Mobile Miscellany: week of July 29th, 2013

If you didn't get enough mobile news during the week, not to worry, because we've opened the firehose for the truly hardcore. This week brought overwhelming support for MoDaCo.Switch on the GS4, new markets for the budget-priced BlackBerry Q5 and a pint-sized Android handset from Acer. These stories and more await after the break. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore all that's happening in the mobile world for this week of July 29th, 2013.

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Software, Mobile

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/08/03/mobile-miscellany/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget

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Photo Gallery: Marshall Township Community Day

Published: Sunday, August 4, 2013, 9:00?p.m.
Updated 10 hours ago

Marshall Township residents celebrated the township's 150th anniversary July 27 during its annual Community Day.

The festivities ? which included a history display, storytelling, a visit from an Abraham Lincoln impersonator, entertainment and demonstrations by volunteers from the Depreciation Lands Museum in Hampton Township ? were cut short by heavy rain.

Fireworks have been rescheduled for 9 p.m. Aug. 16 at the park. They will take place after

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(Video) Real Madrid star and Manchester United target Ronaldo plays ?keepy-uppys? with a baseball

2 hrs 43 mins ago Fanatix The Portugal captain turns his talent to another sport.

Real Madrid supremo Cristiano Ronaldo dropped in on the LA Dodgers during the Spanish?s side?s current tour of the USA and showed off his skills by juggling a baseball with his feet.
The 28-year-old, who has emerged this summer as a transfer target for former side Manchester United, was also given the honour of starting the match between the Dodgers and New York Yankees by throwing the first pitch.

Read the rest of this post (external)

Source: http://manunitedlatest.com/video-real-madrid-star-and-manchester-united-target-ronaldo-plays-keepy-uppys-with-a-baseball/

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India partially revokes patent on breast cancer drug Herceptin ...

[unable to retrieve full-text content]Swiss newspaper Schweiz am Sonntag reported that the Kolkata Patent Office had lifted divisional patents for Herceptin on 17 July on the grounds they had not been properly submitted.

Source: http://www.firstpost.com/business/india-partially-revokes-patent-on-breast-cancer-drug-herceptin-1009309.html

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Weekly Addresses: Obama Offers New 'Grand Bargain,' GOP Seeks to Modify 'Obamacare' (ABC News)

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'Sons of Anarchy' boss talks horrifying premiere

TV

Drusilla Moorhouse TODAY contributor

19 hours ago

Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images

"Sons of Anarchy's" Kurt Sutter, Charlie Hunnam Katey Sagal and Paris Barclay.

Brace yourself when "Sons of Anarchy" kicks off season six next month. To say that the horrific conclusion in the premiere about a violent motorcycle club is "controversial" is one of the greatest understatements of the year.?

But that was never creator Kurt Sutter's intention, he insisted Friday at the Television Critics Association's summer press tour in Beverly Hills.

"I've wanted to do that story for about three years," he told reporters. "It's an organic story to our world ... thematically, it's the right thing. ... Nothing is done gratuitously. "?

Although the episode was screened for critics, the showrunner sincerely hopes the cataclysmic events aren't leaked before its broadcast ? but not just because spoilers will diminish its shock value.?

"I don't want it viewed as us doing it to be controversial, to bring more eyes to the episode," he said. "I'm worried more about that kind of blowback" than the public's response following its airing.

"There's not really a statement I'm trying to make within the story," Sutter said, noting that the episode's events are integral to everything that follows in the last two seasons of "Sons of Anarchy."?

"This is a story that's not being done to be sensational. It is truly the catalyst for the final act of our morality play. It sets everything in motion for this season that will ultimately lead to the end, and then will bring us into the final season and what I see as the ultimate comeuppance of everything in terms of the series."?

"I didn't want to do that and ultimately have it just be a story beat and then go away," he told TODAY.com.?

"Sons of Anarchy" returns Tuesday, Sept. 10 on FX.

Source: http://www.today.com/entertainment/sons-anarchy-boss-horrifying-premiere-not-done-gratuitously-6C10835075

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France to close embassy in Yemen temporarily on security fears

PARIS (Reuters) - France said it would close its embassy in Yemen for several days from Sunday and urged its citizens in the country to take precautions because of elevated security threats.

The decision came after similar moves by Britain and Germany, which followed a U.S. decision to issue a travel alert to its citizens and to close embassies temporarily in the Middle East and Africa.

"We have elements that lead us to believe that the threat is very serious and other countries have also taken similar steps," French President Francois Hollande said during a Saturday visit to southwest France focused on agricultural issues.

"Therefore the embassy will be closed for several days. We are also conscious that we will have to keep up extreme vigilance in the coming weeks, especially for people travelling in the area."

A French Foreign Ministry spokesman confirmed the move but said only that the embassy would be closed on August 4.

Interpol, the France-based international police agency, on Saturday issued a global security alert advising member states to increase vigilance against attacks after a series of prison breaks in Iraq, Libya and Pakistan. Interpol said it was is investigating to determine if the escapes were linked.

Prison breaks took place in Pakistan on July 31 in a Taliban-led operation, and in Iraq at the Abu Ghraib prison overnight on July 22. Some 500 convicts, among them senior al Qaeda operatives, escaped from Abu Ghraib.

More than 1,100 inmates broke out of a prison on the outskirts of Benghazi on July 27.

Interpol also noted that August was the anniversary of several attacks in past years, including those in Mumbai and Nairobi.

The U.S. State Department said on Thursday American embassies that would normally be open this Sunday - including those in Abu Dhabi, Baghdad and Cairo - would be closed that day because of unspecified security concerns. On Friday, it also issued a global travel alert.

The European Union said that it would be taking "all necessary precautions" following the U.S. announcement.

"We are particularly concerned about the security situation in the final days of Ramadan and into Eid," the British Foreign Office said in a statement, referring to the Muslim holy month which ends on Wednesday evening.

(Reporting by Patrick Vignal and Julien Ponthus; Writing by Leila Abboud; Editing by Andrew Roche and Sonya Hepinstall)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/france-close-embassy-yemen-security-reasons-142706537.html

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U.S.A. v. Apple: DOJ seeks wide-ranging oversight of iTunes Store

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Zimbabwe officials: Mugabe wins with 61 percent

Zimbabwe's main opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai in Harare, Thursday, Aug. 1 2013. Tsvagirai said the election is "null and void" due to alleged violations in the voting process, but president Robert Mugabe has denied vote rigging. (AP Photo)

Zimbabwe's main opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai in Harare, Thursday, Aug. 1 2013. Tsvagirai said the election is "null and void" due to alleged violations in the voting process, but president Robert Mugabe has denied vote rigging. (AP Photo)

Zimbabwe's main opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai in Harare, Thursday, Aug. 1 2013. Tsvagirai said the election is "null and void" due to alleged violations in the voting process, but president Robert Mugabe has denied vote rigging. (AP Photo)

Voters look at posted results outside a polling station in Harare Thursday, Aug. 1, 2013 President Robert Mugabe's ZANU PF party said Thursday, that it has withdrawn an unauthorized message on its Twitter feed claiming a resounding victory in the country's national elections. (AP Photo)

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) ? Zimbabwe's longtime President Robert Mugabe won 61 percent of the presidential vote, trailed by opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai at 33 percent, election officials announced Saturday.

Mugabe, 89 and in power for 33 years, has another five-year term in office, according to the results.

Mugabe's party won 158 of the 210 parliament seats, giving it a two-thirds majority in the legislature that enables it to make amendments to the new constitution and existing laws, according to the results announced by the state Election Commission. Tsvangirai's party captured 50 seats and two went to independent candidates.

Tsvangirai earlier Saturday rejected the results as fraudulent and called for fresh elections. He urged a peaceful response to the alleged massive rigging by Mugabe's ZANU-PF party.

Tsvangirai said his Movement for Democratic Change party has in its possession evidence of massive rigging by Mugabe's ZANU-PF party in the just-ended polls and will challenge results from Wednesday's voting.

"People of Zimbabwe must be given another chance to participate in a free, fair and credible election. They have been shortchanged by a predetermined election," he said.

Tsvangirai told a news conference that the outcome of the polls has extended Mugabe's rule which has plunged the nation into economic and political turmoil.

He said Mugabe's victory in the polls has "dashed people's hopes and aspirations."

"There is no celebration, there is national mourning," Tsvangirai said.

He said his party will not "participate in any government institutions" in protest but stopped short of saying it will boycott its reduced seats in the Harare parliament.

Mugabe's loyalist army and police have set up security posts in Harare Saturday, apparently in case there are any protest demonstrations.

"We are rejecting the results because they are fraudulent," Tsvangirai said. "We will go back to our people. Our people are the ones hurting. Our people are disciplined. We don't want a violent resolution to this crisis."

He said a complete audit is needed of the shambolic voters' lists, which was only made available at the time of the election.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague expressed "deep concern" over the conduct of the election, saying the failure to share the voters' roll with political parties was a "critical flaw."

Hague said that and other irregularities "call into serious question the credibility of the election."

"We note that some political parties have rejected the result on the basis of these irregularities," he said, without saying whether Britain endorsed their move. "We will need to examine what has happened and consider further reports from regional and local observer missions. In the meantime, it is important that all allegations of electoral violations are thoroughly investigated."

Tsvangirai's party lost several seats in its Harare urban strongholds by massive margins compared to their overwhelming victories in 2008.

In one Harare constituency, Tsvangirai's party won with 9,538 votes to 8,190 captured by Mugabe's party. In 2008 the same district voted for the MDC candidate, Tendai Biti, by about 8,300 ballots against Mugabe's 2,500 votes.

"It is ZANU-PF's imagination that they have won this election, they know the truth," Tsvangirai said Saturday. "We have been robbed."

Independent monitors have charged that as many as 750,000 voters were prevented from casting their ballots on Wednesday because of irregularities in voters' lists.

They allege thousands of unregistered voters were allowed to vote.

The continent-wide African Union and regional monitors of the Southern African Development Community, or SADC, have generally endorsed the elections as peaceful, but have expressed misgivings over how voting numbers might have been manipulated and have demanded a full account of voter numbers from the official state election body before passing their final judgment on whether the polls were free, fair and credible.

Observers generally commended actual polling for being free of violence that has dominated campaigning against Tsvangirai in his two previous challenges for the presidency in 2002 and 2008.

___

AP Writer Raphael Satter in London contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2013-08-03-AP-AF-Zimbabwe-Elections/id-9d2bdc96e15242f88fc9f5d5568b4158

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Buoy 10 sportfishing opens with decent catches; should heat up in ...

ASTORIA -- Not many boats ventured onto the lower Columbia River estuary Thursday for the opening of the popular Buoy 10 salmon season.

It's early, after all, and the Pacific Ocean outside the river's mouth has plenty of salmon still stuffing themselves before wandering inshore and upriver in the next few weeks.

Still, dozens who trolled the entrance to Youngs Bay found willing biters. Many were the highly prized, fat-laden, select-area bright chinook, released from pens to return as commercial prizes.

They're missing left ventral fins, if you're wondering how to tell.

That's important, because this is also the first year of significant returns from another type of hatchery-raised chinook, the tule, also now being released in the bay. They have almost no fat, are nearly ready to spawn when they hit freshwater and are barely marketable. But the hatchery releases were moved away from Big Creek, a small local tributary, to reduce straying onto wild tule chinook spawning beds.

This is likely the last season anglers will get this kind of shot at the select area brights. Legislation recently signed into law by Gov. John Kitzhaber will create a no-sportfishing buffer off Youngs Bay by the 2014 fishing season. The intent is to reduce angler interception of the far more valuable fish in partial exchange for shifting commercial gill-nets off the mainstem Columbia.

BUOY 10 Caution! Don't forget the new barbless-hook rules apply to the Buoy 10 fishery as well as the rest of the Columbia and lower Willamette rivers.

Law enforcement boats spent most of the morning Thursday checking the fleet of anglers outside the bay.

Regulations also allow only one chinook per day inside the estuary (but two-salmon/steelhead overall) and no jacks west of Tongue Point. Coho, but not chinook, must be missing an adipose fin.

Duck/goose seasons set: Duck seasons will look just about like last year, but goose hunters are getting some significant expansions this fall.

The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission set fall bird seasons Friday at their monthly meeting in Eugene.

For the first time since restrictive goose regulations began in northwest Oregon, hunters on Sauvie Island's public hunting area will be allowed to take snow geese on certain hunt days. All northwest goose zone permit rules will be in effect and a northwest zone permit will be required. Snow goose hunting will close if a single dusky Canada goose is shot. Officers will watch closely for anyone accidentally shooting a swan.

There will be no more "dark goose" designation. Instead there will be seasons for Canada geese and white-fronted geese, which will get their own category and bag limit (six per day in most areas).

The September goose daily limit has been increased to five in eastern Oregon and the white goose limit in Malheur County will double to 20 per day.

The major changes to duck hunting are a reduction in scaup, with a shorter season (starts Nov. 2 in zone 1) and bag limit (three daily), and an increase in canvasback bag limits to two per day instead of one.

All other duck hunting will mirror last fall.

The Oregon bird-hunting synopsis will be published sometime in the next few weeks and available at all outlets.

Sturgeon retention in 2014: The commission also set 2014 angling regulations Friday.

Highlights include the statewide shift to catch and release fishing only for sturgeon...EXCEPT: Beginning next year, sturgeon can be kept in the Willamette River above (south of) Willamette Falls. Limit is one per day, two per season, between 38 and 54 inches fork length. There are pockets of sturgeon up there, mostly holdovers from years past when baby sturgeon were planted. ?

The commission also approved extension of the no-fishing sanctuary on the Willamette all the way down to the railroad bridge between Milwaukie and Lake Oswego. That means no sturgeon fishing at all, even catch and release, from May 1 to Aug. 31.

Halibut hearings: Anglers are asked to attend public meetings beginning next week to voice their opinions about 2014 halibut fishing seasons and 2015-16 groundfish seasons.

Meetings all begin at 7 p.m. and are set for: Tuesday, Tillamook office of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife; Wednesday, Holiday Inn Express, Newport; Monday, Aug. 12, Best Western Beachfront Inn, Brookings; Tuesday, Aug. 13, North Bend Public Library.

Source: http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregonian/bill_monroe/index.ssf/2013/08/post_86.html

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Noozhawk Fiesta Trivia Question: How many entrees are in the Fiesta parade? We...

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Sleepy Efimova swims world record in morning heats

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) ? Worn out from her gold medal performance the night before, Yuliya Efimova slept late, missed her warm-up ? and still swam a world record.

In morning prelims.

"I still don't understand it," the Russian said after breaking the mark in the 50-meter breaststroke Saturday. "Yesterday I was ready for a world record. But today, I didn't sleep half the night and I am so tired. I didn't do the warm-up and I am so sleepy ? and I just swam a record. It's crazy."

Crazy, indeed.

Efimova clocked 29.78 seconds in the one-lap race, shaving 0.02 off the previous record set by American Jessica Hardy in 2009 at the height of the rubberized suit era.

Efimova could hardly believe it when she saw her time, dropping her mouth wide open in amazement as she broke into a wide smile.

Hardy qualified second in 29.99, and 100 breaststroke world record holder Ruta Meilutyte of Lithuania advanced third in 30.07.

Efimova won gold in the 200 breaststroke Friday and she treated the 50 lightly, as it's not an Olympic event.

"I always like to swim the 200 but actually I am a short sprinter, and for me it's like my birthday," she said. "It's like my holidays ... It's always fun."

There could be more fun in the semifinals later, with Efimova, Hardy and Meilutyte each capable of swimming another record.

Also on the penultimate day of competition, Cate Campbell put herself in position to pull off a sprint double.

A day after taking gold in the 100 freestyle, the Australian led the 50 free prelims with a quick 24.27 seconds.

Francesca Halsall of Britain qualified second in 24.60. Campbell's younger sister, Bronte, advanced third in 24.65.

Olympic champion Ranomi Kromowidjojo of the Netherlands was fourth in 24.68, and American veteran Natalie Coughlin got through to the semifinals in ninth place in 25.00

In other prelims, Daniel Orzechowski of Brazil led the 50 backstroke in 24.67, and world record holder Sun Yang was competing in the marathon-like 1,500 free.

Meet standout Missy Franklin had the morning off.

Franklin will later aim for her fifth gold of the competition, in the 200 backstroke final, and fellow American teenager Katie Ledecky will bid for a world record in the 800 free.

Finals are also scheduled in the men's 50 free and 100 butterfly and the women's 50 fly.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/sleepy-efimova-swims-world-record-morning-heats-095541450.html

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NFL: Eagles receiver Riley Cooper excused from team after racial slur

PHILADELPHIA ? The Philadelphia Eagles excused Riley Cooper from all team activities on Friday as the wide receiver deals with repercussions of being caught on video making a racial slur.

Cooper has been sent away from the team to get help with his issues, something the player and the team agreed upon. Coach Chip Kelly made it clear after Friday's practice, however, that Cooper would be back with the team when he's ready.

"There has never been any question of cutting Riley," Kelly said. "His status with us is not in question."

Cooper said the last few days have been incredibly difficult and he will step away to seek counselling.

"My actions were inexcusable," he said. "The more I think about what I did, the more disgusted I get. I keep trying to figure out how I could have said something so repulsive, and what I can do to make things better."

Cooper apologized profusely Wednesday after a video of him using a racial slur at a Kenny Chesney concert last month surfaced on the Internet. The Eagles immediately fined him.

"Right now, I think it's important for me to take some time to reflect on this situation," Cooper said. "The organization and my teammates have been extremely supportive, but I also realize that there are people who will have a tough time forgiving me for what I've done. The best thing for me, and for the team, is to step away for a period of time."

The Eagles did not set a timetable for Cooper's return. The team is off Saturday. They will return Sunday and play the New England Patriots on Friday night in the pre-season opener.

"He will meet with professionals provided by the Eagles during this period of time to better help him understand how his words have hurt so many, including his teammates," the team said in a statement.

Cooper spoke to the media again after practice Thursday, telling them his meeting with teammates a night earlier was "extremely emotional." Teammates Michael Vick, Jason Avant and others expressed forgiveness for Cooper. LeSean McCoy also said he forgives Cooper, but "I can't really respect somebody like that."

Cooper, who grew up in Clearwater, Fla., was selected in the fifth round of the 2010 draft by the Eagles out of the University of Florida. He has just 46 catches and five touchdowns in three years with the Eagles, but has been practising with the starters since Jeremy Maclin's season-ending knee injury last week.

"As long as it takes, and whatever I have to do, I'm going to try to make this right," Cooper said.

Players on the team continue to be asked about Cooper's situation, making it a distraction or as wide receiver DeSean Jackson called it, "a burden." Cornerback Cary Williams, a free agent addition to the Eagles this past off-season, tried to put it all in the perspective.

"This is about history," Williams said. "Some of us have had ancestors killed over that word. There is a lot of history behind it. That history needs to be addressed. I remember my grandmother telling me stories how she was called the n-word, while being bitten by dogs and hosed.

"Why did Riley say this? That's a question that needs to be asked. I still think it is the elephant in the room."

Williams also said it doesn't matter who you are or what colour you are the word should never be used.

"Nobody should say it," he said. "I don't care if you white, black, blue, green or purple. The hip-hop culture uses the word and has de-emphasized it. You need to go back and see what our ancestors did to try and rid themselves of that word."

The Eagles do not plan to rid themselves of Cooper permanently. When he comes back, how will he be treated is the next question.

"He's our teammate. He hasn't been released from our team, so whatever he has to handle, he has to handle," Jackson said. "As far as the rest of the team, we have to focus on what we want to accomplish this season and not let this be a burden."

Vick, who has shown support for Cooper from the beginning, was asked what advice he would have for his teammate.

"Let this situation make me a better person," the quarterback said. "This is a good thing for Coop to get away for a while and reflect. We've already put the plan in place to help him come back full form and become one of the guys again."

Source: http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/football/lions/Philadelphia+Eagles+receiver+Riley+Cooper+excused/8743262/story.html

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Jason Sudeikis as Coach Lasso: Premier League merriment

In anticipation of the upcoming Premier League season, NBC Sports linked up with comedian Jason Sudeikis to have a little fun.? Meet Coach Ted Lasso, an American football coach who has just been named the new manager of Tottenham Hotspur.

His introductory press conference:

Coach Lasso on the practice field:

And Coach Lasso learning on the job:

We hope you enjoy the videos. Remember to tune in to NBC and NBCSN for exclusive coverage of the Premier League beginning on August 17th and to stop by Pro Soccer Talk for all the best coverage on the beautiful game.

Source: http://prosoccertalk.nbcsports.com/2013/08/02/jason-sudeikis-as-coach-lasso-premier-league-merriment-2/

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New Study: Transgender Troops Face Rampant Discrimination

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San Diego Gay & Lesbian News:

LOS ANGELES ? While transgender people serve in the military at a rate double the general population, they nonetheless face discrimination during and after service, according to a new study.

The study titled ?Still Serving in Silence: Transgender Service Members and Veterans in the National Transgender Discrimination Survey? is authored by Jody L. Herman, Williams Institute manager of transgender research, and Jack Harrison-Quintana, policy institute manager at the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.

Read the whole story at San Diego Gay & Lesbian News

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Filed by James Nichols ?|?

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Secured Loan Calculator | Koplak.Co.Uk

Article Secured Loan Calculator: A free loan repayment calculator allows you to calculate and break down monthly repayment figures for a secured or unsecured loan. Before deciding to apply for a loan some homeowners find it useful to understand the approximate cost of borrowing in terms of the monthly cost and the interest which is being charged. This is especially useful for homeowners who work to a monthly budget by knowing what their outgoings are such as household bills and mortgage payments versus income received.

Simply put, they are a loan only available to property owners (or mortgage holders), where the lender can forcibly sell your house to get its money back if you can't repay. The 'secured' bit means the lender gets 'security' not you, as if there are problems, it can repossess your home.

When we normally talk about personal loans from a bank or building society, these are unsecured, which means there's no automatic link to your home (so non-homeowners can borrow this way too).

Sadly it is becoming more common that for those in financial difficulty even unsecured lenders can get what's called a 'charging order' on your home. This effectively means they have a call on the money from the sale of your house.

This doesn?t automatically mean it can push repossession though, there?s another court stage they?d need to go for and the courts are much more reticient to grant it on charging orders. Yet even with this, it's much more difficult for lenders to take your home if its unsecured.

Why would anyone want a secured loan?

- Easier to obtain. Unsecured loans are almost always cheaper for those with decent credit scores, but secured loans provide lenders with, well? security, so they're more willing to lend to poor credit scorers.

- Big borrowing is possible. The maximum unsecured loan is ?25,000 yet secured loans can be ?75,000.

- Borrowing over a longer period. Secured lenders prefer loans to last longer to help offset hefty set-up costs, usually from five to 20 years. Unsecured lending is usually one to seven years. Borrowing for longer does reduce the monthly repayments, but substantially increases the total interest repaid.

- Credit Card Balance Transfers. Credit cards are ?unsecured' and, used correctly, the cheapest borrowing possible, especially when shifting debt to new Balance Transfer offers. Also read Cheap Credit Card Loans.

- Unsecured Loans: Cheaper and less risky for those who can get them. Full details: Cheap Personal Loans.

- Check Credit Reference Files: Those rejected from unsecured lending without an obviously poor credit history should check their information held by the credit reference agencies Equifax, Experian and CallCredit isn't erroneous. Full details: Your Credit Rating.

- Use savings: The interest paid on savings is usually far less than interest charged on borrowing, so paying off debts with savings makes sense. Traditional logic does say always have an ?emergency cash fund'. I disagree. After paying off debts, don't cut the credit cards up, lock them away strictly in case of a substantial emergency. If no emergency happens you're quids in, and can then start a cash emergency fund. If it does, use the cards and you're no worse off than when you started, and you've saved substantial interest costs in the meantime. Full details: Pay Off Your Debts With Savings.

Checklist before considering a secured loan

Credit Card Shuffle: It's possible to cut the interest rate on existing debts even without getting new products. Many credit cards allow existing customers to move other debts to them at special rates. Correctly shifting balances and prioritising repaying expensive debts first creates substantial savings. Full details: Credit Card Shuffle.

Budget & Reduce Outgoings: Massive MoneySaving is possible on everyday spending by moving to better products. See the Money Makeover and The Money Diet for ideas. Budget effectively to allow quicker and easier debt repayments with the Budget Planner.

Remortgage: Mortgages are simply a special type of secured loan with cheaper rates. Borrowing the money on your existing mortgage, or remortgaging to a new cheaper deal is a valid option, but isn't always correct. Mortgage debts are paid off over a long time, and 5% over 20 years is more expensive than 10% over five years. Plus you may be forced to increase your life assurance and other associated costs if mortgage debts increase. Those without flexible mortgages (which allow quick repayments) may sometimes be better off with a secured loan. Full details: Find the Best Mortgage, Remortgage Guide.

Debt Counselling: For those consistently struggling with debts and meeting repayments, free personal help is invaluable. Do it as quickly as possible, the longer you leave it the worse it gets. Avoid commercial debt management companies.

Getting a secured loan cheaply and safely

- How much to borrow?

Get a handle on your existing debts first; list them on a piece of paper. Once you know the secured loan rate, draw a line across the page where this fits in. The secured loan should only be considered to pay off the more expensive debts above the line.

Don't feel all debts should be consolidated into one. This is a common secured loan sales pitch, yet in isolation it serves no real purpose. Remember, if you're repaying a higher rate or for longer, they make more cash.

- You're converting a fixed rate into variable rate debt

While most unsecured loan interest is fixed for the life of the loan, secured loan rates are usually variable and can shift both with UK base rates and for the lenders' own reasons ? check the terms.

If you're considering converting fixed rate debt such as a standard personal loan into variable rate debt, always ask ?could I afford the repayments if rates increased??. If not, don't do it. Don't throw surety away. Some secured loans offer rate fixes, but usually only for a limited period; and do always check there are no penalties for paying off your existing debts early, something common with unsecured loans.

Finally, don't borrow more than you need. Disgustingly some lenders tout, ?why not borrow a little more for a holiday? You deserve it.? Don't do it. Never treat secured loans lightly, take as little lending as possible.

And most importantly if you think you won't be able to make the repayments, don't even start down this route, it isn't worth it - see the free debt cousellors instead.

- How long to borrow for?

Budget to work out the maximum realistic amount you can commit to repaying, use the Budget Planner to help. Don't underestimate or it'll take longer to repay, costing more interest; and don't overestimate or you may overstretch yourself, risking your home. Careful planning is crucial.

*****

Tips:

What is a secured loan?

A secured loan is a loan in which the borrower pledges an asset (e.g. a car or property) as collateral for the loan.?

What is an unsecured loan?

Unsecured loans are monetary loans that are not secured against the borrower's assets. These often take the form of credit card debt, personal loans, bank overdrafts, credit facilities or corporate bonds.?

What is a balloon payment?

A balloon payment is a large, lump-sum payment made at the end of a long-term loan. It is commonly used in car finance loans as a way of reducing monthly repayment figures. Be aware that once you reach the end of your loan period, that balloon amount becomes payable.?

What is APR?

APR stands for Annual Percentage Rate and is an important factor in determining the overall cost of a loan. You can use APR to compare different personal loan offers. When you arrange a loan with a finance company, their offer can include extra fees associated with the loan. The APR figure takes all of that into account, giving you an easy percentage interest rate to allow you to compare and shop around.

APR Guide:

6.7% ? 19.9% - Not missed any payments on credit or your mortgage in the last 6 months

20% ? 58% - Not missed any mortgage payments in the last 3 months and no defaults on credit/loans

56.7% ? 91.9% ? Had one missed mortgage payment and no defaults on credit/loans in the last 3 months

109.5% ? 153.6% - Have defaults or CCJs and missed mortgage payments

What is the Effective Annual Rate?

The effective annual rate is the actual interest rate that you pay on a loan if the loan is affected by compounding. This loan calculator compounds interest on a monthly basis. For information on interest rates and APR, see our article What Is APR? How Does APR Differ From Standard Interest Rate?

What is the Formula For This Loan Calculator?

This loan calculator uses the following formula to calculate loan figures:

Monthly payment = [rate + rate / ( (1+rate) ^ months -1) ] x principal loan amount

UK?s cheapest secured loans

What is a secured loan?

By taking out a secured loan, you are borrowing money that is secured against your assets, usually your property. So it?s wise to consider very carefully before going down this route, as you could lose your home if you cannot keep up the repayments. Always make sure that the cheapest secured loan you find in the UK does not become a very expensive one.

Why choose a secured loan?

Secured loans are a tricky market, where many lenders are only willing to work through brokers. To ensure you have a good chance of finding the cheapest secured loan available to you in the UK, uSwitch works with a broker to widen the secured loan possibilities available to you. This broker has been carefully selected to ensure you receive the highest level of service.

Comparing all the secured loans to the find the cheapest

The UK secured loans market is full of pitfalls for the novice or the unwary, as it?s full of lenders who run the whole gamut from highly reputable merchant banks to those who are little more than loan sharks. But don?t worry, because this is where uSwitch.com can help. Once you?ve identified your cheapest secured loan by using our secured loans calculator we will then refer you to a broker that we have vetted.

Is the cheapest secured loan the right one for you?

Before searching for the cheapest secured loans in the UK, you need to be honest about your loan requirements. For instance:

- Will you take a secured loan from a lender you have not heard of?

- How much can you afford to borrow and pay back?

- What happens if you want to pay back your loan early?

Once you?ve understood and assessed your circumstances against these pointers and you are prepared for some questions about your assets, you?re ready to go on to next stage.

Apply now for your cheapest secured loan

It?s easy. Just go to our secured loans comparison service and when you find your cheapest loan in our results, click on ?Apply? to start your loan application.

Source: http://www.koplak.co.uk/2013/08/secured-loan-calculator.html

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Here's Lionel Messi Playing Soccer Dressed as a Light Monster, for Some Reason

A person who takes drugs dressed Lionel Messi up in a suit with a bunch of LEDs on it and filmed him at 1000fps with a Phantom camera. I can't stop watching it.

Read more...

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/en8r1jAE0qo/heres-lionel-messi-playing-soccer-dressed-as-a-light-m-989880299

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Senate takes initial step toward media shield law

WASHINGTON (AP) ? A Senate panel took a step forward on legislation to protect reporters and the news media from revealing their sources. But lawmakers put off until September a broader debate over whether Congress defines who is a journalist.

The Judiciary Committee agreed Thursday to legislation sponsored by Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., a key supporter of a federal media shield law. The measure would codify many of the regulations proposed earlier this month by Attorney General Eric Holder. The panel approved it on a voice vote.

The renewed push for a media shield law comes after the disclosure earlier this year that the Justice Department had secretly subpoenaed almost two months of telephone records for 21 phone lines used by reporters and editors for The Associated Press and secretly used a warrant to obtain some emails of a Fox News journalist. The AP received no advance warning.

"We need a strong media shield bill now more than ever," Schumer said. "This is an important step forward that strengthens this bipartisan bill and should give it even more momentum to clear the committee and the Senate by the end of the year."

The bill would protect reporters and news media organizations from revealing the identities of confidential sources, but it does not grant an absolute privilege for journalists.

The lack of objection to taking up Schumer's 21-page bill signaled broad support, but it's also clear there will be a number of proposed changes to the language he has crafted with a bipartisan group of senators that includes Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn.

Limited amount of time before Congress' August recess forced lawmakers to postpone further action on the measure until after the break.

One issue is the definition of reporter in the aftermath of WikiLeaks, the website that exposed U.S. classified information leaked by Army Pfc. Bradley Manning.

The bill's definition covers four pages and defines the individual as a person "with the primary intent to investigate events and procure material in order to disseminate to the public news or information concerning local, national or international events or other matters of public interest," collects the information by conducting interviews and directly observing events, and has the intent of gathering news.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., proposed an amendment to narrow the definition of what a journalist is.

Feinstein said she was introducing her amendment because, "this bill is described as a reporter shield law ? I believe it should be applied to real reporters." She said she was concerned "that the current version of the bill would grant a special privilege to people who aren't really reporters at all, who have no professional qualifications."

Feinstein's amendment, which is co-sponsored by Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., "defines a journalist as a salaried agent" of a media entity, such as a newspaper, broadcast news station, news web site or another type of news service distributed digitally. She said there was also language, including a "look back" option to protect legitimate reporters not tied to a specific news organization.

Schumer said he thought his legislation had a tight enough definition of who would be protected by the law.

"The bottom line is the world has changed, and we're very careful in this bill to distinguish journalists from those who shouldn't be protected," Schumer said. "Wikileaks and all those others are not protected."

Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., said senators on the committee had proposed a number of amendments to the bill and that in order to give them all a fair hearing, he wanted to wait until after Congress' August recess to go further.

He also asked senators to consider consolidating some proposed changes before they returned to work.

Schumer's measure would incorporate many of the changes proposed by Attorney General Eric Holder in July. Criticism of the collection of the material without any notice to the news organizations prompted President Barack Obama to order Holder to review the department's policy.

Holder's revised guidelines called for the government to give advance notice to the news media about subpoena requests for reporters' phone records unless the attorney general determines such notice would pose a clear and substantial threat to the investigation. Search warrants for a reporter's email would only apply when the individual is the focus of a criminal investigation for conduct not connected to ordinary newsgathering.

The Schumer bill makes clear that before the government asks a news organization to divulge sources, it first must go to a judge, who would supervise any subpoenas or court orders for information. Such orders would be limited, if possible, "in purpose, subject matter and period of time covered so as to avoid compelling disclosure of peripheral, nonessential or speculative information."

Holder's revised guidelines do not call for a judge to be involved before the government asks a news organization to divulge sources. However, the guidelines call for a new standing News Media Review Committee to advise the attorney general on such requests.

Reporters must be notified within 45 days of a request, a period that could be extended another 45 days but no more.

In the AP story that triggered one of the leak probes, the news organization reported that U.S. intelligence had learned that al-Qaida's Yemen branch hoped to launch a spectacular attack using a new, nearly undetectable bomb aboard a U.S.-bound airliner around the anniversary of Osama bin Laden's death.

In the Fox News story, reporter James Rosen reported that U.S. intelligence officials had warned Obama and senior U.S. officials that North Korea would respond to a U.N. Security Council resolution condemning nuclear tests with another nuclear test.

____

Associated Press writer Donna Cassata contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/senate-takes-initial-step-toward-media-shield-law-185819944.html

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Analysis: Pope's revolution; not all are pleased

In this May 29, 2013 file photo, Pope Francis holds his skull-cap as he leaves at the end of his weekly general audience, in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican. Since his March 2013 election, Pope Francis has started a revolution in the Roman Catholic church that charmed millions and the mainstream media, as he goes about doing what he was elected to do: reform not just the dysfunctional Vatican bureaucracy but the church itself, using his own persona and personal history as a model. But the enthusiasm isn't necessarily shared across the board. Traditionalist Catholics ? so coddled by Benedict XVI in his pursuit to reach out to Catholics attached to the old Latin Mass and opposed to the modernizing reforms of the Second Vatican Council ? greeted Francis' election with concern and now have had their worst fears realized. Francis has spoken out both publicly and privately against such "restoratist groups" whom he accused of being naval-gazing retrogrades out of touch with the evangelizing mission of the church in the 21st century. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

In this May 29, 2013 file photo, Pope Francis holds his skull-cap as he leaves at the end of his weekly general audience, in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican. Since his March 2013 election, Pope Francis has started a revolution in the Roman Catholic church that charmed millions and the mainstream media, as he goes about doing what he was elected to do: reform not just the dysfunctional Vatican bureaucracy but the church itself, using his own persona and personal history as a model. But the enthusiasm isn't necessarily shared across the board. Traditionalist Catholics ? so coddled by Benedict XVI in his pursuit to reach out to Catholics attached to the old Latin Mass and opposed to the modernizing reforms of the Second Vatican Council ? greeted Francis' election with concern and now have had their worst fears realized. Francis has spoken out both publicly and privately against such "restoratist groups" whom he accused of being naval-gazing retrogrades out of touch with the evangelizing mission of the church in the 21st century. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

FILE _ In htis March 13, 2013 file photo, Pope Francis waves to the crowd from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, during his first appearance just after being elected. Since his election, Pope Francis has started a revolution in the Roman Catholic cChurch that charmed millions and the mainstream media, as he goes about doing what he was elected to do: reform not just the dysfunctional Vatican bureaucracy but the church itself, using his own persona and personal history as a model. But the enthusiasm isn't necessarily shared across the board. Traditionalist Catholics ? so coddled by Benedict XVI in his pursuit to reach out to Catholics attached to the old Latin Mass and opposed to the modernizing reforms of the Second Vatican Council ? greeted Francis' election with concern and now have had their worst fears realized. Francis has spoken out both publicly and privately against such "restoratist groups" whom he accused of being naval-gazing retrogrades out of touch with the evangelizing mission of the church in the 21st century.(AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

In this July 25, 2013 file photo, Pope Francis waves from his popemobile as he makes his way through the crowds lining the Copacabana beachfront in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Since his March 2013 election, Pope Francis has started a revolution in the Roman Catholic church that charmed millions and the mainstream media, as he goes about doing what he was elected to do: reform not just the dysfunctional Vatican bureaucracy but the church itself, using his own persona and personal history as a model. But the enthusiasm isn't necessarily shared across the board. Traditionalist Catholics ? so coddled by Benedict XVI in his pursuit to reach out to Catholics attached to the old Latin Mass and opposed to the modernizing reforms of the Second Vatican Council ? greeted Francis' election with concern and now have had their worst fears realized. Francis has spoken out both publicly and privately against such "restoratist groups" whom he accused of being naval-gazing retrogrades out of touch with the evangelizing mission of the church in the 21st century. (AP Photo/Enric Marti)

FILE -- In this July 22, 2013 file photo, Pope Francis holds a bag as he boards a plane at Rome's Fiumicino international airport for his first trip abroad as pontiff. Since his March 2013 election, Pope Francis has started a revolution in the Roman Catholic church that charmed millions and the mainstream media, as he goes about doing what he was elected to do: reform not just the dysfunctional Vatican bureaucracy but the church itself, using his own persona and personal history as a model. But the enthusiasm isn't necessarily shared across the board. Traditionalist Catholics ? so coddled by Benedict XVI in his pursuit to reach out to Catholics attached to the old Latin Mass and opposed to the modernizing reforms of the Second Vatican Council ? greeted Francis' election with concern and now have had their worst fears realized. Francis has spoken out both publicly and privately against such "restoratist groups" whom he accused of being naval-gazing retrogrades out of touch with the evangelizing mission of the church in the 21st century. (AP Photo/Riccardo De Luca)

VATICAN CITY (AP) ? The Francis Revolution is underway. Not everyone is pleased.

Four months into his papacy, Francis has called on young Catholics in the trenches to take up spiritual arms to shake up a dusty, doctrinaire church that is losing faithful and relevance. He has said women must have a greater role ? not as priests, but a place in the church that recognizes that Mary is more important than any of the apostles. And he has turned the Vatican upside down, quite possibly knocking the wind out of a poisonously homophobic culture by merely uttering the word "gay" and saying: so what?

In between, he has charmed millions of faithful and the mainstream news media, drawing the second-largest crowd ever to a papal Mass. That should provide some insurance as he goes about doing what he was elected to do: reform not just the dysfunctional Vatican bureaucracy but the church itself, using his own persona and personal history as a model.

"He is restoring credibility to Catholicism," said church historian Alberto Melloni.

Such enthusiasm isn't shared across the board.

Francis' predecessor, Benedict XVI, had coddled traditionalist Catholics attached to the old Latin Mass and opposed to the modernizing reforms of the Second Vatican Council. That group greeted Francis' election with concern ? and now is watching its worst fears come true. Francis has spoken out both publicly and privately against such "restoratist groups," which he accuses of being navel-gazing retrogrades out of touch with the evangelizing mission of the church in the 21st century.

His recent decision to forbid priests of a religious order from celebrating the old Latin Mass without explicit authorization seemed to be abrogating one of the big initiatives of Benedict's papacy, a 2007 decree allowing broader use of the pre-Vatican II Latin liturgy for all who want it. The Vatican denied he was contradicting Benedict, but these traditional Catholics see in Francis' words and deeds a threat. They are in something of a retreat.

"Be smart. There will be time in the future for people to sort what Vatican II means and what it doesn't mean," the Rev. John Zuhlsdorf warned his traditionalist readers in a recent blog post. "But mark my words: If you gripe about Vatican II right now, in this present environment, you could lose what you have attained."

Even more mainstream conservative Catholics aren't thrilled with Francis.

In a recent interview with the National Catholic Reporter, Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaput said right-wing Catholics "generally have not been really happy" with Francis.

To be sure, Francis has not changed anything about church teaching. Nothing he has said or done is contrary to doctrine; everything he has said and done champions the Christian concepts of loving the sinner but not the sin and having a church that is compassionate, welcoming and merciful.

But tone and priorities can themselves constitute change, especially when considering issues that aren't being emphasized, such as church doctrine on abortion, gay marriage and other issues frequently referenced by Benedict and Pope John Paul II.

The Vatican newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano, used the word "gay" for perhaps the first time in its 150-year history on Wednesday, in an article marveling at the change Francis has brought.

"In just a few words, the novelty has been expressed clearly and without threatening the church's tradition," the newspaper said about Francis' comments on gays and women. "You can change everything without changing the basic rules, those on which Catholic tradition are based."

The biggest headline came in Francis' inflight news conference on the way home from Brazil this week, when he was asked about a trusted monsignor who reportedly once had a gay lover.

"Who am I to judge?" he asked, when it comes to the sexual orientation of priests, as long as they are searching for God and have good will.

Under normal circumstances, given the sexual morality at play in the Catholic Church, outing someone as actively gay is a death knell for career advancement. Vatican officials considering high-profile appointments often weigh whether someone is "ricattabile" ? blackmailable.

But Francis said he investigated the allegations himself and found nothing to back them up. And that regardless, if someone is gay and repents, God not only forgives but forgets. Francis said everyone else should too. By calling out the blackmail for what it is, Francis may well have clipped the wings of an ugly but common practice at the Vatican.

Francis also made headlines with his call for the church to develop a new theology of women's role, saying it's not enough to have altar girls or a woman heading a Vatican department given the critical role that women have in helping the church grow.

While those comments topped the news from the 82-minute news conference, he revealed plenty of other insights that reinforce the idea that a very different papacy is underway.

?Annulments: He said the church's judicial system of annulling marriages must be "looked at again" because church tribunals simply aren't up to the task. That could be welcome news to many Catholics who often have to wait years for an annulment, the process by which the church determines that a marriage effectively never took place.

?Divorce and remarriage: He suggested an opening in church teaching which forbids a divorced and remarried Catholic from taking communion unless they get an annulment, saying: "This is a time for mercy."

?Church governance: He said his decision to appoint eight cardinals to advise him was based on explicit requests from cardinals at the conclave that elected him who wanted "outsiders" ? not Vatican officials ? governing the church. Francis obliged, essentially creating a parallel government for the church alongside the Vatican bureaucracy: a pope and a cabinet of cardinals representing the church in each of the continents.

And then there was Rio.

From the moment he touched down, it was clear change was afoot. No armored popemobile, just a simple Fiat sedan ? one that got swarmed by adoring fans when it got lost and stuck in traffic. Rather than recoil in fear, Francis rolled down his window. Given that popes until recently were carried around on a chair to keep them above the fray, that gesture alone was revolutionary.

He told 35,000 pilgrims from his native Argentina to make a "mess" in their dioceses, shake things up and go out into the streets to spread their faith, even at the expense of confrontation with their bishops. He led by example, diving into the crowds in one of Rio's most violent slums.

"Either you do the trip as it needs to be done, or you don't do it at all," he told Brazil's TV Globo. He said he simply couldn't have visited Rio "closed up in a glass box."

___

Follow Nicole Winfield at www.twitter.com/nwinfield

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2013-07-31-Vatican-Francis'%20Revolution-Analysis/id-529dce4d79bf400c8a97586c8f4ed116

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