Ripp-Off Rodents Are Key in Life Cycle of Tropical Trees

Ripp-Off Rodents Are Key in Life Cycle of Tropical Trees

DAILY DISRUPTION JULY 16, 2012
There’s no honor among thieves when it comes to rodent robbers—which turns out to be a good thing for tropical trees that depend on animals to spread their seeds.

Results of a yearlong study in Panama, published online in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences the week of July 16, suggest that thieving rodents helped the black palm tree survive by taking over the seed-spreading role of the mighty mastodon and other extinct elephant-like creatures that are thought to have eaten these large seeds.

Study: YouTube source for news, disaster footage

Study: YouTube source for news, disaster footage

NEW YORK, July 16, 2012
A new study has found that YouTube is emerging as a major platform for news, one to which viewers increasingly turn for eyewitness videos in times of major events and natural disasters.

The Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism on Monday released its examination of 15 months of the most popular news videos on the Google-owned site. It found that while viewership for TV news still easily outpaces those consuming news on YouTube, the video-sharing site is a growing digital environment where professional journalism mingles with citizen content.

“There’s a new form of video journalism on this platform,” said Amy Mitchell, deputy director of the

Halo 4 gets a $399 Xbox 360 bundle

Halo 4 gets a $399 Xbox 360 bundle

Are you obsessed with Halo? Zoom in on this upcoming official Halo 4-themed Xbox 360 bundle.
by Christopher MacManus July 16, 2012
Attention, Marines! Over the weekend at Comic-Con in San Diego, Halo 4 developer 343 Industries and Microsoft unveiled a $399 Xbox 360 console bundle featuring some fancy aesthetics and accessories.
Due on November 6, the custom-designed 320GB Halo 4 Xbox 360 features futuristic white and blue

Wall Street falls, bond yields near record lows

Wall Street falls, bond yields near record lows

By Chikako Mogi
TOKYO | Mon Jul 16, 2012 
(Reuters) - Asian shares paused on Tuesday as investors awaited Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's view on the U.S. economy later in the day, after weak U.S. retail sales and a lower International Monetary Fund global growth forecast raised hopes of more stimulus from the Fed.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS was nearly flat, after managing small gains the day before, while Japan's Nikkei stock average .N225 opened up 0.2 percent after a public holiday on Monday.

Bernanke, set to appear at the semi-annual congressional testimony on Tuesday and Wednesday, is expected to reiterate the bank's stance that it will take further action only if economic conditions worsen.

DARPA drops the bass to extinguish fire

DARPA drops the bass to extinguish fire

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency has created a bass cannon that can put out fires with sound.
by Christopher MacManus July 16, 2012
Citing a lack of innovation in fire-extinguishing methods over the last 50 years, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) last week revealed an ear-buzzing new method for putting out fires: blast it with fine-tuned frequencies.
Officially referred to as "acoustic suppression of flame," this simple yet potentially revolutionary method simply relies on two speakers playing a specific low frequency toward the fire.
The resulting acoustics increase air velocity, making it easier to alter the origin of the fire's

Fed Shifts Focus To Jobs As Unemployment Stalls Above 8%

Fed Shifts Focus To Jobs As Unemployment Stalls Above 8%

By Caroline Salas Gage - Jul 16, 2012


Joblessness is the blemish on Ben S. Bernanke’s report card.
Since the recession ended in June 2009, the Federal Reserve chairman has achieved inflation near his target of 2 percent, bolstered capital across the banking system and helped underpin confidence in the U.S. economy that’s contributed to record-low borrowing costs for the nation. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate has stalled above 8 percent for 41 consecutive months.
The failure to bring joblessness closer to Fed officials’ longer-run goal of 5.2 percent to 6 percent has prompted Bernanke and his lieutenants to emphasize the need for economic growth over price stability, said John Silvia, chief economist at Wells Fargo Securities LLC. Bernanke added to his record monetary stimulus last month and said more action will be needed without “sustained improvement” in the jobs outlook.

Race for space: SpaceX prepping private manned space capsule

Race for space: SpaceX prepping private manned space capsule

Published July 16, 2012
Space.com
The crewed version of SpaceX's Dragon space capsule has passed a key design review, moving one step closer to carrying astronauts into orbit, NASA officials announced Thursday, July 12.
In the review, which was conducted June 14 at SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne, Calif., company officials gave NASA details about every phase of a potential crewed Dragon mission to the International Space Station.
SpaceX outlined how it plans to modify its launch pads to support such a mission, and it discussed the Dragon capsule's docking capabilities, living arrangements, weight and power requirements and potential ground landing sites and techniques, NASA officials said. The Dragon capsule is designed to

Study: More TV Linked to Larger Waists, Weaker Legs for Kids

Study: More TV Linked to Larger Waists, Weaker Legs for Kids

By CARRIE GANN (@carrie_gann) , ABC News Medical Unit
July 16, 2012
The more television a child watches, even in the first years of life, the more likely he or she is to be thicker around the middle and less muscularly fit, according to a new study.

Previous studies have linked lots of television with childhood obesity and other child health detriments, but this study's authors say their report is the first to relate how time in front of the boob tube affects a specific measure of physical fitness, their explosive leg strength, an important asset for sports like soccer, basketball and football.

Caroline Fitzpatrick, the study's lead author, said the measure isn't just important for children who want to be athletes.

Comic-Con wraps after 4 days of pop-art indulgence

Comic-Con wraps after 4 days of pop-art indulgence

By SANDY COHEN AP Entertainment Writer
Updated: 07/16/2012

SAN DIEGO—This year's 43rd annual Comic-Con festival may be over but die-hard fans of the pop-culture celebration already have their minds on next year's show.
"There's no more pre-registration," lamented Chris Herrera, 26, of Los Angeles, who was attending his sixth consecutive Comic-Con. "Now you have to register online, and that website always crashes."
Fans used to be able to register onsite for the following year's convention, but organizers eliminated that option this year for the 2013 convention, set for July 18-21.
The event has become so popular that organizers have capped attendance at around 130,000 and implemented the digital-registration system to reduce long lines onsite (there are enough of those

Microsoft expected to announced new version of Office

Microsoft expected to announced new version of Office

Published July 16, 2012
Microsoft has publicly dismissed Web-based Google Apps as a competitor to its Office software suite. But, behind the scenes, Microsoft is stepping up its efforts to halt Google's encroachment on its business-software turf.
In recent months, Microsoft has cut prices, boosted commissions to resellers and changed how it pitches Office 365, a Web-based version of products including Microsoft Word, Outlook email and

Retail Purchases In U.S. Unexpectedly Decrease 0.5%

Retail Purchases In U.S. Unexpectedly Decrease 0.5%

By Alex Kowalski - Jul 16, 2012
Retail sales in the U.S. unexpectedly declined for a third straight month in June, a sign limited employment gains are taking a toll on the biggest part of the economy.
The 0.5 percent drop followed a 0.2 percent decrease in May, Commerce Department figures showed today in Washington. The decline was worse than the most-pessimistic forecast in a Bloomberg News survey in which the median projection called for a 0.2 percent rise. Purchases last fell for three or more months in July through December 2008.
A weakening job market is sapping households of the confidence and income gains needed to boost expenditures, which account for about 70 percent of the economy. Without gains in spending at retailers such as Target Corp. and Macy’s Inc. (M), the expansion will have a difficult time gaining momentum.

10 Things to Know for Monday

10 Things to Know for Monday

By Associated Press, Updated: Monday, July 16

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today (all times EDT):

1. WHY REPEALING HEALTH CARE LAW WON’T BE EASY
If Romney wins the White House and his GOP allies retake the Senate, he could shred most of Obama’s health care law without having to overpower a Democratic filibuster. But it won’t be easy and it won’t be quick.

2. ECONOMISTS LAY OUT GLOOMY FORECAST

Sales and profit gains of early 2012 are disappearing and financial pros say Europe’s crisis, the

Russia accuses West of blackmail on Syria plans

Russia accuses West of blackmail on Syria plans

By JIM HEINTZ, Associated Press
7/16/2012
MOSCOW (AP) — Russia on Monday accused the West of effectively trying to use blackmail to secure a new U.N. Security Council resolution that could allow for the use of force in Syria.
The Security Council is debating a new resolution on Syria as international envoy Kofi Annan's plan for halting the fighting appears dead and the violence in Syria escalates. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was meeting Annan later Monday, with his country facing intense criticism that it is standing in the way of an end to the conflict.
Russia has adamantly opposed international military intervention in Syria. Such a step has been all but ruled out publicly by Western nations, but the text for a Western-backed resolution circulated by

Heathrow handles record numbers for Olympics

Heathrow handles record numbers for Olympics

By DANICA KIRKA, Associated Press
7/16/2012
LONDON (AP) — Athletes, officials and media from all over the world poured into Heathrow Airport on Monday for the London Olympics, the first wave of a record number of passengers expected to pass through Europe's largest airport for the games that begin July 27.
Heathrow says athletes from 50 nations will touch down in what is being described as Britain's biggest peacetime transport challenge. In all, the airport will handle some 236,955 passengers, breaking the previous daily record of 233,562 set in July 2011.
To cope with the deluge, Heathrow has enlisted some 1,000 volunteers to greet arrivals and created special teams to deal with oversize items like Olympic javelins, bikes and other sports equipment. Hundreds of immigration agents were on the job to ease the long lines that have plagued the airport.

Microsoft pulls out of MSNBC.com, sells stake to NBC

Microsoft pulls out of MSNBC.com, sells stake to NBC

By Michael Liedtke, Associated Press
7/16/2012
SAN FRANCISCO – Microsoft is pulling out of the joint venture that owned MSNBC.com, freeing the world's largest software maker to build its own online news service.
The breakup announced late Sunday dissolves the final shreds of a 16-year marriage between Microsoft and NBC News, which is now owned by Comcast. The relationship began to unwind in 2005 when Microsoft sold its stake in MSNBC's cable TV channel to NBC.
NBC is buying Microsoft's 50% interest in the MSNBC website for an undisclosed amount. MSNBC.com will be rebranded as NBCNews.com, and readers who logged into MSNBC.com late Sunday were automatically redirected to NBCNews.com.
The website will move its headquarters from Microsoft's corporate campus in Redmond, Wash., to NBC News' home in New York.

Symantec antivirus software update crashes some PCs

Symantec antivirus software update crashes some PCs

Bug in software used by businesses caused some Windows XP-based machines to crash repeatedly with a "blue screen of death."
by Steven Musil July 15, 2012
A recent update to Symantec's antivirus software rendered some Windows-based PCs inoperable, the security software maker disclosed Friday.
An update earlier this week to Symantec Endpoint Protection 12.1 antivirus software for businesses caused some Windows XP-based computers to crash repeatedly with a "blue screen of death," the company revealed on its Web site.
"On July 11th, 2012 Symantec Security Response started receiving reports of customers experiencing blue screens after applying the July 11th revision 18 definitions," Orla Cox, of Symantec Security Response, wrote in the post. "Machines may continue to blue screen

Oscar-winning actress Celeste Holm dies at 95

Oscar-winning actress Celeste Holm dies at 95

By MARK KENNEDY
AP Drama Writer / July 15, 2012
NEW YORK (AP) — Celeste Holm, a versatile, bright-eyed blonde who soared to Broadway fame in ‘‘Oklahoma!’’ and won an Oscar in ‘‘Gentleman’s Agreement’’ but whose last years were filled with financial difficulty and estrangement from her sons, died Sunday, a relative said. She was 95.

Holm had been hospitalized about two weeks ago with dehydration. She asked her husband on Friday to bring her home and spent her final days with her husband, Frank Basile, and other relatives and close friends by her side, said Amy Phillips, a great-niece of Holm's.

Ice Age 4 Wins a Chilly Weekend Before The Dark Knight Rises

Ice Age 4 Wins a Chilly Weekend Before The Dark Knight Rises

The prehistoric-critters toon opened so-so at home, but did thaw-some business abroad, as the shadow of Batman looms over the summer movie landscape
By RICHARD CORLISS | July 15, 2012
Scrat and his prehistoric pals scampered into North American theaters; families followed in modest numbers. Ice Age: Continental Drift, fourth in the series of Blue Sky Studios animated features, earned $46 million, according to preliminary estimates by its distributor, 20th Century Fox, to win a sluggish box-office weekend. The total take was down nearly 40% from the same frame last year, when the Harry Potter finale opened to $169.2 million — the best first three days ever, until The Avengers seized that crown this May with $207.4 million.

Like kids who wait breathlessly for Christmas and can’t get excited when told that Dec. 21 is the

A-Rod pops out with bases loaded in 9th, Yankees rally falls short in 10-8 loss to Angels

A-Rod pops out with bases loaded in 9th, Yankees rally falls short in 10-8 loss to Angels

By Associated Press, Updated: Sunday, July 15 2012

NEW YORK — Alex Rodriguez gave the bat a twirl a couple of times and strutted to home plate with Yankees fans in a frenzy.

He certainly was relishing the moment — after all, A-Rod is tied with Lou Gehrig for most grand slams in major league history.
Instead, the outcome was more in line with his performance with the bases loaded this season.

Rodriguez popped out to cut short the Yankees’ ninth-inning rally, and New York lost to the Los Angeles Angels 10-8 on Sunday thanks in part to several baserunning blunders.

“What an awesome situation,” Rodriguez said. “We just came up short.”

Rodriguez’s shallow fly off Kevin Jepsen dropped him to 2 for 12 this year with the bases loaded. One of those hits was his 23rd grand slam, trying Gehrig for the lead.

Study: Some Personal Care Products May Increase Diabetes Risk in Women

Study: Some Personal Care Products May Increase Diabetes Risk in Women

JULY 15, 2012
DAILY DISRUPTION
A study led by researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) shows an association between increased concentrations of phthalates in the body and an increased risk of diabetes in women. Phthalates are endocrine disrupting chemicals that are commonly found in personal care products such as moisturizers, nail polishes, soaps, hair sprays and perfumes. They are also used in adhesives, electronics, toys and a variety of other products. This finding is published in the July 13, 2012 online edition of Environmental Health Perspectives.

Vast F.D.A. Effort Tracked E-Mails of Its Scientists

Vast F.D.A. Effort Tracked E-Mails of Its Scientists

By ERIC LICHTBLAU and SCOTT SHANE
Published: July 14, 2012
WASHINGTON — A wide-ranging surveillance operation by the Food and Drug Administration against a group of its own scientists used an enemies list of sorts as it secretly captured thousands of e-mails that the disgruntled scientists sent privately to members of Congress, lawyers, labor officials, journalists and even President Obama, previously undisclosed records show.
What began as a narrow investigation into the possible leaking of confidential agency information by five scientists quickly grew in mid-2010 into a much broader campaign to counter outside critics of the agency’s medical review process, according to the cache of more than 80,000 pages of computer documents generated by the surveillance effort.

Moving to quell what one memorandum called the “collaboration” of the F.D.A.’s opponents, the surveillance operation identified 21 agency employees, Congressional officials, outside medical researchers and journalists thought to be working together to put out negative and “defamatory”

Carmelo Anthony: Lin's offer 'ridiculous' with Houston

Carmelo Anthony: Lin's offer 'ridiculous' with Houston

By Jeff Zillgitt, USA TODAY
Updated 7/15/2012
WASHINGTON – The New York Knicks, one of the NBA's highest-spending teams, face a difficult decision: How much is Jeremy Lin worth to the franchise?
The team has said it would match any offer sheet signed by the point guard, but the contract from the Houston Rockets would hammer New York as a result of the league's new luxury tax, part of the collective bargaining agreement reached in November.
Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony, practicing with the U.S. men's Olympic basketball team in Washington Sunday, called the deal "ridiculous," referring to the third year that will pay Lin $14.8 million .
MORE: Does Felton trade make Lin odd man out?
The Knicks have until Tuesday at 11:59 p.m. ET to decide whether to match the three-year, $25 million contract . Lin has not been told by the Knicks if they plan to match Houston's offer, two people familiar with negotiations told USA TODAY Sports. They requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly .

Oprah Winfrey interviews Mitt, Ann Romney

Oprah Winfrey interviews Mitt, Ann Romney

The Capitol Column | Staff | Sunday, July 15, 2012
Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney and his wife Ann sat down for an interview with Oprah Winfrey Friday, at their lakefront home in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, where Mr. Romney was vacationing for a week.

Details on the interview have not been released yet, as it is scheduled to appear in an upcoming edition of O, The Oprah Magazine. The Oprah interview comes following an appearance at the NAACP Convention where Mr. Romney was met with boos, and during another week where the former Massachusetts governor has continued to deal with criticism about his tenure at Bain Capital and his

Whistle NHL for $lashing!

Whistle NHL for $lashing!

July 15, 2012
by nypost.com
The NHL’s Declaration of War presented to the Players’ Association in the guise of a first proposal on Friday would roll back the salary cap to approximately $52.5 million for 2012-13. The drop of nearly $10 million from last season would represent the lowest number since 2007-08, sources with knowledge of the league’s scheme have told Slap Shots.
This $52.5 million off a “midpoint” of $48.5 million is the result of a calculation based on the ramifications of slashing the players’ share of the gross to 46 percent from the current 57 percent, coupled with the redefinition of Hockey Related Revenue with the express written intent of dramatically reducing the amount in the pool.
It generally was agreed by those participating in Friday’s meeting that the NHL plan would reduce the

Space station crew launches into orbit on Russian craft

Space station crew launches into orbit on Russian craft

Trio represents US, Russia and Japan; will join three others on outpost
By Clara Moskowitz
7/14/2012
A Russian Soyuz rocket launched into orbit late Saturday, carrying three new crewmembers toward the International Space Station.
The rocket rose from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, lofting the Soyuz TMA-05M spacecraft into orbit. Liftoff came at 10:40 p.m. ET Saturday, which means it was early Sunday at the Central Asian spaceport. Onboard were an American, a Russian and a Japanese astronaut due to take up residence for four months at the orbiting outpost.
NASA TV showed the Soyuz soaring smoothly into a blue sky dotted with clouds, punching a hole through a cloud layer on its way up. It is due to dock at the station early Tuesday, at which time the three newcomers will join the existing crew of three on the space station's Expedition 32 mission.
The new complement includes NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, Russian cosmonaut Yuri

Major solar storm heads towards Earth

Major solar storm heads towards Earth

The Capitol Column | Stacey Pounsberry | Sunday, July 15, 2012

Solar flares release a wave of ions that can damage satellites, interfere with navigation or communication signals, and damage power plant infrastructure. Scientists say we should expect many more of these sun storms before the year is through, with varying results and ramifications.
According to an article on Space.com, “The sun unleashed a huge flare Thursday (July 12), the second

Obama campaign aide dies at campaign headquarters

Obama campaign aide dies at campaign headquarters

The Capitol Column | Natalie Littlefield | Sunday, July 15, 2012
Obama campaign member Alex Okrent died yesterday after falling ill at President Obama’s campaign headquarters at the Prudential Building in Chicago.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago paramedics were called at 10:36 a.m. after Mr. Okrent collapsed. He was given emergency treatment and then taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Mr. Okrent had worked for the Obama campaign since 2004 when Mr. Obama ran for the U.S. Senate in Illinois, and worked as a deputy field director in Cleveland for Mr. Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign. During this election cycle, Mr. Okrent worked in the campaign’s paid media department,

Chinese Navy Ship Floated off Disputed Shoal

Chinese Navy Ship Floated off Disputed Shoal

VOA News
July 15, 2012

A Chinese navy ship that ran aground Wednesday in disputed waters near the Philippines was refloated Sunday and is heading home. A statement from China's defense ministry said its personnel are safe and the ship sustained light damage.

The vessel was in the South China Sea when it struck Half Moon Shoal in the Spratly Islands, about 110 kilometers off the western Philippine island of Palawan. The shoal is within the Philippines' 370-

French president's companion regrets tweet

French president's companion regrets tweet

(AFP)7/15/2012
PARIS — French First Lady Valerie Trierweiler has said she will now think twice before tweeting, a month after she used the microblogging site to undermine her rival, the president's former partner.
Trierweiler sent out a tweet wishing good luck to an opponent of Segolene Royal -- Francois Hollande's ex-partner and mother of their four children -- in last month's legislative election.

KNICKS' WOODSON SAYS LIN WILL BE BACK TO RUN THE KNICKS

7/14/2012

KNICKS' WOODSON SAYS LIN WILL BE BACK TO RUN THE KNICKS

ASSOCIATED PRESS

LAS VEGAS -- Jeremy Lin will be staying put, in New York and as the Knicks' starting point guard.

Coach Mike Woodson repeated Wednesday that Lin will "absolutely" be back next season and will enter training camp as the starter at his position, even with the Knicks agreeing to a deal with veteran Jason Kidd.

Lin has agreed to sign an offer sheet with the Houston Rockets for about $28 million over four years. The Knicks have said all along they planned to match any offer for their restricted free agent, and Woodson said the Knicks "never once" blinked at knowing they would have to pay that figure.

Michael Phelps, Usain Bolt unlikely to be as dominant as Beijing

Michael Phelps, Usain Bolt unlikely to be as dominant as Beijing

Published: July 14, 2012
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Michael Phelps, in the pool, raising a fist. Usain Bolt, on the track, slapping his chest.
They are the two indelible images of the 2008 Beijing Olympics -- celebration after celebration of gold medals and world records by the American swimmer and the Jamaican sprinter. Because of what they did four years ago, all eyes will be on them when they return to their sports' biggest stages during the London Games, which open July 27.
Unbeatable then, they're not expected to overwhelm the rest of the world -- and the clock -- quite the same way this time. And each one likely faces a strong challenge from a teammate.
Phelps, who eclipsed Mark Spitz's record total with eight gold medals, now must worry about being faster than Ryan Lochte.

Spaniards Reach Swedish Open Final

Spaniards Reach Swedish Open Final

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: July 14, 2012
The former champions David Ferrer of Spain and his countryman Nicolas Almagro advanced to Sunday’s final of the Swedish Open in Stockholm. Ferrer, ranked fifth in the world, had a 6-3, 7-5 victory over Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria, and Almagro ousted Jan Hajek of the Czech Republic, 6-4, 6-3. Ferrer, who is ranked fifth in the world, reached the quarterfinals at Wimbledon and the semifinals at the French Open this year. Almagro won the Swedish Open title in 2010.

Yankees Combine Power and Clutch Pitching

Yankees Combine Power and Clutch Pitching

By ZACH SCHONBRUN
Published: July 14, 2012
Yankees Manager Joe Girardi does not offer sweeping assessments of his team often. But on Saturday, after the Yankees beat the Los Angeles Angels, 5-3, to improve their major-league-best record to 54-33, Girardi was pressed to consider whether this season’s team might be evolving into the finest of his five-year tenure.
“Remember, the year we won the World Series, we won 103 games during the regular season,” Girardi said. “But I think this team is playing almost about as well as it can. We’re getting contributions from a lot of our different guys at different times.

Snow leopard moms, cubs captured in first-ever

Snow leopard moms, cubs captured in first-ever video

Animals normally difficult to find because of their secretive, elusive nature
OurAmazingPlanet
updated 7/13/2012
The dens of two snow leopard mothers and their cubs have been located in Mongolia for the first time, with new, unprecedented video showing the mothers and their young inside the den, a conservation organization announced July 12.
Snow leopard dens are difficult to find because of the animals' secretive, elusive nature and the difficult, mountainous terrain in which they live. Finding the dens is an important step in learning more about the reproductive behavior and the young of this endangered

Robert Downey Jr. Shows Up at Iron Man Costume Contest at Comic-Con!

Robert Downey Jr. Shows Up at Iron Man Costume Contest at Comic-Con!

by Natalie Finn Jul. 14, 2012 
What a guy!
Robert Downey Jr. played hero to dozens of children and countless thrilled spectators today when he made a surprise appearance at the Iron Man Kids' Costume Contest today at Comic-Con.
The Iron Man 3 star, who showed up at the Marvel booth ahead of his scheduled lineup of press and his film's panel, didn't just show up and dash off, either—he posed for pictures with a bunch of tiny Iron Man clones!

And the contestants just thought they were going to get an autographed poster!
Superhuman, no. But still pretty darn awesome.

Fire breaks out at Manhattan's South Street Seaport

Fire breaks out at Manhattan's South Street Seaport
The FDNY responded to the tourist hotspot around 4 p.m. to fight a smoky three-alarm blaze that started underneath the far end of Pier 17, firefighters at the scene said.

BY SARAH ARMAGHAN AND RICH SCHAPIRO / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
JULY 14, 2012
Firefighters battled a smoky three-alarm blaze that broke out underneath Pier 17 at the South Street Seaport Saturday afternoon.

Brees agrees to $100M deal

Brees agrees to $100M deal

By BRETT MARTEL
The Associated Press
Published: Saturday, July 14, 2012
Last Modified: Saturday, July 14, 2012
NEW ORLEANS - Drew Brees and the Saints reached a deal on par with the quarterback's record-setting play, giving New Orleans' fans some news they can celebrate after an offseason rife with turmoil.

The team announced Friday that it had agreed to a five-year contract with Brees. A person familiar with the deal said it's for $100 million, with $60 million guaranteed.

The deal will also pay the quarterback $40 million the first year, the person said.

Clinton set to arrive in Egypt

Clinton set to arrive in Egypt

By the CNN Wire Staff
updated 9:19 AM EDT, Sat July 14, 2012
Cairo (CNN) -- Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was scheduled to arrive in Egypt Saturday in what will be the first meeting of U.S. Cabinet official with the country's newly elected president.
Aides say Clinton will be in listening mode when she meets with President Mohamed Morsy, discussing the newly elected leader's priorities and what the United States can do to help.
The visit "will highlight U.S. support for Egypt's democratic transition and economic revival," Deputy Secretary of State William J. Burns said this month.
The visit comes as Egypt is in the throws of domestic political chaos, with Morsy in a tug of war with

Sage Stallone Dead up news

Sage Stallone Dead: No Signs of Foul Play in Sylvester Stallone's Son's Death

By LEEZEL TANGLAO (@leezeltanglao)
July 14, 2012
There were no signs of foul play in connection with the death of Sage Stallone, the 36-year-old son of Sylvester Stallone, authorities said.

Sage Stallone was found dead in his Los Angeles apartment by authorities and a housekeeper Friday after worried loved ones sensed trouble.

His cause of death remains undetermined. Winter told the Associated Press that an autopsy will be conducted in the next several days.

"There had been no personal contact with the deceased in the last few days," said Sgt. Jim Parker with the Los Angeles Police Department.

Authorities said there were no signs of forced entry and no suicide note. But there were prescription drugs found.

Film producer Richard D. Zanuck dies at age 77

Film producer Richard D. Zanuck dies at age 77

By Bob Tourtellotte and Steve Gorman
LOS ANGELES | Fri Jul 13, 2012 
(Reuters) - Veteran Hollywood executive Richard D. Zanuck, the prolific producer behind the blockbuster shark thriller "Jaws," the best-picture Oscar-winner "Driving Miss Daisy" and a string of Tim Burton fantasies, died on Friday of a heart attack at age 77.
Zanuck, son of famed 20th Century Fox chieftain Darryl F. Zanuck, who was named by his father at age 28 as Fox's head of production, making him Hollywood's then youngest-ever studio boss, died at his home in Beverly Hills, a spokesman said.

No further details were immediately available about the circumstances of his death.

Zanuck, who spent the bulk of his career as an independent producer, earned numerous awards during more than 50 years in filmmaking.

Kristen Stewart Wanted Edward And Bella To Make Love Like 'Animals'

Jul 13 2012

Kristen Stewart Wanted Edward And Bella To Make Love Like 'Animals'

'Breaking Dawn' star tells Comic-Con panel the lead characters should have 'mind-boggling, otherworldly sex' in the movies.
By Terri Schwartz
SAN DIEGO — While "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2" isn't rated R, none of the credit for that should go to Kristen Stewart. In fact, the star, who plays Bella Swan in the vampire series, seems to have done everything in her power to have the sex scenes turn out as intense as possible.

Stewart did much the same during production on "Breaking Dawn: Part 1," but this time, the actress thought her character could stand to be a little wilder. With both Bella and Edward now vampires in "Part 2," the intimate scenes didn't have to be so chaste, she reasoned.

Get More: Movie Trailers, Movies Blog

Obama staffer dies after collapsing at campaign's Chicago HQ

Obama staffer dies after collapsing at campaign's Chicago HQ

By Olivier Knox
July 14, 2012

Tragedy struck President Barack Obama's campaign on Friday as a young staffer, 29-year-old Alex Okrent, collapsed in the Chicago headquarters and died, according to campaign officials.

Obama, campaigning in Virginia, telephoned Okrent's family to express his condolences and later spoke with other campaign aides by conference call. The aide had been with Obama since 2004 and was working in the "paid media" department of the reelection effort, which handles advertising, a campaign aide said.

Mitt Romney quickly expressed sorrow over Okrent's passing. "Ann & I were deeply saddened to learn of the death of Alex Okrent," he said on Twitter.

Sea Dispute Upends Asian Summit

Sea Dispute Upends Asian Summit

July 13, 2012
By PATRICK BARTA in Siem Reap, Cambodia and CARLOS TEJADA in Beijing

China's efforts to assert its claims to the disputed South China Sea got a boost as regional talks to resolve the issue broke down despite U.S. support, even as Beijing made fresh moves that underscore its increasing presence in the region.
A summit of foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, ended Friday amid tense disagreements over how to address territorial claims in the sea, which is claimed by China and in part by the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who attended the talks, had pressed for discussion of a multinational agreement to ease tensions—a move opposed by China, which prefers to negotiate with

Visa, MasterCard, banks in $7.25 billion retail settlement

Visa, MasterCard, banks in $7.25 billion retail settlement

By Jessica Dye
NEW YORK | Fri Jul 13, 2012 
(Reuters) - Visa Inc, MasterCard Inc and banks that issue their credit cards have agreed to a $7.25 billion settlement with U.S. retailers in a lawsuit over the fixing of credit and debit card fees in what could be the largest antitrust settlement in U.S. history.
The settlement, if approved by a judge, would resolve dozens of lawsuits filed by retailers in 2005. The card companies and banks would also allow stores to start charging customers extra for using certain credit cards in an effort to steer them toward cheaper forms of payment.
The settlement papers were filed on Friday in Brooklyn federal court.

Brees Deal Is Rare Good News for Saints

Brees Deal Is Rare Good News for Saints

By ZACH BERMAN
Published: July 13, 2012
After an off-season mired by scandal and suspension, the New Orleans Saints will enter training camp at the end of the month with a needed dose of good news. The team reached a long-term agreement with the star quarterback Drew Brees, who had remained unsigned the past few months.
That ended Friday. The sides reached agreement on a five-year, $100 million deal, according to a person with direct knowledge of the contract. Brees will earn $40 million in the first season of the deal.

“Deal is Done! Love you, Who Dat Nation. See you soon!” Brees wrote on his Twitter account Friday afternoon.

The Who Dat Nation, as Saints fans are known, has endured a turbulent four months. In March, the N.F.L. released the findings of an investigation that determined that the Saints oversaw a bounty program that offered money to players for hurting opponents.

The penalties included fines, suspensions and a loss of draft picks, including one-year bans for Coach Sean Payton and linebacker Jonathan Vilma, and an eight-game suspension of General Manager Mickey Loomis.

Sylvester Stallone's 36-year-old son found dead

Sylvester Stallone's 36-year-old son found dead

By TODAY.com news services
7/13/2012
Updated at 6:31 p.m.: Aspiring actor and filmmaker Sage Stallone, the son of action movie star Sylvester Stallone, was found dead on Friday at his home in Hollywood, authorities and his attorney said.
"Sylvester Stallone is devastated and grief-stricken over the sudden loss of his son," the actor's publicist, Michelle Bega, said in a statement. "His compassion and thoughts are with Sage's mother, Sasha."
Police and a lawyer for Sage Stallone, 36, gave conflicting accounts of how he was found, but police said there was no sign of forced entry or foul play.
The case was turned over to the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office, Los Angeles police spokesman Lieutenant Andy Neiman said. Coroner's officials also said they were in the initial investigative stages.
Neiman said police found the younger Stallone in the home while responding to a "welfare check."
George Braunstein, an attorney who has represented Sage Stallone for 15 years, said a housekeeper

New York Fed Was Aware of False Reporting on Rates

New York Fed Was Aware of False Reporting on Rates

BY JESSICA SILVER-GREENBERG
JULY 13, 2012
JPMorgan Chase disclosed on Friday that losses on its botched credit bet could climb to more than $7 billion and that the bank’s traders may have intentionally tried to obscure the full extent of the red ink on the disastrous trades.

Mounting concerns about valuing the trades led the company to announce that its earnings for the first quarter were no longer reliable and would be restated. Federal regulators, who were already examining the trades, are now looking at whether employees of the nation’s biggest bank by assets intended to defraud investors, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

The revelations left Jamie Dimon, the bank’s chief executive, scrambling for the second time within two months to contain the fallout from the trading debacle. It has already claimed one of his most trusted lieutenants, compelled Mr. Dimon to appear before Congress to account for the blunder and

Romney Seeks Obama Apology for Bain Attacks

Romney Seeks Obama Apology for Bain Attacks

By MICHAEL D. SHEAR
Published: July 13, 2012
WASHINGTON — Mitt Romney demanded an apology from President Obama on Friday for making what he called “reckless” and “absurd” allegations in an escalating battle over whether Mr. Romney’s business record included outsourcing American jobs.
After days in which the Obama campaign persistently goaded Mr. Romney and even raised questions about whether he might have broken the law by lying on a Securities and Exchange Commission filing, Mr. Romney finally hit back hard, giving five television interviews in which he said the attacks on him were “beneath the dignity of the presidency.”

Weight Loss Techniques That Work

Weight Loss Techniques That Work

By MIKAELA CONLEY (@mikaelaconley)
July 13, 2012
Keep a food journal. Don't skip meals, but do skip your afternoon lunch dates. Those recommendations come from research published Friday in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Researchers from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center evaluated the impact of self-monitoring and diet-related behavior and patterns among overweight and obese post-menopausal women. Among the 123 women who participated in the study, they found that those who completed food journals lost about six more pounds than those who did not note their food intake. Women who skipped meals lost eight fewer pounds than those who did not miss meals, and those who ate lunch out at least once a week lost five fewer pounds than those who ate out less frequently.

Stone tools focus picture of ancient Americans

Stone tools focus picture of ancient Americans

By Jeff Barnard
ssociated Press Writer / July 12, 2012
AGRANTS PASS, Ore.—Stone tools and human DNA from ancient caves in Oregon offer new evidence of how some of the first Americans spread through the continent: Quite apart from the better-known Clovis culture, a separate group occupied the West.

Archaeologists said Thursday that using multiple techniques, they have dated broken obsidian spear points from Paisley Caves to about 13,200 years ago, as old as much different stone tools from the Clovis culture found in the southeast and interior United States. Radio-carbon dating of human DNA from coprolites -- ancient desiccated human feces -- shows people lived in the caves as early as 14,300 years ago.