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Saturday, January 14, 2012
Hands-On the $170 ViewSonic Tablet I Wanted to Love, But Couldn't [Video]
Friday, January 13, 2012
Analysis: Japan PM bets on breaking "Groundhog Day" cycle (Reuters)
TOKYO (Reuters) ? A prolonged cycle of dashed hopes, failed strategies and policy deadlock -- Japanese politics is reminding some critics of the comedy film "Groundhog Day," in which the hero repeatedly wakes to find he is living the same wintry day over and over.
But Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, now trying to crack that cycle and enact a tax rise to curb a huge public debt, might take heart from the 1993 film's happy ending, where the time-loop is broken by learning from past mistakes.
"In 'Groundhog Day' the guy actually learns ... in the end, he gets it right," said Chuo University political science professor Steven Reed, adding that the electorate would be glad just to see an end to policy stalemate just wants to see some policy .
"Support for Noda has dropped ... not because of what he did, but because he didn't do anything," he said.
"If they (Noda's Democratic Party) raise taxes or do almost anything, they will win (the next election) overwhelmingly."
Noda, who took office last September as Japan's sixth premier in five years, is set to reshuffle his cabinet on Friday to replace two ministers censured by the opposition and remove at least one obstacle to passing bills in a divided parliament.
To underscore his commitment to tax reforms needed to fund the ballooning social welfare costs of a fast-aging society, Noda also wants to draft staunch fiscal hawk Katsuya Okada, a past party leader, as his deputy, domestic media reports say.
The low-profile premier has promised to submit bills by March to double the sales tax in two stages by 2015, although doubts persist over whether changing the cabinet line-up will do much to win over opposition parties, who can use their control of parliament's upper house to block laws.
Noda has also faced down defectors from his own party and appears resigned to the possibility of more to come.
That tough stance could hold him in good stead with voters keen to see a strong leader in the mold of Junichiro Koizumi, who led his then-ruling Liberal Democrats to victory after party rebels blocked his pet project to privatize the postal system.
"Noda is resigned to divisions in his party and knows his only hope is to forge ahead," said Atsuo Ito, an independent political analyst. "He is ready to push for the sales tax rise even if it means destroying his administration. I think this will probably result in a general election (this year)."
No lower house vote need be held until 2013, but speculation is already simmering that Noda could call a snap poll this year, either in exchange for opposition agreement to pass tax reform bills or in retaliation for their blocking the legislation.
To be sure, skepticism runs deep about the ability of Noda, a 54-year-old conservative who likened himself to a bottom-feeding loach fish when he took over, to succeed where his predecessors from either of Japan's two main parties failed.
GRAPPLING WITH GRIDLOCK
Japan's leaders have grappled with parliamentary gridlock since 2007, when the Democrats beat the then-ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its partner in an upper house poll, creating a "twisted parliament" where an opposition-controlled upper chamber can block bills passed by the lower house.
Each new premier has been greeted with high voter ratings and hopes he can lead Japan out of its economic doldrums, only to see support slide as reform efforts are killed off and those in power stumble over gaffes and policy missteps.
"I don't think anyone should put a lot of hope in Japanese politics. It would be nice to be pleasantly surprised, but it looks like it has sunk into a pattern," said Jeffrey Kingston, director of Asian studies at Temple University in Tokyo.
"The upper house has too much power, so it is hard to get anything done unless you control both. That's a major reason why it is difficult to rule Japan."
Few expect the LDP to agree to serious talks on tax and social welfare reform, although the opposition party itself favors a sales tax hike and a recent media survey showed more than 40 percent of voters support the change, given public debt already twice the size of Japan's $5 trillion economy.
Instead, analysts say the LDP is likely to attack the Democrats for failing to keep campaign promises to fund spending by slashing waste and rejigging the budget before raising taxes.
"Create gridlock, stoke public frustration and the PM becomes the lighting-rod for frustration," Kingston said. "From the LDP perspective, what's wrong with that picture?"
Frustrated Japanese voters are hardly flocking to back the LDP in droves, having driven it from power more than two years ago after more than 50 years of almost non-stop rule.
But the party is pushing for a snap election in hopes it at least regain some of the seats lost in its crushing 2009 defeat and outperform the Democrats.
A Kyodo news agency poll published Sunday showed that 22.4 percent of voters backed the LDP against 20.7 for the Democrats, the first time the LDP has had the lead since Noda took office.
Soggy ratings for the two big parties could provide a window of opportunity for a third force centered on the tiny "Your Party," a band of small-government advocates -- especially if Noda fails to push tax reform through the lower house or stumbles in efforts to sell the painful prescription to voters.
"If people believe the Democrats are not going to do anything, there will be a boom for the Your Party and Japan will become Italy," Chuo University's Reed said.
Pessimists who foresee little chance of success for Noda say Japan's only real chance of breaking the political deadlock may be a long-dreamt of reorganization of the main political parties to create real choices for voters, since both big parties are internally split on everything from taxes to diplomacy.
The likelihood of a meaningful realignment, however, is questionable. "There is no clarity on what policies would form the basis of political realignment," said Katsuhiko Nakamura, executive director of think tank Asian Forum Japan.
(Editing by Tomasz Janowski)
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Thursday, January 12, 2012
'Hoarding' find: 'Probably millions' of roaches
TLC
The amount of roaches in Celia's home shocks exterminators on "Hoarding: Buried Alive."
By Ree Hines
Just two weeks after "Hoarding: Buried Alive" introduced viewers to Sherry, a woman whose house was completely overrun by roaches, the series proves Sherry's situation is far from unique.
On Sunday night's upcoming episode, viewers will get a chance to meet Celia, a psychologist who helps patients with their issues, but hasn't been able to help herself with the roach-infested problem that is her own home.
A sneak peek from TLC reveals the extent of Celia's creepy-crawly condition.
"This is a first. I've been doing this for 20-some-odd years and this is the first time I've seen this," exterminator Dan Walls said as he watched bugs swimming around in a sink of standing?... water? Brown water? Fluid? Yeah, fluid.
Reflecting on the experience, Walls said, "It was like the kitchen came alive. I mean, everything was moving."
The scene was even worse once Wall opened the refrigerator with its nest of hard-to-control German roaches. ?
"The amount of roaches that were in that house ...?I can't even determine," he said. "Low number? I'd say thousands. It's more than thousands. It's probably millions -- they're everywhere."
It left the exterminator feeling for Celia.
"There's so much that's gone amiss there," he said. "So much clutter, so much dirt, filth, insects in the sink, in the refrigerator, garbage everywhere. Sad.?... It's like I can just sense somebody who's given up."
See if Celia can get her house and her life back on track when "Hoarding: Buried Alive" airs Jan. 15 at 9 p.m. on TLC.
Did you watch the last roach-filled episode? Will you tune in for Celia's story? Tell us on our Facebook page.
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Pantech Burst official on AT&T with LTE, available January 22nd for $50
Pantech's already made a move to dominate the lower end of Verizon's LTE lineup, and if AT&T's recent announcement was any indication, it's about to do the same on the largest GSM carrier as well. The Burst is AT&T's answer to the Breakout in terms of pricing, but the laundry lists of the two phones actually have a few gaping differences: the former employs the use of a 1.2GHz dual-core CPU, 4-inch Super AMOLED 800 x 480 display, 5MP camera with LED flash and 720p HD vid capture, 2MP front-facing cam, 16GB of internal storage space and microSD slot with a capacity of up to 32GB and a 1,650mAh battery. The Gingerbread-running Burst will be available in either black or red on January 22nd and can be yours for $50 with a two-year commitment. Considering Pantech's other offering for the same price, we can't say it will be a terribly difficult decision if you're looking for a budget phone on the lineup. We'll have our hands-on soon, so stay tuned.
Continue reading Pantech Burst official on AT&T with LTE, available January 22nd for $50
Pantech Burst official on AT&T with LTE, available January 22nd for $50 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Wednesday, January 11, 2012
LSU crushed by Alabama 21-0 despite ranking
LSU, rated No. 1, loses to Alabama, ranked second, in?BCS championship.
The Rematch of the Century, it wasn't.
Skip to next paragraphAlabama romped to another BCS championship against top-ranked?LSU?with a smothering defensive performance, a numbing barrage of field goals and even a long-overdue trip to the end zone.
Good enough for No. 1, if not a lot of style points.
No. 2 Alabama posted the first shutout in the 14-year history of the BCS, relying on Jeremy Shelley's right leg for most of the points ? he made a bowl record-tying five field goals ? and letting its defense do the rest. The Crimson Tide romped to a 21-0 victory over the Tigers for its second BCS title in three years.
While only crimson-clad fans will remember this one as a thing of beauty, Alabama (12-1) erased any doubts that it deserved to be in the title game over another one-loss team like Oklahoma State or Stanford.
Then again, one of those teams might have actually scored a touchdown before Alabama finally did, with 4:36 left in the game, long after fans may have flipped to something more entertaining than a one-sided kicking contest. Amazingly, these Southeastern Conference powerhouses played twice in a span of about two months, and never came that close to one of those things that's worth six points ? you know, touchdowns ? until Trent Richardson broke off a 34-yard run with 4:36 remaining.
It only took 115 minutes, 34 seconds, plus an overtime period in their first meeting.
LSU?(13-1) had beaten eight ranked teams ? including Alabama in early November ? to establish itself as the clear No. 1 going into the bowls, but the Tigers crossed midfield only once in the sequel to the Game of the Century in Tuscaloosa. Instead of putting up a "Godfather II," this one was more akin to "Speed 2."
The Tigers were outgained 384-92 in total yards, managed a puny five first downs and didn't cross the 50 until there were just 8 minutes left. From there, they went back, back, back ? the last gasp ending appropriately with beleaguered quarterback Jordan Jefferson getting the ball knocked from his hand before he could even get off a fourth-and-forever pass.
The BCS title belongs to Nick Saban, who is carving out quite a legacy of his own at the school that still worships Bear Bryant as if he just retired yesterday. The Associated Press likely will follow suit by bestowing the title on the Tide when its poll comes out early Tuesday, given the dominance of Alabama's performance.
Saban has won a pair of BCS titles at Alabama, plus another at?LSU?in 2003. He's the first coach to win three BCS titles, denying?LSU's?Les Miles his second championship. The Tigers will have to settle for the SEC title, but that's not likely to ease the sting of this ugly performance.
Back on Nov. 5 at Bryant-Denny Stadium, Alabama held the top spot in the first matchup between the 1-2 teams. The Tigers pulled off a 9-6 victory in overtime, kicking three field goals while the Crimson Tide missed four of its six attempts.
OK, so maybe that wasn't a classic. But it was downright thrilling compared to the rematch, the first time in the BCS that teams played for the title after meeting during the regular season.
Credit the Alabama defense for that.
Led by dominating linebackers Courtney Hightower and Dont'a Hightower,?LSU?simply couldn't do anything ? running or passing. Kenny Hilliard led the Tigers with 16 yards rushing, while Jefferson was 11 of 17 passing for 53 yards, usually hurrying away passes before he was sent tumbling to the Superdome turf. He was sacked four times and threw a mystifying interception when he attempted to flip away a desperation pass, only to have it picked off because his intended receiver had already turned upfield looking to block.
A.J. McCarron was the offensive MVP, completing 23 of 34 for 234 yards. Richardson added 96 yards on 20 carries. But an even bigger cheer went up when the defensive award was presented to Upshaw, who had seven tackles, including a sack, and spent a good part of his night in the?LSU?backfield.
Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/gIbViiYdI9w/LSU-crushed-by-Alabama-21-0-despite-ranking
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Monday, January 9, 2012
Monster Tries to Replace Dre With Lance Armstrong—Or Anything [Audio]
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Tymoshenko's husband seeks asylum in Czech Republic (Reuters)
PRAGUE (Reuters) ? The husband of Ukraine's jailed opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko has sought asylum in the Czech Republic as Ukrainian authorities step up pressure on her family, her party said.
Former Prime Minister Tymoshenko was sentenced in October to seven years in prison for abuse of office in what the United States and the European Union denounced as a politically-motivated trial.
The prosecution of Tymoshenko and her former team has strained relations between President Viktor Yanukovich's government and the West.
The asylum request from her husband, Oleksander Tymoshenko, 51, was confirmed on Friday by Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg following a report in the Czech newspaper Pravo.
"During a break in the government meeting I asked the interior minister whether this was true ... and he said yes," he told Czech radio.
In Kiev, Tymoshenko's party issued a statement saying her whole family circle was now under pressure from the Yanukovich government and Oleksander Tymoshenko had sought asylum abroad so that her persecutors would have less leverage over her.
"This step by Oleksander Tymoshenko is in response to amoral attempts to pressure and torment Yulia Tymoshenko by persecuting her loved ones and family," the party said. A defense lawyer for Tymoshenko said that the couple's daughter, 31-year-old Yevgenia, had no plans yet to follow her father.
The Czech Republic, part of the former Soviet bloc until the 1989 "Velvet Revolution," has a policy of supporting opposition in countries that have patchy human rights records, including Cuba and Belarus, a legacy of former President Vaclav Havel.
The asylum request will be the second high-profile application in the past year in the Czech Republic, an EU member, after it gave refuge to a Tymoshenko ally, Bohdan Danylyshynin, early 2011.
A government source told Reuters that Tymoshenko's request had been made at the end of last year. "There has been no decision yet," the source said.
OUT OF PUBLIC EYE
Oleksander Tymoshenko, who has kept a low profile during his wife's roller-coaster political career, is part owner of a business registered in the Czech Republic.
The businessman, son of a former communist party official, was caught up in the investigation into the gas trading corporation United Energy Systems in 2000 during Leonid Kuchma's presidency.
He was detained in early 2001 on charges of embezzlement, which were later dropped. He made rare public appearances but attended their daughter's wedding, figured in a promotional film for his wife's 2010 presidential bid and was at Yulia's side in court when she was sentenced in October.
She was beaten narrowly by Yanukovich in a run-off vote in February 2010 after a vitriolic campaign which left them bitter enemies.
The EU, which had planned initial agreements on political association and free trade with Ukraine at a summit in December, put off the signing and cited Tymoshenko's case as an example of selective justice in the former Soviet republic.
Tymoshenko served as prime minister after helping to lead the 2004 "Orange Revolution" protests, which overturned an election victory for Yanukovich in his first bid for the presidency and which, for a while, cast him adrift politically.
She has denied exceeding her powers when forcing through a 2009 gas deal with Russia as prime minister. At the turn-of-the year the 51-year-old was moved from a police detention centre in Kiev to a prison in Kharkiv some 500 km (300 miles) away from the capital.
Her defense lawyer has complained that she is being kept in "inhuman conditions" under 24-hour camera surveillance with overhead lights permanently on.
(Additional reporting by Robert Mueller and Richard Balmforth in KIEV; Editing by Rosalind Russell)
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