New Pentax camera is rugged - and a bit odd-looking

6 hrs.

Devin Coldewey , NBC News

If you're looking for a rugged point-and-shoot to take with you on vacation, you could do worse than the latest from Pentax ? if you can get past the rather loud design of the things.

The new WG-3 ticks the usual ruggedness boxes: Waterproof to 45 feet, handles a drop from 6 feet?and can withstand being sat on by a full-sized human being. What the WG-3 adds is a much brighter lens and a secondary display for statistics about the environment.

That new lens is a 4x zoom compared with the WG-2's 5x, but its maximum aperture of F/2 is far better than its predecessor's or any of the other rugged cameras we've shared word about?this week. Combine that with a back-illuminated 16-megapixel sensor that can go up to 6400 ISO, and you've got quite an all-purpose picture-taking machine.

The WG-3's new ambient readings display can show cardinal directions, elevation or depth ? handy when you're going from a mountain?peak to coral reef?in the tropics. Puzzlingly, the display is on the front of the camera, probably because your elevation isn't usually critical to the composition of the shot.

There are two downsides to the WG-3. One is what you see ? the WG series has never been low-key, but the level of flair on this model borders on ridiculous. Be careful in the jungle or a tropical bird or beetle might just try to befriend it. Fortunately, it comes in sober black as well.

The other trouble is that it's a bit on the high end price-wise at $300, or $350 with built-in GPS. Not everyone is willing to pay that kind of premium for a point-and-shoot, although from the specs it appears this Pentax is worth the money. (There's also a cheaper WG-10 that will be available in April, but it makes a few too many compromises for our taste.) The cameras ship in March, so you've got plenty of time to decide.

Devin Coldewey is a contributing writer for NBC?News Digital. His personal website is?coldewey.cc.

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/gadgetbox/new-pentax-camera-can-take-hit-if-you-can-take-1B8168195

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China's Lenovo sets sights overseas in smartphone push

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Lenovo Group Ltd is stepping up its overseas expansion in the smartphone business after enjoying solid growth at home in China, as the world's No.2 maker of personal computers seeks to offset slowing growth in the traditional PC sector.

Lenovo, also the second-biggest smartphone vendor in China, has begun selling smartphones in countries including Russia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam, although analysts said it faced stiff competition from major players like Samsung Electronics Co Ltd and Apple Inc.

In its October-to-December third quarter, Lenovo shipped 9.4 million phones, including 9 million smartphones, mainly in China, where its smartphone business turned profitable for the first time.

"For the rest of the emerging markets, we will continue to invest in the smartphone business to drive market share," Yang Yuanqing, Lenovo's chief executive, told a media briefing after announcing its best-ever quarterly profit. "When we have enough market share, we can shift to (focusing on) profitability."

The ThinkPad maker reported on Wednesday a quarterly profit of $204.9 million, up by a third from a year earlier. That beat the average estimate of $178.4 million in a Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S poll of 11 analysts, and exceeded its previous record of around $172 million in the three months that ended in December 2007.

In the third quarter, overall revenue grew 12 percent from a year earlier to $9.4 billion, but the bulk of that still came from its PC business.

Lenovo has rapidly gained market share in the PC sector on the back of acquisitions over the past few years. The company trails Hewlett Packard Co by a slim margin in PC shipments, according to technology research group IDC.

As PC demand growth slows, Lenovo has been diversifying into the mobile device sector to tap robust demand for smartphones and tablets, particularly at home in China, the world's biggest market for mobile phones and personal computers.

About a tenth of its third-quarter revenue came from its mobile internet and digital home (MIDH) business - mainly consisting of its smartphone sales in China, which jumped 77 percent to $998 million.

"In my opinion, Lenovo's strategy in mobile devices is that it will focus initially on the overseas markets that it's most familiar with and this includes emerging markets," Eve Jung, an analyst at Nomura Equity Research.

"However, it will face challenges in the sector as companies like Acer and Asustek roll out cheaper tablet PC models to aggressively target markets, such as China, which is Lenovo's traditional stronghold," she said.

In smartphones, Lenovo will have to compete head-on not only with major global players, but also with Chinese rivals like Huawei Technologies Co Ltd and ZTE Corp, which are already among the top five smartphone players globally.

"Its strategy in diversifying into smartphones has proved quite successful in China, but it'll be quite difficult for Lenovo to be as successful as say, Samsung, in overseas markets," said Audrey Chiu, a manager at the investment and research division of Truswell Securities Investment Trust, which invests in Lenovo's shares.

Shares of Lenovo rose 36 percent in 2012, outpacing a 23 percent rise in the Hang Seng Index and beating rivals Hewlett Packard, Dell Inc and Acer Inc, whose stocks fell last year.

On Wednesday, Lenovo shares closed down 2.7 percent prior to the results announcement, compared with the Hang Seng's 0.7 percent rise.

(Reporting by Lee Chyen Yee; Editing by Chris Gallagher)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/lenovo-logs-record-quarterly-profit-q3-tops-market-083025136--finance.html

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Veterinary Simulation Center Features Robotic Pets | The Cornell ...

The world?s first simulation center to use robotic pet animals to teach veterinary science now has a place to call home at Cornell's College of Veterinary Medicine.

After he designed his first robotic dog in 2010, Prof. Daniel Fletcher, emergency and critical care, decided to start the simulation center, which uses robotic pets as mock patients for students to practice simulated emergency situations.?

Fletcher said the simulation center has grown from an office in the vet school?s basement to two fully-equipped exam rooms, two rooms for live observation and debriefing and more space for designing new robo-pet models.

?The first classes got to use the simulation center this past fall, with five students acting out the simulation at a time and another ten [students] observing,? Fletcher said.?

The classes focused on skills such as communicating with clients, performing CPR in emergency situations and working with others in stressful situations, according to Fletcher.

?Working with the robotic pet models in the simulation center helps students bridge the gap between learning in the classroom and working on actual patients,? Fletcher said.

The center also fosters confidence in students to operate on live animals, Fletcher said.?

?My students can rattle off everything they need to do in an emergency if I ask them. It?s very different, however, when someone?s pet is in front of you,? Fletcher said. ?Our simulations don?t replace real animals and emergencies, but [they provide students with] the opportunity to develop confidence in those situations.?

The procedures at the center help students receive feedback that they couldn?t have in a normal classroom setting, according to Sara Buckley grad, one of the first vet students to participate in simulations at the center in Fall 2012.?

?Communication skills are definitely a huge part of the simulation center learning. [The robo-dog] feels like a real patient ?? [it] has a heartbeat and everything ?? but there is less stress than there might be in an actual emergency,? Buckley said.

The new simulation center provides valuable practice to prepare students for clinical situations, according to Enio Sanmarti grad.?

?It?s not until you act on a clinical case that you appreciate how well-prepared the simulation makes you for difficult situations,? Sanmarti said.

Robotic patients and simulations such as those offered at the vet school have existed for decades in human medicine, Fletcher said. He said he first had the idea to apply this technology to a vet school in 2008.?

Fletcher said his vision for the center surpasses the realm of the vet school to extend to the Ithaca community.

??I hope we can expand the center to also [help inform] the public. If your dog collapsed at home, what would you do until you could get them to the vet?? Fletcher said.?

He said he hopes his efforts will increase public knowledge about veterinary science.

?I?m really interested in making this valuable to the whole community,? Fletcher said.

Source: http://www.cornellsun.com/section/news/content/2013/01/29/veterinary-simulation-center-features-robotic-pets

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Apple boosts fourth-generation iPad to 128GB for $799

Apple's iPad line has topped out at 64GB since it was born. That perennial ceiling has been smashed: the company is hiking the capacity of the fourth-generation iPad to a whopping (and only recently rumored) 128GB. The hardware hasn't otherwise changed and preserves both the performance and dimensions that we already know. The WiFi and cellular versions get equal treatment, although we'll pay dearly for the increase at $799 for the base WiFi version and $929 for the cellular edition. Both of the extra-capacious tablets will be available February 5th.

Show full PR text

Apple Increases iPad with Retina Display to 128GB

Offers Twice the Storage Capacity to Create & Enjoy Even More Incredible Content

CUPERTINO, Calif., Jan 29, 2013 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Apple(R) today announced a 128GB* version of the fourth generation iPad(R) with Retina(R) display. The 128GB iPad with Wi-Fi and iPad with Wi-Fi + Cellular models provide twice the storage capacity of the 64GB models to hold even more valuable content including photos, documents, projects, presentations, books, movies, TV shows, music and apps.

"With more than 120 million iPads sold, it's clear that customers around the world love their iPads, and everyday they are finding more great reasons to work, learn and play on their iPads rather than their old PCs," said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. "With twice the storage capacity and an unparalleled selection of over 300,000 native iPad apps, enterprises, educators and artists have even more reasons to use iPad for all their business and personal needs."

iPad continues to have a significant impact on business with virtually all of the Fortune 500 and over 85 percent of the Global 500 currently deploying or testing iPad. Companies regularly utilizing large amounts of data such as 3D CAD files, X-rays, film edits, music tracks, project blueprints, training videos and service manuals all benefit from having a greater choice of storage options for iPad. The over 10 million iWork(R) users, and customers who rely on other incredible apps like Global Apptitude for analyzing team film and creating digital playbooks, Auria for an incredible 48 track recording system, or AutoCAD for drafting architectural and engineering drawings, also benefit greatly from having the choice of an iPad with more storage capacity.

"Our AutoCAD WS app for iOS was designed to give customers seamless access to their designs anywhere, anytime," said Amy Bunszel, vice president of AutoCAD products for Autodesk. "These files are often large and highly detailed so having the thin and light iPad with its Multitouch display, integrated camera and all-day battery life, is a real advantage for iPad users to view, edit and share their AutoCAD data."

"The features and capabilities of iPad give us the ability to set a new standard for multitrack recording and editing on a mobile device," said Rim Buntinas, WaveMachine Labs' CEO. "Users of the Auria app can play 48 mono or stereo 24bit/96 kHz tracks simultaneously, record up to 24 of those tracks simultaneously, and also edit and mix with familiar tools. With its portability and all-day battery life, iPad has revolutionized recording for audio professionals allowing artists to record anywhere."

"The bottom line for our customers is winning football games, and iPad running our GamePlan solution unquestionably helps players be as prepared as possible," said Randall Fusee, Global Apptitude Co-Founder. "The iPad's unbeatable combination of security, being thin and light, having an incredible Retina display and also being powerful enough to handle large amounts of data enables us to deliver a product that takes film study to a new level and ultimately gives our users the best opportunity to prepare, execute and win."

The fourth generation iPad features a gorgeous 9.7-inch Retina display, Apple-designed A6X chip, FaceTime(R) HD camera, iOS 6.1 and ultrafast wireless performance**. iOS 6.1 includes support for additional LTE networks around the world***, and iTunes Match(SM) subscribers can download individual songs to their iOS devices from iCloud(R).

iPad runs over 800,000 apps available on the App Store(SM), including more than 300,000 apps designed specifically for iPad, from a wide range of categories including books, games, business, news, sports, health, reference and travel. iPad also supports the more than 5,000 newspapers and magazines offered in Newsstand, and the more than 1.5 million books available on the iBookstore(SM).

Pricing & Availability

The new 128GB versions of the fourth generation iPad will be available starting Tuesday, February 5, in black or white, for a suggested retail price of $799 (US) for the iPad with Wi-Fi model and $929 (US) for the iPad with Wi-Fi + Cellular model. All versions of the 128GB iPad will be sold through the Apple Online Store ( www.apple.com ), Apple retail stores and select Apple Authorized Resellers.

Filed under: Tablets, Apple

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Source: Apple

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/29/apple-boosts-fourth-generation-ipad-to-128gb-for-799/

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With The Help Of Citizen Cartographers, Google Launches More Detailed Map Of North Korea

Google Maps is not only a strong product, it’s a strong platform. With its Map Maker tool, people from around the world can participate in making Google’s maps more detailed, accurate and up-to-date. This is exactly what happened for North Korea’s maps, Google announced today. Google’s Senior Product Manager of Map Maker, Jayanth Mysore, discussed what went into these new detailed views: To build this map, a community of citizen cartographers came together in Google Map Maker to make their contributions such as adding road names and points of interest. This effort has been active in Map Maker for a few years and today the new map of North Korea is ready and now available on Google Maps. As a result, the world can access maps of North Korea that offer much more information and detail than before. We know this map is not perfect ? one of the exciting things about maps is that the world is a constantly changing place. We encourage people from around the world to continue helping us improve the quality of these maps for everyone with Google Map Maker. From this point forward, any further approved updates to the North Korean maps in Google Map Maker will also appear on Google Maps. Here’s a before and after look at North Korea, with more details popping up thanks to the Map Maker community: We recently reported exactly how Google is managing its Map Maker community, giving them badges for accomplishments and adding more detail to make Google Maps better. While this community isn’t fully relied upon for Google Maps, it is definitely an important part of the entire system. With everything that goes into making Google Maps the most powerful service of its kind, companies like Apple who are trying to do the work on their own definitely have some catching up to do. Right now, Google allows people from 200 different regions to participate in the editing of the Maps product. Without sounding like a huge downer, this is also probably way safer than a Google Street View truck driving around in North Korea at this point.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/vadWBm4V1jQ/

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Primates too can move in unison

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Japanese researchers show for the first time that primates modify their body movements to be in tune with others, just like humans do. Humans unconsciously modify their movements to be in synchrony with their peers. For example, we adapt our pace to walk in step or clap in unison at the end of a concert. This phenomenon is thought to reflect bonding and facilitate human interaction. Researchers from the RIKEN Brain Science Institute report today that pairs of macaque monkeys also spontaneously coordinate their movements to reach synchrony.

This research opens the door to much-needed neurophysiological studies of spontaneous synchronization in monkeys, which could shed light into human behavioral dysfunctions such as those observed in patients with autism spectrum disorders, echopraxia and echolalia ? where patients uncontrollably imitate others.

In the research, published today in the journal Scientific Reports, the team led by Naotaka Fujii developed an experimental set-up to test whether pairs of Japanese macaque monkeys synchronize a simple push-button movement.

Before the experiment, the monkeys were trained to push a button with one hand. In a first experiment the monkeys were paired and placed facing each other and the timing of their push-button movements was recorded. The same experiment was repeated but this time each monkey was shown videos of another monkey pushing a button at varying speeds. And in a last experiment the macaques were not allowed to either see or hear their video-partner.

The results show that the monkeys modified their movements ? increased or decreased the speed of their push-button movement - to be in synchrony with their partner, both when the partner was real and on video. The speed of the button pressing movement changed to be in harmonic or sub-harmonic synchrony with the partners' speed. However, different pairs of monkeys synchronized differently and reached different speeds, and the monkeys synchronized their movements the most when they could both see and hear their partner.

The researchers note that this behavior cannot have been learnt by the monkeys during the experiment, as previous research has shown that it is extremely difficult for monkeys to learn intentional synchronization.

They add: "The reasons why the monkeys showed behavioral synchronization are not clear. It may be a vital aspect of other socially adaptive behavior, important for survival in the wild."

###

Yasuo Nagasaka, Zenas C. Chao, Naomi Hasegawa, Tomonori Notoya, and Naotaka Fujii "Spontaneous synchronization of arm motion between Japanese macaques." Scientific Reports, 2013 DOI: 10.1038/srep01151.

RIKEN: http://www.riken.jp/engn/

Thanks to RIKEN 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/126488/Primates_too_can_move_in_unison

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In Asia's trend-setting cities, iPhone fatigue sets in

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Apple Inc's iconic iPhone is losing some of its luster among Asia's well-heeled consumers in Singapore and Hong Kong, a victim of changing mobile habits and its own runaway success.

Driven by a combination of iPhone fatigue, a desire to be different and a plethora of competing devices, users are turning to other brands, notably those from Samsung Electronics Co Ltd, eating into Apple's market share.

In Singapore, Apple's products were so dominant in 2010 that more devices here ran its iOS operating system per capita than anywhere else in the world.

But StatCounter http://gs.statcounter.com, which measures traffic collected across a network of 3 million websites, calculates that Apple's share of mobile devices in Singapore - iPad and iPhone - declined sharply last year. From a peak of 72 percent in January 2012, its share fell to 50 percent this month, while Android devices now account for 43 percent of the market, up from 20 percent in the same month last year.

In Hong Kong, devices running Apple's iOS now account for about 30 percent of the total, down from about 45 percent a year ago. Android accounts for nearly two-thirds.

"Apple is still viewed as a prestigious brand, but there are just so many other cool smartphones out there now that the competition is just much stiffer," said Tom Clayton, chief executive of Singapore-based Bubble Motion http://www.bubblemotion.com, which develops a popular regional social media app called Bubbly.

Where Hong Kong and Singapore lead, other key markets across fast-growing Asia usually follow.

"Singapore and Hong Kong tend to be, from an electronics perspective, leading indicators on what is going to be hot in Western Europe and North America, as well as what is going to take off in the region," said Jim Wagstaff, who runs a Singapore-based company called Jam Factory http://www.jamfactoryonline.com developing mobile apps for enterprises.

Southeast Asia is adopting smartphones fast - consumers spent 78 percent more on smartphones in the 12 months up to September 2012 than they did the year before, according to research company GfK http://www.gfkrt.com.

IN WITH THE YOUNG CROWD

Anecdotal evidence of iPhone fatigue isn't hard to find: Where a year ago iPhones swamped other devices on the subways of Hong Kong and Singapore they are now outnumbered by Samsung and HTC Corp smartphones.

While this is partly explained by the proliferation of Android devices, from the cheap to the fancy, there are other signs that Apple has lost followers.

Singapore entrepreneur Aileen Sim, recently launched an app for splitting bills called BillPin http://www.billpin.com, settling on an iOS version because that was the dominant platform in the three countries she was targeting - Singapore, India and the United States.

"But what surprised us was how strong the call for Android was when we launched our app," she said.

Indeed, 70 percent of their target users - 20-something college students and fresh graduates - said they were either already on Android or planned to switch over.

"Android is becoming really hard to ignore, around the region and in the U.S. for sure, but surprisingly even in Singapore," she said. "Even my younger early-20s cousins are mostly on Android now."

BillPin launched an Android version this month.

Napoleon Biggs, chief strategy officer at Gravitas Group http://www.gravitas.com.hk, a Hong Kong-based mobile marketing company, said that while Apple and the iPhone remained premium brands there, Samsung's promotional efforts were playing to an increasingly receptive audience.

For some, it is a matter of wanting to stand out from the iPhone-carrying crowd. Others find the higher-powered, bigger-screened Android devices better suited to their changing habits - watching video, writing Chinese characters - while the cost of switching devices is lower than they expected, given that most popular social and gaming apps are available for both platforms.

"Hong Kong is a very fickle place," Biggs said.

Janet Chan, a 25-year-old Hong Kong advertising executive, has an iPhone 5 but its fast-draining battery and the appeal of a bigger screen for watching movies is prodding her to switch to a Samsung Galaxy Note II.

"After Steve Jobs died, it seems the element of surprise in product launches isn't that great anymore," she said.

To be sure, there are still plenty of people buying Apple devices. Stores selling their products in places such as Indonesia were full over the Christmas holidays, and the company's new official store in Hong Kong's Causeway Bay has queues snaking out of the door most days.

But the iPhone's drop in popularity in trendy Hong Kong and Singapore is mirrored in the upmarket malls of the region.

"IPhones are like Louis Vuitton handbags," said marketing manager Narisara Konglua in Bangkok, who uses a Galaxy SIII. "It's become so commonplace to see people with iPads and iPhones so you lose your cool edge having one."

In the Indonesian capital Jakarta, an assistant manager at Coca Cola's local venture, Gatot Hadipratomo, agrees. The iPhone "used to be a cool gadget but now more and more people use it."

There is another influence at play: hip Korea. Korean pop music, movies and TV are hugely popular around the region and Samsung is riding that wave. And while the impact is more visible in Hong Kong and Singapore, it also translates directly to places like Thailand.

"Thais are not very brand-loyal," says Akkaradert Bumrungmuang, 24, a student at Mahidol University in Bangkok. "That's why whatever is hot or the in-thing to have is adopted quickly here. We follow Korea so whatever is fashionable in Korea will be a big hit."

(Additional reporting by Lee Chyen Yee in Hong Kong; Khettiya Jittapong and Amy Sawitta Lefevre in Bangkok, and Andjarsari Paramaditha in Jakarta; Editing by Emily Kaiser)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/asias-trend-setting-cities-iphone-fatigue-sets-212849658--finance.html

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UFC on Fox 6 results: Demetrious Johnson retains title, ?Rampage? loses in Octagon finale

CHICAGO -- The UFC's stop in the Windy City had two great knockouts, a champion holding onto his belt, and the last fight of a one-time champ.

Despite a strong start by John Dodson, Demetrious Johnson held onto his championship belt with a unanimous decision. The judges saw it 48-47, 49-46, 48-47 for Johnson.

Unsurprisingly, Johnson and Dodson fought a fast-paced first two rounds. Johnson tried to slow things down in the first round with a takedown. While he did get Dodson to to the ground, the challenger popped back to his feet quickly.

Dodson dropped Johnson twice in the second round, and shook off Johnson's take down attempts with a great sprawl. Johnson seemed to have a hard time even getting close to Dodson to land a punch.

[Related: T.J. Grant and Ryan Bader shine at UFC on Fox 6]

A Johnson knee in the fourth round caused a small fight stoppage. Dodson's hand was on the ground as Johnson threw a knee to Dodson's head, which is an illegal strike. The bout was stopped as doctors checked Dodson's eye and Johnson was warned. The fight went on, but not without plenty of boos from the crowd in Chicago.

When the fight restarted, it was all Johnson. He controlled Dodson against the cage, and threw knees that busted up Dodson's face. Johnson was able to get a takedown at the beginning of the fifth round, too. Though boos rained down, Johnson kept the fight against the cage.

Later, the crowd got behind him as Johnson elevated, tightened his legs around Dodson's torso and threw elbows. It was a creative move that likely could only happen in the flyweight division. Johnson finished the round with Dodson against the cage, and knee after knee after knee to the body and face.

Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson vs. Glover Teixeira

If this really was Quinton "Rampage" Jackson's last fight in the UFC, it wasn't one to remember. He was outstruck and outwrestled by Glover Teixeira throughout their bout. Teixeira took the fight 30-27, 30-27, 29-28 on the judges' cards.

Teixeira's first round was his best, as he was able to take Jackson down early and mount him and take his back. Late in the round, Teixeira knocked Jackson down with a punch and looked close to finishing, but wasn't able to end the fight.

The rest of the fight featured a worn out Jackson trying to avoid Teixeira's takedown attempts unsuccessfully. Jackson threw some big punches, and even jawed at Teixeira during the bout, but he wasn't able to score any big offense.

While this fight will be remembered for being Jackson's last UFC bout, Teixeira scored his third straight UFC win on Saturday night. He looked impressive against the former champ.

Anthony Pettis vs. Donald Cerrone

Anthony Pettis won his much anticipated bout with Donald Cerrone by landing big, memorable strikes. Pettis was getting the better of their striking exchanges early, which set him up for a big finish. Pettis threw a kick that landed hard on Cerrone's body, then finished with a punch. Cerrone fell to the ground in a heap, and the fight was stopped at 2:35 in the first round.

Pettis lost his first fight in the UFC after coming from the WEC as the champ, but he's been winning ever since. He has wins over Joe Lauzon, Jeremy Stephens and now Cerrone. After the fight, he made a pitch to UFC president Dana White.

"I want my title shot. I should have had it years ago. People say I can?t wrestle because of the Guida fight, but I had a serious shoulder injury. Now I am 100 percent. No one can do in the Octagon what I can do."

While lightweight champion Benson Henderson has a fight set up with Gilbert Melendez, a shot for Pettis isn't unwarranted. It would be a rematch of their WEC title fight, which Pettis won in the promotion's final fight.

Ricardo Lamas vs. Erik Koch

Lamas won the first round by constantly pressuring Koch against the cage. It wasn't exactly the most thrilling round to have start a card on network television, but it led to a thrilling second round. Lamas took advantage of Koch's slip, and then finished the fight with nasty, nasty ground and pound. Lamas started with elbows, then started with strikes that cut open Koch's face. Koch had no answer for Lamas' relentless strikes, and the bout was stopped at 2:32 in the second round.

Lamas thought his performance warranted a title shot.

"I?ve beat Cub Swanson, I?ve beat Hioki and now I?ve beat Koch. All those guys were supposed to be fighting for the title at one point. I beat them all. We?re all here to be world champ and I am no different. I want the winner of Aldo vs Edgar next week. I don?t care who wins, I want the winner."

Related UFC video from Yahoo! Sports:

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Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/ufc-fox-6-results-demetrious-johnson-retains-title-032827859--mma.html

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Fragile economy, other global woes dominated Davos

DAVOS, Switzerland (AP) ? The fragile state of the global economy and a host of other woes ? from Syria's escalating war to the rocky fallout from the Arab Spring ? dominated the annual meeting of the global elite at Davos, casting a sense of uncertainty and foreboding over what lies ahead.

Much of the overt glitz and glamor that was long a feature of the World Economic Forum was absent this year, a decision founder Klaus Schwab said reflected the serious issues confronting the planet.

As more than 2,500 global movers and shakers headed home Sunday, there was broad agreement that things are beginning to look up on the economic front ? at least in China, Africa, and emerging markets, but not in Japan, Europe, and the United States.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/fragile-economy-other-global-woes-dominated-davos-154125358--finance.html

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Analysis: In Davos, world seeks U.S. engagement

DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) - As President Barack Obama starts his second term, the world's business and political elite pines for greater American engagement to tackle a thicket of security challenges.

From Syria to Mali, from Iran to the South China Sea, the United States' reluctance to be drawn into conflicts far from its shores was a leitmotiv of geopolitical debate at this year's World Economic Forum in Davos.

The absence of top Obama administration officials from the annual brainstorming and networking event in the Swiss mountains symbolized to some a perceived pullback from global leadership, even though it was Inauguration Week in Washington.

Leaders of Russia, Germany, Britain, Italy, South Africa, Jordan and many other nations made the journey.

U.S. bankers, business leaders and academics were out in force, but the most senior U.S. government officials were a Treasury undersecretary, an assistant secretary of state and the outgoing U.S. Trade Representative.

Delegates debated whether and when China would overtake America as the number one economy and global power -- estimates ranging from the early 2020s to never -- and what troubles were brewing while Washington remains in hands-off mode.

The ground rules of many Davos panels preclude identifying the speakers. One minister, shielded by that anonymity, lamented the dangers of "a world without American leadership".

Without U.S. involvement, one session was told, Syria would become a "Somalia on the Mediterranean", with Middle East states waging a proxy war via sectarian factions, some of which would export militant violence to the neighbors and to Europe.

Iran may accelerate its nuclear program to try to break out of isolation, Vali Nasr of Johns Hopkins University said, because Washington is squeezing it with economic sanctions but shunning either direct diplomatic engagement or military action.

"NEW TALIBAN IN SYRIA"

In a public address, King Abdullah of Jordan said his country, which had sent troops to fight Islamist militants in Afghanistan, now faces a "new Taliban in Syria", where an al-Qaeda affiliate has gained ground among forces fighting to oust President Bashar al-Assad. It could take years after the fall of Assad to "clean them out", the king said.

His fragile desert kingdom has taken in some 300,000 Syrian refugees, straining its thin resources and political stability. Some Syrian exiles present in Davos complained that Jordan has closed its border to Syrian opposition fighters.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, whose country has absorbed some 150,000 refugees and serves as a rear base for rebel fighters, said the international community would one day have to apologize to the Syrian people, as it had done in Rwanda, for failing to intervene to prevent massacres.

At least 60,000 people have been killed in two years of civil war in Syria, according to the United Nations.

Saudi Arabia's Prince Turki al-Faisal, a senior member of the royal family, former head of intelligence and ambassador to London and Washington, said the rebels were not receiving game-changing anti-aircraft and anti-tank weapons because of U.S. and manufacturers' restrictions on transfers to third parties.

U.S. strategic experts explained that Washington's sole interest in Syria was to prevent any threat to Israel and ensure chemical weapons did not fall into "terrorist" hands.

The same reluctance to be sucked into conflict meant Washington would provide little more than verbal and intelligence support for France as it battles in Mali against al-Qaeda-linked militants who have taken root in the vast ungoverned spaces of the Sahara and Sahel.

Few if any expect Obama, who burned his fingers in an early attempt to revive Israeli-Palestinian negotiations when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refused to stop Jewish settlement building, to launch a fresh peace initiative now.

Any risk of the United States being drawn into military intervention in the Islamic world after extricating itself from Iraq and winding down its presence in Afghanistan is anathema to the Obama administration, said Gideon Rose, editor of the policy journal Foreign Affairs.

ASIA PIVOT

Some delegates cited Obama's strategic "pivot" towards Asia, shifting Washington's focus towards the fast-growing economies of the Asia-Pacific region, as one reason why tensions were on the rise in the Middle East and North Africa.

The president's first foreign trip after his re-election in November to southeast Asia was overshadowed by a flare-up between Israel and the Palestinians in Gaza, a reminder of an issue on the back-burner that can explode at any time.

It came during a potentially dangerous phase in relations around east Asia between China and Japan, North Korea and its neighbors, and above all China and the United States.

Former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, a China expert, urged Obama to use his second term to take a major initiative to build a cooperative security relationship with China, partly to avert conflicts in the South China Sea. Rose doubted that the Obama administration would undertake anything so ambitious.

Wu Xinbo, dean of the School of International Studies at Fudan University in China, said Washington should start by ending aggressive air and sea patrolling off China's shores, which he said smacked of the "containment" of the former Soviet Union.

He voiced concern that Japan, driven by a more nationalist new government and public opinion, could pursue an "offensive" approach to a dispute over a group of small islands in the South China Sea known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China.

Joseph Nye, a former U.S. official and Harvard academic who visited Japan and China recently as part of a semi-official U.S. delegation, said both countries were worried by the perceived growth of nationalism and militarism in the other although "this is not 1930s nationalism".

But Nye said both countries' new leaderships would give top priority to economic development and provided the United States sent careful messages to both, there was the prospect of a strong triangular relationship.

(Editing by Philippa Fletcher)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/analysis-davos-world-seeks-u-engagement-205536340--finance.html

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Dozens of stranded Arizona hikers rescued

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) ? Teams on the ground and in the air rescued dozens of hikers who were stranded in an Arizona canyon after heavy rains flooded trails, authorities said.

Forty to 50 adults and children were stranded Saturday along various sections of Bear Canyon northeast of Tucson as the waters rushed down mountainsides, the Pima County Sheriff's Department said.

A series of 911 calls from hikers sparked a rescue operation involving teams on the ground and in a helicopter,

The first group of hikers was led out of the canyon in the Catalina Mountains in the late afternoon and the last group well after dark, deputy Tom Peine told the Arizona Daily Star.

Some of the hikers said they were stranded when a river swelled to a raging torrent in a matter of minutes.

"I've never seen anything like this," hiker Jesse Boyd told KGUN-TV. "I've gotten caught in rain out here, but nothing to the point where I had to be rescued."

With some hikers, rescuers used a technique that involved roping them together with flotation devices to help get them through high water. Some of the hikers were flown out by helicopter.

"(A) rescue team member was behind us with a hand on that flotation device," Michael Rolland told KVOA-TV after being aided by rescuers. "They strung a rope across, and so we had to grab the rope and sidestep across the river."

Peine said that the hikers might not have realized that rains at higher elevations could cause canyon flooding long after the down pour ends.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/dozens-stranded-arizona-hikers-rescued-071236674.html

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It's Official! J.J. Abrams Will Direct 'Star Wars Episode VII'

The director raves about 'the next chapter of the "Star Wars" saga' in Disney press release.
By Ryan J. Downey

J. J. Abrams
Photo: Getty Images

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1700857/jj-abrams-star-wars-episode-vii-direct.jhtml

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Idae - Extreme Sports Notebook by arcHITechts ? Yanko Design

Extreme Sports Notepad

It seems like my friends who enjoy outdoor activities like skiing and mountain-biking are the same folk who like to draw, write, and journal. Something about that fresh air I guess. They?ll appreciate this extreme-notebook called Idea ? it?s a waterproof, unbreakable & recyclable pad that can withstand the wildest conditions. Users can doodle to their heart?s desire on the mountain top, while camping, on the beach, or any other place they find inspiration.

Designer: arcHITechts

Source: http://www.yankodesign.com/2013/01/25/extreme-sports-notepad/

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Lindsey Vonn and Tiger Woods: Just Friends ... Maybe

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2013/01/lindsey-vonn-and-tiger-woods-just-friends/

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Jenelle Evans Cheating With Gary Head, Courtland Rogers Alleges

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2013/01/jenelle-evans-cheating-with-gary-head-courtland-rogers-alleges/

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Panetta: Women are integral to military's success

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, in lifting a ban on women serving in combat, said women have become integral to the military's success and have shown they are willing to fight and die alongside their male counterparts.

"The time has come for our policies to recognize that reality," Panetta said Thursday at a Pentagon news conference with Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Panetta said that not all women will be able to meet the qualifications to be a combat soldier.

"But everyone is entitled to a chance," he said.

He said the qualifications will not be lowered, and with women playing a broader role, the military will be strengthened.

Panetta said that his visits to Afghanistan and Iraq to see U.S. forces in action demonstrated to him that women should have a chance to perform combat duties if they wish, and if they can meet the qualifications.

"Our military is more capable, and our force is more powerful, when we use all of the great diverse strengths of the American people," Panetta said earlier Thursday at a Pentagon ceremony in remembrance of Martin Luther King Jr.

Panetta is expected to step down as Pentagon chief sometime in February. Republican Former Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska has been nominated as his successor, and his Senate confirmation hearing is scheduled for Jan. 31.

"Every person in today's military has made a solemn commitment to fight, and if necessary to die, for our nation's defense," he said. "We owe it to them to allow them to pursue every avenue of military service for which they are fully prepared and qualified. Their career success and their specific opportunities should be based solely on their ability to successfully carry out an assigned mission. Everyone deserves that chance."

The decision to lift the ban on women serving in combat presents a daunting challenge to top military leaders who now will have to decide which, if any, jobs they believe should be open only to men.

Panetta planned to announce at a Pentagon news conference that more than 230,000 battlefront posts ? many in Army and Marine infantry units and in potentially elite commando jobs ? are now open to women. It will be up to the military service chiefs to recommend and defend whether women should be excluded from any of those more demanding and deadly positions, such as Navy SEALs or the Army's Delta Force.

The historic change, which was recommended by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, overturns a 1994 rule prohibiting women from being assigned to smaller ground combat units.

The change won't take place overnight: Service chiefs will have to develop plans for allowing women to seek the combat positions, a senior military official said. Some jobs may open as soon as this year, while assessments for others, such as special operations forces, may take longer. The services will have until January 2016 to make a case to that some positions should remain closed to women.

Officials briefed The Associated Press on the changes Wednesday on condition of anonymity so they could speak ahead of the official announcement.

There long has been opposition to putting women in combat, based on questions of whether they have the necessary strength and stamina for certain jobs, or whether their presence might hurt unit cohesion.

But as news of Panetta's expected order got out, many members of Congress, including the Senate Armed Services Committee chairman, Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., announced their support.

"It reflects the reality of 21st century military operations," Levin said.

Objections were few. Jerry Boykin, executive vice president of the Family Research Council, called the move "another social experiment" that will place unnecessary burdens on military commanders.

"While their focus must remain on winning the battles and protecting their troops, they will now have the distraction of having to provide some separation of the genders during fast-moving and deadly situations," said Boykin, a retired Army lieutenant general. He noted that small units often are in sustained combat for extended periods of time under primal living conditions with no privacy.

Panetta's move comes in his final weeks as Pentagon chief and just days after President Barack Obama's inaugural speech in which he spoke passionately about equal rights for all. The new order expands the department's action of nearly a year ago to open about 14,500 combat positions to women, nearly all of them in the Army.

In addition to questions of strength and performance, there also have been suggestions that the American public would not tolerate large numbers of women being killed in war.

Under the 1994 Pentagon policy, women were prohibited from being assigned to ground combat units below the brigade level. A brigade is roughly 3,500 troops split into several battalions of about 800 soldiers each. Historically, brigades were based farther from the front lines, and they often included top command and support staff.

The necessities of combat in Iraq and Afghanistan, however, propelled women into jobs as medics, military police and intelligence officers that were sometimes attached ? but not formally assigned ? to battalions. So while a woman couldn't be assigned as an infantryman in a battalion going out on patrol, she could fly the helicopter supporting the unit, or move in to provide medical aid if troops were injured.

And these conflicts, where battlefield lines are blurred and insurgents can lurk around every corner, have made it almost impossible to keep women clear of combat.

Still, as recent surveys and experiences have shown, it will not be an easy transition. When the Marine Corps sought women to go through its tough infantry course last year, two volunteered, and both failed to complete the course. And there may not be a wide clamoring from women for the more intense, dangerous and difficult jobs, including some infantry and commando positions.

Two lawsuits were filed last year challenging the Pentagon's ban on women serving in combat, adding pressure on officials to overturn the policy. And the military services have been studying the issue and surveying their forces to determine how it may affect performance and morale.

The Joint Chiefs have been meeting regularly on the matter, and they unanimously agreed to send the recommendation to Panetta earlier this month.

A senior military official familiar with the discussions said the chiefs laid out three main principles to guide them as they move through the process. Those were to maintain America's effective fighting force, preserve military readiness and develop a process that would give all service members the best chance to succeed.

Women comprise about 14 percent of the 1.4 million active military personnel. More than 280,000 women have been sent to Iraq, Afghanistan or to jobs in neighboring nations in support of the wars. Of the more than 6,600 U.S. service members who have been killed, 152 have been women.

The senior military official said the military chiefs must report back to Panetta with their initial implementation plans by May 15.

___

AP National Security Writer Robert Burns and AP Broadcast reporter Sagar Meghani contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/panetta-women-integral-militarys-success-185305670--politics.html

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blenheim palace hosts antiques fair from 18 to 21 april 2013

BLENHEIM PALACE HOSTS ANTIQUES FAIR FROM 18 TO 21 APRIL 2013

KEE@FSWMAG.COM
BLENHEIM PALACE IS TRULY A MAGNIFICENT PALACE THOUGH IT IS OWNED BY THE DUKE OF MARLBOROUGH AND NOT THE ROYAL FAMILY.?

Blenheim Palace is the home of the Dukes of Marlborough! This stately pile is worthy of an Emperor! Or me.

Indeed Blenheim Palace is one of a few manors that are officially called 'Palace' with full approval of the British Royal Family.?

So if you are visiting England in April, make sure you drop by Blenheim Palace which is open to the paying public and buy something from the Cotswold Art & Antique Dealers' Association Fair.

The trip to have a lookee inside Blenheim Palace and its gardens is worth the trip! Trust me! I have been there and have not recovered from the splendour as its interiors are more ostentatious than mine!

Kangxi octagonal plate, 1710. RM 25,000


Worcester porcelain plaque, 1820. RM 5,800

BLENHEIM PALACE HOSTS THE COTSWOLD ART & ANTIQUE DEALERS? ASSOCIATION FAIRThursday 18^th ? Sunday 21^st April 2013?The best provincial fair in the antiques calendar???We never realised the depth of quality and quantity of art and antiques in the Cotswolds.? The fair has opened our eyes??The Palace : what a stunning setting for the display of antiques?The Cotswold Art & Antique Dealers? Association Fair returns for the second occasion to the elegant setting of BlenheimPalace, Woodstock, Oxfordshire OX20 1PP from Thursday 18^th to Sunday 21st April 2013.? Lady Henrietta Spencer-Churchill, eldest daughter of the present Duke of Marlborough, has kindly accepted to be the new Patron of the Association.? Building on last year?s hugely successful inaugural event, where over 4,000 visitors visited the fair, already there is palpable excitement and positivity from the 29 exhibitors taking part.? The fair is to be staged over four days and has been enlarged to accommodate extra stands.? All the initial exhibitors have rebooked and the seven new dealers exhibiting are ?Andrew Dando, Freshfords Fine Antiques, Hallbakker, Elizabeth Harvey-Lee, Kinghams Art Pottery Ltd, Kyffin Gallery, Stuart Boyd and Spencer-Churchill Designs Ltd.? The addition of the fair has significantly enhanced the profile of The Cotswold Art & Antique Dealers? Association (CADA) and the membership has grown to 47 quality dealers.? ?BlenheimPalace is the ?perfect fit? to host the fair and it provides a unique experience for the visitor and consolidates the Cotswolds as the antiques centre for the scholar, the collector and the interior designer.? Everything is for sale with prices ranging from ?100 to ?150,000.The fair takes place in the stunning settings of The Orangery and Campaign Rooms which overlook the ItalianGarden at Blenheim.? The very best of every discipline is showcased creating a rich tapestry of history and culture including clocks and barometers, early needlework and antique boxes, garden ornaments and statuary, jewellery, silver and glass, carpets and textiles in addition to all kinds of fine furniture and decorative items, Oriental and English ceramics, fine art and much more.?? Highlights within the fair include a couple with a Blenheim connection such as an exquisite early 19^th century silk embroidery of Britannia mourning the death of Nelson from Witney Antiques.? Distinguished visitors were sometimes received by the Duke of Marlborough but on the occasion when Horatio Nelson visited BlenheimPalace in 1802 with Lord and Lady Hamilton, the 4^th Duke refused to receive him and greatly offended Nelson by sending out his refreshments into the park and not the palace.? John Howard at Heritage has sourced a dish from the very rare ?Foliage Border Series? which carries a transfer mark on the back ?Blenheim Oxfordshire?, dated around 1820 and with a price tag of ?750. Amongst the line up of paintings in the fair are ?A Portrait of a Lady? by Charles Edward Halle (1846-1914) from Sarah Colegrave 19^th & 20^th Century Pictures; ?a ?Still Life with Tankard and Vase? by J.B. Priestley OM (1894-1984), the celebrated English novelist, playwright and broadcaster who took up painting late in life when he lived with his third wife, Jacquetta Hawkes, at Alveston near Stratford upon Avon from the Titian Gallery; an original etching, c 1890, of La Dance a la Campagne by Pierre Auguste Renoir (1841-1919) from Elizabeth Harvey-Lee priced at ?10,000;? and self portrait of John Jones by Sir Kyffin Williams RA (1918-2000) from the Kyffin Gallery at ?70,000. ?An exquisite watercolour from Derek Newman is by John FulleyloveRI (1845-1908) of ?The Thames, Oxford, ChristchurchCollege beyond?, signed 1887.? For a more contemporary feel, John Noott Galleries are showing work by Peter Barker of local Cotswold scenes such as ?Swans by the River Coln?.Collectors of porcelain will enjoy the antique Grainger Worcester porcelain rectangular plaque hand painted with a view of the Royal Crescent, Bath after an 18^th century engraving by William Watts, c1820 from Andrew Dando priced at ?1,150; a Martin Brothers sculpture of a grotesque bird, dated 1897 from Kinghams Art Pottery for ?27,500; and a rare ceramic tray designed by Carl Sigmund Luber and manufactured by Johanne van Schwartz, c1905 for ?1,400 from Hallbakker.? Chinese ceramics include a famille verte? octagonal plate made during the Emperor Kangxi?s reign, c 1710, ?5,000 from Catherine Hunt Oriental Ceramics.? ?Many different styles of furniture adorn the fair from a superb George III period mahogany, satinwood, tulipwood and kingwood library breakfront bookcase from W R Harvey & Co (Antiques) Ltd for ?150,000; a pair of early 18^th century walnut armchairs with contemporary needlework, c 1725 selling at ?14,500 from Kit Alderson; a Regency rosewood library desk chair, c 1815 from Freshfords Fine Antiques selling for ?6,500;? and for lovers of oak Moxhams Antiques are bringing a late 18^th century oak potboard dresser from South West Wales with many of the iron cup hooks still remaining, priced at ?4,950.Montpellier Clocks are showing a fine rosewood library clock by Benjamin Lewis Vulliamy, c 1830, who was a distinguished clockmaker, succeeding his father as head of the family business and Clockmaker to the Crown.? More choice is available from Formby Clocks who are bringing a good? ebony veneered bracket timepiece with pull quarter repeat on two bells by Jonathan Lowndes of London, c 1695.? Curiosities in the fair include a Brighton Pavilion sewing compendium inspired by Nash?s Brighton Pavilion, the dome enclosing a pin cushion, the lower section a thimble, tape, waxer, pin cushion and needle case, c. 1820, for ?6,500 from Hampton Antiques.? Jewellery is well represented by Howards Jewellers bringing an Art Deco yellow and white diamond pendant necklace, c 1925.? A rare neo-classical claret jug decorated with scenes from the compositions of John Flaxman RA is one of the many pieces of interesting glass found on Jeanette Hayhurst?s stand. ??Textiles include a 19^th century silk Ikat coat from the Ferghana Valley, Uzbekistan, c 1860s, in perfect condition, for ?4,000 from Legge Carpets, also showing a fine silk Kashan rug from Iran, late 19^th century, priced at ?2,000.Not forgetting the outdoors, Architectural Heritage are bringing a pair of mid 19^th century wrought iron gates stamped by the maker Butterley who was responsible for many prestigious commissions, priced at ?2,800 and a pair of mid 18^th century Bath stone finials originating from Barford Park, Somerset for ?12,600.Event:?????????????????????????? The Cotswold Art & Antiques? Dealers Fair at BlenheimPalace, Woodstock, Oxfordshire, Date/Opening times?? 18^th ? 21^st April 2013, 10am ? 5.30pm dailyEntry:??????????????????????????? Complimentary invitation available from CADA website (www.thecada.org) admits 2 to the Fair and the Palace grounds Enquiries:????????????????????? CADA at Heritage, 6 Market Place, Woodstock,? OX20 1TA? M: 07831 850544 or 07855 443913Transport:???????????????????????????????? Jct 9 of M40; Oxford British Rail; LondonOxfordAirport (Kidlington); A signposted.? Free parkingWebsite:?????????????????????? www.thecada.org

Pair of Bath stone finials from Barford Park, Somerset, RM 63,000
Bet you have seen this in full colour! This preparatory sketch of 'La Dance ala Campagne' is an etching by Renoir with his signature circa 1890. RM 50,000

The Doge's Libary, Venice, original etching 1740. RM 20,000

Large glass pitcher/ewer by Charles Schneider 1926. RM 6,800

Rosewood library clock by Vulliamy, 1830.?

Pocket sundial and compass by Negretti & Zambra, London, 1850

Ceramic tray mounted on WMF (famous silversmith) circa 1905. RM 7,000

Art Deco yellow and white diamond pendant necklace

Charming, extremely rare and in fine condition, a sewing compendium designed as Brighton Pavilion 1820. RM 32,500

Darling painting of 3 cutie doggies by Valentine Thomas Garland called 'The New Litter' 1902. RM 62,500

Frank Moss Bennett, 'Admiral Blake with Letter', ?RM 74,500

Pair of early 20th century lead garden planters. RM 9,000

Extremely rare kneehole desk from William and Mary period, by Thomas Pistor, 1690. RM 250,000. Perfect for a Malaysian tycoon

Britannia Mourning the Death of Nelson, silk embroidery with watercolour details, early 19th century. Horatio Nelson actually visited Blenheim Palace in 1802 with Lord and Lady Hamilton but the 4th Duke of Marlborough refused to receive him and greatly offended Nelson by sending out his refreshments into the park and not inside the palace! I love it!

Source: http://keehuachee.blogspot.com/2013/01/blenheim-palace-hosts-antiques-fair.html

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The Changing Book Covers of Sci-Fi, Visualized

When Arthur Buxton stumbled across a super-organized archive of Penguin's science fiction, he thought it would be interesting to look at how the covers of the books had changed over time. He was right—and the labor of his work is this striking visualization. Buxton explains: More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/ONkV65JChDM/the-changing-book-covers-of-sci+fi-visualized

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Follow Cagewriter on Twitter for the latest on UFC on Fox 6

With UFC on Fox 6 in Chicago this week, I will be at the open workouts, press conference and weigh-ins to cover everything going on with John Dodson's title bout with Demetrious Johnson, and Quinton "Rampage" Jackson's fight with Glover Teixiera. Follow Cagewriter on Twitter for the latest on what is happening at all of fight week's events.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/cagewriter-twitter-latest-ufc-fox-6-153702024--mma.html

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Mystery of the fake Matisse masterpiece leads to jail time

Matisse's 'Odalisque in Red Pants' was switched for a fake at a Caracas museum, then recovered in an FBI sting at a Miami Beach hotel. Two conspirators were sentenced this week.

By Warren Richey,?Staff writer / January 23, 2013

The original painting by Henri Matisse titled, 'Odalisque in Red Pants' (l.), shown here next to a fake version that was on display in the Sofia Imber Contemporary Art Museum of Caracas, Venezuela. A federal judge in Miami on Jan. 22 sentenced a Cuban and Mexican 33 and 21 months in prison, respectively, for trying to sell the painting.

Sofia Imber Contemporary Art Museum/AP/ File

Enlarge

Nearly a decade after being lifted from a Venezuelan museum, a painting by French master Henri Matisse is heading home while the two individuals who tried to sell the $2 million art work on the black market are heading to prison.

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The missing painting, ?Odalisque in Red Pants,? has been at the center of a deepening mystery since December 2002 when officials at the Caracas Museum of Contemporary Art discovered that someone had switched their genuine Matisse for a fake.

It is unclear precisely when the switch took place. And no one has ever been charged or arrested for the theft.

Rumors occasionally circulated in the art world that someone wanted to sell the painting, but potential buyers dismissed the reports, assuming the offered work was a fake.

Then, in the fall of 2011, a Miami man put word out that ?Odalisque in Red Pants? was for sale, according to court documents.

By December, Pedro Antonio Marcuello Guzman had begun serious negotiations with individuals he believed were unscrupulous art collectors anxious to purchase stolen masterpieces at black-market prices.

After assuring the potential customers that the painting had been assessed at over $3 million, he agreed to sell the work for $740,000.

As part of the deal, Mr. Marcuello would receive $555,000 in cash, with the rest of the money to be wired into a Mexico City bank account prior to transfer of the painting.

But first the buyers wanted to see the painting and verify its authenticity.

That?s where Maria Martha Elisa Ornelas Lazo entered the picture. In July, she rolled the Matisse up with another painting, inserted it into a red tube, and hand carried it onto a flight from Mexico City to Miami.

What neither Ms. Ornelas nor Marcuello knew was that the would-be art collectors were in fact undercover agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The final transaction was set to take place in a Miami Beach hotel. The ?art collectors' ? hotel room was equipped with both video and audio recording devices. The entire transaction was captured on tape.

According to court documents, during the meeting Ornelas told the ?art collectors? that she had researched the history of the stolen painting on the Internet after the painting arrived at her home in Mexico several years ago. She told the undercover agents that employees at the Caracas museum had switched a fake painting for the real Matisse.

She added that efforts to sell the masterpiece had been unsuccessful.

After verifying the authenticity of the painting, Marcuello and Ornelas were placed under arrest. Both eventually pleaded guilty to conspiring to transport stolen property.

On Tuesday, a federal judge sentenced Marcuello to two years and nine months in federal custody. Co-conspirator Ornelas of Mexico City received a sentence of one year and nine months.

?Odalisque in Red Pants? is a portrayal of a partially nude harem slave girl painted by Matisse in 1925 in Nice. He is said to have used a French model and recreated the oriental scene in his apartment.?

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/nAVdwh4ycG4/Mystery-of-the-fake-Matisse-masterpiece-leads-to-jail-time

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