LLC; 20th Century Fox and Fox Searchlight are owned by News Corp.; Warner Bros. and New Line are units of Time Warner Inc.; MGM is owned by a group of former creditors including Highland Capital, Anchorage Advisors and Carl Icahn; Lionsgate is owned by Lions Gate Entertainment Corp.; IFC is owned by AMC Networks Inc.; Rogue is owned by Relativity Media LLC.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/twilight-bond-lincoln-lead-record-weekend-164713039--finance.html

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Knight CEO plays down deal talk

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Knight Capital Group , currently in talks with at least two firms on the possible sale of its largest business unit, is well capitalized and would only pursue a deal if it created value for its shareholders and clients, Knight's chief executive said in an internal memo.

The electronic trading firm has been approached by rivals Getco LLC and Virtu Financial LLC about its market-making operation, which uses computer models to match buy and sell orders in stocks and options, executing around 10 percent of U.S. volume, according to people familiar with the talks.

"To that end, our board of directors and management team regularly consider opportunities that are potentially strategic or collaborative in nature to enhance shareholder value and improve our offering to clients," Knight CEO Tom Joyce said in a note to employees on Saturday, seen by Reuters. The talks were first reported by the Wall Street Journal.

Knight was forced to take on new investors following a software glitch on August 1 that unleashed a flood of orders to the New York Stock Exchange, resulting in a massive position Knight had to unload at a loss, nearly bankrupting the firm.

In October, Knight posted a third-quarter loss of $389.9 million. But Joyce said the company was better capitalized than it was before the glitch - a point he reiterated in the memo to employees.

"Given our recapitalization, rapid client re-engagement and rebound in trade volumes, there is no need for Knight to pursue a partnership, transaction or any other undertaking," he said. "We would only move forward with such an initiative if it makes strategic sense for our shareholders and our business."

Getco and Virtu spokespeople have declined comment on the reports.

Getco was one of the firms involved in the $400 million rescue of Knight in August, led by Jefferies Group . Others included Blackstone Group LP , Stephens Inc, and financial services companies TD Ameritrade Holding Corp and Stifel Financial .

As part of the deal, Getco investor General Atlantic, as well as Blackstone and TD Ameritrade, were given seats on Knight's board.

Aside from being a top U.S. market maker, Knight runs bond and foreign exchange trading platforms and owns a reverse mortgage lender. It also holds a stake of about 20 percent in Direct Edge, the No. 4 U.S. cash equities exchange.

(Reporting By John McCrank; Editing by Theodore d'Afflisio)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/knight-ceo-plays-down-deal-talk-193208757--sector.html

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Cyber Monday: Some hot deals are already available

Cyber Monday has started early at some retailers, like Sears and Kohl's. For the best deals, you may have to wait for Cyber Monday.?

By Laurent Belsie,?Staff writer / November 25, 2012

In this photo taken earlier this month, Daniel Holmquist raises his forklift to the top shelf of the Sierra Trading Post Fulfillment Center's racks to a pick a product off the shelves at the facility in Cheyenne, Wyo. Some Cyber Monday deals are already available.

Kyle Grantham/Star-Tribune/AP/File

Enlarge

Cyber Monday ? the biggest online shopping day of the year ? starts tomorrow, but many stores aren't waiting. Kohl's and Amazon are advertising Cyber Monday deals already. Other stores are simply extending their Black Friday sales a few extra days.

Skip to next paragraph

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Bomb hits Pakistani Shiite procession, kills 5

DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Pakistan (AP) ? A bombing claimed by the Taliban killed at least five people and wounded some 90 others at a Shiite religious procession in northwestern Pakistan on Sunday, police said, as the minority Muslim sect observes the annual Ashoura holiday.

At least 30 have now died in five attacks on Shiites claimed by the Pakistani Taliban over the past five days, while about 100 were wounded in the run up to the holiday, which commemorates the 7th century death of the Prophet Muhammad's grandson. The schism between Sunni and Shiite Muslims dates back to that time.

Sunday's explosion went off as hundreds of Shiites were passing through the main intersection of the city of Dera Ismail Khan, area police official Abdul Sattar said. An initial investigation suggested a bomb was planted near a shop along the procession route, he added.

Several of injured are in serious condition, said local hospital official Dr. Faridullah Mahsud, adding that three members of a paramilitary unit providing security were among the injured. Mahsud confirmed the five deaths.

The Pakistani Taliban, a Sunni extremist group, frequently attacks Shiites, who they consider heretics. Ashoura ceremonies are a prime targets, since they draw large crowds that march in processions to mourn the martyred Imam Hussein.

Qais Abbas, a Shiite survivor, said the procession was in the Chogla intersection of the city when the bomb went off. One of his relatives was in critical condition, he said, but he and others were moving the wounded to other hospitals that were better equipped.

"Here we are not getting proper care for them, there are not enough doctors or medicines," he said.

The same city was hit by a similar bombing on Saturday, which killed seven and injured 30. On Wednesday night, a Taliban suicide bomber struck a Shiite Muslim procession in Rawalpindi, a garrison city near Islamabad, killing 17 people. Also Wednesday, the Taliban set off two bombs outside a Shiite mosque in the southern city of Karachi, killing one person and wounding 15 others. Pakistani Taliban have claimed responsibility for all the attacks, with spokesman Ehasanullah Ehsan saying by telephone that the group will not relent and "looks forward to more ahead."

Authorities have deployed thousands of additional police across the country to beef up security for the holy day. Mobile phone service has been shut down in all the major cities to prevent such bombings, which officials say often use cellular phones as remote detonators.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/bomb-hits-pakistani-shiite-procession-kills-5-092931500.html

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Real estate notes | TribLIVE

By Sam Spatter

Published: Saturday, November 24, 2012, 8:57?p.m.
Updated 4 hours ago

? Pittsburgh City Council will hold a hearing Monday on a proposed zoning classification for Bakery Square in the Larimer-East Liberty area. The SP-9 (specially planned district) classification would be for Bakery Square and the Bakery Square 2.0 project across Penn Avenue, where Reizenstein School is. The hearing is in the Fifth Floor hearing room, City-County Building, 414 Grant St., Downtown.

? A hearing on a request from the Pittsburgh Housing Authority will be held by City Council at 2 p.m. Tuesday. The hearing involves construction of 300 townhomes to replace Addison Terrace public housing on 43 acres bounded by Devillers, Rose and Kirkpatrick streets and Bentley Drive in the Hill District. The development will include roads, utilities and a community building. There will be 184 townhouse units in the first phase.

? Charles Menzock will seek approval Thursday from the Pittsburgh Zoning Board of Adjustment to use a one-story structure at 1500 Chateu St., North Side, for a manufacturing and assembly operation. The Duetscher Sport Verin Von 1924 of Pittsburgh needs variances to use a one-story structure at 2461 Underwood St. as a club. Dah Partners LP wants to use 6814 Kelly St. for outdoor recreation and entertainment, and the corner of Hamilton and Dallas avenues, Homewood, for 71 parking spaces. Ethel Stubbs wants to use a portion of a lot at 7240 Hamilton Ave., Homewood, for outdoor hot dog sales. Abraham Jastin seeks approval for a three-story residential structure at 3247 Ward St., Oakland, that would have four units and a one-story, three-car garage.

? Eco-Structure Magazine has given PNC Financial Services Group an Evergreen Award for its sustainably designed 32-story headquarters Downtown, The Tower at PNC Plaza, a 781,000-square-foot building, is expected to be completed in 2015.

? Pittsburgh Public Market has a new restaurant, La Palapa Mexican Cuisine, operated by Jesus Martinez. He said, ?I wanted to open a window to the Mexican culture, cuisine and costumes through the delicious mix of smells and flavors of Mexican cuisine, just like we have them back home.?

? The Community Foundation of Fayette County is accepting applications from nonprofit agencies for the 2012 Growth Fund for five target areas ? Uniontown, Connellsville, Ohiopyle, Point Marion and Brownsville. A workshop for applicants will be held Dec. 3 from 2 to 4:30 p.m. at the Carnegie Library, 299 S. Pittsburgh St., Connellsville. To register, contact Renee Couser at rcouser@cffayettepa.org. Deadline for applications is Dec. 14 at 4 p.m.

? Nemacolin Woodlands Resort plans to convert an arcade building in Farmington to the Lady Luck Casino, a PGCB Resorts venue. The project includes three additions to the building and will feature slots, table games, poker room, Otis & Henry Restaurant, Lone Wolf bar and other elements. Linda Lerro is handling bids for the work.

? Millcraft Center in Washington has several new tenants: American Red Cross, Katharine Thompson Alberta and Southern Care Inc.

Real Estate Gallery

? Millcraft Investments of Washington County added Timothy Hazel as general counsel. The company welcomed Bob Lewis , assistant property manager; Valarie Wichterman , accounting manager; and Charlie Brandon , internal construction supervisor.

? Coldwell Banker Real Estate Services hired Bob Hollack as a commercial sales associate.

? Prudential Preferred Realty hired sales associates Yolanda Zaid , Butler; Mary Navarro and Rob Haus , Pittsburgh; Starr Mikan , East; Bill Bangor , Greensburg; Bob Nolan , Hampton; Casie Lutz , North Hills; David McKelvey , Laurisa Mathews and Kathy DePaul-Green , Peters; Erin Forster , Sewickley; Cheri Cwynar , Thomas Stoviak and Amanda Wydra , West.

Sam Spatter is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-320-7843 or sspatter@tribweb.com.

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Source: http://triblive.com/business/realestate/2987137-74/pittsburgh-building-hearing-estate-real-square-structure-bakery-bob-county

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Violence in cities; Mubarak deja vu?

CAIRO (Reuters) - Angry youths hurled rocks at security forces and burned a police truck as thousands gathered in central Cairo to protest at Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi's decision to grab sweeping new powers.

Police fired tear gas near Tahrir Square, heart of the 2011 uprising that toppled Hosni Mubarak at the height of the Arab Spring. Thousands demanded that Mursi should quit and accused him of launching a "coup".

There were also violent protests in Alexandria, Port Said and Suez.

Mursi on Thursday issued a decree that puts his decisions beyond any legal challenge until a new parliament is elected. Opponents immediately accused him of turning into a new Mubarak and hijacking the Egyptian revolution.

"This is the point of no return for Mursi. He has dug himself deeper in a hole and won't know how to get out of it," said Ahmed Saleh, an activist who said many would stay in Tahrir square until Mursi withdrew the decree.

"The people want to bring down the regime," shouted protesters in Tahrir, echoing a chant used in the uprising that forced Mubarak to step down.

The United States, the European Union and the United Nations expressed concern at Mursi's move.

Mursi's rivals condemned him as an autocratic pharaoh who wanted to impose his Islamist vision on Egypt.

The president's aides said the decree was intended to speed up a protracted transition to democracy that has been hindered by legal obstacles

"I am for all Egyptians," Mursi said on a stage outside the presidential palace, adding that he was working for social and economic stability and remained committed to the revolution.

JUDGES MEET

Egyptian judges will meet on Saturday to respond to Mursi's move, which put him above the judicial oversight. The judges could threaten to go on strike, which would bring the judiciary to a halt.

Some non-Islamist political parties called for a million-strong march on Tuesday to demand that Mursi rescinds his decree.

But Islamist parties, including the Building and Development Party, accused Mursi's opponents of undermining the democratic process that brought him to office.

"Those calling for the downfall of President Mohamed Mursi have rejected democracy because President Mursi has been democratically elected by popular will," the party said in a statement. Mursi's decree would "save the revolution from the remnants of Mubarak's regime", it said.

Buoyed by accolades from around the world for mediating a truce between Hamas and Israel in the Gaza Strip, Mursi on Thursday ordered that an Islamist-dominated assembly writing the new constitution could not be dissolved by legal challenges.

Mursi, an Islamist whose roots are in the Muslim Brotherhood, also gave himself wide powers that allowed him to sack the unpopular public prosecutor and opened the door for a retrial for Mubarak and his aides.

TURBULENCE AND TURMOIL

The president's decree has consolidated his power but looks set to polarize Egypt further, threatening more turmoil in a nation at the heart of the Arab Spring.

In Alexandria, north of Cairo, protesters ransacked an office of the Brotherhood's political party, burning books and chairs in the street. Supporters of Mursi and opponents clashed elsewhere in the city, leaving 12 injured.

A party building was attacked by stone-throwing protesters in Port Said, and demonstrators in Suez threw petrol bombs that burned banners outside the party building.

Although Washington has praised Egypt for its part in bringing Israelis and Palestinians to a ceasefire on Wednesday, it expressed reservations about Mursi's latest move.

"The decisions and declarations announced on November 22 raise concerns for many Egyptians and for the international community," State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said in a statement.

The European Union urged Mursi to respect the democratic process, while the United Nations expressed fears about human rights.

"The decree is basically a coup on state institutions and the rule of law that is likely to undermine the revolution and the transition to democracy," said Mervat Ahmed, an independent activist in Tahrir protesting against the decree.

Leading liberal Mohamed ElBaradei, who joined other politicians on Thursday night to demand the decree was withdrawn, wrote on his Twitter account that Mursi had "usurped all state powers and appointed himself Egypt's new pharaoh".

Almost two years after Mubarak was toppled and about five months since Mursi took office, Egypt has no permanent constitution, which must be in place before new parliamentary elections are held.

An assembly drawing up the constitution has yet to complete its work. Many liberals, Christians and others have walked out accusing the Islamists who dominate it of ignoring their voices over the extent that Islam should be enshrined in the new state.

(Additional reporting by Tom Miles in Geneva and Sebastian Moffett in Brussels; Editing by Giles Elgood)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/egypts-mursi-called-pharaoh-seizing-powers-124541106.html

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Saturday, November 24, 2012

Ala. deputy fatally shot, 2nd wounded in exchange

FAIRHOPE, Ala. (AP) ? An Alabama deputy sheriff was fatally shot and another deputy was critically wounded Friday during a confrontation with a man they were checking on, who was also killed, authorities said.

The Baldwin County Sheriff's Office said the deputies were responding to a call at about 4 p.m. CST Friday expressing concern about the welfare of Michael Jansen of the Fairhope area, about 20 miles southeast of Mobile. Authorities said in a news release that deputies encountered Jansen at his mobile home and "were engaged in an officer involved shooting" when they were both shot.

Both deputies were transported to USA Medical Center in Mobile, where Deputy Scott Ward was pronounced dead. The second deputy, whose name had not been released early Saturday, was in critical condition.

Authorities said Jansen, who was believed to be in his 50s, "was also shot during the exchange and he was pronounced dead at the scene."

Investigator Eric Winberg told The Associated Press that authorities were sorting out what happened and not immediately releasing further details.

The county's Major Crimes Task Force was investigating the shooting.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/ala-deputy-fatally-shot-2nd-wounded-exchange-031328546.html

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Observatory: For Dogs Learning Words, Size Matters

Toddlers just learning to speak associate words with shape, not size or texture. Anything shaped like a telephone, for instance, might be called ?phone.?

Sally Smith

Gable, a 5-year-old Border collie, understands more than 40 words.

But a new study suggests that dogs tend to associate words with size rather than shape.

This difference makes it ?very doubtful that there is a single mammalian feature in word learning,? said Emile van der Zee, a psychologist at the University of Lincoln in England and the first author of the study, which appears in the journal PLoS One. ?This study may help us understand why humans are more special when it comes to learning language.?

The researchers worked with Gable, a 5-year-old Border collie with an understanding of more than 40 words. The dog was shown a horseshoe-shaped object that the scientists called a ?dax.?

After some training, the dog began to identify other objects of similar size with the same name. After taking the object home for about a month, Gable also began to associate the word with other objects of similar texture, but never objects that were simply of similar shape.

The smell of the objects were kept neutral, but the results may differ if scent is incorporated, Dr. van der Zee said.

?That would be something that we would like to do in our future research,? he said, adding that he would like to repeat the study with other mammals, including pigs and primates.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/27/science/for-dogs-learning-words-size-matters.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

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Thai government invokes Internal Security Act ahead of anti ...

Translation into?English from the Foreign Ministry (Thai transcript is here) of Yingluck?s address to the nation that was broadcast last night after the invoking of the Internal Security Act for the Pitak Siam protest on November 24:

?My fellow Thai citizens,

I wish to inform you of the reasons behind the Government?s decision to announce the use of the Internal Security Act B.E. 2551 (2008) (ISA) in three districts of Bangkok, namely Phra Nakorn, Pomprab Sattrupai, and Dusit, and the setting up of the ?Law and Order Administrative Centre? under the command of the Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police. The ISA will be effective from 22 to 30 November 2012.

I would like to emphasize that the Government fully adhere to the democratic system of government with the monarchy as Head of State. The Government believes in freedom of expression and is convinced that the Parliament is the place for the people?s representatives to settle differences in viewpoints and resolve political conflicts. This is the appropriate channel in accordance with democratic rule. The Parliament also has the duty of monitoring the work of the Government, as demonstrated by the no-confidence motion that will take place in the next few days. On my part, I stand ready to listen to the diversity of view and offer my explanations in accordance with the democratic parliamentary system.

I became Prime Minister through free and fair elections by the people, under the democratic process with the monarchy as Head of State. I maintain that all the decisions that I and the Government have made, have been andwill be in the best interests of the Thai people. It is my duty to protect the revered institutions of the nation, religion, and the monarchy.

Being a democracy nevertheless, is not only about exercising ones? freedoms. The rule of law must also be observed and obeyed. Our society can co-exist only if there are rules and boundaries for the exercise of rights and freedoms. By exercising these rights and freedom, it must not impinge on the rights and freedoms of others. Indeed, it is our common duty to protect our democracy so that it is not threatened by those who prefer otherwise.

Public gatherings and protests, especially those arising from public grievances, is provided for and protected by the Constitution. But such public gatherings must be peaceful, without the use of weapons, and within the boundaries of the law. I am ready to listen to any ideas and proposals, and to work together to solve any problems.

But if a large number of people is mobilized by incitement, led by those who seek to overthrow an elected government and democratic rule ? which is against the Constitution ? and there is evidence that violence may be used to achieve those ends, then this is a case of national security. It is the government?s duty to preserve law and order, protect the lives and property of everyone ? including those who are protesting and those who are not involved. But most importantly, the government must protect the democratic system under the constitutional monarchy. This is the reason behind today?s Cabinet decision.

The measures that have been put in place in accordance with the law are to preempt and prevent any situations in a most timely and effective manner. The operations center is set up to ensure an integrated and coordinated approach among all agencies involved, should there arise any incidents that may threaten the wellbeing of civilians in any particular area. The measures and mechanisms to control the exercise of authorities will be proportionate to the situation. These measures are to be discontinued as soon as the situation improves.

Lastly, I wish to reiterate that, since I have been elected and inaugurated as the Prime Minister last year, I have remained committed to restoring peace and stability in Thailand. It is my firm belief that reducing political conflicts and promoting national reconciliation are vital to economic development and to enhance the lives of all Thais, regardless of their race, religion, social status, or political stance.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank you for the opportunity that you have given me over the past year. I am also grateful for all the support and encouragement that has been provided to me. I would like to pledge that I will not be discouraged and will continue to work to the best of my ability, as I intended and promised to all my fellow citizens.?

BP: ?As noted back in 2009, the power of ISA does not come from invoking it, but from the issuance of regulations as per Section 18 of the ISA:

Section 18. To facilitate the prevention, suppression, eradication, and solution or mitigation of an occurrence under Section 15, the Director with the approval of the Cabinet shall have the power to issue regulations as follows:(1) to have relevant state officials implement any action, or suspend any action;

(2) to prohibit entry or exit at a locality, building, or designated area during its operating hours, except with the permission of a competent official or being an exempted person;

(3) to prohibit exit from dwelling places within a designated time;

(4) to prohibit the carrying of weapons outside dwelling places;

(5) to prohibit the use of routes or vehicles or to prescribe conditions on the use of routes or vehicles;

(6) to order persons to perform or suspend any action in connection with electronic equipment in order to guard against danger to life, limb, or property of the people

Orders under paragraph 1 may prescribe principles, time period, or other conditions, and the aforesaid prescriptions must not create unreasonable inconvenience for the people

NOTE: This was originally a link to the translation provided by Chang Noi, but the site hosting the PDF no longer works. However, another translation is available from here.

BP: Without the regulations, the ISA is mostly a toothless tiger. We are still waiting to see the regulations and how broad they will be.

This is not the first time that the Internal Security Act has been invoked. It was invoked by the Abhisit government in?August-September 2009?and a number of other times during the Abhisit government when there were red shirts protests. The?precedent?was set?back in 2009 that for larger protests the Internal Security Act will be invoked. Continuing the tradition that started back in 2009, ?we have dire predictions on the basis for the need for the Internal Security Act.

The?Bangkok Post:

Pol Maj Gen Piya said there were several indicators why the Internal Security Act (ISA) should be imposed. He said intelligence reports warned that the Pitak Siam group would intensify the level of its mass rally and the protest would expand to locations outside the Royal Plaza.

Protest numbers would grow, the police spokesman said, and a group of rally-goers had prepared some ?equipment? which may be used to raid government premises, according to the reports. He did not elaborate on what kind of ?equipment? was involved

Bangkok Post?again:

The national police chief claims there is a plan to take Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra hostage, and cites this as one reason for imposing the Internal Security Act in three districts of Bangkok.

Pol Gen Adul Saengsingkaew said the cabinet decided to?impose the Internal Security Act (ISA) in three districts of Bangkok from today until Nov 30 after security agencies reported receiving information there could be attempts to raid government premises and a plan to take Prime Minister Yingluck hostage.

The Nation?now expresses concern about this:

National intelligence agencies should be independent from politicians in power in their work to protect the nation?s stability. But the way the government has been handling the planned mass rally over the weekend indicates that these intelligence agencies have reduced themselves to being political tools.

The Pheu Thai-led government has been using these agencies ? the National Intelligence Agency, the National Security Council and the Special Branch Police ? as tools to stir up public sentiment against the Pitak Siam led by a retired general, General Boonlert Kaewprasit.

Pitak Siam plans a mass rally at the Royal Plaza on Saturday. The closer the rally is drawing, the more the government is stepping up to create public fear towards the demonstrators by using the intelligence agencies as tools.

BP: How credible is the information? We have seen no evidence to substantiate it, but protests upping the ante and seizing government buildings is hardly unheard of. Thaksin talked of a person outside the Constitution trying to overthrow in the government in June 2006 and his comments were widely dismissed although a few months later we had the September 2006 coup (essentially vindicating Thaksin) so the idea that there are people who want to overthrow the government, and this government in particular, well is certainly possible. Whether it is just idle talk or some people have more advanced plans is very difficult to know.? Of course, this does not mean that every statement by the government is about a credible threat. Some people have some nutty ideas that they talk about and well something as specific as a threat that Yingluck being taken as a hostage surely needs to be substantiated before being released to the public. Whether you believe it or not will partially be?explained by your own political views (i.e those who in the anti-Thaksin more likely ?no? and vice versa).

WSJ on whether the claims are true:

?Stories of ?third-hand? plans to attack protesters or plans for protesters to ?arrest? Prime Minister Yingluck are part and parcel of emotional political events in Bangkok, and are more political drama than an actual threat,? Bangkok-based security consultancy PSA Asia said in a note to clients Thursday

BP: Back in 2009, the reds viewed the Internal Security Act as bad whereas many in the anti-Thaksin side applauded it. Now, the shoe is on the other foot and the roles have been reversed.

Strategically and politically, BP doesn?t get the invoking of the ISA. While talk of violence will scare some people away, invoking the ISA give the rally more prominence which may make it even more attractive for those who don?t like the government, and who don?t believe the threats, to actually come to the protest. Was invoking the ISA a wise idea before the protest turned violent or got out-of-hand, really a good idea? We now await the protest tomorrow?.

Source: http://asiancorrespondent.com/92441/thai-government-invokes-internal-security-act-ahead-of-anti-government-protests/

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