Lindsay Lohan Files A Legal Response To A Betty Ford Staff Member

Lindsay Lohan has hit back at claims she assaulted a Betty Ford Center staff member in 2010, filing a legal response to absolve her of any wrongdoing. Former employee Dawn Bradley accused the Mean Girls star of grabbing her wrist and twisting it when she tried the give the actress – then a patient at [...]

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Honda sees sharp drop in profit on Thai floods (AP)

TOKYO ? Battered by the strong yen and supply disruptions from Thailand's floods, Honda said Tuesday that its net earnings in the October-December quarter tumbled 41 percent to 47.6 billion yen ($625 million) and projected a sharply lower full-year profit.

It's been a tough year for the Japanese automobile and motorcycle maker. Honda had just begun to recover from the March earthquake and tsunami, which damaged some of its suppliers, when Thailand's worst floods in 50 years swamped its vehicle assembly plant in Ayutthaya, north of Bangkok.

That disaster dealt such a blow to Honda that it scrapped its earnings forecast when it last reported earnings results in October.

Now Honda predicts its net profit for the fiscal year through March would drop nearly 60 percent to 215 billion yen.

Honda Motor Co., which makes the Accord sedan and Odyssey minivan, stopped making cars at its Thai plant in October, and said in a statement Tuesday that it was making progress draining the factory and cleaning up equipment, and expected production to resume there at the end of March.

The flooding also disrupted the output at many Honda suppliers in Thailand, forcing it to reduce production as far away as the U.S. and Canada. Honda said production in neighboring Asian countries interrupted by the problems in Thailand was expected to return to normal by April.

All told, the problems related to flooding in Thailand have cost the company 260,000 vehicles in lost production worldwide, according to Tomohiro Okada, a company spokesman.

The company said it is working with the local industrial park to build water protection walls around the plant and will make requests of the Thai government to take steps to prevent the risk of flooding in the future. The Thai plant makes the Jazz, Civic, Accord, CR-V sports utility vehicle and other vehicles.

The Thai flooding affected many other Japanese companies, reflecting the increasingly interconnected nature of today's global economy. Toshiba Corp. on Tuesday cited the disaster as one reason behind the 10.6 billion yen net loss it reported for the most recent quarter.

A bright spot for Honda was its motorcycle business, which is booming in emerging markets. Motorcycle sales rose 6.3 percent during the quarter from the same quarter a year ago to nearly 3.1 million units.

Quarterly sales slid 8 percent during the fiscal third quarter to 1.942 trillion yen. The company projects full-year sales will decline 12.2 percent to 7.85 trillion yen.

The strong yen, which erodes exporters' foreign earned income when repatriated, also ate into the company's income.

Global vehicle sales in the quarter declined 2.9 percent from a year ago to 830,000 units, the company said. Vehicle sales in Japan rose 16 percent and North America increased 2 percent from the same quarter a year ago, while unit sales in Europe, Asia and other regions fell.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120131/ap_on_bi_ge/as_japan_earns_honda

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VIDEO: The Best Shameless End Tag You May Have Missed (omg!)

If viewers didn't stick around for Shameless' hilarious end tags, they missed a plane falling out of the sky on Sunday's episode.

No, this isn't Lost. Agoraphobe Sheila (Joan Cusack) has been making huge strides throughout the season, venturing just a few steps farther out her door every day. When it seems Sheila will make it to the local watering hole ? where she might learn the real truth of Frank's boozing, scheming ways ? Frank's prayers are answered when a giant piece of an airplane's landing gear falls precariously close to Sheila outside her home, sending her running back inside for comfort.

Photo Gallery: Winter TV's sexiest eye candy

Not that Shameless needed to drop a plane to get anyone's attention, but executive producer John Wells says he hopes this will get people to stick around for the show's dirty, pithy end tags.

He says that a problem with network television now is that at the end of the show "you're assaulted immediately by the local newscast or whatever it is. No matter how well you craft the end of the show to have an emotional response, it's interrupted almost immediately by some other piece of information. By putting the tags in we force everybody to stick around to see that there's something else coming up."

In case viewers did miss the tag, Sheila's return to her agoraphobic state will be explained at the beginning of next Sunday's episode. Just don't expect her leave the house again anytime soon. "She goes back into the covers for a while," Wells says. "She is constantly struggling with her own personal demons and trying to figure out how to move forward in her life."

Check out the best Shameless tag you may have missed:

SUMO-snipping protein plays crucial role in T and B cell development

Saturday, January 28, 2012

When SUMO grips STAT5, a protein that activates genes, it blocks the healthy embryonic development of immune B cells and T cells unless its nemesis breaks the hold, a research team led by scientists at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center reports today in Molecular Cell.

"This research extends the activity of SUMO and the Sentrin/SUMO-specific protease 1 (SENP1) to the field of immunology, in particular the early lymphoid development of T and B cells," said the study's senior author, Edward T. H. Yeh, M.D., professor and chair of MD Anderson's Department of Cardiology.

SUMO proteins, also known as the small ubiquitin-like modifiers or Sentrin, attach to other proteins in cells to modify their function or to move them within a cell. SENP1 is one of a family of six proteins that snips SUMO off of SUMO-modified proteins. SUMOylation (SUMO modification) of proteins has been implicated in development of cancer, heart and neurodegenerative diseases, among others.

The team first analyzed the role of SENP1 in the development of lymphoids in mice and found it is heavily expressed in precursor cells, the early stages of B and T cell development.

Working with genetically modified mice they developed that lack SENP1 gene expression, Yeh and colleagues found the mouse embryos had severe defects in their T and B cells, white blood cell lymphocytes that identify and fight infection.

SUMO pins STAT5 in the nucleus

Subsequent experiments led them to STAT5, a transcription factor known to play critical roles in the development and function of immune cells. Transcription factors work in the cell nucleus, activating gene expression by connecting to a gene's promoter region.

"STAT5 works in a cycle, moving from the cytosol of a cell into the nucleus to activate genes and then back out to the cytosol," Yeh said. "We found that when STAT5 is SUMOylated in the nucleus it gets trapped there when there's no SENP1 to remove SUMO."

The team found that SUMO muscles in on two other signaling events that govern STAT5 activity - phosphorylation and acetylation.

SUMO inhibits STAT5 signaling

STAT5 is activated in the cell cytosol when the JAK tyrosine kinase attaches a phosphate group at a specific site on the STAT5 protein. This transformed STAT5 crosses the nuclear membrane into the nucleus to transcribe genes.

The team found that SUMO attaches to STAT5 close to its phosphorylation site and that cells lacking SENP1 have increased SUMOylation and decreased phosphorylation.

SUMOylation vs. acetylation

In addition to phosphorylation, acetylation of STAT5 has been shown to be essential for STAT5 to cross the nuclear membrane into the nucleus to enhance gene transcription. Yeh and colleagues found that SUMO competes directly with acetyl groups for the same binding site, inhibiting acetylation.

"Without SENP1 to remove SUMO, STAT5 can't be acetylated or phosphorylated and can't be recycled for use again," Yeh said. "We discovered that SENP1 controls lymphoid development through regulation of SUMOylation of STAT5."

Since Yeh's lab discovered SUMOylation in 1996, SUMO has been found to alter the function of thousands of proteins.

Yeh is hosting the 6th International Conference SUMO, Ubiquitin, UBL Proteins: Implications for Human Diseases Feb. 8-11 in the Dan L. Duncan Building at MD Anderson. Yeh organizes the meeting every other year.

"There used to be so little known about SUMO. Now, a protein is assumed to be SUMOylated until proved otherwise," Yeh said.

###

University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center: http://www.mdanderson.org

Thanks to University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center for this article.

This press release was posted to serve as a topic for discussion. Please comment below. We try our best to only post press releases that are associated with peer reviewed scientific literature. Critical discussions of the research are appreciated. If you need help finding a link to the original article, please contact us on twitter or via e-mail.

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Source: http://www.labspaces.net/117155/SUMO_snipping_protein_plays_crucial_role_in_T_and_B_cell_development

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Cuba Communist Party eyes term limits at gathering (AP)

HAVANA ? Cuba's Communist Party opened a two-day conference Saturday to hold an internal debate on the future of the party, the possibility of political term limits and perhaps even a change or two at the top.

The closed-door gathering is a follow-up to last April's historic party summit where delegates green-lighted fledgling reforms, opening up long-shut doors of economic opportunity.

But while the government has essentially followed through on its economic promises ? things like liberalizing home and car sales, expanding private-sector activity and offering loans to support farmers, entrepreneurs and homeowners ? expectations were low that this weekend would yield any blockbuster announcements beyond what officials have already hinted at.

"The expectations were high because this conference was perceived as an act of continuity with relation to the 6th Congress, as a space to complete the economic adjustment with complementary political reforms," said Cuban-born economist Arturo Lopez-Levy, a lecturer at the University of Denver. "It became clear that that vision was unfoundedly optimistic."

Foreign journalists were not allowed access, and limited coverage was available through the island's official media. State-run website Cubadebate showed photos of President Raul Castro presiding over the conference wearing a gray blazer and a dark, open-collar shirt, with what appeared to be a small bandage on the tip of his nose.

In a brief snippet of video posted on Cubadebate, Vice President Jose Ramon Machado Ventura said in a keynote speech that the conference would focus on "the everyday work of the organization."

Castro himself has dampened expectations for any big announcements, saying two weeks ago that nobody should have "great illusions about the conference" and the topics of debate were more "an internal question for the party."

According to a draft agenda that circulated last fall, one matter up for discussion will be Castro's call to limit officeholders including the president to two five-year terms, with the goal of achieving a "gradual renewal in leadership."

Over the years a number of rising young stars considered potential successors to Raul Castro, 80, and his brother Fidel, retired and largely out of sight at 85, have been unceremoniously fired. There are no obvious replacements waiting in the wings.

In April the younger Castro, who is also party chief, lamented the lack of politicians prepared to take over from the 70- and 80-somethings who occupy many top posts. Grooming new leaders would be a priority during his five-year term, he said.

Recently a Cuban official told The Associated Press that despite the lack of movement in visible roles like cabinet ministers, many midlevel government posts have quietly changed hands, with younger officials moving up. If true, that would bolster Raul Castro's claim that his government was laying the groundwork, albeit slowly, for generational change. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly, and his assertions could not be independently confirmed.

Communist Party newspaper Granma said Saturday that delegates would consider how best to promote women, blacks and young people through the ranks of the party and government.

They will also evaluate the party's role in "the direction and systematic control of the process of updating the economic model and the progress of the economy," Granma said.

The draft agenda for the conference was discussed at thousands of local party and committee meetings and many of its objectives modified. The purpose of the conference was to turn the agenda into policy in support of last year's reforms, Machado Ventura said.

"Let us make our best effort to cast off obsolete mindsets of inertia and old prejudices," he said in comments broadcast on the afternoon news. "Let us work with responsibility and an eye toward the future, with the goal of strengthening the foundation of the (party's) work."

The Communist Party, the only party allowed in Cuba, does not have lawmaking powers but issues guidelines that are later taken up by parliament.

The conference's opening day was timed to coincide with the 159th anniversary of the birth of poet and independence hero Jose Marti, in whose honor a noontime 21-cannon salute thundered from a historic fort overlooking the Havana harbor.

But some said that's about all the fireworks they expect this weekend.

"The only thing that might be interesting is if they have some kind of election, to see who they put in the political bureau, especially if they put someone there who's not 80 years old," said Javier Blanco, a 32-year-old Havana resident. "Other than that... I don't think anything will come out that we don't already know."

Many Cubans were disappointed last month when authorities scuttled a proposal to eliminate the exit visa required for travel off the island.

Lopez-Levy said recent signals from Cuban leadership suggest there's no prospect for major political change in the near future.

"The Cuban Communist Party is going to make an adjustment to its internal life ... but it's not going to subject its political model to open debate on structural reforms as it did with its economic and social project," he said. "It's a low-risk strategy for the short term, but it could complicate the future."

___

Associated Press writers Andrea Rodriguez and Anne-Marie Garcia in Havana contributed to this report.

___

Follow Peter Orsi on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/Peter(underscore)Orsi.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/topstories/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120128/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/cb_cuba_communist_party_conference

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Tamron and Kenko bring third-party glass to the Micro Four Thirds bash

The fresh trend of Micro Four Thirds shooters is on the rise, thus it shouldn't come as a surprise that more glass-makers are jumping on the MFT bandwagon. Joining the likes of Panasonic, Olympus and Kodak as part of the Micro Four Thirds Group, is a trifecta of third-party lens manufacturers: Tamron, Kenko Tokina and ASTRODESIGN. Following closely behind rival Sigma, the newcomers are looking to make a dent in the four-thirds universe. Better late than never, right? There's still no sign of these optics being available for you to stack in your camera bag, but the news just came in, so it shouldn't be too long before you can get some extra glass for your shiny new GX1.

Continue reading Tamron and Kenko bring third-party glass to the Micro Four Thirds bash

Tamron and Kenko bring third-party glass to the Micro Four Thirds bash originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 28 Jan 2012 02:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/28/tamron-kenko-tokina-join-micro-four-thirds-group/

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www.Cambodiajobs.Biz: Communications Officer at UNDP _ ...

Location :	Phnom Penh, Country Office, CAMBODIA
Application Deadline :	30-Jan-12
Additional Category	Poverty Reduction
Type of Contract :	Service Contract
Post Level :	SB-4
Languages Required :	English ?
Duration of Initial Contract :	1 year (renewable)

Background

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Communications Specialist, the Communications Officer participates in the implementation of the corporate communications strategy and the Country Office?s communications and publication strategy that are geared towards influencing development agenda, promoting public and media outreach and mobilizing political and financial support for UNDP.?? Together with the Communications Specialist, the Communications Officer maintains a working relationship with the Regional Communications Manager. The Communications Officer works in close collaboration with the Business Development, Programme and Operations teams, staff of other UN Agencies, and UNDP headquarters? staff (Communications Office), ensuring successful UNDP communications strategy implementation.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of Key Functions: Implementation of internal and external strategies for communications and outreach Implementation of the publications strategy and plan Maintenance of the Country Office?s web site, intranet and web-based knowledge management system Support to business development Facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing 1.?Provides support to the planning and design of internal and external strategies for communications and outreach focusing on achievement of the following results: Conduct of communications needs assessments for the Country Office (projects, country programme and corporate change initiatives, etc) Analysis of requirements and synthesis of proposals for elaboration of the Country Office communications and outreach strategy based on the corporate communications strategy. Development/production of communications and advocacy instruments and materials for marketing and awareness-raising campaigns, including briefing materials, media advisories and press releases in coordination with the supervisor. Synthesis of proposals for project formulations to integrate advocacy and communications strategies into all aspects of UNDP?s development programme. 2.?Ensures the implementation of the Country Office publication strategy and plan focusing on the achievement of the following results: Effective implementation of the CO publication strategy and plan. Management of some CO publication activities, such as drafting articles, content management, norms for publishing, design, maintenance of regular contact with printers and other suppliers to ensure that publications are produced and disseminated in a timely fashion. 3.?Provides support to the maintenance of the Country Office?s web site, intranet and web-based knowledge management system focusing on achievement of the following results: Management of the Country Office?s web site based on corporate requirements in cooperation with the ICT staff. Preparation of content for the web site ensuring it is regularly updated with materials that are consistent with corporate guidelines. 4.?? Supports the communications activities focusing on achievement of the following results: Launches and campaigns Promotion and dissemination of corporate advocacy materials for launching flagship initiatives and publications such as the Human Development Report. Promotion and maintenance of public information campaigns on UNDP activities, results of MDGs, UN Reform, under the supervision of Communications Specialist. Outreach Preparation and dissemination of newsletter to donors, donor reports, civic education and community awareness,? where appropriate, to support projects Public information Timely and effective responses to inquiries for public information materials.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:?? ? Advocacy/Advancing a Policy-Oriented Agenda Identifies and communicates relevant information advocating for UNDP?s mandate to a variety of audiences Building Strategic Partnerships Analyzes and selects materials for strengthening strategic alliances with partners and stakeholders Establishes and nurtures positive communication with partners Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing Generates new ideas and approaches, researches good practices and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise Understands and applies fundamental concepts and principles of a professional discipline or technical specialty relating to the position; Possesses basic knowledge of organizational policies and procedures relating to the position and applies them consistently in daily performance Analyzes the requirements and synthesizes proposals Strives to keep job knowledge up-to-date through self-directed study and other means of learning Demonstrates good knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments Creating Visibility for UNDP/Supporting UNDP?s Capacity to Advocate Promotes awareness of UNDP?s to development mandate through dissemination of information and materials Global Leadership and Advocacy for UNDP?s Goals Identifies and communicates relevant information advocating for UNDP?s goals to a variety of audiences Conceptual Innovation in the Provision of Technical Expertise Keeps updated in his/her area of substantive expertise Identifies opportunities for conceptual innovation Client Orientation Researches potential solutions to internal and external client needs and reports back in a timely, succinct and appropriate fashion Organizes and prioritizes work schedule to meet client needs and deadlines Core Competencies: Demonstrating/safeguarding ethics and integrity? Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment? Self-development, initiative-taking? Acting as a team player and facilitating team work? Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively? Creating synergies through self-control Managing conflict Learning and sharing knowledge and encouraging the learning of others. Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member. Informed and transparent decision making

Required Skills and Experience

Master's degree in media relations, journalism, publishing Up to 2 years of relevant experience at the national or international level in public relations, communications or advocacy. Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, good knowledge and experience in handling of web-based management systems. Fluency in English and Khmer This post is opened for Cambodian national only.

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

Interested candidates must submit their applications online through UNDP Online Recruitment System. Correspondence either in hard or soft format will not be considered.

To submit your application online, please follow the steps below:

1. Download and complete the UN Personal History Form (P11).
2. Click on the Job Title.
3. Click ?Apply Now? button, fill in necessary information on the first page, and click ?Submit Application?.
4. Upload your application (P11).
5. You will receive an automatic response to your email confirming receipt of your application by the system.

You must state in your application letter how you meet the selection criteria specified in the job descriptions. UNDP will contact references directly. Due to the large number of applications, only short-listed candidates will be contacted for further selection process.

Source: http://www.cambodiajobs.biz/2012/01/communications-officer-at-undp-deadline.html

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Newt Vs. Reagan, The Sequel (Powerlineblog)

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Motorola Droid Razr Maxx available now: more battery, same shape

Kevlar-coated phones with a sprinkling of LTE sound like a pretty sweet proposition. Now the Droid Razr's been further sweetened by its new Maxx recast, and Motorola appears to be pretty darn proud of its bordering-on-tablet-territory 3,300mAh battery. Those yearning for a smartphone that'll last longer than daylight hours can hit up the source below -- Verizon's offering it up for $299 on contract, starting today.

Motorola Droid Razr Maxx available now: more battery, same shape originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 11:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Perry hits Obama-level approval rating in Texas (The Arizona Republic)

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"Social Network" star Armie Hammer busted for pot (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) ? Armie Hammer, who's currently saddling up to play the title role against Johnny Depp in "The Lone Ranger," has been arrested for marijuana possession in Texas, TMZ reports.

The 25-year-old actor, who came to prominence playing the Winklevoss twins in "The Social Network," was busted in Sierra Blanca, Texas, on November 30, after police found three cookies and one brownie containing medicinal marijuana.

Which is a bummer for Hammer -- who, ironically, played lawman Clyde Tolson in last year's "J. Edgar" -- but perhaps the actor can take consolation in the fact that he's not alone. Hammer was arrested in the same town that Willie Nelson and, more recently, Snoop Dogg were busted on pot charges.

With that kind of record, you'd think that the town would develop a negative buzz among pot-smokers.

Local law enforcement and Hammer's spokesperson have not yet responded to TheWrap's request for comment.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/celebrity/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20120126/people_nm/us_armiehammer

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Marine tells court he is sorry for Iraq killings (Reuters)

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif (Reuters) ? A U.S. Marine sergeant accused of leading a 2005 massacre of 24 civilians in Iraq expressed sorrow for the killings as he returned to military court on Tuesday to face sentencing for his role in the deaths.

Staff Sergeant Frank Wuterich, 31, pleaded guilty on Monday to a single count of dereliction of duty as part of a deal with military prosecutors in which more serious charges of involuntary manslaughter and aggravated assault were dismissed.

The plea deal, which sparked outrage in Iraq, cut short Wuterich's court-martial and ended the final prosecution over the killings in Haditha, which sparked public outrage and brought international condemnation of U.S. troops.

As part of his guilty plea, Wuterich accepted responsibility for providing negligent verbal instructions to the Marines under his command when he told them to "shoot first and ask questions later," which resulted in the deaths of innocent civilians.

Wuterich, in his pre-sentencing statement on Tuesday, added that when he gave that order, "the intent wasn't that they should shoot civilians. It was that they would not hesitate in the face of the enemy."

The squad leader, who was originally charged with murder in the case, said he realized that his name "will always be associated with a massacre, being a cold-blooded baby-killer, an 'out of control monster.'"

But he insisted that he and his fellow Marines behaved honorably under extreme circumstances, and he said he "never fired my weapon at any women or children that day."

In a final plea for leniency, his civilian defense lawyer, Neal Puckett, said his client "is not evil."

"He is decent and moral, and his integrity is unfaltering," Puckett said. "He knows that his Marine Corps career has come to an end."

FACES MAXIMUM THREE MONTH SENTENCE

Wuterich faces a maximum sentence of three months of confinement, forfeiture of two-thirds of his pay for three months and a reduction in rank when he is sentenced on Tuesday, a Camp Pendleton spokesman said. Any discharge process faced by Wuterich, a father of three girls, will be separate from his sentencing.

Word of the maximum sentence sparked outrage in Iraq, where Ali Badr, a Haditha resident and relative of one of the victims, called it "an insult to all Iraqis" and "solid proof that the Americans don't respect human rights."

Wuterich was accused of being the ringleader in a series of November 19, 2005, shootings and grenade attacks that left two dozen civilians dead in Haditha, a city west of Baghdad that was then an insurgent hotspot.

The killings were portrayed by Iraqi witnesses and military prosecutors as a massacre of unarmed civilians -- men, women and children -- carried out by Marines in anger after a member of their unit was killed by a roadside bomb.

Defense lawyers argued the deaths resulted from a fast-moving combat situation in which the Marines believed they were under enemy fire.

In his statement on Tuesday, Wuterich, directed an apology to family members of those killed in Iraq, he said, "words cannot express my sorrow for the loss of your loved ones." But he insisted civilians were not singled out for attack.

"The truth is, I don't believe anyone in my squad ... behaved in any way that was dishonorable or contrary to the highest ideals that we all live by as Marines," he said. "But even with the best intentions, sometimes combat actions can cause tragic results."

Called to the stand as a character witness on Tuesday, Jeffrey Dinsmore, an intelligence officer with Wuterich's battalion at the time of the killings, said "insurgent groups ... had complete control over the city (of Haditha) at the time" and the unit had received word that an ambush was likely.

He also said insurgents were known to commandeer homes as places to launch attacks and to deliberately use civilians as human shields.

Six out of the eight Marines originally accused in the case had their charges dismissed by military judges, and a seventh was cleared of criminal wrongdoing.

Wuterich enlisted in the Marines after his 1998 graduation from high school, where he was an athletic honor-roll student and played with the marching band.

He was serving his second tour of duty in Iraq when the Haditha incident occurred.

(Writing by Steve Gorman; Editing by Greg McCune and Cynthia Johnston)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/iraq/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20120124/us_nm/us_marine_haditha

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Gingrich: Only I can go 'toe to toe' with Obama (AP)

WASHINGTON ? Emboldened by his victory in South Carolina's Republican primary, Newt Gingrich said Sunday his hardline conservative views and confrontational style will be needed by Republicans this fall to fight President Barack Obama's "billion-dollar war chest" and take back the White House.

In several televised interviews, the former House speaker said rival Mitt Romney was a moderate who left GOP voters cold and that only he, Gingrich, could go "toe to toe" with Obama.

"I think in South Carolina it began to become really clear that if you want to beat Barack Obama, then Newt Gingrich is the only person who has the background, the experience and the ability to get on the stage and drive home a conservative message with authenticity," he said.

Gingrich's win in South Carolina has helped invigorate his once struggling campaign and cast fresh doubt on Romney's ability to easily cinch the Republican nomination.

Returns from 95 percent of the state's precincts showed Gingrich with 41 percent of the vote to 27 percent for Romney. Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum was winning 17 percent, and Texas Rep. Ron Paul 13 percent.

Next stop is Florida, where Gingrich and Romney will compete with Santorum in the Jan. 31 primary. Paul has said he was bypassing the state in favor of smaller subsequent caucuses.

Romney and his supporters are dismissing Gingrich's win in South Carolina and say his nomination would be a disaster for the Republican Party, citing his rocky tenure leading House Republicans in the 1990s and allegations of ethics violations.

"I think Newt Gingrich has embarrassed the party, over time," said New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. "Whether he will do it again in the future, I don't know. But Gov. Romney never has."

Christie, who has endorsed Romney's nomination, said he would "listen" if Romney were to ask him to be his running mate this fall. But, he added, he expects to remain in his current position as governor.

Gingrich says his views on lower taxes, less government regulation and foreign policy put him in stark contrast to Obama and that the dynamics of a Gingrich-Obama fight are much more alluring to voters.

"I think Gov. Romney's core problem was that he governs (as) a Massachusetts moderate, which by the standards of Republican primary voters is a liberal. And he can't relax and be candid," he said.

Gingrich spoke on CNN's "State of the Union," NBC's "Meet the Press" and CBS "Face the Nation." Christie spoke on NBC's "Meet the Press."

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/gop/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120122/ap_on_el_pr/us_gingrich

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Exclusive: YouTube hits 4 billion daily video views (Reuters)

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) ? YouTube, Google Inc's video website, is streaming 4 billion online videos every day, a 25 percent increase in the past eight months, according to the company.

The jump in video views comes as Google pushes YouTube beyond the personal computer, with versions of the site that work on smartphones and televisions, and as the company steps up efforts to offer more professional-grade content on the site.

According to the company, roughly 60 hours of video is now uploaded to YouTube every minute, compared with the 48 hours of video uploaded per minute in May.

YouTube, which Google acquired for $1.65 billion in 2006, represents one of Google's key opportunities to generate new sources of revenue outside its traditional Internet search advertising business.

Last week, Google said that its business running graphical "display" ads - many of which are integrated alongside YouTube videos - was generating $5 billion in revenue on an annualized run rate basis.

Still, most of the 4 billion videos that YouTube now streams worldwide every day do not make money. Three billion YouTube videos a week are monetized, according to the company.

YouTube recently redesigned its website to more prominently showcase specialized "channels" organized around different types of content. In October, YouTube announced that it had struck 100 original video programming deals with media partners including Madonna and Jay-Z. Thomson Reuters and YouTube recently announced a partnership to create a Reuters TV channel for the website.

(Reporting by Alexei Oreskovic; Editing by Gary Hill and Mark Porter)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/internet/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20120123/tc_nm/us_google_youtube

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Video: Gingrich?s momentum too much for Romney

>> few days ago showed mitt romney with a wide lead in south carolina , but the romney campaign sensing a change in the winds has been trying to tamp down expectations as it ratchets up its attacks on newt gingrich . peter alexander has that end of the story. good evening to you.

>> reporter: lester, good morning to you. and roomy took the afternoon off, in fact, to relax and he took his family to the movies today. regardless of what happens here this evening, governor romney 's advisers say he's in this for the long haul. for the romney campaign, proudly meticulous about every detail, that visit to tommy's country hamhouse featured an oversight that summed up a week's worth of stumbles.

>> we came here.

>> reporter: the crowd couldn't hear the candidate because his campaign didn't bring its own microphone. all week romney who is largely focused on attacking president obama --

>> repeal obamacare --

>> reporter: has struggled to fend off jabs from his rivals. newt gingrich and santorum and sidetracked about his personal wealth and wavering answers about whether he'd release his tax returns.

>> maybe. i'll take a look at what the -- what our documents are.

>> reporter: saturday morning romney tried to slow gingrich's momentum, and talking about the contract he signed with freddie mac .

>> this is a big issue, got the washington insiders, talking about freddie mac . let's see what the report was to freddie mac . what advice he gave them.

>> reporter: the romney campaign levelled this sarcastic attack, wishing again dprigingrich a happy anniversary. part of the increasing nasty campaign that has some voters turned off.

>> even got carolina to answer some. just hanging up. we're not listening to the messages.

>> reporter: still as romney looks to lower expectations here, his advisers are already touting their head start in florida.

>> we have a long way to go. come join us in florida. then in nevada and michigan and colorado.

>> reporter: but first, romney appears to have a few chores. today, his son tweeted this photo. showing the former governor doing laundry. and the next time we expect to see all four of the republican presidential candidates together, lester, is monday night in tampa. that of course is nbc news's presidential debate .

>> peter alexander in columbia, thank you.

Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/nightly-news/46083879/

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Synthetic Windpipe Transplant Boost For Tissue Engineering

Surgeons in Sweden replaced an American patient's cancerous windpipe with a scaffold built from nanofibers and seeded with the patient's stem cells. Lead surgeon Dr. Paolo Macchiarini discusses the procedure and the benefits of tissue-engineered synthetic organs.

Source: http://www.npr.org/2012/01/20/145525008/synthetic-windpipe-transplant-boost-for-tissue-engineering?ft=1&f=1007

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Greek bond deal won't fix Athens' debt woes

(Associated Press)

Poul Thomsen, the International Monetary Fund mission chief in Greece, met with Greek Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos in Athens, Friday. European Union and International Monetary Fund representatives start new round of talks with officials in the Greek capital on the course of Greece's austerity program and pledged reforms.

By John W. Schoen, Senior Producer

?

Though a long-awaited deal between Greece and its investors might buy Athens some time, it will do little to fix the financially crippled government's problems.

Representatives for Greek bond holders were reported to have made progress Friday toward a deal that would cut the value of their holdings by as much as 70 percent as part of a "voluntary" debt swap aimed at?avoiding a disorderly default.

The deal reportedly involves swapping existing bonds for a new package of cash and paper worth about half the face value of the outstanding debt. Bondholders are also being asked to accept a lower interest rate on the new bonds, possibly tied to Greece's future economic growth, which would cut the value of the offer even further.

The pressure to finalize the agreement increases with every passing day. The European Union and International Monetary Fund are insisting on a bondholder "haircut" before releasing the next round of bailout payments from a 130 billion euro ($167 billion) rescue fund set up in October. Without those funds, Greece won't have enough money to meet a 14.5 billion euro ($18.7 billion) bond payment due March 20.

Because the paperwork for a bond swap is expected to take weeks to process, time is rapidly running out. Without a bondholder agreement, failure to make full payment would produce a disorderly default, with what could be dire consequences for the global economy just as the U.S. recovery is picking up.

A deal would buy the Greek government some time to try to right its listing financial ship. A successful bond swap would cut some 100 billion euros ($129 billion) off Greece's total debt load of more than 350 billion euros ($452 billion). That would help Athens steer a course toward a debt load of 120 percent of gross domestic product in 2020, down from the current level of 160 percent.

But the financial lifeline from European officials comes with painful conditions that include more?spending cuts and tax increases. That will likely plunge the Greek economy even deeper into recession. Greece's?economy has already shrunk 13 percent from its pre-crisis peak. Unemployment is at record highs. Frequent protests and strikes against austerity measures have further deepened the economic contraction.

The shrinking Greek economy is cutting further into the tax base, forcing more spending cuts and tax hikes in downward spiral. Over the long term, the current rescue plan isn't sustainable, according to Ben May, an economist at Capital Insight who has been following the debt talks.

"Sooner or later we expect Greece to conclude that the conditions attached to the bail-out deal are simply too onerous and that its best option may be to terminate any rescue package, carry out another debt restructuring deal and abandon the single currency," he said in a note to clients.

Even if Greece and the banks reach a deal, it remains to be seen just how many bondholders will go along with the "voluntary" swap for new paper. If too few investors agree to take losses, the savings may not be large enough to stop the clock on Greece's debt bomb.

Greek Prime Minister Lucas Papademos has threatened to introduce a new law to force holdouts to take the deal. Some of those investors have threatened to sue if the government tries to force them to take losses, arguing the change in the bonds' terms?violates property rights.

Other investors, who bought so-called credit default swaps, are hoping Greece can't reach a deal and doesn't pay bondholders. Some $70 billion worth of those investments, which pay off like an insurance policy if Greece defaults, are outstanding.

The potential impact of such a?disorderly default is difficult to predict, much like the chain reaction that swept through the global financial system in 2008 in the wake of?Lehman Brothers' collapse. European regulators have told eurozone bankers they need to raise more capital to withstand such a financial shock, but the ongoing debt crisis has made that?difficult for many of them.

Even if they reach a deal and?enough investors accept it, the precedent will likely spook investors in other debt-burdened countries like Italy, Spain and Portugal, further raising their borrowing costs. ?

"Portugal is obviously the next in the line of fire," said Michael Cirami, a portfolio manager at U.S. investment managers Eaton Vance. "Portugal is unlikely to go unnoticed whether they strike a deal or not (on Greek debt restructuring)."

Lowering Greece's debt burden with a bond swap could avoid the financial chaos of an outright default. But it wouldn't blunt the impact on its bond rating and its future cost of borrowing.

"Greece is insolvent so it will default," Edward Parker, head of bond rater Fitch's sovereign debt group for Europe, told Reuters this week.

"We have said for a long time that we don't think this (swap agreement) is the way to go, and we would treat it as a default," Parker added. "It clearly is a default, however they try to spin it."

CNBC's Michelle Caruso-Cabrera has the latest details on Greece closing in on a debt deal and whether it could trigger a credit event.

Source: http://bottomline.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/20/10200251-greek-bond-deal-wont-fix-athens-debt-woes

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Salvage Efforts Begin for Stricken Cruise Ship Costa Concordia

[unable to retrieve full-text content]A Dutch marine salvage company is preparing to pump half a million gallons of fuel from the stricken Costa Concordia cruise liner, the first step toward determining whether to save or scrap it.

Source: http://feeds.nytimes.com/click.phdo?i=580d7f46c32023c832732d2863870580

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Balancing scientific freedom and national security

Public release date: 19-Jan-2012
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Karen Mallet
km463@georgetown.edu
Georgetown University Medical Center

2 Georgetown professors explore a process needed to avoid the current dilemma faced by 2 scientific journals recently asked by the US government to redact parts of scientific publications deemed to be a biosecurity threat

WASHINGTON, DC -- The U.S. government's request that the journals Science and Nature withhold scientific information related to the genetically modified H5N1 virus because of biosecurity concerns does not violate the First Amendment, say two Georgetown University professors. They caution, however, that a fair, transparent process undertaken by research organizations is preferable to governmental constraints on disseminating scientific information.

Writing in Science, John D. Kraemer, JD, MPH, assistant professor of health systems administration at Georgetown University School of Nursing & Health Studies, and Lawrence O. Gostin, the Linda D. and Timothy J. O'Neill Professor of Global Health Law and faculty director of the O'Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law at Georgetown University Law Center, explore the balance of scientific freedom and national security in their opinion piece published online today entitled, "The Limits of Government Regulation of Science."

In 2011, two research teams genetically modified the H5N1 avian influenza virus. Their work, funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), demonstrates the ability to alter a virus in such a way that it could possibly spread rapidly among humans killing more than half who contract it (the research was conducted in an animal model believed to represent human behavior of the virus). The research prompted the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB), which advises the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), to recommend that Science and Nature redact key information prior to publication. Both NSABB and HHS expressed concerns that published details about the papers' methodology and results could become a blueprint for bioterrorism.

"The NSABB process seems to have worked well in this instance," says Kraemer. "It raised legitimate security concerns while avoiding censorship of the scientific press. But there remains a need to strengthen precautions around this type of research before it occurs."

To date, Science and Nature have not yet announced their intentions regarding the government's request.

In their commentary, Kraemer and Gostin write "HHS' request reveals a troubled relationship between security and science." However, the authors point out, "Given the absence of legal force or undue inducements or penalties, the government's request to withhold information does not violate the First Amendment."

Kraemer and Gostin say the First Amendment, "affords considerable protection to political artistic and scientific expression, triggering 'strict scrutiny' by the Supreme Court." They point out that had the government compelled either the researchers or the journals to withhold publication, that act would have violated the First Amendment.

In their opinion piece, the authors explore various court cases that challenge and support the government's rights to go further with such an issue. They say the federal government has the power to prevent dissemination of sensitive life science research, but warn, " there are good reasons to exercise that power sparingly."

Looking beyond the current dilemma, Kraemer and Gostin ask: "Can the review process for high-risk biologic research be improved further?"

The origins of the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity can be traced to the National Research Council's Fink Report issued in 2004. The Fink Report endorsed, among other things, expanded self-governance by researchers toward issues of biosecurity, as well as the formation of a national advisory board to help guide both the government and research community in addressing issues involving dual-use research.

However, Kraemer and Gostin point out that vital recommendations in the Fink Report have not yet been implemented, including the need to employ an institutional review process for biological "experiments of concern" patterned on the Institutional Biosafety Committees (IBC) required for recombinant DNA research.

Kraemer and Gostin make the following recommendations to improve the review process:

HHS, in partnership with institutions, will have to ensure that the IBC model works effectively: (1) institutions must develop the requisite expertise to review dual use research; (2) HHS must specify the categories of research requiring institutional reviewminimally including the 7 types of high-risk experiments; and (3) HHS must set clear and consistent standards for institutional review. If IBCs are formally designated to conduct the institutional review function, HHS will have to clarify whether NSABB will guide and oversee the process.

Kraemer and Gostin suggest that such a process can ensure a, "sound balance between scientific freedom and national security. A fair, transparent process undertaken by research institutions, with a balanced approach to scientific benefits and public safety, together with HHS guidance and oversight of high-risk research, is preferable to government constraints on scientific information by force of law."

###

About Georgetown University Law Center

Georgetown University Law Center is one of the world's premier law schools. It is pre-eminent in several areas, including constitutional, international, tax and clinical law, and the faculty is among the largest in the nation. Drawing on its Jesuit heritage, it has a strong tradition of public service and is dedicated to the principle that law is but a means, justice is the end. With this principle in mind, Georgetown Law has built an environment that cultivates an exchange of ideas and the pursuit of academic excellence. It brings together an extraordinarily varied group of teachers, scholars and practitioners, as well as an outstanding student body representing more than 60 countries.

About Georgetown University Medical Center

Georgetown University Medical Center is an internationally recognized academic medical center with a three-part mission of research, teaching and patient care (through MedStar Health). GUMC's mission is carried out with a strong emphasis on public service and a dedication to the Catholic, Jesuit principle of cura personalis -- or "care of the whole person." The Medical Center includes the School of Medicine and the School of Nursing & Health Studies, both nationally ranked; Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, designated as a comprehensive cancer center by the National Cancer Institute; and the Biomedical Graduate Research Organization (BGRO), which accounts for the majority of externally funded research at GUMC including a Clinical Translation and Science Award from the National Institutes of Health. In fiscal year 2010-11, GUMC accounted for 85 percent of the university's sponsored research funding.

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Public release date: 19-Jan-2012
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Karen Mallet
km463@georgetown.edu
Georgetown University Medical Center

2 Georgetown professors explore a process needed to avoid the current dilemma faced by 2 scientific journals recently asked by the US government to redact parts of scientific publications deemed to be a biosecurity threat

WASHINGTON, DC -- The U.S. government's request that the journals Science and Nature withhold scientific information related to the genetically modified H5N1 virus because of biosecurity concerns does not violate the First Amendment, say two Georgetown University professors. They caution, however, that a fair, transparent process undertaken by research organizations is preferable to governmental constraints on disseminating scientific information.

Writing in Science, John D. Kraemer, JD, MPH, assistant professor of health systems administration at Georgetown University School of Nursing & Health Studies, and Lawrence O. Gostin, the Linda D. and Timothy J. O'Neill Professor of Global Health Law and faculty director of the O'Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law at Georgetown University Law Center, explore the balance of scientific freedom and national security in their opinion piece published online today entitled, "The Limits of Government Regulation of Science."

In 2011, two research teams genetically modified the H5N1 avian influenza virus. Their work, funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), demonstrates the ability to alter a virus in such a way that it could possibly spread rapidly among humans killing more than half who contract it (the research was conducted in an animal model believed to represent human behavior of the virus). The research prompted the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB), which advises the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), to recommend that Science and Nature redact key information prior to publication. Both NSABB and HHS expressed concerns that published details about the papers' methodology and results could become a blueprint for bioterrorism.

"The NSABB process seems to have worked well in this instance," says Kraemer. "It raised legitimate security concerns while avoiding censorship of the scientific press. But there remains a need to strengthen precautions around this type of research before it occurs."

To date, Science and Nature have not yet announced their intentions regarding the government's request.

In their commentary, Kraemer and Gostin write "HHS' request reveals a troubled relationship between security and science." However, the authors point out, "Given the absence of legal force or undue inducements or penalties, the government's request to withhold information does not violate the First Amendment."

Kraemer and Gostin say the First Amendment, "affords considerable protection to political artistic and scientific expression, triggering 'strict scrutiny' by the Supreme Court." They point out that had the government compelled either the researchers or the journals to withhold publication, that act would have violated the First Amendment.

In their opinion piece, the authors explore various court cases that challenge and support the government's rights to go further with such an issue. They say the federal government has the power to prevent dissemination of sensitive life science research, but warn, " there are good reasons to exercise that power sparingly."

Looking beyond the current dilemma, Kraemer and Gostin ask: "Can the review process for high-risk biologic research be improved further?"

The origins of the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity can be traced to the National Research Council's Fink Report issued in 2004. The Fink Report endorsed, among other things, expanded self-governance by researchers toward issues of biosecurity, as well as the formation of a national advisory board to help guide both the government and research community in addressing issues involving dual-use research.

However, Kraemer and Gostin point out that vital recommendations in the Fink Report have not yet been implemented, including the need to employ an institutional review process for biological "experiments of concern" patterned on the Institutional Biosafety Committees (IBC) required for recombinant DNA research.

Kraemer and Gostin make the following recommendations to improve the review process:

HHS, in partnership with institutions, will have to ensure that the IBC model works effectively: (1) institutions must develop the requisite expertise to review dual use research; (2) HHS must specify the categories of research requiring institutional reviewminimally including the 7 types of high-risk experiments; and (3) HHS must set clear and consistent standards for institutional review. If IBCs are formally designated to conduct the institutional review function, HHS will have to clarify whether NSABB will guide and oversee the process.

Kraemer and Gostin suggest that such a process can ensure a, "sound balance between scientific freedom and national security. A fair, transparent process undertaken by research institutions, with a balanced approach to scientific benefits and public safety, together with HHS guidance and oversight of high-risk research, is preferable to government constraints on scientific information by force of law."

###

About Georgetown University Law Center

Georgetown University Law Center is one of the world's premier law schools. It is pre-eminent in several areas, including constitutional, international, tax and clinical law, and the faculty is among the largest in the nation. Drawing on its Jesuit heritage, it has a strong tradition of public service and is dedicated to the principle that law is but a means, justice is the end. With this principle in mind, Georgetown Law has built an environment that cultivates an exchange of ideas and the pursuit of academic excellence. It brings together an extraordinarily varied group of teachers, scholars and practitioners, as well as an outstanding student body representing more than 60 countries.

About Georgetown University Medical Center

Georgetown University Medical Center is an internationally recognized academic medical center with a three-part mission of research, teaching and patient care (through MedStar Health). GUMC's mission is carried out with a strong emphasis on public service and a dedication to the Catholic, Jesuit principle of cura personalis -- or "care of the whole person." The Medical Center includes the School of Medicine and the School of Nursing & Health Studies, both nationally ranked; Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, designated as a comprehensive cancer center by the National Cancer Institute; and the Biomedical Graduate Research Organization (BGRO), which accounts for the majority of externally funded research at GUMC including a Clinical Translation and Science Award from the National Institutes of Health. In fiscal year 2010-11, GUMC accounted for 85 percent of the university's sponsored research funding.

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/gumc-bsf011912.php

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Silence is still golden for the Oscars (AP)

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. ? If Oscar buzz is any indicator, Hollywood is on the brink of making Academy Awards history. For the first time, silent films may bookend the best-picture category.

The first, and only, non-talkie to win the motion picture academy's top prize was director William A. Wellman's high-flying 1927 drama "Wings," starring Clara Bow and Buddy Rogers.

Now, the 2011 silent film "The Artist" is gathering some serious award-season momentum as a best picture favorite at the 84th annual Oscar ceremony on Feb. 26. The silent-period Valentine from French director Michel Hazanavicius has won numerous honors, including best comedy or musical at Sunday's Golden Globes.

Meanwhile, in a touch of silent symmetry, an extensively restored version of "Wings" thrilled celebrities and regular folks alike this week at special screenings sponsored by the motion picture academy. And next week, the restored "Wings" will be released on DVD.

"I know my father would be clapping," said William Wellman Jr. at a Tuesday night VIP screening at the academy's Beverly Hills headquarters. The son of the "Wings" director is author of "The Man and His Wings: William A. Wellman and the Making of the First Best Picture."

The "Wings" screening also served as a kickoff for an academy exhibit celebrating the 100th anniversary of Paramount Pictures, which originally produced the World War I drama.

In reality, it's pure coincidence that the "Wings" restoration and DVD release come at the same time as "The Artist's" mounting recognition on the awards circuit.

Nevertheless, "there's such a nice tribute to the history of cinema in ("The Artist"), that I'm thrilled about it," noted Andrea Kalas, a Paramount archivist who oversaw the "Wings" restoration. "And the fact that `Wings' gets mentioned in its context doesn't upset me in the least."

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/entertainment/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120119/ap_en_ot/us_silent_symmetry

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