Obama Military Sexual Assault Comments Were 'Unlawful Command Influence,' Judge Says

Navy Judge Cmdr. Marcus Fulton ruled that President Barack Obama's comments on military sexual assault could affect the sentencing in two cases, according to Stars and Stripes.

During pretrial hearings in the cases, Fulton said ?unlawful command influence? derived from Obama's remarks could influence a potential sentencing in the two cases, according to according to court documents obtained by Stars and Stripes. The judge's ruling could have an impact on other sexual assault cases in the military.

On May 7, Obama said he has ?no tolerance? for sexual assault in the military.

"I expect consequences,? Obama said. ?So I don?t just want more speeches or awareness programs or training, but ultimately folks look the other way. If we find out somebody?s engaging in this, they?ve got to be held accountable ? prosecuted, stripped of their positions, court martialed, fired, dishonorably discharged. Period.?

Stars and Stripes reports on the ruling:

The judge?s pretrial ruling means that if either defendant is found guilty, whether by a jury or a military judge, they cannot receive a bad conduct discharge or a dishonorable discharge. Sailors found guilty under the Uniform Code of Military Justice?s Article 120, which covers several sexual crimes including assault and rape, generally receive punitive discharges.

?A member of the public would not hear the President?s statement to be a simple admonition to hold members accountable,? Fulton stated. ?A member of the public would draw the connection between the ?dishonorable discharge? required by the President and a punitive discharge approved by the convening authority.

?The strain on the system created by asking a convening authority to disregard [Obama?s] statement in this environment would be too much to sustain public confidence.?

Obama has made several comments chastising sexual assault in the military, at one point directing Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel to "step up our game exponentially" to prevent further incidents. Obama has also expressed concern over how military sexual assaults "threaten the trust and discipline that makes our military strong."

"That's why we have to be determined to stop these crimes, because they've got no place in the greatest military on Earth," Obama said in a May address to U.S. Naval Academy graduates.

According to an annual report released by the Department of Defense in May, sexual assaults occurred at an average of more than 70 per day in the United States military during 2012.

Click here for more on Fulton's ruling from Stars and Stripes.

Also on HuffPost:

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/15/obama-military-sexual-assault_n_3447523.html

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Afraid of getting tetanus...again... - Health, Fitness, and Sports

WP Members: > 75,000 New Today: 1 New Yesterday: 25

Afraid of getting tetanus...again... ??? ???Wrong Planet Autism Forum Index -> Health, Fitness, and Sports ???? Tollorin Lazy Cat Joined: Jun 15, 2009 Age: 31 Posts: 1672 Location: Sherbrooke,Qu?bec, Canada Posted: Sat Jun 15, 2013 11:39 pm?? ?Post subject: Afraid of getting tetanus...again... Yesterday, at the exterior of a grocery store, I got a little cut on my right hand by slightly hitting a shelving unit. This was metal shelving unit, with a lot of rust. So basically, I cut myself with rusty metal. I got to drug store to buy some cotton and hydrogen peroxyde, so I desinfected the cut after a few minutes. So now I'm worried about tetanus, , I did get a shot one year ago, but no protection is perfect and I'm still worried. What should I do? Should I go to the clinic? And could they do something? Back to top ? '); //--> ??? ???Wrong Planet Autism Forum Index -> Health, Fitness, and Sports??? ?

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Source: http://www.wrongplanet.net/postt233275.html

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Mickelson, Stricker chase history at US Open

ARDMORE, Pa. (AP) ? Phil Mickelson awoke on Father Day's in a place he's never been ? having the lead to himself after 54 holes at a U.S. Open.

It also happened to be his 43rd birthday.

And just in case he forgot, fans serenaded him with a chorus of "Happy Birthday" when Mickelson showed up at the practice range before his afternoon tee time.

The U.S. Open inched its way toward history Sunday on the take-your-time course at Merion Golf Club, where high rough and hard greens have made for slow rounds, and the threat of rain made a Monday finish a realistic scenario ? even without a playoff.

There was Mickelson, hoping to finally win the championship after finishing runner-up a record five times. There was Steve Stricker, trying to win his first major. Both are famously proud papas: Mickelson flew cross-country on the eve of the tournament after watching his daughter graduate from eighth grade, and Stricker has been playing less on the PGA Tour to spend more time with his family.

There was Hunter Mahan, who is not quite a dad. On a day when seemingly every golfer was talking about the special day on Twitter, Mahan chimed in with: "Happy Fathers Day to everyone! A couple months before I get to join the club!"

Also in the mix were Luke Donald and Justin Rose, each hoping to become the first Englishman to win the trophy since Tony Jacklin in 1970.

And don't forget Billy Horschel. He wouldn't let you if you tried. He tweeted a photo of himself wearing what he called his "highly anticipated" and "highly controversial" octopus-print golf pants.

Mickelson's score was 1-under after the third round, one ahead of Mahan, Stricker and Schwartzel and two ahead of Donald, Rose and Horschel. All were taking aim at the red wicker baskets that sit atop the pins at Merion, all trying to follow Olin Dutra, Ben Hogan, Lee Trevino and David Graham as U.S. Open champions who conquered the tough little course in the Philadelphia suburbs.

While the leaders were waiting to tee off, Tiger Woods went through the motions of extending his majors drought into a sixth year. It was an unfamiliar sight to see the world's No. 1 golfer teeing off on a Sunday more than three hours before the top pairing, but he was 10 strokes off the lead after a third-round 76 that matched his worst U.S. Open round as a pro.

Woods wore his usual Sunday red shirt, but it didn't keep him from quickly achieving a dubious double ? out of bounds and a 3-putt on the same hole. That made for a triple-bogey 8 at No. 2.

Sunday was five years to the day since Woods won the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines. His running tally of majors wins is stuck on 14, four shy of Jack Nicklaus' record.

Hopes for a Grand Slam were also being officially dashed. Masters champion Adam Scott began the day 11 strokes behind Mickelson and made three bogeys on the front nine.

Meanwhile, Shawn Stefani found a unique way to solve Merion: Hit the ball in the rough and get a hole-in-one. His 4-iron at the 213-yard, par-3 17th landed left of the green, bounced down the slope and meandered its way some 50 feet slowly across the green and into the hole.

Stefani nearly jumped out of his skin. Then he kissed the spot where the ball landed.

"We're in Philly," he said. "There's some great fans up here, and I know they can be tough on you and they can love you forever. So I'm sure they appreciated me going to the ground and kissing it."

___

Follow Joseph White on Twitter: http://twitter.com/JGWhiteAP

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/mickelson-stricker-chase-history-us-open-184007979.html

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Boeing's Giant Robot Arms Are Spray-Painting Prodigies

The Boeing 777 is a huge, hulking beast. And when you're trying to churn out 100 of them every year, there's only one way to pull it off: turn to the robots. These giant, spray-painting robot arms can coat one of the bird's mammoth wings in mere minutes.

Read more...

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/bwYca00nk0U/boeings-giant-robot-arms-are-spray-painting-prodigies-513361745

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JMIR--Mobile Health Applications for the Most Prevalent Conditions ...

This paper is in the following e-collection/theme issue:

Mobile Health (mhealth)?

Advertisement: Preregister now for the Medicine 2.0 Congress

Review

Mobile Health Applications for the Most Prevalent Conditions by the World Health Organization: Review and Analysis

Borja Mart?nez-P?rez^*, MSc; Isabel de la Torre-D?ez^*, PhD; Miguel L?pez-Coronado^*, PhD

University of Valladolid, Department of Signal Theory and Communications, and Telematics Engineering., University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
^*all authors contributed equally

Corresponding Author:
Borja Mart?nez-P?rez, MSc

University of Valladolid
Department of Signal Theory and Communications, and Telematics Engineering
University of Valladolid
Paseo de Bel?n, 15
Valladolid, 47011
Spain
Phone: 34 983423000 ext 3703
Fax: 34 983423667
Email:

---

ABSTRACT

Background: New possibilities for mHealth have arisen by means of the latest advances in mobile communications and technologies. With more than 1 billion smartphones and 100 million tablets around the world, these devices can be a valuable tool in health care management. Every aid for health care is welcome and necessary as shown by the more than 50 million estimated deaths caused by illnesses or health conditions in 2008. Some of these conditions have additional importance depending on their prevalence.
Objective: To study the existing applications for mobile devices exclusively dedicated to the eight most prevalent health conditions by the latest update (2004) of the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) of the World Health Organization (WHO): iron-deficiency anemia, hearing loss, migraine, low vision, asthma, diabetes mellitus, osteoarthritis (OA), and unipolar depressive disorders.
Methods: Two reviews have been carried out. The first one is a review of mobile applications in published articles retrieved from the following systems: IEEE Xplore, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Web of Knowledge, and PubMed. The second review is carried out by searching the most important commercial app stores: Google play, iTunes, BlackBerry World, Windows Phone Apps+Games, and Nokia's Ovi store. Finally, two applications for each condition, one for each review, were selected for an in-depth analysis.
Results: Search queries up to April 2013 located 247 papers and more than 3673 apps related to the most prevalent conditions. The conditions in descending order by the number of applications found in literature are diabetes, asthma, depression, hearing loss, low vision, OA, anemia, and migraine. However when ordered by the number of commercial apps found, the list is diabetes, depression, migraine, asthma, low vision, hearing loss, OA, and anemia. Excluding OA from the former list, the four most prevalent conditions have fewer apps and research than the final four. Several results are extracted from the in-depth analysis: most of the apps are designed for monitoring, assisting, or informing about the condition. Typically an Internet connection is not required, and most of the apps are aimed for the general public and for nonclinical use. The preferred type of data visualization is text followed by charts and pictures. Assistive and monitoring apps are shown to be frequently used, whereas informative and educational apps are only occasionally used.
Conclusions: Distribution of work on mobile applications is not equal for the eight most prevalent conditions. Whereas some conditions such as diabetes and depression have an overwhelming number of apps and research, there is a lack of apps related to other conditions, such as anemia, hearing loss, or low vision, which must be filled.

(J Med Internet Res 2013;15(6):e120)
doi:10.2196/jmir.2600

KEYWORDS

apps; mHealth; mobile applications; prevalent conditions; World Health Organization (WHO)

Since the creation of the Internet, its massive use, especially in developed countries, has generated new forms of technology in almost every aspect of life [1]. One of these aspects is health care; Internet technologies have initiated major advances in telemedicine and telehealth, now present in every modern health care organization [2]. In the field of telehealth, eHealth has arisen as a paradigm involving the concepts of health, technology, and commerce, with commerce and technology as tools in the service of health [3]. Chang Liu et al (2011) perceive eHealth applications as the software applications that provide tools, processes, and communications in order to support electronic health care practice [4]. In addition to this, with the advent of wireless communications, there are no longer barriers of space and time between health care providers and patients [5]. The use of new wireless communications technology, such as mobile telecommunications networks (2.5G, 3G, 4G, HSPA+), Wireless Local Area Networks (WLAN), Wireless Personal Area Networks (WPAN) including Bluetooth and ZigBee, Wireless Body Area Network (WBAN), Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN), Radio-frequency Identification (RFID), and Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), has greatly boosted telemedicine and eHealth [5-12].

In this context and thanks to these advances in communications, a new term arises: mHealth, a component of eHealth. The Global Observatory for eHealth (GOe) of the World Health Organization (WHO) defines mHealth or mobile health as ?medical and public health practice supported by mobile devices, such as mobile phones, patient monitoring devices, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and other wireless devices? [13]. While new wireless technologies were being developed, new mobile devices were being created. In this way, PDAs, tablets, and smartphones appeared on the market. Although PDAs experienced a boom in the 1990s and early 2000s, they have been replaced by smartphones and tablets with new functions and utilities, which are common now in developed countries [4]. There are already more than 1.08 billion smartphones of a total of 5 billion mobile phones around the world, with 80% of the population having a mobile phone [14]. Regarding tablets, International Data Corporation (IDC) conducted research on their shipments showing 70.9 million shipments of tablets worldwide in 2011 and an estimated 117.1 million and 165.9 million in 2012 and 2013 respectively [15]. Thus, there is great opportunity for mHealth in using these mobile devices and, in fact, a significant number of mHealth applications have been already developed for these platforms.

Telecommunications technology aside, it is clear that there is still a long way to go in defeating illness. In 2008, WHO estimated a total of 56.8 million deaths and only 5.1 million of them were caused by injuries. The rest were caused by communicable disease, maternal and perinatal conditions and nutritional deficiencies (15.6 million deaths), and noncommunicable conditions (36.1 million deaths) [16]. Nevertheless, attention should be focused not only on the diseases that cause death, but also the diseases or conditions that can cause a disability or loss of health. In 2004, 2.9% of the world?s population were severely disabled, and 12.4% were moderately long-term disabled. In this context, it is essential to know the prevalence of an illness or condition, ie, the number of people who have the condition at any moment [17].

According to WHO?s latest update (2004) of the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) [17], the most prevalent conditions are iron-deficiency anemia (IDA), hearing loss, migraine, low vision, asthma, diabetes mellitus, osteoarthritis (OA), and unipolar depressive disorder. The prevalence of each condition is shown in Figure 1. IDA represents 50% of the total cases of anemia (even though both terms are usually used interchangeably, they are not the same). The biggest percentage of affected can be found in underdeveloped and developing zones, in Africa, South East Asia, and Western Pacific, most of them women of reproductive age and children [18-20]. There are two types of hearing loss: moderate or greater hearing loss, which affect 275.7 million individuals, and mild hearing loss, with 360.8 million individuals [21-24]. Migraines are the most prevalent chronic neurological disorder in adults [25], with 11% of affected in Western countries [26-30].

The Global Data on visual impairment 2010 [31] indicates 246 million people with low vision and 39 million blind, equaling a total of 285 million people with any type of visual impairment [32-34]. Asthma is the most common chronic disease in childhood, and most asthma-related deaths take place in poor and developing countries [35-38]. It is estimated that 347 million people have diabetes mellitus [39], commonly named diabetes, but different from diabetes insipidus [40-55]. OA is the most prevalent musculoskeletal disease, and it is thought that 9.6% of men and 18% of women over 60 years have this condition [56-59]. Finally, there are more than 350 million individuals with any unipolar or bipolar depressive disorder [60-63].

To date, there are many published articles about types of wireless connections for mobile devices [8,9,64,65], articles about evaluations of apps for specific objectives [66-68], and reviews of apps of a determined device, software, or field [4,69,70], but there are not articles about the deadliest or the most prevalent conditions and diseases. Hence, the main aim of this paper is to study the existing applications for mobile devices exclusively dedicated to the eight most prevalent conditions [17] and to analyze a sample of the apps for each condition. The goal was to find the number of apps related to each condition, their common features, comparing the commercial ones with those used in research, and finding possible gaps in the development of these types of applications and whatever else might arise. For these purposes, a review has been done: (1) research of published articles containing specific target strings, obtained by search queries in a number of databases, and (2) research of applications related to these conditions in mobile phone application stores.

Source: http://www.jmir.org/2013/6/e120/

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The Game: Saggy Pants Ban is Racist!

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2013/06/the-game-saggy-pants-ban-is-racist/

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Spielberg: Film industry 'implosion' imminent

Movies

Randee Dawn NBC News contributor

6 hours ago

Movie ticket prices have long been a subject of grumbling among theater-goers, who have balked (but paid) for years as admissions rose ever higher into the double digits. But as two of Hollywood's leading directors recently noted in a panel discussion, it's likely to get a lot worse -- and ultimately will change the industry forever.

"There's eventually going to be an implosion -- or a big meltdown," said Steven Spielberg, who sat down with George Lucas at the USC School of Cinematic Arts on Wednesday. The conversation was originally reported on by The Hollywood Reporter. "There's going to be an implosion where three or four or maybe even a half-dozen megabudget movies are going to go crashing into the ground, and that's going to change the paradigm."

Big budget films like last year's "John Carter" or this week's "Man of Steel" have bumped budgets into the hundreds of millions, and Spielberg suggested that once more than a handful of them flop at the box office, the industry will be forever altered. He said that theaters will start charging different prices for different films -- like $25 for "Iron Man" or $7 for a smaller film like his own "Lincoln." (Which, he noted, came "this close" to being an HBO movie instead of a film in theaters.

That's already happening -- Paramount and Regal Theaters have paired up to create a "Mega Ticket" for the upcoming Brad Pitt film "World War Z."

George Lucas agreed with Spielberg, with whom he has paired in the past on multiple films. Lucas suggested that attending movies in the theater is going to become more like going to Broadway, with fewer movies released that stay there for a year or more, with higher ticket prices.

But why do movies cost so much to make? Part of it is that blockbusters require an A-list star like Tom Cruise, who can cost upward of $75 million to hire. But another part -- as Lucas noted -- is that marketing budgets are enormous. Those high costs paired together mean that movies are geared to the masses, rather than to niche audiences the way TV shows are; he called cable TV "much more adventurous" than film today.

Still, those aren't the only factors involved. As New York movie critic David Edelstein noted in his "Man of Steel" review, quoting from producer Lynda Obst's book "Sleepless in Hollywood," big-budget, action-heavy films now help studios recoup more than 80 percent of their profits from overseas sales -- especially in China. Explosions, car chases and action require less translation and cross cultural borders, which means theatergoers in the U.S. should expect even more (and it may explain the last 45 minutes of "Steel").

Meanwhile, actors (like Zach Braff, who held his own Kickstarter to raise funds for a new film recently) and directors alike are recognizing that the best way to do projects they really want is to create them from scratch. Spielberg noted that the only way he got "Lincoln" into theaters was to co-own his own studio.

"The pathway to get into theaters is really getting smaller and smaller," said Lucas.

Source: http://www.today.com/entertainment/steven-spielberg-big-tickets-big-budgets-make-film-industry-implosion-6C10321443

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MSI's 14-inch GE40 gaming laptop priced at $1,300 with specs to ...

MSI Ships GE40, the New Standard in High Performance Portable Gaming

Combination of speed and mobility featuring Intel? Haswell processor and NVIDIA? GeForce? 700M Series Graphics measures less than 1-inch thick

MSI celebrates launch of GE40 with Facebook Giveaway worth over $4,000

City of Industry, Calif. ? June 13, 2012 ? MSI Computer Corp, leading manufacturer of computer hardware products and solutions, announces the availability of the GE40, the perfect combination of ultrabook portability and deadly gaming capability.

Armed with state of the art components, including an Intel? Haswell Core i7 processor and NVIDIA? GeForce? GTX 760M, the GE40 weighs only 4.4 lbs. and measures less than 1-inch thick, making it the ideal choice for gamers seeking superior performance and mobility.

The GE40 takes full advantage of NVIDIA's GeForce GTX 760M performance by adding a Matrix display that allows users to output to 3 displays simultaneously (including the native notebook display). To complement the GE40's superior graphics, MSI incorporated Sound Blaster Cinema and Audio Boost, two technologies that deliver amazing surround sound with realistic and immersive sound clarity.

"The GE40 was designed for mobile gamers seeking the best in gaming performance but not wanting to carry around larger laptops," said Andy Tung, vice president of sales for MSI US. "Even though the GE40 is exceptionally light and nimble, it is still packed with high-performance components worthy of a desktop replacement unit."

The GE40 comes in a full aluminum body featuring a psychedelic dragon eye backlit design and is available in two configurations: 750GB HDD or 125GB mSATA SSD plus a 750GB HDD for increased performance. It also comes with 8GB of DDR3 memory, Giga LAN adaptor and 2 USB 3.0 and 1 USB 2.0 ports.

To celebrate the launch of the GE40, MSI is holding the "Just Game!" Giveaway through their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/MSI.ComputerUS. Participants will have the opportunity to win over $4000 in prizes, including a completely new MSI GE40 valued at $1,399.99. For more information about MSI's complete lineup of gaming laptops, the GE40 or the giveaway, visit http://www.msimobile.com or www.usgaming.msi.com.

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/06/13/msi-ge40-pricing-availability/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget

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HuaAn expects Chinese gold ETF to raise up to $489m

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Source: http://www.mineweb.com/mineweb/content/en//mineweb-fast-news?oid=194171&sn=Detail

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OTC morning-after pill sales coming _ but not yet

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Don't look for the morning-after pill to move next to the condoms on drugstore shelves right away ? but after a decade-plus fight, it appears it really will happen. Backed into a corner by a series of court rulings, the Obama administration has agreed to let the Plan B One-Step brand of emergency contraception sell over the counter to anyone of any age.

There still are a lot of details to be worked out, including whether a federal judge agrees that the government has gone far enough or whether cheaper generics can be sold without restrictions too.

But the move does mark a major societal shift in the long battle over women's reproductive rights, and influential doctors' groups welcomed the step Tuesday.

"Allowing unrestricted access to emergency contraception products is a historic step forward in protecting the health of our patients who are sexually active," said Dr. Thomas McInerny, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics. "The science has always been clear: Emergency contraception is a safe, effective tool to prevent unintended pregnancy in adolescents of any reproductive age."

On the other side, social conservatives argue that the drug's availability undermines parental supervision, and accuse the administration of politicking.

"We are disappointed that this administration has once again sided with its political allies and ignored the safety of girls and the rights of parents," said Anna Higgins of the Family Research Council.

A look at the medical, legal and political issues surrounding over-the-counter sales of backup birth control:

Q: How quickly will emergency contraceptives be sold on the drugstore shelves?

A: "I don't expect to see the product at the neighborhood pharmacy instantly," cautioned Susannah Baruch of the Reproductive Health Technologies Project.

First, U.S. District Judge Edward Korman in New York must decide whether the Obama administration's decision complies with his April order that the government lift all age restrictions on nonprescription sale of morning-after pills. Korman wanted unrestricted access to all brands, not just the best-selling Plan B One-Step. Generic versions are cheaper, and the judge didn't want to place a disproportionate burden on the poor and minorities. But he did say the government could try to make the case that one-pill versions like Plan B One-Step are better than the two-pill versions.

Court case aside, manufacturer Teva Women's Health must submit an application to the Food and Drug Administration to begin sales with no age limits. Teva didn't say Tuesday how quickly that might happen.

Q: What if my condom breaks in the meantime?

A: The old rules remain in effect. Four or five versions of emergency contraceptives are sold without a prescription only to customers who can prove to a pharmacist that they're 17 or older.

For Plan B One-Step, the age was soon to drop to 15, but those sales haven't begun yet. It's a moot point now anyway.

Q: Why did the Obama administration change course?

A: The administration gave in because it already had lost multiple rounds in court, and it appeared it would lose again. Just last week, an appeals court said girls of any age could buy the two-pill generic emergency contraception without a prescription while the government appealed Korman's initial ruling. That set the stage for massive confusion in drugstores and signaled that the appeal could fail. If the messy battle reached the Supreme Court, it would be a big distraction to President Barack Obama's second-term goals, including immigration legislation, a budget deal and efforts to combat climate change.

Since some version was going to be sold over the counter no matter what, the FDA said it should be the simpler one-dose Plan B One-Step, not two-pill versions originally designed to be taken 12 hours apart ? even though studies show taking them simultaneously is OK.

"It was the decision, given that court ruling, to proceed with making the simpler version of Plan B available, because at the very least, that addresses some of the concerns about the ability of younger girls to use that medication," White House spokesman Jay Carney said.

Q: Generics are cheaper; will they be sold over the counter too?

A: That's not clear. Plan B One-Step may get some exclusive marketing rights that would affect how and when other one-pill versions could sell, and the FDA has no plans to allow unrestricted sales of two-pill generics. Women's groups pledged to continue pushing for all versions to be treated the same. Plan B One-Step costs about $40 to $50, and generics typically cost $30 to $40.

Q: How did this controversy start?

A: Back in 2011, the FDA was preparing to allow over-the-counter sales of the morning-after pill with no age limits when Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius overruled her own scientists in an unprecedented move. She was worried that girls as young as 11 would use the pill with no supervision, a concern that Obama echoed.

Doctors' groups and contraceptive advocates, however, argue that easier access to emergency contraception could cut unintended pregnancies, and that the drug is safe even at younger ages. Korman said hardly any 11-year-olds would use the pill, calling Sebelius' decision political pandering in an election year.

Legally, the requirement is that over-the-counter drugs are safe and effective if used as intended, said Nancy Northup of the Center for Reproductive Rights, noting that parents don't know whether their 11-year-old is buying Tylenol to treat a hangover either.

Q: Why was there opposition?

A: Social conservatives argued that easier availability would encourage girls to become sexually active, and that it wasn't safe for them to take the pills without a doctor's or parent's involvement. And some groups argued that Plan B is the equivalent of an abortion pill because it may be able to prevent a fertilized egg from attaching to the uterus ? a contention that has been scientifically discredited.

Q: Wait, doesn't this mean that people will have easier access to emergency contraception than to some cold medicines?

A: Age wasn't the concern with cold medicines; it was a law enforcement issue. A federal law required an ID for purchases of cold medicines containing a particular ingredient, pseudoephedrine, because it can be used to manufacture methamphetamine.

Q: So if emergency contraception is OK over the counter, what about regular birth control pills?

A: Stay tuned. Just last fall, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists ? the doctors who make money writing prescriptions for the pill ? say it's safe enough to be sold without a prescription too. But no manufacturer has indicated it wants to try.

___

Associated Press writer Josh Lederman contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/otc-morning-pill-sales-coming-not-yet-211123134.html

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Watch a fighter vomit during his post-fight interview

So, you've made it through a three-round fight. It was described as "grueling," but you still got the decision win. Now, you get your chance to practice what it will be like when Joe Rogan comes into the cage after a UFC fight. It's time for the post-fight interview. Sure, your stomach is rumbling and you're not feeling great, but you just made it through a fight. You can make it through an interview, right?

Poor Cliff Thompson. He's 2-0, won his split decision over Doug Usher, but will still be remembered as the guy who puked before he could say a word in his post-fight interview. At the same time, there are plenty of fighters who are fighting in anonymity. Even if he is known as the Fightin' Puker, he will at least be known.

Thanks, Awful Announcing.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/watch-fighter-vomit-during-post-fight-interview-181207045.html

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Unsecured Loans For The Unemployed Individuals | Poor Credit ...

Every person anywhere in the world without a job yet he/she is completely able and willing to work is faced with lots of challenges. Financial challenges especially. Every normal human being wants to meet his/her financial obligations from buying food and paying for basic utilities without any difficulties. Otherwise, the stress can catch up with you. What with the landlord being on your neck and most of your bills in arrears. Unsecured loans for the unemployed will help you alleviate some of these burdens.

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Unsecured loans for the unemployed is a form of loan that was designed specifically to help people with no jobs overcome their financial difficulties. It is common in developed countries such as the United States and the UK.

It is not criminal to not be out of a job. Especially since the economic recession that gripped many developed countries from the year 2008 and whose effects are yet to be wholly curtailed. Lots of people lost their jobs and many lenders came up with the provision for providing this large group with the finances not just out of good will but since they also stand to make good money out of this scheme.

One of the good things about unsecured loans for the unemployed is that many do not require any form of collateral or security against the loan. The lender will definitely not give every Tom, Dick and Harry the funds without some proof that he/she won't default on the payment. The conditions for qualification are few and easy to meet. Just make sure you choose a lender who has the best terms and no hidden charges.
The money offered in unsecured loans for the unemployed has a certain limit, however. This is due to the fact that no security is needed. It goes a long way in helping you meet some of your pressing financial needs though.

As mentioned above, take time to research on the lender with the deal that favors you. Bank rates may be a bit high. You can easily find a lender online and take the time to compare their rates in addition to the terms and conditions. For instance, the normal lending rate may be 7 % per annum and you happen to stumble upon a lender giving the loan at 4 %. Don't be too quick to jump in since some of these rates are monthly or even worse, such a rate on a weekly basis! Other things you need to know are if the lender considers bad credit, the lender's reputation and the amount you need.

You'll find that unsecured loans for the unemployed will be more favorable if you follow the above tips and make your payment on time.

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Source: http://closetoftreasures.blogspot.com/2013/06/unsecured-loans-for-unemployed.html

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Patriot or traitor, Snowden driven by fear of government intrusion

By John Shiffman and Daniel Trotta

(Reuters) - Edward Snowden dropped out of high school, tried Army Reserve training but quit after four months, and then became a security guard.

Now at age 29, Snowden has become known worldwide as the man responsible for exposing vast surveillance programs by the National Security Agency, one of the most secretive government agencies in the United States.

Snowden stepped from the shadows and admitted that he had exposed the U.S. government's top-secret surveillance programs to Britain's Guardian newspaper and the Washington Post after working in Hawaii for a company under contract to the NSA.

Americans are debating whether he is a patriotic defender of civil liberties or the most unprincipled of traitors.

Snowden saw his role more clearly, saying the U.S. government's powers of surveillance have grown so immense and intrusive that he felt compelled to denounce them, even at great personal cost. He could have remained anonymous but said his message would resonate more powerfully if he revealed his identity.

"The public needs to decide whether these programs and policies are right or wrong," Snowden told the Guardian in the 12-minute video introducing him to the world on Sunday.

Abandoning his life in Hawaii last month, Snowden went into hiding in Hong Kong, saying he feared he could be captured by the CIA, another foreign government or Asian organized crime gangs.

"That's a fear I'll live under for the rest of my life, however long that happens to be," he said in the video.

In his secretive dealings with the Washington Post, he took the codename Verax - Latin to describe a truth teller - the paper said.

"He's very intelligent, calm, (but) always scared that someone would knock on the door and he'd be taken away," said Ewen MacAskill, one of the Guardian journalists who worked on the story.

Snowden expressed some interest in seeking asylum in Iceland. He checked out of his hotel in Hong Kong on Monday and his whereabouts were not known.

In recent years, he had returned to the Washington suburbs of his youth, before taking his final assignment in Hawaii.

"He was quiet, shy, always walked around with his head down," said Joyce Kinsey, a neighbor in Ellicott City, Maryland, who said Snowden moved into an apartment there about three years ago and that his mother soon followed. He later moved to Hawaii.

"They are a nice family. I feel really, really sorry for his mother. She always left her curtains open and you could see right in. But now since all these reporters showed up, she's keeping the curtains closed. This whole neighborhood is shocked."

QUIET SUBURBAN CHILDHOOD

Little from Snowden's childhood could portend his future place alongside Daniel Ellsberg, who disclosed the so-called Pentagon Papers during the Vietnam War, and Bradley Manning, the U.S. Army private on military trial for providing WikiLeaks with documents, as one of the most important leakers of U.S. secrets.

As a youth in the Washington suburb of Fort Meade, Maryland, Snowden attended local schools, but dropped out of Arundel High School about halfway through his sophomore year, said school spokesman Bob Mosier.

Snowden's parents divorced when he was 18 and they lived in Crofton, Maryland, a planned community where many NSA employees and their families live.

Snowden told the Guardian he joined the military with the idea of aiding the U.S. war effort in Iraq and to "help free people from oppression." He lasted only four months after breaking both legs in a training exercise, he said. Pentagon records show he enlisted in the Army Reserve as a special forces recruit, entering in May 2004 and leaving four months later without completing his training.

Later he landed his first job at the University of Maryland working at a covert NSA facility near the campus, Snowden said. He then went to the CIA in information technology security, rising quickly because of his understanding of the Internet and his computer programming skills, he told the Guardian.

By 2007, the CIA had stationed him with diplomatic cover in Geneva, Switzerland, where he maintained computer network security, he told the Guardian.

His experience there and working alongside CIA officers gradually led him to question his own role in the government.

With time, Snowden told the Guardian, he could no longer live "unfreely but comfortably" as a well-paid infrastructure analyst for Booz Allen Hamilton, a company hired by the NSA to manage its surveillance system.

He said he was "willing to accept any risk" by revealing top secrets and left his live-in girlfriend behind.

Snowden's parents and sisters did not return phone calls or emails, nor did a 28-year-old woman named Lindsay A. Mills who lived at the same address with him in Maryland and Hawaii.

"For those of you that know me without my superhero cape, you can probably understand why I'll be refraining from blog posts for a while," Mills, a dancer, wrote in a blog post on Monday. "At the moment, all I can feel is alone. And for the first time in my life I feel strong enough to be on my own."

LIBERTARIAN LEANINGS

Among the telling details on the public record was Snowden's support for Ron Paul, the libertarian U.S. politician who has run unsuccessfully for the Republican Party's presidential nomination. Campaign finance records showed Snowden twice donated $250 to Paul's 2012 campaign, which was based largely on the principle that government has grown too meddlesome and intruded on personal freedom.

With little more information than that, sympathizers portrayed Snowden as a hero.

A fund started on the online fundraising platform Crowdtilt had raised more than $8,100 by Monday afternoon, saying the cash would support Snowden for any expenses, such as hotels and airfare. Separately, the Progressive Change Campaign Committee said it was raising money for his legal defense. An online petition asking the White House to pardon Snowden accumulated some 26,550 signatures.

There was an angry backlash as well. Some denounced him as a anti-American spy. One U.S. counterterrorism official was worried by reports that Snowden handled or had access to CIA and NSA communications in Geneva and Japan, two vital listening posts.

"He might be young, but this is not exactly a low-level guy. He's privy to a lot. What scares me is what else he knows, and if the Chinese will get to him," said the official, who is regularly briefed on reports under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and spoke on condition of anonymity.

The official noted that the information Snowden leaked was "top secret," compared to lower-level "secret" information that Manning admitted he provided to WikiLeaks. "So this is a lot more damaging," the official said.

(This story has been corrected to fix spelling of Lindsay (not Lindsey) Mills in 24th paragraph)

(Additional reporting by James Pomfret, Susan Heavey, Carolyn Wilder, David Alexander, Warren Strobel and Marilyn Thompson; Editing by Cynthia Osterman and Christopher Wilson)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/patriot-traitor-snowden-driven-fear-government-intrusion-155608716.html

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Visualized: The lunacy of E3, live from Nintendo

Instead of its typical pre-show E3 press conference, Nintendo opted to open up its exhibition booth to journalists a bit early this year, teasing a few Wii U games, such as Pikmin 3 and the long-awaited Super Mario 3D World. Much to the amusement of attendees, Koichi Hayashida, the director of that latter title, joined journalists "dressed as a cat," as you can see in the image above. There were meows and everything. Such is our reward for an unusually long wait for the abbreviated event to kick off.

Filed under: Gaming, Nintendo

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/06/11/visualized-nintendo-e3/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget

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fitness: STD Test - Why One Should Get It Done?

Getting an STD test done is becoming very important for the individuals who have had an unprotected sexual intercourse. A sexually transmitted disease should be cured as fast as possible otherwise it can become a cause of many serious diseases. This specific disease finds a way to get inside your blood through your open tracts when you are in the middle of your intercourse exchanging the bodily fluids with your partner. One can experience pain during the urination process or certain painful rashes in the private parts of the body. There is nothing much to worry about if you take a quick action as when you encounter the first symptom of the illness.

The symptoms of this disease are found sooner in men as compared to women. Some people are disgusted by the thought that they have to visit their health expert for the checkup of any sexually transmitted disease and they keep on taking it lightly. Their silence is what results in the decline of their health and many innocent people acquire it without knowing. This is the major reason why they should get an STD test done so that they can prevent any further problems in their life.

If you are suffering from STDs, then you cannot be cured without being treated. You ought to have yourself looked at so that your doctor can find out which particular test will be suitable for you. There are many different kinds of STDs but unfortunately, there is no as such universal method to cure all their varieties. Gonorrhea is one of the most dangerous infections which can slowly deteriorate and destroy your sexual life. If both you and your partner are sexually active, then it is important for both of you to undergo STD test to clear your doubts.

People feel embarrassed when they are suggested to go to their doctors for this purpose. It is because they feel ashamed to discuss their sexual life with anyone. If you are one of them with such a point of view, then you got to be responsible enough and get an STD test done as soon as possible so that you don't keep on spreading it to your beloved without even knowing. You don't have to panic if you suspect any signs of this particular ailment. With the help of few clicks on the internet, you can be sure whether you have it running in your veins or not.

If you have confirmed about the fact, then the first thing you got to do is discuss it with the partner whom you had intercourse with. Afterwards, you need to reach out to your health advisor for learning which test you and your partner need to take. It would be a wise call if you properly explain the symptoms that you have experienced to your doctor so that a better medication can be done. It would be very mature of you if you take all the precautionary measures the next time you feel like running into bed with your partner.

If you have come across any signs of illness after an unprotected intercourse with your partner, then you might be prone to any potential STD. It is necessary that you undergo the?STD test?today.

Source: http://fitnesszakaria.blogspot.com/2013/06/std-test-why-one-should-get-it-done.html

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Liberace's ex-lover: He took advantage of me

Celebs

Ree Hines TODAY contributor

5 hours ago

In 1988, Scott Thorson wrote a book detailing the good times, bad times and undeniably bizarre times he shared with legendary entertainer Liberace over the course of their romance. This year, that story moved to the small screen in HBO's "Behind the Candelabra."

The movie highlighted everything, including the couple's initial attraction, their shared plastic surgeries, Thorson's descent into drug abuse, and the messy, lawsuit-filled end of it all. And according to Thorson, the directors, producers and stars got it right.

"I think they were right on target," he said during a Monday morning appearance on TODAY. "I'm just delighted; I'm overwhelmed."

Thorson is also "thrilled to death" about the success of "Candelabra," but he doesn't want to gloss over the romance at the center of the film. After all, he claims he was just 16 years old when he got involved with the pianist, who was 40 years his senior.

"Well, I think back ? I was so young at the time," he recalled. "I don't think it would go over too well today. (Liberace) would possibly go to jail for something like that."

When asked if he thought the man once known as Mr. Showmanship took advantage of him back then, Thorson agreed, crediting the relationship as the starting point of his problems with addiction.

"I don't think anybody in life sets out to be an addict," he said.

Still, despite it all, Thorson doesn't have any regrets about his time with Liberace.

"I mean, it's been a marvelous life, don?t get me wrong," he added. "I loved Liberace, and he was just a great guy."

Source: http://www.today.com/entertainment/liberaces-former-lover-he-took-advantage-me-6C10262980

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In 20 innings, Marlins outlast Mets 2-1

Miami Marlins' Placido Polanco (30) slides home to score the game-winning run on a single by teammate Adeiny Hechavarria in the 20th inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets at Citi Field in New York, Saturday, June 8, 2013. The Marlins won 2-1.(AP Photo/Paul J. Bereswill)

Miami Marlins' Placido Polanco (30) slides home to score the game-winning run on a single by teammate Adeiny Hechavarria in the 20th inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets at Citi Field in New York, Saturday, June 8, 2013. The Marlins won 2-1.(AP Photo/Paul J. Bereswill)

New York Mets losing pitcher Shaun Marcum leaves the dugout after their 2-1 loss to the Miami Marlins in 20-inning baseball game at Citi Field in New York, Saturday, June 8, 2013. Marlins won 2-1.(AP Photo/Paul J. Bereswill)

New York Mets starting pitcher Matt Harvey (33) throws in the second inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins at Citi Field in New York, Saturday, June 8, 2013. (AP Photo/Paul J. Bereswill)

Miami Marlins starting pitcher Jose Fernandez (16) throws a pitch in the second inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets at Citi Field in New York, Saturday, June 8, 2013. (AP Photo/Paul J. Bereswill)

Miami Marlins' Adeiny Hechavarria (3) is tagged out at home trying to score on a single by Marlins' Juan Pierre as New York Mets catcher John Buck (44) places the tag during the fifth inning of a baseball game at Citi Field in New York, Saturday, June 8, 2013. (AP Photo/Paul J. Bereswill)

NEW YORK (AP) ? In the longest major league game in more than three years, Adeiny Hechavarria hit an RBI single in the 20th inning and the Miami Marlins outlasted the New York Mets 2-1 on Saturday, well after Matt Harvey left with lower back tightness following another stingy start.

Steve Cishek retired Daniel Murphy on a fly ball to the left-field warning track for the final out of a game that took 6 hours, 25 minutes. It started 5? hours before the Belmont Stakes about 13 miles away ? and still ended around an hour after winner Palace Malice crossed the finish line.

The last big league game to last as long also involved the Mets, according to STATS. It came when they beat St. Louis 2-1 in 20 innings on April 17, 2010.

It was the longest game by far in the history of Citi Field, which opened in 2009, and it matched the longest in Marlins history ? a 7-6 loss to the Cardinals in 20 innings on April 27, 2003.

Harvey and Miami's prized rookie, Jose Fernandez, hooked up in a pitchers' duel early. And when neither punchless lineup could break a 1-all tie, the only savior for both teams was that neither had played since Wednesday, so they had fresh arms in the bullpen.

By the 13th inning, the game had been turned over to a pair of starters: Miami's Kevin Slowey and Shaun Marcum for the Mets. Both were originally scheduled to start Saturday before getting skipped when Friday night's game was rained out.

A scattered crowd of 20,338 had dwindled perhaps into the hundreds by the time the stadium sound system played Chuck Berry's "No Particular Place To Go," not long after the 14th-inning stretch.

Some of the fans who remained chanted "Let's Go Home!" as the Mets came to bat in the 17th. But it took three more innings to decide this one, and it was Miami that came out on top.

Placido Polanco, Rob Brantly and Hechavarria hit consecutive singles with one out in the 20th off Marcum (0-7), who had retired 16 in a row to that point. He gave up five hits in eight stellar innings with seven strikeouts and no walks.

Slowey (2-5) was just as tough. He struck out eight and walked none in seven shutout innings before Cishek got three straight outs for his sixth save.

Inept at the plate, the Mets went 0 for 19 with runners in scoring position ? a team record. They stranded 22 on the bases.

After taking all three games from the Mets at home last weekend for their first sweep of the season, the last-place Marlins improved to 7-3 against New York this year. They are 10-41 against everyone else.

Harvey singled in the seventh and seemed to run somewhat gingerly to second base on an inning-ending groundout. He warmed up for the eighth, but then there was a mass meeting on the mound that included a trainer, manager Terry Collins and the entire Mets infield.

Harvey finally gave up the ball ? reluctantly, it appeared ? and walked to the dugout. Brandon Lyon was given all the time he needed to get loose, then he wriggled out of a jam to keep the score tied.

It was the eighth no-decision in the last nine starts for Harvey, who threw 93 pitches and remains 5-0. He gave up one run and six hits with six strikeouts and no walks.

New York nearly won it in the 12th, but Murphy got a slow break off third on Marlon Byrd's fly toward the right-field line and was thrown out at the plate by Marcell Ozuna. Murphy plowed hard into Brantly, who held onto the ball in his bare hand as he was sent flying ? along with a couple of pieces of catcher's equipment.

So on it went, the teams with the two lowest batting averages in the majors unable to break through against the other's shaky bullpen.

Rained out the previous two nights, the Mets finally got back on the field under clear skies in Queens with a gametime temperature of 77 degrees.

Miami also was idle the past two days ? an off day Thursday followed by Friday night's washout that was rescheduled as part of a single-admission doubleheader Sept. 14 at Citi Field.

Ike Davis drew a leadoff walk in the second inning and scored from first base on rookie Juan Lagares' double. Lagares, playing shallow in center, also threw out Hechavarria at the plate on Pierre's two-out single in the fifth.

Miami tied it in the fourth on Chris Coghlan's sacrifice fly.

NOTES: Brantly and John Buck both caught the entire game. Brantly finished with four hits, while Buck went 2 for 8. ... Several injured Marlins are getting close to coming off the disabled list, including 1B Logan Morrison, OF Giancarlo Stanton, INF Donovan Solano and INF Joe Mahoney. "That will probably help us out," manager Mike Redmond said. ... After missing one turn with a sore shoulder, Mets LHP Jonathon Niese (3-5) is set to start the series finale Sunday against RHP Tom Koehler (0-4), who went to nearby New Rochelle High School and Stony Brook University.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2013-06-08-BBN-Marlins-Mets/id-5fd2005c52cd42a4935f941c6e2053c8

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IRS manager: White House not involved in reviews

WASHINGTON (AP) ? A self-described conservative Republican who is a manager in the Internal Revenue Service office that targeted tea party groups told investigators that he, not the White House, set the review in motion, the top Democrat on the House watchdog committee said Sunday.

Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., released a partial transcript of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform interview with the unnamed manager in the IRS' Cincinnati office. In it, the employee said the extra scrutiny for tea party groups' tax exempt status was an effort to be consistent in reviewing applications and not driven by politics.

"He is a conservative Republican working for the IRS. I think this interview and these statements go a long way to what's showing that the White House was not involved in this," Cummings said.

"Based upon everything I've seen, the case is solved. And if it were me, I would wrap this case up and move on, to be frank with you," Cummings added.

In the five-hour interview conducted last week, the manager said one of his employees brought to him a tea party group's application for tax exempt status. The manager said he recognized the political implications of the decision and flagged it for an office in Washington. Some Republicans have suggested that the Washington office initiated the close examination.

Republicans have complained the IRS targeted tea party groups because they are critical of Democrats and President Barack Obama. An internal IRS report found the agency improperly targeted the small-government advocates for additional scrutiny.

The uproar forced out the acting IRS chief and put the White House on the defensive against those who suggested Obama was using the government to go after political enemies.

Sunday's release of yet another partial transcript was unlikely to quiet those critics.

"The American public wants to know why targeting occurred and who was involved," said oversight chairman Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., in statement released Sunday. "The testimony excerpts Ranking Member Cummings revealed today did not provide anything enlightening or contradict other witness accounts. The only thing Ranking Member Cummings left clear in his comments today is that if it were up to him the investigation would be closed."

Oversight committee investigators have now interviewed at least five IRS employees about targeting conservative groups for additional scrutiny when they applied for tax-exempt status during the 2010 and 2012 elections. Some employees said they believed that officials in Washington were directing their work but didn't show any direct evidence to support their statements.

Cummings and Issa have been releasing portions of interviews that back up their assertions. But neither has released full transcripts, making it difficult to discern a complete story. Also, the portions released tend to offer employees' views on what was happening, not definitive orders that directed them to scrutinize closely tea party applications.

Cummings declined to release the full transcript of the interview he posted on Democrats' oversight website.

A Cummings spokeswoman, Jennifer Hoffman, declined to release the employees' identity.

In the 15-page memo describing their interview with the manager, Democrats on the committee said they were withholding the employee's name at the request of the IRS.

Cummings appeared on CNN's "State of the Union" and CBS' "Face the Nation."

___

Follow Philip Elliott on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/philip_elliott

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/irs-manager-white-house-not-involved-reviews-152228299.html

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Operator in Philly collapse deaths surrenders

Sean Benschop, center, with red jacket over his head, walks with investigators as he arrives at the Philadelphia Police Department's Central Detectives Division, Saturday June 8, 2013, in Center City Philadelphia. Benschop, the heavy equipment operator with a lengthy rap sheet accused of being high on marijuana when a downtown building collapsed onto a thrift store, killing six people, turned himself in on Saturday to face charges in the deaths, police said. (AP Photo/ Joseph Kaczmarek)

Sean Benschop, center, with red jacket over his head, walks with investigators as he arrives at the Philadelphia Police Department's Central Detectives Division, Saturday June 8, 2013, in Center City Philadelphia. Benschop, the heavy equipment operator with a lengthy rap sheet accused of being high on marijuana when a downtown building collapsed onto a thrift store, killing six people, turned himself in on Saturday to face charges in the deaths, police said. (AP Photo/ Joseph Kaczmarek)

This photo provided by the Philadelphia Police Department shows Sean Benschop. Sean Benschop, a heavy equipment operator with a lengthy rap sheet who is accused of being high on marijuana when a downtown building collapsed onto a thrift store, killing six people, surrendered Saturday, June 8, 2013 to face charges in the deaths, police said. Benschop faces six counts of involuntary manslaughter, 13 counts of recklessly endangering another person and one count of risking a catastrophe. (AP Photo/Philadelphia Police Department)

Sean Benschop, center, with red jacket over his head, holds his hands behind his back for investigators as he arrives at the Philadelphia Police Department's Central Detectives Division, Saturday June 8, 2013, in Center City Philadelphia, however police did not handcuff Benschop due to his injured right arm. Benschop, the heavy equipment operator with a lengthy rap sheet accused of being high on marijuana when a downtown building collapsed onto a thrift store, killing six people, turned himself in on Saturday to face charges in the deaths, police said. (AP Photo/ Joseph Kaczmarek)

Sean Benschop, center, with a red jacket over his head, holds out his hands for investigators as he arrives at the Philadelphia Police Department's Central Detectives Division, Saturday June 8, 2013, in Center City Philadelphia. Benschop, the heavy equipment operator with a lengthy rap sheet accused of being high on marijuana when a downtown building collapsed onto a thrift store, killing six people, turned himself in on Saturday to face charges in the deaths, police said. (AP Photo/ Joseph Kaczmarek)

This undated Philadelphia Police photo shows Sean Benschop, who also goes by the name Kary Roberts. Benschop, 42, who was allegedly high while operating demolition equipment when a downtown building collapsed and killed six people, will be charged with involuntary manslaughter, a top city official said Friday, June 7, 2013. (AP Photo/Philadelphia Police)

PHILADELPHIA (AP) ? A heavy equipment operator with a lengthy rap sheet who is accused of being high on marijuana when a downtown building collapsed onto a thrift store, killing six people, surrendered Saturday to face charges in the deaths, police said.

Sean Benschop faces six counts of involuntary manslaughter, 13 counts of recklessly endangering another person and one count of risking a catastrophe. A warrant had been issued for his arrest and police had been searching for him.

Authorities believe the 42-year-old Benschop had been using an excavator Wednesday when the remains of the four-story building under demolition gave way and toppled onto an attached Salvation Army thrift store, killing two employees and four customers and injuring 13 others.

Deputy Mayor Everett Gillison said a toxicology report showed evidence that Benschop was high on marijuana. That finding, combined with witness statements and evidence from the scene, led to the decision Friday to raid his North Philadelphia home and later seek an arrest warrant, he said.

Benschop's attorney, Daine Grey, said his client was not at fault.

"This was an accident, but Mr. Benschop is not responsible," Grey said Saturday. "And we believe that, in time, the facts will show that he is not responsible."

Benschop was wearing a bandage on his right arm when he turned himself in. Grey said he had been injured at a worksite, but he declined to say where or when.

Grey said Benschop was able to operate heavy equipment.

"He was completely able to operate a backhoe," Grey said. " ... He operated it safely, as he always does, and he did not violate the law in any capacity.

"He has been doing this for more than 13 years. He is very experienced. He has worked for a number of contractors throughout the region. All of the contractors have found him professional and found that he did his work with the highest regard for the safety of those around him."

Mayor Michael Nutter, in a statement Saturday night, called for harsh charges and punishment for Benschop.

"It is my hope that the harshest level of charges are brought against Sean Benschop and he is punished accordingly," Nutter said. "We must also seek answers from property owners Richard Basciano and Griffin T. Campbell who hired Benschop to do the significant job of operating heavy equipment. These three individuals bear the ultimate and sole responsibility for this tragedy. Justice will only be served if Sean Benschop receives a sentence that buries him in a jailhouse forever, just like his victims were buried on Wednesday."

Benschop, who also goes by the name Kary Roberts, has been arrested at least 11 times since 1994 on charges ranging from drugs to theft to weapons possession, according to court records. He was twice sentenced to prison in the 1990s after being convicted on drug trafficking charges. Benschop's last arrest, on a charge of aggravated assault, came in January 2012, but the case was dismissed for lack of evidence.

As the criminal investigation heated up, at least two survivors sued the demolition contractor and building owner, alleging gross recklessness at the job site.

The city, meanwhile, promised to crack down on the demolition industry.

"We can do much better," Nutter said at a news conference Friday. "We will not accept the status quo in the face of this tragedy."

Nutter's reform plan for construction sites includes random drug testing on heavy equipment operators.

"If that's a factor here, that certainly takes things in a very different direction," he said hours before the charges against Benschop were confirmed.

The mayor also pledged to adopt tougher background requirements for demolition contractors, including information about each worker's experience, and more frequent site inspections when demolitions are underway.

His plan could run into resistance from builders who say they're already highly regulated.

"I think that before we do anything, before we rush to any judgment about how to fix what happened, we have to have all the facts," said Steven Lakin, executive managing director of the General Building Contractors Association, a trade group representing Philadelphia-area contractors. "Everybody wants to regulate demolition contractors, but I'm not so sure that's the answer."

Lawyers for the two survivors who have sued accuse demolition contractor Griffin Campbell ? who has a criminal background and has filed for bankruptcy twice ? of violating federal safety regulations. They say building owner Richard Basciano should have picked a more qualified and competent contractor to do the work.

No one answered the phone at a listing for Campbell on Saturday, and the voice mailbox was full.

Plaintiff Linda Bell, a 50-year-old mother of three, was shopping at the thrift store when the building came down on top of her. She fell into the basement and was covered by rubble for more than an hour.

"She's still shook up real bad, sore, swollen up," Bell's brother, Keith Bell, told the AP on Friday. She's also suffering mental anguish from "seeing other people getting killed," he said.

Construction engineers have said the thrift store should have been evacuated during critical phases of the demolition project next door.

The Salvation Army was concerned enough about the demolition that its attorneys reached out to a lawyer for building owner STB Investments Corp., a company linked to prominent businessman and developer Richard Basciano.

"There was communication between The Salvation Army and the attorney of the neighboring building's owner, pertaining to the demolition. The neighbor assured The Salvation Army that they would be taking proper precautions," Maj. Robert W. Dixon, director of operations of The Salvation Army of Greater Philadelphia, said in a statement Friday.

"These discussions were never finalized," he said.

___

Rubinkam reported from northeastern Pennsylvania. Associated Press writer Keith Collins contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2013-06-08-Building%20Collapse/id-370a8b0830c941ffaf1d2f41de2bc130

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