Kinect and Windows Phone combine to create holographic game engine (video)

If your life is anything like ours, it's in sore need of more pseudo-holographic helicopters. Fortunately, YouTube user programming4fun has come up with a solution, using Microsoft's Kinect beta SDK and a Windows Phone handset. The system, pictured above, basically consists of a Kinect and a 3D engine; the former tracks the position of a viewer and automatically adjusts the image projected by the latter, creating the illusion of a 3D landscape. In this case, that landscape happened to feature a holographic helicopter, which could be controlled using a phone's accelerometer and a Windows Phone 7 app (apparently called HoloController). Watch it in action, after the break.

Continue reading Kinect and Windows Phone combine to create holographic game engine (video)

Kinect and Windows Phone combine to create holographic game engine (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Jan 2012 13:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/25/kinect-and-windows-phone-combine-to-create-holographic-game-engi/

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APNewsBreak: Army to cut combat brigades (AP)

WASHINGTON ? The U.S. Army plans to slash the number of combat brigades from 45 to as low as 32 in a broad restructuring of its fighting force aimed at cutting costs and reducing the service by about 80,000 soldiers, according to U.S. officials familiar with the plans.

Officials said the sweeping changes will likely increase the size of each combat brigade ? generally by adding another battalion ? in an effort to ensure that those remaining brigades have the fighting capabilities they need when they go to war. A brigade is usually about 3,500 soldiers, but can be as large as 5,000 for the heavily armored units. A battalion is usually between 600-800 soldiers.

The brigade restructuring is intended to save money without eroding the military's ability to protect the country and wage war when needed. Army officials contend that while there would be fewer brigades, building them bigger will give them more capabilities and depth, and will reduce stress on the units.

They said specialty units, such as Army special operations forces, would not be affected by the cuts.

Reducing the overall number of brigades will also eliminate the need for the headquarters units that command and oversee them.

Officials acknowledged that merging battalions together into larger brigades could shift some soldiers to different bases across the country, although that effort could be stymied by members of Congress who don't like to see the staffing decline at bases that feed the local economy. Officials said the Army will try to limit such shifts.

The cuts come as the Pentagon puts the finishing touches on its 2013 fiscal year budget, which must reflect about $260 billion in savings in its five-year plan. Congress has ordered the Defense Department to come up with a total of $487 billion over the next 10 years, and could face cuts of double that amount if Congress can't reach an agreement to avoid automatic across-the-board reductions mandated by lawmakers last year.

Officials spoke about the budget plans on condition of anonymity because they have not yet been made public.

Military leaders, from Defense Secretary Leon Panetta on down, insist they will come up with the budgets cuts without hurting the force's effectiveness. In fact, many of the top Army leaders who have been putting the budget together were around when massive budget cuts after the Vietnam war left Army units badly undermanned and ill-equipped ? leading to what they call a hollow force.

According to officials, plans call for the active duty Army to shrink from a high of about 570,000 soldiers to roughly 490,000 over the next decade or so. Initial cuts have been ongoing, and there are currently about 558,000 active duty soldiers in the Army.

Additionally, there are nearly 205,000 in the Army Reserve and close to 360,000 in the Army National Guard, the Army said Wednesday.

The Army plans to shed soldiers carefully, including through planned departures, separations for medical or behavioral problems, and by scaling back the number of people promoted or allowed to enlist and re-enlist.

One priority would be to make sure that the Army retains its mid-level officers, who routinely take up to 10 years to get to the rank of major or higher. Army leaders struggled through periods of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, using bonuses and other incentives to retain the mid-level officers they needed to command smaller units on the battlefield.

But Army officials also acknowledge that they will be forced to deny the reenlistment of many qualified soldiers, while also continuing to bring in quality recruits.

Gen. Raymond Odierno, chief of staff of the Army, has warned that cutting brigades was one way to cut the budget. And he said that shrinking the force will mean that the Army will no longer be able to handle two simultaneous conflicts ? long a requirement for the U.S. military.

But the new military strategy mapped out by President Barack Obama and his defense team envisions a shift away from the hard-fought ground wars of Iraq and Afghanistan that relied on tens of thousands of troops to battle stubborn terrorists and insurgent groups. The future military, instead, will focus more on Asian security risks such as China and North Korea, and build on partnerships in the Middle East to keep an eye on Iran.

One major reduction, already announced by Panetta, will cut the number of Army brigades stationed in Europe from four to two. Other units would rotate in and out of the region as needed.

Currently there are three brigades in Germany and one in Vicenza, Italy, and that would change so that there would be one in Germany and one in Vicenza.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/topstories/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120125/ap_on_re_us/us_us_army_cuts

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Hello? Is this called an introduction? Nope.

This is not an introduction. It is in fact, something else. It may be close to one, which is as to why I'm posting it here. But, what is it called? It is a brief preview to what else I may post on this forum, as well as a few things about myself. But most importantly, THIS IS NOT AN INTRODUCTION so don't reply with anything alongside the words of: "hi" or "greetings".

Here are a few things about myself that are important to know:

• I am female.
• I have college, so I may be too busy to post in some RPs.
• I'm absolutely bored out of my mind, so I do RP.
• I post at least 100 words in each IC post I make.
• I'm looking to find some interesting roleplays to join. Roleplays I find interesting are ones that are for OCs only. They also tend to be fantasy ones with original worlds and plots. Some romance is good but I don't like a lot. I don't like too fast or too slow RPs.
• I googled to find this site.
• I spend no money over the internet so don't advertise crap to me.
• i love good writing mechanics.

Did I make myself clear enough?

I'm also planning on making a Fighting-style RP where everyone gets to control the plot and play as their ideal self. But that's the only thing tro look forward for.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RolePlayGateway/~3/AEGfkLPT5R8/viewtopic.php

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India cuts growth forecast, keeps rates unchanged (AP)

MUMBAI, India ? India's central bank said growth will slow to 7 percent this fiscal year, but left interest rates unchanged Tuesday as it struggles to balance a toxic mix of high inflation and a flagging economy.

The bank cut the cash reserve ratio ? the percentage of cash commercial banks must keep on hand ? by half a percentage point, to 5.5 percent. That should add 320 billion rupees ($6.4 billion) to India's cash-strapped banking system. India's benchmark Sensex stock index rose 1.2 percent.

The bank's new growth projection is a substantial cut from its October forecast of a 7.6 percent increase in economic activity for the year ending March 2012. The downgrade reflects weakening global growth as well as domestic policy paralysis, high inflation and dwindling investment. Last fiscal year, India's economy grew by 8.5 percent.

"The global environment is only partly responsible for the weak industrial performance and sluggish investment activity," the bank said in its policy statement. "Several domestic factors ? the unhealthy fiscal situation, high interest rates and policy and administrative uncertainty ? are also playing a role."

That toxic cocktail cannot be fought by monetary policy alone.

The Reserve Bank made several stark requests to the government in New Delhi: Get the budget deficit under control. Improve infrastructure and food supply. Take clear steps to restore confidence and boost investment.

"Policy and administrative actions, which induce investment that will help alleviate supply constraints in food and infrastructure, are critical," the bank said.

"In the absence of credible fiscal consolidation, the Reserve Bank will be constrained from lowering the policy rate in response to decelerating private consumption and investment spending," it said.

Despite trimming its growth outlook, the bank left its projection of inflation easing to 7 percent by March unchanged.

A weak rupee has aggravated inflation, which is likely to worsen as the government reduces its fuel and coal subsidies, the bank said.

Inflation, which averaged 9.7 percent from April through October, softened in November and December. But the bank ? like many economists ? noted that much of the decline was driven by a seasonal fall in vegetable prices.

Fuel inflation remained a high 14.9 percent in December, thanks to high global crude prices and a weak rupee, which drives up the cost of imports.

Nonfood manufacturing inflation also remained an uncomfortably high 7.7 percent in December.

The bank said it would like to see inflation in the range of 4.0 to 4.5 percent.

Between January 2010 and October 2011, the Reserve Bank raised the policy rate 13 times, by 3.75 percentage points, and raised the cash reserve ratio by 1 percentage point.

ING Vysya Bank economist Upasna Bhardwaj said the bank's moves were largely expected ? though the market was not pricing in a drop in the cash reserve ratio ? and mark a further move toward prioritizing growth over inflation.

"They have highlighted the downside risks to growth, which have increased considerably," she said, but cautioned that inflation remains a problem which the Reserve Bank alone cannot solve.

"On the supply side the bank can't do anything. The government has to do something," she said. "Huge fiscal expenditures are adding to the inflation scenario."

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/economy/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120124/ap_on_bi_ge/as_india_economy

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Primary day at hand, SC voters have their say

Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, steps over a table during a crowded campaign stop at Tommy?s Country Ham House, where former House Speaker Newt Gingrich also scheduled an appearance, on South Carolina's primary election day in Greenville, S.C., Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, steps over a table during a crowded campaign stop at Tommy?s Country Ham House, where former House Speaker Newt Gingrich also scheduled an appearance, on South Carolina's primary election day in Greenville, S.C., Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, is accompanied by his wife Ann, right, as he campaigns outside Tommy?s Country Ham House, where former House Speaker Newt Gingrich also scheduled an appearance, on South Carolina's primary election day in Greenville, S.C., Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, gives a thumbs up during his campaign stop at Tommy?s Country Ham House, where former House Speaker Newt Gingrich also scheduled an appearance, on South Carolina's primary election day in Greenville, S.C., Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Supporters of Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich hold up his campaign sign as the bus of Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, makes a campaign stop at Tommy?s Country Ham House, where Gingrich also scheduled an appearance, on South Carolina's primary election day in Greenville, S.C., Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, makes a campaign stop at Tommy?s Country Ham House, where former House Speaker Newt Gingrich also scheduled an appearance, on South Carolina's primary election day in Greenville, S.C., Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) ? Primary day at hand, fast-climbing Newt Gingrich told South Carolinians on Saturday that he was "the only practical conservative vote" able to stop front-runner Mitt Romney in the GOP presidential race. Romney acknowledged the first-in-the-South contest "could be real close" and prepared for an extended fight by agreeing to two more debates in Florida, next on the election calendar.

Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum braced for a setback and looked ahead to the Jan. 31 contest after getting the most votes in Iowa and besting Gingrich in New Hampshire. Texas Rep. Ron Paul made plans to focus on states where his libertarian, Internet-driven message might find more of a reception with voters; his campaign said it had purchased a substantial ad buy in Nevada and Minnesota, which hold caucuses next month.

The first contest without Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who dropped out this past week and endorsed Gingrich, was seen as Romney's to lose just days ago. Instead, the gap closed quickly between the Massachusetts governor who portrays himself as the Republicans best positioned to defeat President Barack Obama and Gingrich, the confrontational former House speaker from Georgia.

Romney avoided a run-in with Gingrich at Tommy's Country Ham House, where both had scheduled campaign events for the same time. Romney stopped by the breakfast restaurant 45 minutes ahead of schedule. When Gingrich arrived, just minutes after Romney's bus left the parking lot, he said: "Where's Mitt?"

Earlier, Gingrich had a message for voters during a stop at The Grapevine restaurant in Boiling Springs not long after the polls opened: Come out and vote for me if you want to help deny Romney nomination.

He told diners who were enjoying plates of eggs and grits that he was the "the only practical conservative vote" to the rival he called a Massachusetts moderate. "Polls are good, votes are better," he said.

Gingrich also said he would put a stop to federal actions against South Carolina's voter ID and immigration laws.

Romney's agreement to participate in Florida debates Monday in Tampa and Thursday in Jacksonville was seen as an acknowledgement of a prolonged battle with Gingrich.

"This could be real close," said Romney as he chatted on the phone with a voter Saturday morning and urged the man to go vote.

Romney still has significant advantages over his three remaining Republican rivals, including an enormous financial edge and a well-organized campaign.

But with his Iowa victory now rescinded, losing in South Carolina would be a setback that could draw the primary contest out much longer. Just 10 days ago, Romney's campaign team was looking ahead to the general election as it anticipated a quick sweep in early primaries.

By Saturday, state Treasurer Curtis Loftis, a top Romney backer, was on an automated telephone message attacking Gingrich's ethics record in Congress, while Romney's wife, Ann, was on a separate one urging voters to consider the candidates character.

"Look at how they've lived their life," she says. "And that's why I think it's so important to understand the character of a person."

Before the ham house standoff that wasn't, Romney stood outside his Greenville headquarters and undertook a new attack on Gingrich. He called on Gingrich to further explain his contracts with Freddie Mac, the housing giant, and release any advice he had provided to the company. He has said the contracts earned two of his companies more than $1.6 million over eight years, but that he only pocketed about $35,000 a year himself.

'I'd like to see what he actually told Freddie Mac. Don't you think we ought to see it?" Romney said.

It was another response to pressure on Romney to release his tax returns before Republican voters finish choosing a nominee.

A day earlier, Romney had called on Gingrich to release information related to an ethics investigation of Gingrich in the 1990s. Gingrich argues that GOP voters need to know whether the wealthy former venture capital executive's records contain anything that could hurt the party's chances against Obama.

Romney has said he will release several years' worth of tax returns in April. Gingrich has called on him to release them much sooner. On Saturday, Romney refused to answer questions from reporters about the returns and whether his refusal to release them had hurt him with South Carolina voters.

Gingrich, buoyed by Perry's endorsement as he left the race Thursday, has called Romney's suggestion about releasing ethics investigation documents a "panic attack" brought on by sinking poll numbers.

The stakes were high for Saturday's vote. The primary winner has gone on to win the Republican nomination in every election since 1980.

It's very important, but it's not do or die," Paul told Fox News

Some of South Carolina's notorious 11th-hour devilry ? fake reports in the form of emails targeting Gingrich and his ex-wife Marianne ? emerged in a race known as much for its nastiness as for its late-game twists.

"Unfortunately, we are now living up to our reputation," said South Carolina GOP strategist Chip Felkel.

State Attorney Gen. Alan Wilson ordered a preliminary review of the phony messages to see if any laws had been broken.

Gingrich's ex-wife burst into the campaign this week when she alleged in an ABC News interview that her former husband had asked her for an "open marriage," a potentially damaging claim in a state where the Republican primary electorate includes a potent segment of Christian conservatives. The thrice-married Gingrich, who has admitted to marital infidelities, angrily denied her accusation.

___

Associated Press writers Beth Fouhy and Thomas Beaumont contributed to this report from South Carolina.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/89ae8247abe8493fae24405546e9a1aa/Article_2012-01-21-GOP%20Campaign/id-6f509156a1844445b1a83cdfbca134b6

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Factories rev up, but hiring doesn?t

By John W. Schoen, Senior Producer

A healthy pickup in production of manufactured goods last month added to the gathering momentum for the U.S. economy. So far, that growth has done little to help the job prospects for the millions of factory workers still sidelined by the 2007 recession.

U.S. factories continued to ramp up production of manufactured goods in December as stronger demand for business equipment and vehicles followed other signs that the economic recovery gained steam in the last three months of 2011. The Federal Reserve said Wednesday that its widely followed manufacturing index rose by 0.9 percent in December, the biggest gain in a year. The overall output of the nation's factories, mines and utilities expanded by 0.4 percent in December; utilities cut back output as relatively warm weather held back demand for energy in much of the country.

The breadth of the gain was especially encouraging. Much of the boost in manufacturing came from orders for business equipment from small and medium-sized companies expand their operations to keep up with demand from their customers.

Consumers did their part too.?U.S. automakers posted their best sales gains for the year in November and December: GM's December sales rose 5 percent, Ford's climbed 10 percent and Chrysler's surged 37 percent.

Car dealers say that trend is expected to continue as?businesses and consumers replace worn-out cars and trucks they?ve been patching together since the recession. The average age of a vehicle on U.S. highways has hit a record 10.8 years; eventually those cars will need to be replaced.?The National Automotive Dealers Association is forecasting sales of cars and light trucks will hit nearly 14 million this year, up from 12. 7 million in 2011 and 10.4 million in 2009 as the?recession wound down.

Since then businesses have been boosting investment in new plants and equipment, partly because of tax breaks that allowed them to write off those costs more quickly.?They've?also moved to take advantage of record low interest rates to finance those purchases. Major U.S. banks reported a healthy pickup in demand for loans in the final quarter of 2011.

It remains to be seen whether U.S. manufacturers can keep the momentum going amid signs that the global economy may be headed for a slowdown. Much of the fresh demand for U.S. products is coming from overseas markets, where growth rates are higher than the roughly 2.5 percent domestic growth pace. While other?recent?data seem to show the pace of manufacturing holding up in the first weeks of 2012, most forecasters expect to see that slowing later this year.

?The concern is that with China?s?latest GDP report showing slower growth and the eurozone slipping back into recession, the U.S. consumer could be the ?last man standing? for U.S. manufacturing this year," said?Paul Edelstein, director of financial economics at IHS Global Insight.?"This is not a bright prospect.?

Even if the pace of growth holds up, job prospects for factory workers haven?t kept pace with the pickup in factory output. Manufacturing output, as measured by the Fed?s industrial production index, has rebounded 14 percent since it bottomed at the end of recession. But employment levels for factory workers are up only 3 percent from the post-recession bottom.

Part of the reason is that big investment in new machines and computers has allowed factory owners to get more output from the same number of workers. But the workers getting rehired aren?t necessarily the same ones who were laid off during the recession. Employers who are investing in high-tech manufacturing equipment need more highly skilled workers to run those machines, but they?re also paying higher wages. Since the recession ended, the average wage for factory workers has risen by about 4 percent to $23.93 an hour.

Even as some 2.4 million factory workers remain sidelined by the recession, many employers complain they can?t find enough skilled workers to fill the new jobs they?re creating.

That?s forced many U.S. employers to shift high-tech factory jobs overseas. During the past decade, U.S companies moved more than a quarter of their high-tech manufacturing jobs overseas, according to a report this week from the National Science Board. The report found that U.S. high-tech factory jobs fell by 687,000, or 28 percent, between 2000 and 2010.

The shift followed a major investment in higher education in China and other Asian countries working to build on their low-cost, low-wage manufacturing bases.

Sharing why he thinks this year will be a good year for the economy, with James Stewart, The New York Times.

"Over time, global science and technology capabilities have grown nowhere more so than Asia," according to the NSB report. "In most broad aspects of science and technology activities, the United States continues to maintain a position of leadership. But it has experienced a gradual erosion of its position in many specific areas."

Related story: U.S. economy losing its competitive edge?

Source: http://bottomline.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/18/10183148-factories-rev-up-but-hiring-doesnt

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ING's New Strategy: No Dividends (The Motley Fool)

ING Group (NYSE: ING - News) will not pay dividends and earnings will not be its first priority. Scary, I know, but don't panic. The bank plans to stick to this strategy till it accomplishes three things -- repay the government, fulfill Basel III norms, and complete the restructuring of its balance sheet. In ING CEO Jan Hommen's words, right now, boosting capital and liquidity are the bank's main priorities.

Let's try to understand ING's short-term strategy and its consequences.

Meet Basel III norms
Under the new Basel III regulations that took effect in 2012, ING will need to maintain a core tier 1 ratio of 10% in order to weather economic storms. Restrictions have been put on the number of risky investments as well. The need to raise a buffer will affect the bank's ability to utilize capital, generate returns, and improve margins.

Repay the government
During the 2008 crisis, ING received $12.8 billion in aid from the Dutch government. Though the bank has paid back a substantial portion of this debt, it still has another $3.8 billion remaining. It had earlier intended to repay the state by May this year, but those plans have been put on the back burner. Until ING manages to shore up its reserves, it won't be able to pay back the state. The bailout didn't come without riders.

One of the conditions set by the European Commission was that the bank will have to cut its balance sheet by almost half to ensure there are fewer risky investments on its books. As long as ING is tied to the government, it can't look at acquisitions as an avenue for growth. It also may not be able to take on risky investments, which otherwise could have garnered higher returns. Thus, the first thing it has to do is restructure its balance sheet.

Restructure the books
ING plans to do this by divesting its global insurance business and shrinking its exposure to debt-ridden countries. It recently concluded the divestment of its Latin American insurance wing for a net gain of nearly $1.26 billion. Next on the auction table could be its Asian insurance arm, which some analysts are valuing at a little more than $6 billion.

When it comes to reducing its exposure in debt-ridden countries, the bank reduced its exposure by some $5 billion last year, but it still has another $2.5 billion tied up in the troubled nations of Greece, Italy, Portugal, and Spain. So there is still a sizable portion of risk on its books.

The takeaway
2011 was a tough year for European banks, and there aren't too many indications that 2012 will be any better. Hommen expects markets to be "difficult" and "volatile" in 2012 as well. He thinks from 2013, ING will be able to maintain a core capital ratio of 10% and also use the excess capital in hand to repay the government. But 2013 is still a long way off and given the sovereign debt crisis, plenty could go wrong.

ING's earnings forecast doesn't look great, and it is also not paying out dividends. Shareholders may not enjoy it, but that may be the right move for the bank in the long term.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/personalfinance/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/fool/20120119/bs_fool_fool/rx174982

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World stocks up as Greece debt talks continue (AP)

BANGKOK ? World markets rose Thursday as investors grew more comfortable with riskier assets such as stocks after a pledge by the IMF to help stave off a financial crisis and as hopes rose for an agreement on the restructuring of Greece's debt.

Benchmark oil rose above $101 per barrel while the dollar fell against the euro and the yen.

European bourses were mostly higher in early trading. Britain's FTSE 100 fell 0.1 percent to 5,697.70. Germany's DAX rose 0.1 percent 6,359.08 and France's CAC-40 added 0.4 percent to 3,276.87.

Futures pointed to a lower open on Wall Street after shares rallied on Wednesday. Dow Jones industrial futures drifted marginally lower to 12,494 while S&P 500 futures lost 0.2 percent to 1,300.

Earlier Thursday, Asian shares posted broad gains. Japan's Nikkei 225 index rose 1 percent to close at 8,639.68. South Korea's Kospi rebounded 1.2 percent to 1,914.97 after a losing session Wednesday. Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose 1.3 percent at 19,942.95.

Benchmarks in Singapore and mainland China also rose. Markets in Taiwan were closed for Chinese New Year.

Analysts said investors were becoming more comfortable with taking on risk despite multiple headwinds ? including a likely recession in Europe, a possible debt default by Greece and a warning from the World Bank on Wednesday of a possible slump in global economic growth.

"Evidence that markets are becoming increasingly resilient to bad news emerged from the muted reaction to sharp downgrades in growth forecasts by the World Bank," Credit Agricole CIB in Hong Kong said in a research note.

Fears that the euro common currency might implode amid a mountain of sovereign debt eased Wednesday after the International Monetary Fund said it was looking at ways to raise another $500 billion for loans to struggling countries.

The IMF has put up roughly a third of the money given as rescue loans to European governments. But analysts cautioned that the crisis was far from over.

"What needs to be understood is that the IMF doesn't have enough money to help the eurozone countries. They could only get it from newly printed money from the ECB and that would mean inflation," said Martin Hennecke, associate director of Tyche Group in Hong Kong, referring to the European Central Bank.

"There's only two choices: Either you have bankruptcy of major countries like Italy, which would basically be Armageddon, or the ECB prints money and lends it to banks and the IMF, and that would mean high inflation."

For its part, Greece is running out of time to avoid becoming the first euro country to default on its debts and potentially trigger a chain reaction that could ultimately destabilize the global economy. Talks are taking place in Athens between the government and private creditors trying to negotiate a debt restructuring.

Negotiations resumed Wednesday after breaking down late last week amid disagreement over the terms of new bonds that Greece would issue to replace expiring bonds that it cannot afford to pay off. Greece needs to clinch the agreement quickly to qualify for more bailout loans before it faces a major bond repayment March 20.

Banks and insurance companies were among the beneficiaries of the better investment mood. Hong Kong-listed Ping An Insurance soared 7 percent and China Life Insurance Co. Ltd. rose 2.8 percent. China Construction Bank added 2.5 percent. South Korea's Shinhan Financial Group added 2 percent.

Australia's Lynas Corp. Ltd. soared 8.5 percent amid speculation that the rare earths miner will be cleared to proceed with its Malaysian project by officials later this month.

Benchmark oil for February delivery was up 69 cents to $101.28 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract fell 12 cents to $100.59 per barrel on the Nymex on Wednesday.

In currencies, the euro rose to $1.2884 from $1.2841 late Wednesday in New York. The dollar fell to 76.75 yen from 76.80 yen.

___

Follow Pamela Sampson on Twitter at http://twitter.com/pamelasampson

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/stocks/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120119/ap_on_bi_ge/world_markets

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Court evicts OccupyLSX in London (Americablog)

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Hollywood unions agree to merger plan (AP)

LOS ANGELES ? Two film industry unions are closer to merging.

The Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists announced Monday they have agreed to a plan to combine their unions. The announcement comes after nine days of talks between the unions in Hollywood and two years of negotiations between the groups to join forces in a bid to gain more leverage in contract negotiations.

SAG represents 125,000 actors, while AFTRA represents 70,000 professional performers, broadcasters and recording artists. Some 45,000 of AFTRA's members also belong to SAG. AFTRA supported a merger with SAG in 1998 and 2003 only to see those efforts fail.

SAG and AFTRA split acrimoniously in 2008 and decided to negotiate deals with the studios separately for the first time in three decades. The rift hurt SAG as TV studios sent most of their new work AFTRA's way. SAG maintains exclusive jurisdiction over feature films.

SAG National President Ken Howard and AFTRA National President Roberta Reardon said in a joint statement they are confident their "members will agree that we have created something we can all be proud of ? actors, singers, broadcasters, dancers, voiceover artists, background actors, stuntpersons and all entertainment and media professionals that will be represented by this new union."

The plan will be recommended later this month to the unions' boards.

___

Online:

http://www.sag.org/

http://www.aftra.org/

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/movies/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120117/ap_en_mo/us_hollywood_labor

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UK: Europe will adopt sanctions on Iranian oil (AP)

LONDON ? Britain's foreign secretary said Sunday that European nations will intensify pressure on Iran over its nuclear program, but insisted the West wasn't pressing for military action.

William Hague told Sky News television that he believed the European Union would agree tough new sanctions against Tehran's oil sector later this month, and would continue to look for peaceful methods of persuading Iran to ditch its pursuit of a nuclear weapon.

Iran insists its nuclear program is intended solely for peaceful purposes, but the West and others accuse it of attempting to build a bomb. Britain's defense secretary Philip Hammond said earlier this month that Tehran was working "flat out" on its weapons program.

"We have never ruled anything out. We have not ruled out any option, or supporting any option. We believe all options should be on the table, that is part of the pressure on Iran, but we are clearly not calling for or advocating military action," Hague said.

"We are advocating meaningful negotiations, if Iran will enter into them, and the increasing pressure of sanctions to try to get some flexibility from Iran," he said.

European officials have worked for several months on banning the purchase of Iranian oil, and are expected to agree to the measures at a meeting of foreign ministers on Jan. 23.

German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said the new sanctions would help to choke off funding to Iran's nuclear program.

"Even just the option of nuclear armament by Iran would have far-reaching negative consequences far beyond the Gulf region, so it is not acceptable," German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle was quoted as saying in a weekend interview with the Rheinische Post newspaper.

"So, with new sanctions that we want to approve this month, we are now targeting the heart of the Iranian nuclear program: its oil and, with that, its sources of financing," he added. "But the door to dialogue with Iran remains open at the same time."

Westerwelle also dismissed discussion of possible military action if Iran continue to defy international demands to halt its weapons work. "We should not further charge an already tense situation in a turbulent region," he was quoted as saying.

French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe has said new European sanctions could also target its Central Bank.

"I am confident we will adopt very significant additional measures .... covering the oil sector and possibly other sectors as well," Hague said.

Britain has already downgraded ties with Iran following a major attack on its embassy in Tehran in November, which it insists was sanctioned by the country's ruling elite. In response, Britain pulled all of its diplomats out of Iran and expelled Iranian diplomats from U.K. soil.

___

Associated Press writer Geir Moulson in Berlin contributed to this report

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/iran/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120115/ap_on_re_eu/eu_britain_iran

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Video game sales drop 21 percent in US as kids remember there's an outdoors

Normally the holidays are good to video game sales. This year, though, not so much. According to NPD game sales in December were down 21 percent over the same time last year, to just $3.99 billion. Hardware sales took an even larger nosedive, plummeting 28 percent, and accessories dropped 27 points. For the full year, video game sales were down 8 percent compared with 2010, and even digital sales suffered. Downloadable content, in app purchases, subscriptions and other non-physical media gaming sales totaled between $16.3 and $16.6 billion -- down 2 percent from last year. And, in case you're interested, the best selling game of the year was Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 -- shocker!

[Knife smeared with blood and young man yelling via Shutterstock]

Video game sales drop 21 percent in US as kids remember there's an outdoors originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Jan 2012 18:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/13/video-game-sales-drop-21-percent-in-us-as-kids-remember-theres/

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[OOC] Dragon Age: Crimson Blight

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~*Do not frown, you never know who is falling in love with your smile*~

StrawberryFoxglove

Member for 1 years

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I've been waiting for another awesome Dragon age rp too pop up at some point, and low and behold you post it Strawberry XD. I'd like to make a reservation for a Warden, and use an already established member of said force; that you know, though i doubt anyone (who is new to me) will know of him, if that is acceptable to you.

Soki

Member for 3 years

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*waaaves* And to answer your question about possible character ideas... whatever you think we need the most is fine. :p I can personalize it after ya figure it out.

unmog

Member for 0 years

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Romney tells SC voters he's 'pro-life' candidate (AP)

GREER, S.C. ? Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney on Thursday insisted he is "pro-life" and said he's raising the issue on the campaign trail to counter his rivals' attacks.

"I understand that there are some attack ads coming my way that question" his commitment to life, Romney told reporters gathered at a motorcycle dealership in Greer, S.C. "Obviously it's important for me to remind people that I'm pro-life."

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich's campaign is running ads in South Carolina attacking Romney for changing his position on abortion. It's part of an onslaught of negative ads Romney is facing in the first-in-the-South primary, some from his rivals and some from their wealthy SuperPAC allies.

Romney arrived in South Carolina Wednesday and held a rally in Columbia, where he added extra emphasis to his typical campaign speech focused on protecting life.

"I'm convinced that the principles of opportunity, and freedom and the protection of life were not temporary but are permanent," Romney said Wednesday. And on Thursday, campaigning in the conservative Upstate, he repeated "life, life" twice as he recited the Declaration of Independence.

Gingrich has been hammering away at Romney's claim to conservative credentials, calling Romney a "Massachusetts moderate." Gingrich said Thursday he intends to emphasize Romney's views on social issues such as abortion, gun control and gay marriage in the days leading up to South Carolina's Jan. 21 primary.

Romney also is defending his record as a venture capitalist, repeating his contention that the company he ran was set up to save businesses where possible, although he's admitted that in private business, these efforts aren't always fruitful.

Romney came to South Carolina Wednesday as the unmistakable front-runner in the GOP presidential sweepstakes. But many of the state's voters are conservative Christians and tea party supporters, and Romney struggled here four years ago. He came in fourth.

Romney said Thursday the environment has changed enough that he could win here.

"Four years ago, we were really focused on Iraq and what was happening there and the surge. And that was an area that really was in John McCain's wheelhouse," Romney said. "Now the economy is the issue people are most concerned about. That's in my wheelhouse."

"This is a time when people care about the economy and the scale of government. It's the message of the tea party, it's the message of the Republican Party," he said.

Romney was leaving South Carolina Thursday to hold a midday rally in West Palm Beach, Fla., where absentee voters are already mailing in ballots. The primary is Jan. 31.

But first he stopped to admire the motorcycles on display at Cherokee Trikes and More after he wrapped up the rally in the back warehouse. He stood with an array of motorcycles behind him as he took reporters' questions ? but refused to sit on a motorcycle and pose for pictures.

Instead, he joked: "And, what, put a helmet on, Dukakis style?"

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/topstories/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120112/ap_on_el_ge/us_romney

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Video: The Downgrade & the Markets

Jim Iuorio, TJM Institutional Services; Don Luskin, Trend Macro; and Jim LaCamp, Macroportfolio Advisors, discuss the impact of the S&P downgrade and whether there's reason to be bullish. As long as Germany is strong, they say, we'll get through this.

Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/cnbc/45993430/

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UA's Richardson, Hightower, Kirkpatrick NFL-bound (AP)

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. ? Alabama All-Americans Trent Richardson, Dont'a Hightower and Dre Kirkpatrick have declared for the NFL draft.

Richardson and Kirkpatrick announced their decisions to skip their senior seasons with the national champions while a spokesman says Hightower also isn't returning.

Richardson and Kirkpatrick are both projected as potential Top 10 picks.

Richardson won the Doak Walker Award as the nation's top running back and was third in the Heisman voting. He set school single-season rushing records with 1,679 yards and 21 touchdowns.

He and Hightower were first-team AP All-America selections while Kirkpatrick was a second-teamer.

The Tide lost three underclassmen to the NFL last year, but wound up beating LSU 21-0 in Monday night's national title game. Kirkpatrick and Richardson were part of two national championship teams.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/sports/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120112/ap_on_sp_co_ne/fbc_alabama_nfl

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Opioids erase memory traces of pain

ScienceDaily (Jan. 13, 2012) ? A team of researchers at the MedUni Vienna's Department of Neurophysiology (Centre for Brain Research) has discovered a previously unknown effect of opioids: the study, which has now been published in the journal Science and was led by Ruth Drdla-Schutting and J?rgen Sandk?hler, shows that opioids not only temporarily relieve pain, but at the right dose can also erase memory traces of pain in the spinal cord and therefore eliminate a key cause of chronic pain.

The scientists recreated a surgical procedure in vivo in which pain fibres were stimulated under controlled conditions.

Says Sandk?hler: "Although deep anaesthesia prevents any sensations of pain, we were able to reserve long-term synaptic potentiation in the spinal cord. Despite anaesthesia, there appears to be a memory trace for pain and a pain amplifier has engaged." High doses of intravenous opioids over the course of an hour -- normally opioids are delivered at moderate doses over a longer period -- were able to completely resolve the potentiation. Says Sandk?hler: "The memory trace for pain was therefore deleted again and the pain amplifier switched off."

The memory trace, as it is termed, is triggered by a variety of mechanisms, including the potentiation of signal transmission at the contact points (synapses) between the nerve cells. This is known as long-term synaptic potentiation. This pain memory can result in the sensation of amplified pain lasting much longer than the actual cause of the pain, even leading to a condition known as chronic pain syndrome.

A paradigm shift in pain therapy?

The project, which is sponsored by the Vienna Fund for Science, Research and Technology (WWTF), is currently investigating how this discovery can be put to use in clinical settings. To this end, test subjects or patients with pain syndrome are being given a high dose of an opioid over a period of 60 minutes.

"If our approach turns out to be effective under clinical conditions, this would herald a paradigm shift in pain therapy. It would mean moving away from the temporary, purely symptom-based pain therapy to a long-term removal of the cause of pain based on pain mechanisms using opioids."

The effect of opioids (morphine or morphine-like substances) is based on their ability to bind to specific binding sites, known as ?-opiate receptors (MOR) which are found on nerve cells and which process pain-related information. Until now, it has been assumed that opioids are only able to alleviate pain while they are bound to the MOR and therefore suppress stimulation in the pain-processing system. Says Drdla-Schutting: "As soon as the medication is stopped, the pain-relieving effect disappears too." In clinical practice, opioids are therefore given continuously in moderate doses in order to achieve permanent binding to the MOR. This may relieve pain very effectively, but its cause cannot be eliminated. The new, high-dose, short-term therapy with opioids, on the other hand, causes a reversal of cellular changes that play an important role in pain memories, therefore possibly eliminating one of the causes of chronic pain.

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Journal Reference:

1. R. Drdla-Schutting, J. Benrath, G. Wunderbaldinger, J. Sandkuhler. Erasure of a Spinal Memory Trace of Pain by a Brief, High-Dose Opioid Administration. Science, 2012; 335 (6065): 235 DOI: 10.1126/science.1211726

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120113204933.htm

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Live from the Engadget CES Stage: taking the PlayStation Vita for a spin (update: video embedded)

The next best thing to actually buying a PlayStation Vita? Why, tuning our demo, of course. We'll be joined by Sony executives to discuss the new gaming portable and see exactly what the thing can do. Join us at 12:30pm ET, after the break.

Update: Interview video is now embedded.

Continue reading Live from the Engadget CES Stage: taking the PlayStation Vita for a spin (update: video embedded)

Live from the Engadget CES Stage: taking the PlayStation Vita for a spin (update: video embedded) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 Jan 2012 18:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/waOqrDlZ1To/

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Appeals court says Texas can enforce abortion law

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) ? A Texas abortion law passed last year that requires doctors to show sonograms to patients can be enforced while opponents challenge the measure in court, a federal appeals court said Tuesday in a ruling that signaled the judges believe the law is constitutional.

When the state would begin enforcing the law was not immediately clear. A spokesman for the attorney general's office said the matter was under review. The group that brought the case, the Center for Reproductive Rights, could appeal the ruling. It did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a temporary order against enforcing the law and then went further to advise U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks how he should ultimately rule in the case. Chief Judge Edith H. Jones used her opinion to systematically dismantle the argument that the Texas law infringes on the free speech rights of doctors and patients, the key argument against the law.

"The required disclosures of a sonogram, the fetal heartbeat, and their medical descriptions are the epitome of truthful, non-misleading information," Jones wrote. "The appellees failed to demonstrate constitutional flaws" with the law.

Sparks had ruled in August that several provisions of the state law violated the free-speech rights of doctors who perform abortions by requiring that they show and describe the sonogram images and describe the fetal heartbeat, all of which doctors have said is not necessary for good treatment.

Gov. Rick Perry, on the presidential campaign trail in South Carolina, praised the court's decision.

"Today's ruling is a victory for all who stand in defense of life," Perry said. "Every life lost to abortion is a tragedy, and this important sonogram legislation ensures that every Texas woman seeking an abortion has all the facts about the life she is carrying, and understands the devastating impact of such a life-ending decision."

The author of the bill, state Sen. Dan Patrick, said he felt confident the appeals court would uphold the law.

"I am extremely gratified that the sonogram bill will finally take effect," the Houston Republican said. "I have worked to pass this bill for five years and I am grateful to the Fifth Circuit for their rapid action on this important issue."

The New Orleans-based appeals court cited a 1992 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that "upheld an informed-consent statute over precisely the same 'compelled speech' challenges made" in the current Texas case.

Earlier rulings have found that laws requiring doctors to give "truthful, non-misleading and relevant" information are reasonable regulation, not ideological speech requiring strict scrutiny under the First Amendment, the appeals court said.

"'Relevant' informed consent may entail not only the physical and psychological risks to the expectant mother facing this 'difficult moral decision,' but also the state's legitimate interests in 'protecting the potential life within her,'" Jones wrote.

Jones wrote that the argument against requiring the doctor to perform the sonogram only made sense if a "pregnancy is a condition to be terminated."

"The point of informed consent laws is to allow the patient to evaluate her condition and render her best decision under difficult circumstances," Jones wrote. "Denying her up-to-date medical information is more of an abuse to her ability to decide than providing the information."

Under the Texas law, a woman who has suffered rape or incest can avoid the sonogram requirement by certifying that she is a victim. Jones said the "the district court was especially troubled by the requirement" to make the certification, but that it doesn't violate the woman's First Amendment rights.

In his temporary order, Sparks also agreed with the doctors appealing the law that the doctor should not be compelled to show the woman the sonogram image, to play the sound of the fetal heartbeat and to explain the sonogram image verbally if the women does not want to look or listen.

Jones found that there was no constitutional argument against these elements of the law.

"The woman seeking an abortion may elect not to receive these images, sounds, or explanations," Jones wrote. "This election does not obviate the physician's obligations to display the sonogram images or make audible the heart auscultation; the woman may simply choose not to look or listen."

Jones wrote that the doctors had failed to make a convincing argument against the law and she made clear that she expects Sparks to use her ruling when making any further decisions in the case. Jones also said the Fifth Circuit would hear any further appeals in this case.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2012-01-10-Texas%20Abortion%20Law/id-78fcdbe7c720459e993b7dd7f1e4bc90

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Fresh calls for independent probe in Syria (AP)

BEIRUT ? The death of a French TV cameraman during a government-sponsored trip to Syria has renewed calls for an independent assessment of the violent conflict in the country, as the government and the opposition traded blame Thursday.

The French government, human rights groups and the opposition demanded an independent investigation into the killing of Gilles Jacquier while filming a pro-government rally in the restive city of Homs Wednesday.

Jacquier, who worked for France-2 Television, became the first Western journalist to be killed in the 10-month-old Syrian uprising.

He was among a group of 15 journalists on the government trip when they were hit by several grenades, and his death was likely to become a rallying cry for both sides.

The opposition called for protests in Jacquier's honor Thursday, and activists said hundreds of people held demonstrations across the country in cold and rainy weather, demanding the downfall of President Bashar Assad.

The government has said the attack shows the uprising is the work of terrorists, a narrative the government has maintained since the start of the revolt against Assad ten months ago. The opposition contends the regime is behind the bloodshed, to tarnish the uprising.

"The journalists were attacked in a heavily militarized regime stronghold ? it would be hugely difficult for any armed opposition to penetrate the area and launch such a deadly attack," said Wissam Tarif, a campaigner for online global activist group, Avaaz.

Nadim Houry, a senior researcher at Human Rights Watch, called for an independent, preferably international, investigation.

"Yesterday's case of the killing of the French journalist raises a number of questions, who launched the attacks, what was the purpose. The answer is we don't know," he said in an interview in Beirut Thursday. "So at this point, what's important is again to launch a credible investigation."

State-run news agency SANA said the government organized tour for journalists comes in the framework of the Syrian government's acceptance for the foreign media "to move freely" in Syria.

Syria has banned almost all foreign journalists from Syria since the start of the uprising in March, and only recently started issuing short term visas for a limited number of journalists, who are allowed to move only accompanied by government minders.

"It's up to Syrian authorities to ensure the security of international journalists on their territory," French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said Wednesday.

During the uprising, several Syrian journalists have been killed or tortured as they tried to cover the revolt, which has proven the most serious challenge to the Assad family's 40-year dynasty. With the U.N. estimate of more than 5,000 dead since March, it is among the bloodiest uprisings of the Arab Spring.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/world/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120112/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_syria

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Will Robert Kyncl And YouTube Revolutionize Television?

The New Yorker:

For the past sixty years, TV executives have been making the decisions about what we watch in our living rooms. Kyncl would like to change that. Therefore YouTube, the home of grainy cell-phone videos and skateboarding dogs, is going pro.

Read the whole story: The New Yorker

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/09/youtube-channels-robert-kyncl_n_1193654.html

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Review: Google Docs, the perfect bridesmaid (AP)

NEW YORK ? For do-most-of-it-yourself brides, wedding planning means lists, lists and more lists, with some spreadsheets thrown in for good measure. There are also the long, endlessly pored-over documents of vows, readings, even toasts. Did I mention lists?

Enter Google Docs, the search company's free, easy-to-use online document software. With templates for the spreadsheet-challenged and a slew of pretty Web tools, the service is like the perfect bridesmaid. She's calm, collected and full of good ideas but not overly pushy, letting you steer the ship. She's there when you need her.

I started earnestly planning my April 2011 wedding around this time last year. After lots of pen-on-paper scribbling, I decided to join the 21st century and move my planning online. Do you have a wedding, civil union or other commitment ceremony coming up this year? Let good old Google help.

I picked Google's tools over dedicated wedding-planning websites such as The Knot for a few reasons:

? I didn't want to be bombarded with girly girl ads, think-inside-the-box advice and expensive "must-have" lists. No flower girls, cutesy favors or bright bridesmaids' dresses for us (though we did have bridesmens' suits).

? I didn't want to join a site that asked for my full name, address and other personal information. I didn't see why I should have to provide all that. The Knot's privacy policy had not been updated since 2008. It says it participates in Facebook's Beacon sharing program, which was shut down more than two years ago over privacy complaints. Time for an update, perhaps?

? Finally, I've been using Gmail since 2004 without a hitch (I'll just let Buzz slide). I saw no reason why I shouldn't let Google help me get hitched.

To start, I armed myself with a to-do checklist from the popular wedding blog Offbeat Bride ? another invaluable Web tool for independently spirited brides.

With my fiance and now husband, I took to Google Docs for our first task. We listed friends and family members we hoped would share our special day. With a set budget and relatively small families, this wasn't too difficult.

The next step, a bit more so. Because so few people send cards and letters through the mail these days, one of the more annoying tasks in planning a wedding is hounding your friends and relatives for their mailing addresses.

Google Docs has automated this with a simple email template. Once you're on Google's weddings site at http://www.google.com/weddings, you can click "Plan" in the top right corner. This will take you to a set of planning documents. Select "Address Book" from that list, then click on "use this template."

You can use that to send a form email to your guests, complete with a pretty picture of a wedding cake or whatever else theme you pick ("Wall St." anyone?).

The email has boxes that your guests can fill in with their street, city and other address information, along with their phone number and any comments. When friends and family send that back, Google automatically adds the information to a spreadsheet. You can then tweak the spreadsheet to add columns for meal choices and other such details.

Easy-peasy right? Sort of. Our young, tech-savvy friends responded quickly, and soon we had a spreadsheet with about half of our guests. But some people didn't seem to know what to do with the form. Others thought it was spam. I had to send regular emails, not pretty forms, to some people, saying hey, that form was not spam, please fill it out.

For many couples, there might also be those older folks who do not use the Internet at all and need to be called to get addresses.

The spreadsheet, once completed, proved invaluable. It's simple to share documents through Google by entering recipients' email addresses, or to restrict them so only you can see them. I shared the list with my fiance and with the people who were planning our bachelor and bachelorette parties. Over time, we added columns such as "invitation sent" and "gift description."

Besides a DJ and a photographer, we also hired an online officiant to help put together our ceremony. A friend of ours performed the actual ceremony after getting ordained over the Internet. Cobbling together the ceremony was much like collaborating on a script among four people in three locations.

Google Docs again proved invaluable. And because the documents are stored remotely, on Google's servers, there was no danger of losing them. That's what happened to a co-worker who was planning her wedding around the same time. Her computer died, and her carefully curated passages were gone.

Not everyone uses Google Docs, though. Our online officiant didn't, so she sent us attachments of her drafts using Microsoft Word. I converted those to Google Docs and shared them with my fiance and the friend who'd be performing the ceremony. We all tweaked the script until it was perfect.

Google lets you share documents with people as "can view" and "can edit." After the wedding, I shared the final document with my mom, so she could keep it for posterity ? but not edit it, lest she insert some new vows she'd like my husband to keep.

You can download documents to store on your computer in various formats. These include PDF, Word or a text file. For those who didn't want to use Google Docs, I simply downloaded documents as Word and sent them as an attachment. No biggie.

Besides documents, Google also offers wedding tools to build your wedding website (a must-have these days) and share photos. Although we did not use these services, they are worth checking out.

There's also a budget-planner template, which we did not use. It had too many things that we had no intention of using ? calligrapher, flower girl basket, gown preservation, to name a few. And come on, a "wedding planner/organizer" and a "consultant/coordinator" sound like the same thing to me.

I suppose I could have just put in "0" for all the unused options, but it would have been nice to have a range of budget templates for simple, average or lavish weddings. And, this being 2012, it would be nice to see more options for same-sex couples to plan weddings and civil ceremonies.

Besides the ceremony script and guest list, we also scanned in and saved the seating chart, the passages and poem that we had our friends read during the ceremony. We kept a detailed schedule of the day's events that we gave to the wedding venue and all the friends who were helping us. On the big day, We also printed out a list of important phone numbers and addresses and extra copies of everything ? just in case.

The actual wedding could not have gone more perfectly. Though I owe the most thanks to my tireless friends and family to help pull it off, Google Docs certainly made it a lot easier.

___

Follow Barbara Ortutay on Twitter:

http:// www.twitter.com/barbaraortutay

_____

Online:

http://www.google.com/weddings

http://www.offbeatbride.com

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/personaltech/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120111/ap_on_hi_te/us_tec_digital_life_tech_test_wedding_planner

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