Saturday, December 31, 2011

Deaths in Somalia underscore risks MSF endures (AP)

NAIROBI, Kenya ? A second foreigner working with Doctors Without Borders died of his wounds in an attack in Somalia that also killed the group's country director, though the aid organization declared Friday that despite the risks it would still provide medical care in one of the world's most dangerous countries.

The deaths in Mogadishu of Philippe Havet, 53, from Belgium; and Andrias Karel Keiluhu, 44, from Indonesia, on Thursday underscore the risks that volunteers for the group encounter all over the world. Havet was country director for MSF, as the group is known by its initials in French. Keiluhu was a doctor.

The shootings were blamed on a Somali MSF logistics officer who had been fired the day before over allegations he had been stealing medicine. The gunman was arrested after the attack.

"MSF will be relocating some staff for security reasons, but remains committed to continuing our humanitarian work in Mogadishu and elsewhere in Somalia," the group said in a statement Friday. MSF said it was "shocked and saddened" by the deaths.

Doctors Without Borders was worried that Keiluhu could be targeted for further attack even while he was in the hospital in Mogadishu, clinging to life. An internal security report obtained by The Associated Press said that MSF asked the Somali government to protect Keiluhu.

"The clan of the former logistics officer is thought to have been making significant profits from the re-sale of stolen MSF-Belgium medicine, and there were concerns about further attempts on the doctor's life," the security report said.

Doctors Without Borders has endured deadly attacks before. In June 2004, five workers with the group ? two Afghans, a Norwegian, a Dutchman and a Belgian ? were killed by gunmen in Afghanistan. The group pulled out of Afghanistan shortly afterward. Three MSF members ? a Kenyan surgeon, a French logistics expert and a Somali driver ? died in Somalia in 2007 after a landmine attack that the group believes was premeditated.

The Somali employee, who ran the group's logistics, was dismissed from his job on Wednesday, then returned to the MSF compound on Thursday and opened fire with a pistol, according to a security guard there. Guards who had not been informed of the dismissal allowed the former employee onto the compound, the security guard said.

Havet died immediately. Keiluhu died later of his wounds later despite numerous blood transfusions, said nurse Abdiaziz Haji. Keiluhu had been shot several times in the torso, Haji said.

The deaths underscore the dangers faced by aid workers trying to help residents in a country mired in two decades of anarchy.

In October, gunmen entered the world's largest refugee camp ? Dadaab, in Kenya but near the Somali border ? and snatched two Spanish women working for Doctors Without Borders. There whereabouts are unknown. Dadaab is filled with nearly a half million Somali refugees fleeing conflict and hunger. Kenya used that kidnapping, as well as previous abductions of British and French women, to justify its military incursion into Somalia.

Only a few days later, gunmen abducted a 32-year-old female American aid worker in northern Somalia along with a Danish colleague from the de-mining unit of the Danish Refugee Council.

Many aid groups do not allow international aid workers in Somalia or limit the time they can spend there. Security in Mogadishu has improved this year but Thursday's shooting shows how dangerous it remains. Doctors Without Borders has been working in the Horn of Africa nation since 1991.

In its statement, the group described Havet as an "experienced emergency coordinator" who worked with MSF in Angola, Congo, Indonesia, Lebanon, Sierra Leone, South Africa and Somalia, beginning in 2000. Keiluhu had worked with the group since 1998, in Indonesia, Ethiopia, Thailand and Somalia.

Meanwhile, Kenya's military spokesman said Friday that five fighters from the militant group al-Shabab and one Kenyan soldier died in a clash in southern Somalia. Kenyan forces moved into Somalia in mid-October, declaring the cross-border kidnappings had created insecurity in neighboring Kenya.

Al-Shabab reported a far different version of events, saying on its official Twitter feed that its fighters burned three armored personnel carriers and killed 11 Kenyan soldiers in a complex ambush that began with the detonation of an improvised explosive device.

It was impossible to confirm either version of events.

The International Committee of the Red Cross said Friday that it has sent urgently needed medical supplies to southern Somalia "on both sides of the frontline" ? meaning on the Kenyan military side and the al-Shabab side.

"More than 100 wounded people, mainly civilians, reached the medical facilities during the most recent phase of the fighting," said Randi Jensen, an ICRC nurse. "It has become very dangerous for patients to reach the few clinics available to them and we just don't know how many more wounded are still out there, desperately waiting to get help."

The ICRC urged both sides to ensure that civilians are not harmed during the fighting.

The United Nations refugee agency said a refugee leader in Dadaab was shot Thursday evening and died Friday. Commissioner Antonio Guterres said he regretted the killing of the chairperson of the Community Peace and Security Team in the Hagadera camp.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/topstories/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111230/ap_on_re_af/af_somalia

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Friday, December 30, 2011

Noda says Japan should improve economic ties with India


NEW DELHI | Wed Dec 28, 2011 5:20pm IST

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda called for greater economic relations between two of Asia's largest economies on Wednesday, after India's trade minister said bilateral commerce would only reach $25 billion by 2014.

India and Japan enjoy warm diplomatic ties, but at a paltry $15 billion, bilateral trade in 2010 was less than 5 percent of Japan's commerce with China.

"I believe that India's middle class will be the driving force if the manufacturing sector grows in India ... we can achieve greater trade volumes," Noda said at a meeting with business leaders in Delhi.

Despite the low trade volume, Japanese companies are increasingly viewing India as a long-term play, with a large and youthful population set to drive growth in coming years.

"We can and should step up economic relations between the two countries," Noda said.

Noda, Japan's sixth prime minister in seven years, said talks with India about sales of civil nuclear technology were "in the right direction".

Japan is working closely with India to build a 1,483 km (920 mile) industrial corridor stretching from New Delhi to the financial hub of Mumbai in the west, that could help transform India's economic landscape and give its choked, teeming cities room to breathe.

The corridor includes plans for 24 new cities and Indian Trade Minister Anand Sharma said overall investment would be more than $100 billion.

FINANCE AND NUCLEAR

Noda was on a one-day trip to India to boost financial cooperation between Asia's second and third largest economies, which are also working more closely on security issues along with the United States.

Japan and India are in the final stages of deciding on a dollar swap agreement which may be announced during Noda's visit and would help defend the rupee, Asia's worst performing currency in 2011.

The planned mechanism is welcome news for India, which is suffering an industrial slowdown that has raised concern about its twin fiscal and current account deficits.

Japanese corporations see India as a major opportunity as Japan's population ages and the fast growth seen by main regional partner China in recent decades slows, said Rajiv Biswas, IHS Global Insight's chief Asia economist.

"When you look at Japan's economy you are looking at demographic ageing, the population is declining, they don't have growth markets domestically," Biswas said.

"They are looking elsewhere to really get growth and India is the prime candidate."

India wants to buy civil nuclear technology from Japan, but talks have been slow, with Japan wanting India to commit to a moratorium on nuclear weapons tests.

"The civil nuclear agreement is at the working level, discussions have proceeded in the right direction. I welcome this progress," Noda told reporters and said the issue was raised at a meeting with India's foreign minister.

"I hope it will be achieved," he said.

Hours before Noda left for India on Tuesday, Japan's security council relaxed a decades-old arms exports ban. India was the world's top weapons importer last year.

(Additional reporting by Abhijit Neogy, Annie Banerji and Mayank Bhardwaj; Editing by Ranjit Gangadharan and Richard Borsuk)

Source: http://in.reuters.com/article/2011/12/28/india-japan-ties-idINDEE7BR05220111228?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews

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Santorum surge: Underdog candidates push for surprise Iowa caucus 'win'

A new Iowa caucus poll appears to show Rick Santorum surging at just the right moment, rising into third place as Gingrich falls. But he's not the only underdog hoping for an Iowa surprise.

Rick Santorum appears to be surging at just the right moment, with a new poll showing him rising swiftly into third place among likely attendees at the Iowa caucuses on Jan. 3.

Skip to next paragraph

For the former US senator from Pennsylvania, it's confirmation that his persistent efforts to meet Iowans face to face are paying off. Already, other polls had shown him rising to 10 percent support in the state.

The new poll shows Mr. Santorum at 16 percent, just ahead of a sagging Newt Gingrich but behind Mitt Romney (25 percent) and Ron Paul (22 percent). The CNN/Time/ORC survey was conducted between Dec. 21 and Dec. 27.

The upward arc for Santorum also symbolizes something broader ? the volatilty of the Iowa race and the hopes of other underdog candidates to make last-minute surges that could revive their campaign hopes.

The Iowa caucuses are a volatile affair spanning precincts around the state, with results affected by hard-to-predict turnout and last-minute appeals by the candidates.

Along with Santorum, Texas Gov. Rick Perry and Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota face what many analysts see as make-or-break moments in the Hawkeye State. A surprisingly strong showing could propel one of them forward to compete in the next string of primaries.

But a weak showing could finish their campaigns. And they are campaigning like they know it.

Ms. Bachmann has been on a bus tour covering all 99 counties in the state. Governor Perry's bus is stopping at many of the same places, while his better-funded campaign keeps rolling out TV ads.

Each of them draws respect from Christian conservatives in the state, and Santorum has recently won some key endorsement from that camp. Bachmann and Santorum, in particular, has each sought to cast him or herself as the lone "consistent conservative" in the field.

This touted strength is also perceived by some voters as their weakness: The CNN poll found them bringing up the rear in perceived "electability" when matched against President Obama in the general election.

In a race that has seen almost every candidate shine as "flavor of the month," Santorum has not yet enjoyed a period of ascendency. Bachmann and Perry, by contrast, are struggling to recover from slumps after earlier rises.

Each of the candidates in Iowa gained ground with GOP voters in the recent poll except for Gingrich, who has faded quickly under a barrage of attack ads.

Santorum is the one who shows the biggest recent momentum, however. Where none of the other candidates have gained more than 5 percentage points over the past month, Santorum shot to 16 percent support after garnering just 5 percent in the poll conducted from Nov. 29 through Dec. 6.

He doesn't have big money for ads, but has rolled out radio spots that proclaim his conservative credentials, citing legislative successes on welfare reform, ending partial-birth abortion, and vigilance against the threat of a nuclear-armed Iran.

Bachmann also can't afford a huge ad blitz, and is focusing on her 99-county tour.

Perry is better funded. One of his new ads is called ?Part-Time Congress,? a modest proposal to downsize the role of a legislative branch that has run up big deficits. "Cut their pay in half, cut their time in Washington in half, cut their staff in half," Perry says in the ad.

It's a jab, in part, at Bachmann, Santorum, Paul, and Gingrich (all of whom served in Congress and are pictured in the ad). If the CNN poll is right, though, Perry is behind Santorum in the race to be a surprise gainer from the Iowa caucus.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/WHMlQzQT1NA/Santorum-surge-Underdog-candidates-push-for-surprise-Iowa-caucus-win

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Thursday, December 29, 2011

Mexican army: Ally's arrest is blow to 'El Chapo' (AP)

MEXICO CITY ? Mexican authorities said Monday that they had dealt a blow to the country's most powerful drug cartel with the capture of a top lieutenant ? but didn't say if they were any closer to capturing the gang's elusive leader.

Felipe Cabrera Sarabia, known as "The Engineer," allegedly ran operations for the Sinaloa drug cartel, Mexico's most powerful, in the northern state of Durango and in part of the northern state of Chihuahua, Chief Army spokesman Gen. Ricardo Trevilla told a news conference. Cabrera, wearing a bulletproof vest, was paraded before the news media in what has become a common practice for law enforcement authorities following major arrests.

Many experts and law-enforcement officials believe the reputed leader of the Sinaloa cartel, Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, has been hiding in the mountains of Durango. Authorities say Guzman is Mexico's top drug lord, while Forbes magazine has included him on its list of the world's richest men, reportedly worth more than $1 billion. He has eluded authorities since his 2001 escape from prison in a laundry truck, and has a $7 million bounty on his head.

Trevilla offered no information about the hunt for Guzman. He only said that Cabrera's capture "will affect the structure and leadership of the Sinaloa cartel."

At the time of Cabrera's arrest, army special forces also seized documents and computer equipment, he said.

Cabrera was nabbed without a shot being fired Friday in the capital of Sinaloa state, headquarters of the cartel, army officials first announced Sunday night.

He will be held for at least 40 days on suspicion of participating in organized crime and drug trafficking. Mexican law allows organized-crime suspects to be held that long before prosecutors bring formal charges before a judge.

Trevilla said Cabrera and three of his brothers began as marijuana growers and that Cabrera rose through the Sinaloa ranks by using violence against his rivals.

In recent months, Cabrera waged war against a rival faction of the Sinaloa cartel known as the "Ms", leading to a surge in violence around Durango, he said.

Federal forces have found 14 mass graves containing 287 bodies in Durango state since April.

Separately, Mexican authorities said they had seized 21 metric tons of precursor chemicals used to make methamphetamine from a boat that stopped in the port of Manzanillo on the way from Peru to Guatemala.

It was the fourth large seizure this month of precursor chemicals headed for Guatemala.

It brings to more than 555 tons the amount of meth chemicals detected at Mexican ports in less than a month.

Authorities announced on Dec. 19 that they had found almost 100 metric tons of methylamine at the port of Lazaro Cardenas, and earlier said that 205 tons of the chemical had been found there over several days in early December. Mexico said Friday that it seized 229 metric tons of precursor chemicals at the port.

Experts familiar with meth production call it a huge amount of raw material, noting that under some production methods, precursor chemicals can yield about half their weight in uncut meth.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/mexico/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111226/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/lt_drug_war_mexico

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Can foreign tourists help US economy?

(AP) ? Agustina Ocampo is the kind of foreign traveler businesses salivate over.

The 22-year-old Argentine recently dropped more than $5,000 on food, hotels and clothes in Las Vegas during a trip that also took her to Seattle's Space Needle, Disneyland and the San Diego Zoo. But she doubts she will return soon.

"It is a little bit of a headache," said Ocampo, a student who waited months to find out whether her tourist visa application would be approved.

More than a decade after the federal government strengthened travel requirements after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, foreign visitors say getting a temporary visa remains a daunting and sometimes insurmountable hurdle.

The tourism industry hopes to change that with a campaign to persuade Congress to overhaul the State Department's tourist visa application process.

"After 9/11, we were all shaken and there was a real concern for security, and I still think that concern exists," said Jim Evans, a former hotel chain CEO heading a national effort to promote foreign travel to the U.S.

At the same time, he said, the U.S. needs "to be more cognizant of the importance of every single traveler."

Tourism leaders said the decline in foreign visitors over the past decade is costing American businesses and workers $859 billion in untapped revenue and at least half a million potential jobs at a time when the slowly recovering economy needs both.

While the State Department has beefed up tourist services in recent years, reducing wait times significantly for would-be visitors will likely be a challenge as officials try to balance terrorist threats and illegal immigration with tight budgets that limit hiring.

"Security is job one for us," said Edward Ramotowski, managing director of the department's visa services. "The reason we have a visa system is to enforce the immigration laws of the United States."

Anti-immigration proponents argue travel to the U.S. is already too accessible and that allowing more visitors would put the nation at greater risk.

"Everybody would like to find a way to admit as many people as possible to visit here providing that they visit and then go home," said Jessica Vaughan, director of policy studies at the Center for Immigration Studies, an anti-immigration group based in Washington, D.C.

"A lot of consular officers underestimate how much people want to come and live here," she said.

Nearly 7.6 million nonimmigrant visas were issued in 2001, compared with fewer than 6.5 million in 2010. The number of visa applicants also dropped sharply after 2001. Those combined forces pushed the U.S. share of global travelers down to 12 percent last year, from 17 percent before 2001.

The proposed immigration overhaul has largely been driven by the U.S. Travel Association, the tourism industry's lobbying giant, and has been endorsed by business titans such as the National Retail Federation, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, and Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. Republicans and Democrats in Congress are backing the proposed changes through six bills in the House and Senate.

Geoff Freeman, the travel association's chief operating officer, said the State Department should be required to keep visa interview wait times at a maximum of 10 days.

"Every day a person is waiting for that interview is a day a person cannot be here supporting the American economy," he said.

For most foreigners, taking a last-minute business or leisure trip to New York, Los Angeles, Miami or other U.S. travel hubs would be nearly impossible. The average wait time for a visa interview in Rio de Janeiro, for example, was 87 days, according to the State Department.

The Government Accountability Office, a nonpartisan agency that audits federal programs, concluded that wait times are likely much longer than reported because some department employees artificially reduce the wait times by not scheduling interviews during high-demand periods.

The vast majority of visitors enter through the country's visa waiver program, which allows travelers from 36 nations with good relationships with the U.S. to temporarily visit without a visa. Travel proponents want to add nations whose residents are unlikely to illegally move to the U.S., including Argentina, Brazil, Poland and Taiwan.

Tourists from the rest of the world, including India, China, Mexico and other nations with affluent travelers looking to use their passports, must obtain a nonimmigrant visa. The process can be expensive and time-consuming.

People living far from a visa processing center must arrange travel to the interview location, not knowing whether they will be approved. Roughly 78 percent of all tourist visas were approved so far in 2011.

Tourism proponents want the department to embrace videoconferencing as a way to interview more people quickly. The department has no plans to implement videoconferencing interviews because of safety and technological concerns, Ramotowski said.

In-person interviews weren't the norm before 9/11, when consular officials had the authority to approve travelers based on an application alone. Since then, however, screenings have become more strenuous, with fingerprint checks and facial recognition screening of photographs.

The State Department has made moves to boost its tourist services in recent years, transferring employees from underworked offices to bustling embassies and consular posts. Many visa processing centers are also operating under extended hours.

Other proposed changes include granting more multi-entry visas and charging premium fees to tourists who want a visa right away, similar to the premium passport fee charged to Americans with last-minute passport requests. The tourism industry also wants more visa processing officers and to allow travelers to submit applications in their native language.

"We can't afford to treat them in a way that gives them an impression that maybe they aren't welcome," said Rolf Lundberg, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's top lobbyist.

To help make the U.S. appear more welcoming, Congress approved last year a $200 million annual marketing campaign.

In Las Vegas, where travelers to the Strip have traditionally kept Nevada's economy afloat, tourism and government leaders are desperate to keep businesses open and create jobs in a state with the nation's highest unemployment rate.

"The industries affected by tourism are all behind it," said Republican Rep. Joe Heck of southern Nevada, who has sponsored a bill in the House that would require shorter visa interview delays, among other measures. "We need the jobs."

Ocampo, who spent her vacation shopping at upscale boutiques and visiting family in California, said she would be more eager to come back if she knew her business was wanted.

"Everyone wants to visit the Statue of Liberty and Disneyland," she said.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2011-12-28-Tourist%20Visas/id-57c066692d8640e3897d380047204dcc

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Monday, December 19, 2011

Colts finally win one, beating Titans 27-13

Indianapolis Colts middle linebacker Pat Angerer (51) celebrates with cornerback Kevin Thomas after making an interception against the Tennessee Titans during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011. The Colts defeated the Titans 27-13. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Indianapolis Colts middle linebacker Pat Angerer (51) celebrates with cornerback Kevin Thomas after making an interception against the Tennessee Titans during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011. The Colts defeated the Titans 27-13. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Dan Orlovsky (6) throws against the Tennessee Titans during the second quarter of an NFL football game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011. The Colts defeated the Titans 27-13. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning looks on during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans in Indianapolis, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011. Colts vice chairman Bill Polian said Manning will not return to play in the final two games of the season, but the franchise quarterback did take snaps from center Jeff Saturday this week. The Colts defeated the Titans 27-13. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Indianapolis Colts head coach Jim Caldwell reacts late the fourth quarter of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans in Indianapolis, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011. The Colts defeated the Titans 27-13. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Dan Orlovsky (6) is congratulated by center Indianapolis Colts center Jeff Saturday as he carries off the game ball under his jersey following a 27-13 win over Tennessee Titans in an NFL football game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

(AP) ? The Colts avoided their first 0-16 season thanks to a quarterback who was trying to prevent his second.

Dan Orlovsky, who closed out the NFL's only 0-16 season with Detroit in 2008, threw one touchdown pass and the key block to spring an 80-yard touchdown run Sunday and lead the previously winless Colts to a 27-13 win over playoff hopeful Tennessee.

It was the franchise's first win in 14 years without Peyton Manning, and all it took was 14 tries and three quarterbacks.

Players and coaches celebrated by throwing their arms in the air, and Orlovsky got to close it out by taking the traditional kneel downs for the first time in his NFL career.

"I'm happy for a lot of people on this team, for a lot of people in this organization," Orlovsky said. "It's a lot better than the feeling we've had lately."

Indianapolis (1-13) had been waiting for what seemed like an eternity, 50 weeks, since their previous win, also at home against the Titans.

For Orlovsky, the drought was even longer. The seven-year veteran was 0-9 in his previous NFL starts. He didn't have to do too much Sunday, going 11 of 17 for 82 yards with one touchdown, but he didn't turn the ball over.

And though the numbers looked nothing like Manning's, they were good enough to get a win.

"I think in my career, I've learned not to take them (wins) for granted," Orlovsky said, drawing polite laughter.

Donald Brown added a career-high 161 yards rushing, including a late 80-yard TD run for Indy.

The Colts will need their offense to keep playing like this in the final two games, too, after team vice chairman Bill Polian announced Manning would not be back this season, though he has started throwing to his teammates.

For Tennessee, the loss is a devastating blow.

Had Tennessee (7-7) closed out the season with three wins, it might have been able to reach the postseason without any help. Now the Titans will probably need to win their last two games and get help from some others to make it.

But Tennessee had only itself to blame for this one.

Matt Hasselbeck was 27 of 40 for 223 yards with no TDs and two interceptions before being lifted in favor of rookie Jake Locker. Chris Johnson ran 15 times for 55 yards. The Titans lost a fumble and muffed a kickoff out of bounds at their own 1-yard line.

"I never would have expected us to come out, and they're playing like the team going to the playoffs and we're the team that's 0-13," coach Mike Munchak said. "We just weren't playing well at all. The intensity wasn't there at the start."

Nor was it there at the end.

Locker's 7-yard TD pass to Nate Washington with 3:43 to go, got Tennessee within one score as tense Colts fans began to wonder if this one would slip away, too.

On the Colts' next play, the Titans appeared to have Brown corralled in the backfield. But when Brown reversed field and got away from the defenders. Orlovsky jumped in front of the man closest to him, providing enough of an obstacle to give Brown a wide-open lane on the edge. All Brown had to do was outrun the defense 80 yards to the end zone.

The play tied Tom Matte's record for the franchise's longest run, set Oct. 12, 1964, against St. Louis.

Brown then enjoyed an overdue celebration with Orlovsky in the end zone.

"The O-line did a great job, somebody came free, the running back's job is to make him miss, Dan threw a great block, Reggie threw a great block and I think (Jacob) Tamme was running down there, too," Brown said. "It was just an all-out great effort by the guys on offense."

Sunday's game had a totally different complexion from the first 13.

Indy spent the past nine weeks fighting for a lead, any lead. After playing more than 500 minutes from behind or tied, the Colts finally took the lead on Adam Vinatieri's 47-yard field goal.

The Colts gave it right back just before halftime when Rob Bironas made his second field goal to give the Titans a 6-3 lead. It didn't last long.

Orlovsky hooked up with Reggie Wayne for an 18-yard TD that made it 10-6 early in the third quarter. The Colts never trailed again.

Jacob Lacey, the oft-criticized cornerback, returned an interception 32 yards for a touchdown to give the Colts a 17-6 lead.

On the ensuing kickoff, Marc Mariani tried to field the bouncing ball in the end zone, but kicked it out of bounds inside the Titans 1. That mistake and Brown's 39-yard run, set up Vinatieri for a 40-yard field goal to make it 20-6 with 12:53 to play.

Locker gave the Titans a chance with his TD pass, but Orlovsky and Brown took it away with run that ended Indy's chase of 0-16 and the first 0-14 mark in franchise history.

"It means a lot, but we're a proud ballclub so one game out of 13 or 14, we still have a ways to go," defensive end Robert Mathis said. "Everybody held the fort today. We just kept chopping wood and the tree fell today."

Notes: Colts running back Delone Carter left in the first half with an undisclosed forearm injury. Carter did not return. ... The Titans failed to sweep Indy for the first time since 2002 and are 0-4 all time at Lucas Oil Stadium. ... Locker was 11 of 16 for 108 yards with one TD after relieving Hasselbeck and Johnson had eight catches for 54 yards. ... Lacey has two career TDs in three NFL seasons.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2011-12-18-Titans-Colts/id-2e662c426bf44c7ea1b0ca72fa5c0eef

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Sunday, December 18, 2011

Protesters 'Occupy Birmingham' With Signs, Slogans, Grievances - Birmingham, MI Patch

Birmingham Patch:

More than 50 people from Birmingham and surrounding cities show up at Martha Baldwin Park on Saturday afternoon to protest income inequality, a corrupt federal government and more.

There were dozens of reasons why more than 50 protesters came out to Martha Baldwin Park to participate in Occupy Birmingham, but for longtime Birmingham resident and park trustee Elaine Moore, she was there because of the legacy of one of Birmingham's original activists.

"She was active in almost everything in this town to improve civic life," Moore said of the woman who helped found the Baldwin Public Library and whose name graces the park where the protest -- an offshoot of the larger Occupy Wall Street movement -- took place Saturday afternoon. "Martha lives in this event."

Read the whole story: Birmingham Patch

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/17/protesters-occupy-birming_n_1155705.html

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Syrian troops fire at protesters after prayers

In this image from TV released by a group calling itself Ugarit News, made available Thursday Dec. 15, 2011, showing tanks moving along a road in Al-Maliha al-Sharqiya, Daraa Province, Syria, Wednesday Dec. 14, 2011. Amateur video emerged on Thursday from Syria, which purports to show ongoing violence in the restive country. (AP Photo) TV OUT - THE ASSOCIATED PRESS HAS NO WAY OF INDEPENDENTLY VERIFYING THE CONTENT, LOCATION OR DATE OF THIS VIDEO IMAGE.

In this image from TV released by a group calling itself Ugarit News, made available Thursday Dec. 15, 2011, showing tanks moving along a road in Al-Maliha al-Sharqiya, Daraa Province, Syria, Wednesday Dec. 14, 2011. Amateur video emerged on Thursday from Syria, which purports to show ongoing violence in the restive country. (AP Photo) TV OUT - THE ASSOCIATED PRESS HAS NO WAY OF INDEPENDENTLY VERIFYING THE CONTENT, LOCATION OR DATE OF THIS VIDEO IMAGE.

In this image from TV shown on the Internet made available Thursday Dec. 15, 2011, showing an Iraqi woman lying in a Damascus, Syria, street as men trying to retrieve the body, in this video thought to have been made Wednesday Dec. 14, 2011. The woman named Shatha al-Kubeisi is thought to have been shot by Syrian government snipers. Amateur video emerged on Thursday from Syria, which purported to show ongoing violence in the restive country. (AP Photo) THE ASSOCIATED PRESS HAS NO WAY OF INDEPENDENTLY VERIFYING THE CONTENT, LOCATION OR DATE OF THIS VIDEO IMAGE.

In this image from TV made available Thursday Dec. 15, 2011, showing a man lying dead in the street in Homs, Syria, Wednesday Dec. 14, 2011. The man is thought to have gone out to buy bread when he was shot by a Syrian government sniper, but it is impossible to check details of the incident. Amateur video emerged on Thursday from Syria, which purported to show ongoing violence in the restive country. (AP Photo) THE ASSOCIATED PRESS HAS NO WAY OF INDEPENDENTLY VERIFYING THE CONTENT, LOCATION OR DATE OF THIS VIDEO IMAGE.

In this image from TV made available by a group called Ugarit News Thursday Dec. 15, 2011, amateur footage showing what appears to be a Syrian tank on fire, in Homs, Syria, as gunfire rings out and the tank then apparently explodes, Wednesday Dec. 14, 2011. According to information released with this video, members of the al-Farouq brigade blew up the tank. The brigade is part of the Free Syrian Army and reportedly made up of Syrian army defectors. Amateur video emerged on Thursday from Syria, which purported to show ongoing violence in the restive country. (AP Photo) TV OUT - THE ASSOCIATED PRESS HAS NO WAY OF INDEPENDENTLY VERIFYING THE CONTENT, LOCATION OR DATE OF THIS VIDEO IMAGE.

In this image from TV made available by Shaam News Network Thursday Dec. 15, 2011, showing a building in flames after allegedly being shelled by Syrian government forces, in a deserted street of Homs, Syria, Wednesday Dec. 14, 2011. Amateur video emerged on Thursday from Syria, which purported to show ongoing violence in the restive country. (AP Photo) TV OUT - THE ASSOCIATED PRESS HAS NO WAY OF INDEPENDENTLY VERIFYING THE CONTENT, LOCATION OR DATE OF THIS VIDEO IMAGE.

(AP) ? Syrian security forces opened fire on anti-government protests after Friday prayers at several locations around the country while the army sent reinforcements into the tense south where military defectors have recently launched deadly attacks on regime troops.

The Local Coordination Committees and the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said one person was killed in the shooting in the restive central city of Homs, and a man who was wounded in the southern province of Daraa earlier in the day died his wounds.

The Observatory said more than 200,000 people marched in different neighborhoods of Homs, denouncing President Bashar Assad's regime. The turnout could not be confirmed as Syrian authorities have banned most journalists from covering events on the ground.

The Observatory also reported shooting near a mosque in the eastern city of Deir el-Zour but it was unclear if there were casualties there.

The LCC said anti-government rallies took place after Friday prayers all across Syria ? from Daraa to the suburbs of the capital Damascus, in Homs and Hama in the country's center, and to the north, in the city of Aleppo.

The protests came a day after Syrian army defectors killed 27 government forces in Daraa in apparently coordinated attacks that were among the deadliest by rebel troops so far.

Syria has seen a sharp escalation in armed clashes recently, raising concerns the country of 22 million is headed toward civil war. The U.N. raised its death toll for the Syrian uprising substantially this week, saying more 5,000 people have been killed since the revolt began.

The LCC said troops deployed in different areas in Daraa on Friday, and that electricity was cut in several locations. Daraa, where the uprising began, has been among the most tense regions in Syria.

Because of the turmoil, Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird said Thursday Canadians living in Syria should leave as soon as possible while commercial flights are still available. Washington issued a similar warning for U.S. citizens in September.

At the United Nations in New York, Russia began circulating a draft Security Council resolution Thursday it said was designed to resolve the conflict in Syria. The draft calls for an end to all violence.

Russia has criticized opponents of Assad's rule for employing violent tactics. Western nations said the Russian draft did not go far enough, because it contained no sanctions against the regime.

Assad, who inherited power from his father in 2000, has denied issuing orders to kill protesters. But New York-based Human Rights Watch said Thursday that dozens of military commanders and officials authorized or gave direct orders for widespread killings and torture.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2011-12-16-ML-Syria/id-279cfa8a27f444c2b43a3f3251f38540

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Saturday, December 17, 2011

Barbara Walters' Most Fascinating Person Revealed (omg!)

Barbara Walters' Most Fascinating Person Revealed

Barbara Walters made a shocking and unprecedented choice for her No. 1 most fascinating person of 2011. If you don't want to find out who it was, read no further.

Barbara's coveted title went to Steve Jobs. This was the first time that the honor was given to someone no longer living.

The Apple co-founder passed away in October after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 56.

MORE: Steve Jobs Has Died

Barbara explained that the choice to honor Steve was made before his death when he announced his retirement as CEO of the company he helped build.

After his death, the choice remained because, as Barbara simply stated, "Rules were meant to be broken."

Other notable names to make Barbara's annual list included the Kardashians, Herman Cain, Donald Trump and Pippa Middleton.

MORE: Barbara Walters: Kardashians are Untrustworthy

Barbara Walters Presents: The 10 Most Fascinating People of 2011 aired Wednesday night on ABC.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/entertainment/*http%3A//us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/external/omg_rss/rss_omg_en/news_barbara_walters_most_fascinating_person_revealed051500976/43911429/*http%3A//omg.yahoo.com/news/barbara-walters-most-fascinating-person-revealed-051500976.html

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Schwarzenegger: Solyndra debate 'narrow minded' (AP)

SAN FRANCISCO ? In a rare public appearance since leaving office, former Republican California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger called the debate over bankrupt solar panel maker Solyndra narrow-minded in a world moving ever-faster toward renewable energy.

Schwarzenegger said Thursday he took time out from a movie shoot to address Gov. Jerry Brown's climate conference at the California Academy of Sciences.

While in office, the former governor frequently promoted California's landmark 2006 global warming law, called AB32, which paved the way for the state's cap-and-trade system for controlling greenhouse gas emissions by the worst polluters.

Schwarzenegger said the Fremont, Calif.-based solar panel maker that went under despite a half-billion dollar government loan did the best it could but made business mistakes that led to its demise.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/environment/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111216/ap_on_re_us/us_schwarzenegger_climate_change

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Friday, December 16, 2011

Zenonia, Swiftkey X headline day 9 of the Android Market sale

There's two days to go before the Android Market returns to normal, as we enter into day 9 of its sale to celebrate the download of the ten billionth app. Only one, Swiftkey X, has come back for a second helping of the sale. Of the eleven apps being featured today, a healthy eight are games: Sleepy Jack, Icebreaker Hockey, Deer Hunter 3D, MX Moto, Guns 'n' Glory, Tank Riders, Zenonia and Collapse. Rounding out the selection you'll find ezPDF Reader -- which obviously needs no introduction -- and Toddler Tapping Zoo for the young 'uns. One day left, and then we'll just have to cross our fingers and wait to see what happens when the Android Market hits twenty billion. As always, check out the source link to see the options.

Zenonia, Swiftkey X headline day 9 of the Android Market sale originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Dec 2011 13:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

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Ben Wallace gets probation for DUI, gun charges (AP)

PONTIAC, Mich. ? Detroit Pistons center Ben Wallace was sentenced Tuesday to a year of probation but avoided jail time on drunken driving and gun possession charges stemming from a September traffic stop in suburban Detroit.

Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Shalina Kumar also sentenced Wallace to fines, court costs and 30 hours of community service.

"We want to treat Mr. Wallace as if his name is Ben Smith," assistant prosecutor Robert Novy told Kumar. "We're not asking for jail time, but give Mr. Wallace a period of probation with a period of community service."

Novy said having Wallace hold basketball clinics at an area Boys and Girls Club would suffice. Kumar agreed.

"You have all the resources in the world. This should not happen again," she told Wallace, who is allowed to travel out of state and out of the country for work-related reasons while on probation.

Wallace did not speak Tuesday with reporters.

"I compliment both the prosecutor's office and Judge Kumar for treating Ben Wallace exactly the same way they would have treated him had he not been a basketball player," defense attorney Steve Fishman said.

Wallace was arrested at about 3 a.m. on Sept. 24 in Bloomfield Township after officers spotted him driving a Cadillac Escalade erratically. An unloaded pistol was in a backpack.

A breath test put Wallace's blood-alcohol content at 0.14 percent, which is well above Michigan's legal limit of 0.08 percent.

He pleaded guilty Nov. 1 to misdemeanor charges of drunken driving and possessing a firearm while under the influence of alcohol. The maximum penalty would have been 93 days in jail.

Wallace had no prior record and was cooperative with authorities.

"Plea bargains and sentences are supposed to be based on the facts of the case and the background of the individual defendant," Fishman said. "To everyone's credit that is exactly what happened in this case."

Wallace helped the Pistons win the 2004 NBA title and has played for five NBA teams since 1996.

He fared better in court than former NBA player and University of Michigan star Jalen Rose who spent 16 days in jail this summer on a drunken driving charge.

Rose rolled over his sport utility vehicle in March on a snowy West Bloomfield Township road. He pleaded guilty in May to driving while intoxicated and apologized for his actions.

But 48th District Court Judge Kimberly Small, who is known for being tough on drunken drivers, lectured Rose for 15 minutes before delivering her sentence. She told him that jail time was the "right punishment" in his case.

Rose's attorney, James Burdick, has said his client shouldn't have been sent to jail.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/sports/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111213/ap_on_sp_bk_ne/bkn_pistons_wallace

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Wednesday, December 7, 2011

AP source: Big East set to add Boise St, 4 others

Boise State running back Doug Martin (22) attempts to leap over New Mexico defender Bubba Forrest (28) in the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 3, 2011, at Bronco Stadium in Boise, Idaho. (AP Photo/Idaho Press-Tribune, Greg Kreller) MANDATORY CREDIT

Boise State running back Doug Martin (22) attempts to leap over New Mexico defender Bubba Forrest (28) in the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 3, 2011, at Bronco Stadium in Boise, Idaho. (AP Photo/Idaho Press-Tribune, Greg Kreller) MANDATORY CREDIT

Houston's Patrick Edwards (83) celebrates a touchdown by Michael Hayes, bottom, during the second quarter of the Conference USA championship NCAA college football game against Southern Mississippi, Saturday, Dec. 3, 2011, in Houston. Southern Mississippi beat Houston 49-28. (AP Photo/Dave Einsel)

(AP) ? The Big East's long-awaited additions are set, with more rebuilding to come.

The conference is preparing to announce the additions of Boise State and San Diego State as football-only members and Houston, Central Florida and SMU for all sports as soon as Wednesday, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press. The five schools will join in 2013.

The person spoke Tuesday on condition of anonymity because details were still being worked out with the schools and plans for an announcement were being completed.

The Big East has been trying to rebuild as a 12-school football conference since Syracuse and Pittsburgh announced they would be moving to the ACC and West Virginia announced it was leaving for the Big 12. TCU also reneged on a commitment to join the Big East and instead accepted an invite to the Big 12.

The Star-Ledger in New Jersey first reported the Big East was on the verge of making the additions.

The Big East has also been pursuing Navy and Air Force as football-only members, but the military academies are not yet ready to commit to the conference, the person said.

While the Big East is finally about to expand, it's still very much a league in flux.

Commissioner John Marinatto has pledged to hold Syracuse, Pittsburgh and West Virginia to the league bylaws and keep the schools in the Big East for two more football seasons. Syracuse, Pitt and the ACC have said they would like to move on as soon as possible, but are not challenging the Big East's rules.

West Virginia is. The school has sued the Big East and wants to join the Big 12 in 2012. The Big 12 needs a replacement for Missouri, which next year is headed to the Southeastern Conference, to have the 10 members it needs to meet the conditions of its television contracts.

"I think what John Marinatto just did, he should get a substantial raise for what he just accomplished," Louisville coach Rick Pitino said. "Getting Boise State. Getting Houston, SMU. I think that is as good of a job for a commissioner with his back against the wall as I've seen since I've been in athletics. The teams you lost aren't as good in football as the teams you're bringing in."

The Big East is in an even trickier situation. It has contract requirements to meet next season, as well, plus it will begin negotiating a new TV deal in 2012.

Houston, SMU and UCF play in Conference USA and the notification date for those schools to switch leagues next year has passed. Boise State is in its first season as a member of the Mountain West Conference, where San Diego State also competes.

CBSSports.com reported Boise State will place its other sports teams in the Western Athletic Conference, a league it left after last season, and that San Diego State's other teams will compete in the Big West.

It would cost Boise State and San Diego State millions of dollars more to join the Big East in 2012 than in 2013.

So the Big East could be headed into next season with three lame duck teams. And even with the upcoming additions, it still does not have 12 teams committed to the league for 2013.

The Big East eventually wants to have two divisions of six teams and be able to hold a conference title game.

The grand plan is to have Boise State, San Diego State, Houston, SMU and possibly current member Louisville in the west division. The east division would have current members South Florida, Rutgers, Connecticut and Cincinnati, along with UCF.

The Big East is hoping that Air Force can round on the west and Navy the east. But, for now, that's still just a plan.

Boise State and other schools ready to join are hoping the strange geographic pairing will lead to increased television revenue and more access to the Bowl Championship Series and its big payouts.

The Big East pursued BYU as a western partner for Boise State, but when those talks fell through because of BYU's desire to hold the TV rights to its home games, the league directed its attention to San Diego State.

San Diego is 3,067 miles away from the Big East office in Providence, R.I.

The Big East, which has thrived for years as one of the nation's best basketball leagues, has eight schools that do not play football in the league: Providence, St. John's, Georgetown, Marquette, DePaul, Notre Dame, Seton Hall and Villanova.

"The Big East has been the No. 1 conference in all of basketball, obviously, by the amount of bids," Pitino said. "Now, have you made basketball stronger? No. You're not replacing Syracuse and Pittsburgh, so my hope is that they'll go out there and get a Temple or a Memphis to keep basketball strong."

____

AP Sports Writer Colin Fly in Louisville, Ky. contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2011-12-06-Big%20East-Expansion/id-a3c555fa11014076a4cb95e97856f57b

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Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Video: Time to Buy the Banks?

Is the surge in financials a sign the worst is behind us? Dick Bove, Rochdale Securities, explains why he is very positive on the U.S. economy and market.

Related Links:

Business & financial news headlines from msnbc.com

Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/cnbc/45561404/

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Monday, December 5, 2011

Good Riddance to Bad Rubbish (ContributorNetwork)

COMMENTARY | Herman Cain addressed the public today about the future of his candidacy. I watched the live broadcast online from ABC. He withdrew from the campaign, saying he was "suspending" it. His speech was laden with buzzwords and cliches about believing in America, God, country and "we the people" in particular.

He called running for president a "dirty, dirty game." As someone alleged to prefer harassing and having affairs with dirty, dirty girls Cain might be in position to know. Throughout his speech he kept to his usual strategy regarding the dirty, dirty allegations against him of sexual misconduct: deny, deny, deny. What else can we expect from a man of the same party as Richard "I am not a crook" Nixon?

Cain broke down America into three groups: The media, politicians and "we the people." During his closing he repeatedly asked people to "look inside to see what they can do." If he came any closer to saying, "Ask not what your country can do for you" he'd have to become a Democrat and change his name to Kennedy.

He says he is now embarking on Plan B, centered around policies on a website called thecainsolutions.com, which has a placeholder page at the time of this writing. He said foreign policy should revolve around strength and clarity. He says the U.S. needs energy independence. Cain claimed to be "disappointed that things have come to this point."

Cain asserted Washington needs to change and that while he wanted to be the man to change it from the inside that he will work to change it from the outside. His idea of change still appears to be centered around the 999 plan. If that strategy were any more slanted toward the rich Cain could ski down it with helpless working-class people strapped to his feet.

Cain failed to take the honorable path. He should have apologized for his moral shortcomings and for shaming his party, and then stepped down gracefully. Instead he remains a curse on his party because he announced on camera that he plans to endorse another candidate soon.

If I were running as a Republican I would beg him not to endorse me. Who needs a recommendation from a perceived harassing, lying, and adulterous plutocrat?

I wish we could say a final goodbye to Herman Cain but, like a bad rash, he'll be back.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/oped/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ac/20111203/cm_ac/10590711_good_riddance_to_bad_rubbish

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Cutting in line (hamptonroads)

Share With Friends: Share on FacebookTweet ThisPost to Google-BuzzSend on GmailPost to Linked-InSubscribe to This Feed | Rss To Twitter | Politics - Top Stories Stories, RSS and RSS Feed via Feedzilla.

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Sunday, December 4, 2011

Syria must sign Arab peace plan by Sunday: Qatar (Reuters)

DOHA (Reuters) ? The Arab League gave Syria until Sunday to sign an initiative to end its military crackdown on nearly a year of pro-democracy protests, Qatar's foreign minister said on Saturday.

"There has been some communication with the Syrians. If they want to come (and sign) tomorrow they can," said Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani, speaking in Doha after a meeting of an Arab foreign ministers committee tasked with following up on the Syrian crisis.

The committee also confirmed sanctions on Syria, freezing assets for 19 top officials and associates of President Bashar al-Assad's administration and banning them from travelling to Arab countries, a statement said.

It also ordered a 50 percent reduction in Syria flights.

(Reporting by Regan Doherty; Editing by Louise Ireland)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/world/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111203/wl_nm/us_syria_arab_league

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Saturday, December 3, 2011

How to Stay Safe When Exercising Outdoors in Cold Weather [Exercise]

How to Stay Safe When Exercising Outdoors in Cold Weather It's pretty cold outside, at least here in North America. That doesn't mean you have to skip your morning jog or get out in the sun for a little exercise though, it just means you have to take a few extra precautions to stay safe, warm, and comfortable while you exercise outdoors. Here's what you need to know.

Photo by Lukasz Hejnak.

Remember the Basics


  • How to Stay Safe When Exercising Outdoors in Cold Weather
  • Dress in layers. You should do this in the cold weather whether your'e working out or not, but it's essential if you're planning to exercise in the cold. You'll want to make sure you're warm when you walk outside and are first struck by how cold it is, but that you don't overheat when you start working out or get too cold when you start to sweat and that sweat evaporates. Wear light jackets you can tie around your waist when you get too warm, and thermal exercise clothes designed to wick away sweat and moisture from your skin and keep your temperature even.
  • Protect Your extremities. You lose a lot of body heat through the top of your head, so it's obviously important to keep that covered if it's cold outside, but it's just as important to protect the extremities that don't get the same kind of blood flow that your head and torso get. Your ears, fingers and hands, feet and toes, they're all important to keep covered and protected. The Mayo Clinic even suggests buying running shoes that are half-size too big so you can pile on the thermal socks.
  • Stay hydrated. It might be tempting to forgo the water bottle if you're headed out on a bike ride in December or going for a morning jog in 40-degree weather, but don't leave it behind. Just because it's cold outside doesn't mean you won't sweat at all, and just because it's cold outside doesn't mean your body won't need more water to keep you going. Bring some with you, or make sure to take breaks to stay hydrated.
  • Keep your phone on and on you. This is important in any weather, but when it's cold outside or you're planning to go running or biking far from home, it's less likely you'll encounter people who are also out for a run or jog. When it's cold, most people will try to stay indoors, which means if you take a tumble or get injured, it's even more important that you have the means to call for help without needing to flag someone down.

Photo by snarglebarf.

How to Stay Safe When Exercising Outdoors in Cold Weather

Know the Warning Signs of Hypothermia and Frostbite

Frostbite takes place when your body's tissue begins to freeze. The first warning signs that you may be frostbitten are tingling, stinging, and numbness in exposed areas of your skin, like your face and nose or your ears and fingers (if you didn't cover them like we suggested.) If you suspect that any part of your body has been frostbitten, it's important to get indoors and warm the area slowly as soon as possible to stop any additional tissue from freezing. The longer you stay in the cold, the more damage the frostbite does to your body, so it's important to warm up as soon as you notice the warning signs.

Hypothermia, on the other hand, is the overall cooling of the body's core temperature. Usually this takes place because you've been out in the cold too long, even if you're covered up, or because you're not properly dressed and your clothing is keeping moisture and sweat close to your core, lowering your overall body temperature. The first symptoms of hypothermia are uncontrollable shivering, confusion, slurred speech, loss of normal coordination and fine motor control, and perhaps worst of all, sudden fatigue. Most people exercising, even in the cold, don't get to the point where they start to feel the symptoms of hypothermia, but it's possible if you're working out in cold, rainy weather, improperly dressed, go too far from home, or are outside too long. If you notice the symptoms of hypothermia, get indoors somewhere warm and seek emergency medical attention immediately.

Photo by Mark.

How to Stay Safe When Exercising Outdoors in Cold Weather

Use Technology to Help You

If you exercise with headphones on or a smartphone, use previously mentioned apps like Endomondo or Runkeeper to help you time your workouts so you don't stay outside too long. Create a playlist that's just the right length of time, or use a helper app like Adidas miCoach for iOS and Android or Nike+ for iOS to help you keep track of how long you've been out, how far you've gone, and when you should wrap things up.

Stay Indoors

Making the "it's too cold for a run" call is a tricky one, and what's too cold for one person is downright balmy to someone else. There's no one universal temperature where everyone should just stay inside and avoid exercising outdoors, but most people agree that once it gets down to about freezing or just below, it's time to seriously consider taking your workout indoors.

At the same time, when you're looking at the temperature outside before you leave, don't use it as the only basis for your decision. Wind chill, wind speed, cloud cover, and rain can all make a 40 degree jog feel much much colder. Think of the entire forecast before you head out for a run or a bike ride. If you're not sure whether it's too cold, or you're waffling on the decision at all, consider hitting the gym or an indoor track instead, or just staying at home and doing some aerobics or circuit training in your living room or basement.

How do you prep for a cold-weather workout? When do you determine that it's too cold to go outside? Share your exercise tips in the comments below.


You can reach Alan Henry, the author of this post, at alan@lifehacker.com, or better yet, follow him on Twitter or Google+.

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/o2NrtGyGz9g/how-to-stay-safe-when-exercising-outdoors-in-cold-weather

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