Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Immigration bill heads to full Senate

WASHINGTON (AP) ? A far-reaching bill to remake the nation's immigration system is headed to the full Senate, where tough battles are brewing on gay marriage, border security and other contentious issues, with the outcome impossible to predict.

The Senate Judiciary Committee approved the measure 13-5 Tuesday night, setting up an epic showdown on the Senate floor after Congress' Memorial Day recess. The legislation is one of President Barack Obama's top domestic priorities ? yet it also gives the Republican Party a chance to recast itself as more appealing to minorities.

Many involved still vividly recall the last time the Senate took up a major immigration bill, in 2007, beginning with high hopes only to see their efforts collapse on the Senate floor amid a public backlash and interest group defections.

Some expressed optimism for a better outcome this time around as the Judiciary Committee gave its bipartisan approval. Three Republicans ? Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Jeff Flake of Arizona, both authors of the bill, and Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah ? joined the 10 committee Democrats in supporting the measure.

"We've demonstrated to the United States Senate we can all work together, Republicans and Democrats," said the panel's chairman, Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt. "Now let's go out of this room and work together with the other members of the Senate, and with the other body (the House), and more importantly work with all Americans, and all those who wish to be Americans."

In a statement, Obama applauded the committee's action and said the bill was "largely consistent with the principles of common-sense reform I have proposed and meets the challenge of fixing our broken immigration system."

The legislation would create new routes for people to come legally to the U.S. to work at all skill levels, tighten border security and workplace enforcement, and offer a chance at citizenship to the 11 million people here illegally.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has said he would bring the legislation to the Senate floor early next month for a debate that some aides predicted could consume a month or more. The fate of immigration legislation in the House was even less clear, although it was due to receive a hearing in the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday.

It was Leahy's 11th-hour decision to hold back on an amendment to extend immigration rights to same-sex married couples that cleared the way for the bill's approval.

Until Leahy began speaking on the issue to a hushed hearing room Tuesday evening, it wasn't clear how the matter, which had hovered over the three weeks of committee sessions to review the legislation, would play out.

Leahy had been under pressure from gay groups to offer the amendment, which would allow gay married Americans to sponsor their foreign-born spouses for green cards like straight married Americans can. But Republican supporters of the bill warned that including such a measure would cost their support. As the committee neared the end of its work, officials said Leahy had been informed that both the White House and Senate Democrats hoped he would not risk the destruction of months of painstaking work by putting the issue to a vote.

"I don't want to be the senator who asks people to choose between the love of their life and the love of their country," Leahy said, adding that he wanted to hear from others on the committee.

In response, he heard a chorus of pleas from the bill's supporters not to force a vote that they warned would lead to the collapse of Republican support and the bill's demise.

"I don't want to blow this bill apart," said Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., the first to speak up.

"I believe in my heart of hearts that what you're doing is the right and just thing," said Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill. "But I believe this is the wrong moment, that this is the wrong bill."

Sens. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Al Franken, D-Minn., added their voices, and Leahy announced that, "with a heavy heart," he would withdraw his amendment.

Gay rights groups voiced outrage, and the issue is certain to re-emerge when the full Senate debates the legislation. But it is doubtful that sponsors can command the 60 votes that will be needed to make it part of the legislation.

In the hours leading to a final vote, the panel also agreed to a last-minute compromise covering an increase in the visa program for high-tech workers, a deal that brought Hatch over to the ranks of supporters.

Under the bill, the number of highly skilled workers admitted to the country would increase greatly, but there were also protections aimed at ensuring U.S. workers get the first shot at jobs, and high-tech companies objected to some of those.

Under the deal, companies in which foreign labor accounts for at least 15 percent of the skilled workforce would be subjected to tighter conditions than businesses less dependent on H-1B visa holders, and requirements on recruiting and hiring and firing of U.S. workers would be relaxed.

In defeat, opponents said they, too, wanted to overhaul immigration law, but not the way that drafters of the legislation had done.

Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, recalled that he had voted to give "amnesty" to those in the country illegally in 1986, the last time Congress passed major immigration legislation. He said that bill, like the current one, promised to crack down on illegal immigration, but said it had failed to do so.

"No one disputes that this bill is legalization first, enforcement later. And that's just unacceptable to me and to the American people," he said.

___

AP White House Correspondent Julie Pace contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/immigration-bill-heads-full-senate-072306686.html

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Hacked Brainwave Headset Lets You Control Architecture by Thinking

In the age of ubiquitous computing, we've grown fairly used to infrastructure, objects, and even furniture that adapt to the presence of humans. But what if you could control the behavior of a wall or room simply by thinking harder?

That?s the impetus behind Cerebral Hut, an installation by the Turkish architect Guvenc Ozel. The hut, which is made up of ten hexagonal panels programmed to expand and contract on command, was part of a show at the last Istanbul Biennial. Ozel bought a commercially available brainwave reader?like this NeuroSky headset?and wrote a script that turns the brain activity of the user into motion cues for the panels. Standing beneath the curved half-wall, visitors could control the size of the panels and the pace of their deformation simply by concentrating and blinking.

It?s a crude example of where brain science and architecture could eventually intersect, as sensor technology evolves. ?We traditionally assume that the built environment, whether in the architectural or the urban scale, influences our psyche,? Ozel explains. ?What if we can reverse that relationship? What if a kinetic architecture could establish a direct connection between the thoughts of its user and itself in order to reconfigure its physical boundaries accordingly??

Neurologists and architects have long been drawn to each others? professions?hell, there?s even an institute devoted to their union?but until recently, research into how architecture directly affects the brain (and vice versa) has been limited by tech that?s either clunky or wildly expensive. Now, we?re entering an era when off-the-shelf hardware is making it possible for designers with minimal experience in either field to experiment at the intersection of brains and buildings. [The Dish]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/hacked-brainwave-headset-lets-you-control-architecture-508883130

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'Gay' Obama Needs to Come Out of the Closet, Pundit Says

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2013/05/gay-obama-needs-to-come-out-of-the-closet-pundit-says/

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Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Te'o off-limits to media but not Maxim party

San Diego Chargers rookie linebacker Manti Te'o, right, runs a drill during Chargers training camp Monday, May 20, 2013, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

San Diego Chargers rookie linebacker Manti Te'o, right, runs a drill during Chargers training camp Monday, May 20, 2013, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

San Diego Chargers rookie linebacker Manti Te'o grabs a catch during Chargers training camp Monday, May 20, 2013, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

SAN DIEGO (AP) ? Manti Te'o isn't hiding out. He's just not talking to the media.

After being spotted attending a party thrown by the magazine Maxim last week in Hollywood, Te'o was back in San Diego at the Chargers second open session of organized team activities on Monday.

For the second straight week, the former Notre Dame linebacker was barred from speaking with reporters.

Maxim confirmed that Te'o attended a party after the magazine included his fake girlfriend on its list of the world's 100 hottest women.

The Chargers apparently are trying to put the fake girlfriend episode behind by keeping Te'o off-limits to the media until minicamp in mid-June. Te'o's attending the party seemed to refresh in people's minds how the Heisman Trophy runner-up was caught in an elaborate hoax. The magazine put Te'o's fake girlfriend at No. 69 on its list, running a picture of an "invisible" girl in a bikini superimposed over an ocean scene.

Te'o posed with several women at the Maxim party, including models Kendra Wilkinson and Courtney Caldwell, and beach volleyball player Jess Gysin.

Rookie head coach Mike McCoy said he didn't know Te'o went to the Maxim bash.

"He's going to make certain decisions. We'll keep that in-house with what we think and what we're doing with that," the coach said.

Te'o was drafted by the Chargers in the second round.

He dropped out of the first round in part because of his poor performance in Notre Dame's blowout loss to Alabama in the national championship game. The fake girlfriend hoax that was revealed in January and became a national sensation didn't help, either.

The Chargers, who are trying to rebuild under a new regime after missing the playoffs three straight seasons, have taken unprecedented steps to limit Te'o's time in front of the microphones. The team refused to let reporters do customary one-on-ones with him after his introductory news conference during the draft, and has continued to refuse to set up one-on-one interviews with the linebacker.

Te'o did speak after the first practice of rookie minicamp on May 10 but has been the only player off-limits during OTAs, which are practices in helmets, jerseys and shorts.

Some reporters do have football-related questions for Te'o.

"We have a plan like we have for everything else," McCoy said. "He's here. He's a young player. The organization has a schedule for him like we do every other player of putting him in front of the media. We'll do it accordingly.

"He's doing a nice job and he'll be in front of you when we put him out here."

McCoy was Denver's offensive coordinator when Tim Tebow was with the Broncos.

The Broncos never kept Tebow off-limits to the media.

One Chargers rookie who did talk was former California wide receiver Keenan Allen, who said he didn't think posting a photo of himself online wearing an Oakland Raiders cap would cause the stir it did.

"Obviously I had a Raiders hat on. I didn't think it would have the effect that it did have but obviously it did and I didn't mean for it to happen," Allen said sheepishly about getting caught wearing gear from the Chargers' most-hated rival. "I wasn't thinking about it at the time. I wasn't actually thinking about football at all. I was just going to grab a bite to eat. I posted something on Vine.

"I'm sorry about it and it won't happen again." Allen said he bought the hat while in college.

He posted the picture sometime after being drafted by the Chargers.

He also said veteran safety Eric Weddle "came up to me today and gave me the rundown ? don't do it again."

Outside linebacker Dwight Freeney, who agreed to a two-year deal with the Chargers on Saturday, wasn't at Monday's workout. McCoy said Freeney had a prior commitment.

.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2013-05-20-FBN-Protecting-Te'o/id-f08d0dcbbfeb43d28f2659481b2500d9

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White House says more farm subsidy cuts needed

WASHINGTON (AP) ? The White House says it would like to see more cuts to agriculture subsidies in a massive farm bill moving through the Senate this week.

The bill would cost almost $100 billion a year over five years and would set policy for farm programs and food aid. The legislation would cut about $2.4 billion annually from overall farm spending and would eliminate a controversial subsidy that is paid to farmers whether they farm or not. But it would still expand federally subsidized crop insurance and raise subsidies for rice and peanut farmers.

The Obama administration said Monday that it supports the legislation but would like to see more savings in the crop insurance and farm subsidy programs.

The Senate began debating the bill Monday.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/white-house-says-more-farm-subsidy-cuts-needed-214251928.html

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Rihanna to Miley Cyrus: Let's Make Out!!

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2013/05/rihanna-to-miley-cyrus-lets-make-out/

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Monday, May 20, 2013

Tokyo Has Never Sounded This Incredible

What do you get when you combine a 1:1000-scale model of Tokyo, 3D video projection mapping and catchy techno riffs? Three minutes of awesome, that's what.

To celebrate the ten year anniversary of its opening, the Roppongi Hills complex (part high-rise residences, part shopping district, part entertainment venue) created this wicked cool short, Tokyo City Symphony. By projecting 3D animation onto a 1:1000-scale model of the capital city, the video's producers were able to make the cityscape appear to dance along to the music.

What's more, you can generate your own 12-bar mix and share it on the Tokyo City Symphony website, adding it to a growing communal stream of user-created riffs. But why, oh why, didn't they include the ability to export your track to a ringtone? [Tokyo City Symphony]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/tokyo-has-never-sounded-this-incredible-508939001

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Winning numbers drawn in Powerball jackpot

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) ? Lottery officials say the winning numbers in a near-historic Powerball jackpot have been drawn.

They are: 10, 13, 14, 22, 52 and Powerball 11.

Officials say the latest Powerball jackpot figure results are still pending. They had estimated it at $600 million.

With four of every five possible combinations of Powerball numbers in play, someone is almost sure to win the game's highest jackpot. The problem, of course, is those same odds just about guarantee the lucky person won't be you.

The chances of winning the prize remain astronomically low: 1 in 175.2 million. That's how many different ways you can combine the numbers when you play.

But since about 80 percent of the possible combinations have been purchased, lottery officials say it's likely the winning ticket could be selected.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/winning-numbers-drawn-powerball-jackpot-031819073.html

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Sunday, May 19, 2013

PFT: Te'o shows up at Maxim party for list that included fake girlfriend

gipson_headshot

Though the NFL has not seen a player die from on-field injuries in decades (Korey Stringer died in 2001 from heat exhaustion), tragedy often strikes at the lower levels of this sport.

It happened recently in Farmerville, Louisiana, to 17-year-old Jaleel Gipson (pictured).? A fullback, Gipson died after fracturing a vertebrate during ?Oklahoma drills? at Farmerville High School?s spring practices.? He was on life support for several days.

According to KNOE-TV, Bengals offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth has donated to the family the cost of Gipson?s funeral.? It?s a great gesture, and news of Whitworth?s generosity brought the story to our attention.

Now that we?re here, and speaking primarily as the father of a soon-to-be-17-year-old football player, why in the hell are high school kids doing Oklahoma drills in May, or ever?

The NFL stubbornly believes its rules will trickle down to the lower levels of the sport.? If so, the removal of contact from offseason workouts is trickling from Park Avenue to the Bayou at the rate of partially-frozen molasses.

Jaleel?s coach calls the incident an ?unlucky event,? which Jaleel?s family surely? would consider to be the biggest understatement of human history.? The health of our children shouldn?t be left to chance, not when the risk is avoidable.? While we realize that many frustrated, over-the-hill athletes regard high-school sports as having the same significance as the pro game, youth sports are played with children, not adults.

While the excessive zeal of some can undermine the good intentions of the many, it seems like every community has more than a few coaches whose obsession with winning clouds their judgment.? Or, in many cases, supplants it.

Try to remember that your players are our children.? They?re not your tickets to the glory days that have long since passed you by.? They?re our children.

Jaleel Gipson should be alive, and now his family has to deal for the rest of their lives with the fact that he isn?t.? While it?s very good and kind that Andrew Whitworth will pay for Jaleel?s funeral, this situation needs to spark a broader discussion in every school district about putting the same limits on offseason practices that the NFL has instituted.

That won?t bring Jaleel back, but it could protect other kids from suffering a similar fate.

Source: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/05/18/teo-shows-up-at-maxim-party-honoring-fake-girlfriend/related/

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Belmont Stakes: Oxbow vs. Orb in the cards

BALTIMORE (AP) ? Another year, another Triple Crown hopeful unable to come through.

After Oxbow upset Kentucky Derby winner Orb in Saturday's Preakness to extend racing's Triple Crown drought to 36 years, the next best alternative for the Belmont Stakes is a rematch.

And, it appears one is in the making. Both trainers are giving every indication their classic-winning colts will run in the Belmont on June 8.

"You know me," Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas said after Oxbow's 1 ?-length victory over Itsmyluckyday, with 3-5 favorite Orb finishing fourth. "I like to rack them up in the big events. So, I'll probably go."

Trainer Shug McGaughey says he'd like to run Orb in the Belmont as long as the colt is doing well.

"The Belmont Stakes is on our radar screen," McGaughey said Sunday after arriving back at Belmont Park and checking on his Derby winner, who was vanned back earlier in the day.

After a talk with Orb's owners Ogden Mills "Dinny" Phipps and Stuart Janney III, McGaughey said, "We just all came to the conclusion that we should just watch Orb and see. I think everything is in good shape. We'd like to run.

"But yesterday took a little bit out of him and he's already run five times this year and it's only the middle of May. I'd sure like to have him fresh for Saratoga and a Jim Dandy/Travers kind of a go."

A year ago, there was great anticipation for a Triple try after I'll Have Another won the Derby and Preakness, but the colt was scratched the day before the Belmont because of a tendon injury.

The most recent of 20 rematches between classic winners in the Belmont was two years ago, with Derby winner Animal Kingdom and Preakness winner Shackleford hooking up ? but 24-1 long shot Ruler On Ice pulled the upset.

Hours after Oxbow's win at 15-1 odds gave Lukas his record 14th Triple Crown race win ? and sixth Preakness ? the trainer and his colt where on the road back to Churchill Downs.

If both show up for the 1? -mile Belmont, a formidable lineup of challengers could be waiting. Todd Pletcher has five possible starters: Derby runners Revolutionary (third), Overanalyze (11th) and Palace Malice (12th), as well as a pair of fillies in Dreaming of Julia and Unlimited Budget.

Other possibles include Derby runner-up Golden Soul, Mylute (fifth in the Derby, third in the Preakness), Freedom Child, Power Broker and Code West.

McGaughey was disappointed he couldn't follow up his first Derby win with his first Preakness win, but said, "Winning the Derby was my lifetime dream and we won it. I would have loved to have won yesterday and taken it to the next level."

Lukas, meanwhile, won his first Triple Crown race since 2000, when Commendable won the Belmont. Since that win, Lukas was 0-for-31 in 22 Triple Crown races before Saturday.

"I still enjoy doing this so much," he said. "I don't wake up every day anymore trying to prove I can train a racehorse. When you're younger, you keep trying to prove yourself. I'm very comfortable with where I'm at."

Oxbow, ridden by Hall of Famer Gary Stevens, took the lead just after the start and led every step of the way. Orb never seemed to get into his long-striding running style after leaving from the inside No. 1 post and didn't make a serious run for the lead.

The winning time of 1:57.54 was the slowest since 1961, when Carry Back won in 1:57.60. No matter, it gave Stevens his third Preakness win to go along with his three Derby and three Belmonts wins. Not bad for a guy coming back after a seven-year retirement.

"I can't say that we thought we were going to win," the 50-year Hall of Fame rider said, "but we knew we had a chance to win."

The win was a big one for Calumet Farm, too, the iconic stable being revitalized by new owner Brad Kelley. The stable that produced Triple Crown champions Whirlaway in 1941 and Citation in 1948 won its first classic since Forward Pass took the Preakness in the 1968.

"They're all special because they were with a different client," Lukas said when asked to compare his Preakness wins. "The key is to get one every once in a while for the new guy. We've got a new guy in Brad Kelley at Calumet. And to know he was watching at home and put Calumet, who we all know that name, back on the front pages of the racing publications is very special."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/belmont-stakes-oxbow-vs-orb-cards-191757754.html

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The five ways Google is ?assaulting? Apple

Google Vs AppleGoogle Vs Apple

Google CEO Larry Page spoke about peace in the industry during the Google I/O 2013 keynote, but that doesn?t mean Google has plans to slow its various attacks on rivals? turf. Forbes contributor?Peter Cohan laid out the five areas where Google is launching its ?assault? on chief competitor?Apple, and he discussed exactly how Google is hurting the world?s most valuable company in each area. Among Cohan?s five fronts are smartphones, where Google?s Android platform has overtaken the iPhone as the most popular handset operating system in the world; tablets, where strength in numbers will soon help Google top Apple?s market share once again; and innovation, the ?most important front where Google is trouncing Apple.? Because the company is assaulting Apple on these five fronts and seemingly winning, Cohan says it looks like ?Google is winning the war for the future.? Of course, whether or not this win will help Google top Apple?s record profits remains to be seen.

[More from BGR: Good news for Google Fiber: Broadcast TV audiences are cratering faster than ever]

This article was originally published on BGR.com

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/five-ways-google-assaulting-apple-183503843.html

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Yahoo schedules product-related event for May 20th in NYC, Marissa Mayer expected to speak

Yahoo schedules productrelated event for May 20th in NYC, Marissa Mayer expected to speak

Call us crazy, but it sure feels like Yahoo's had one heck of a spring. When it comes to spending, anyway. Just as soon as it can get one check to clear, the search icon is breaking the ink back out to write another. According to a breaking tweet from CNBC, Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer is scheduled to speak at a "product-related" event in New York City this coming Monday. It's tough to tell what kind of surprise will be in store, but we wouldn't be shocked if it involved the word "Tumblr." We're digging for more as we speak, and will most certainly be on hand to see what comes to fruition.

Update: We've just heard back from Yahoo, and the event is indeed going down in order to "share something special." And yes, we'll be there to bring whatever happens to your browser of choice.

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Source: CNBC (Twitter)

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Saturday, May 18, 2013

Saudi woman scales Everest for first time

Saudi woman scales Everest with group of 64 climbers Saturday. Raha Moharrak, a 25-year old graphic designer, is the first Saudi woman to have reached the summit of Mount Everest.

By Staff,?Associated Press / May 18, 2013

A 1963 photo shows the summit of Mt. Everest. A Saudi woman was among 64 climbers who reached the summit Saturday.

(AP Photo/Henry S. Hall, Jr. American Alpine Club Library, Barry Corbet Personal Papers and Films)

Enlarge

?Mountaineering officials say 64 climbers, including a Saudi Arabian woman, have successfully scaled Mount Everest from Nepal's side of the mountain.

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Tilak Padney of Nepal's Mountaineering Department says 35 foreigners accompanied by 29 Nepalese Sherpa guides reached the 8,850-meter (29,035-foot) peak on Saturday morning after climbing all night from the highest camp on South Col.

All were reported to be safe.

Among them was Raha Moharrak, who became the first Saudi Arabian woman to scale the world's highest peak.

Raha Moharrak, a 25-year old graphic designer, is the only woman in a group of four Arabs who announced two months ago that they would be reaching the summit in 2013.

"The first ever Saudi woman to attempt Everest has reached the top!! Bravo Raha Moharrak. We salute you," said a tweet from the group, according to Al Jazeera.

The "Arabs with Altitude" group includes?Mohammed Al Thani, a?member of Qatar's royal family, Raed Zidan, a Palestinian real-estate businessman and?Masoud Mohammad, an Iranian living in Dubai who owns an ice-cream franchise.

Ahead of her trip,?Moharrak said:??I really don?t care about being the first ... so long as it inspires someone else to be the second."

Everest can be climbed from either Nepal or Tibet, and about 3,000 people have made it to the summit.

May is the most popular month for Everest climbs because of more favorable weather.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/_EirAls77y4/Saudi-woman-scales-Everest-for-first-time

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'Scandal' cast performs finale live for Academy

(AP) ? Forget the DVR.

Not this time. Not after this long of a wait.

Millions of fans actually watched the season-two finale of the ABC drama "Scandal" the old-fashioned way: on a TV screen, as it was fed from the network to their local affiliates.

But a crowd of approximately 700 at the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in North Hollywood experienced this "Scandal" episode differently Thursday night. The audience, comprised primarily of Emmy voters and their guests, got a live performance by the majority of the show's cast members. Star Kerry Washington and company sat in chairs on the Academy stage facing the audience, and recreated the episode's so-called "table read." They delivered dialogue and stage directions directly from the finale's script.

"Scandal" spins around crisis manager Olivia Pope (played by Washington), a political fixer who could use some fixing herself.

On the arrivals line, Washington said that this reading wasn't all that different from those the "Scandal" cast and crew does for each episode.

"It's such a great opportunity, because we all enjoy working together so much, we're like a theater company," added the actress, who, like many of the "Scandal" principals, has logged considerable time on the stage.

If you have not seen the "Scandal" season-two finale, read on at your own risk. The following details what Washington called the "jaw-dropping" last scene of the episode.

Done, apparently once and for all, with her long on-again off-again affair with U.S. President Fitzgerald "Fitz" Thomas Grant III (Tony Goldwyn), Olivia is ready to start life anew. As she opens the door to begin her morning jog, Olivia is greeted by a swarm of reporters, asking variations of, "Are you the president's mistress?" A dazed Olivia is briskly escorted into a limousine, where she's greeted by the mysterious Rowan (Joe Morton).

"Hello, Olivia," he says.

"Dad?" she responds.

End scene and episode.

Recalled Washington, "When I saw it (the word "Dad"), I didn't even know how to make it come out of my mouth. It was such brand-new information for me," she continued. "We haven't had any knowledge of Olivia's personal life outside of the White House."

"Scandal," last week's highest-rated TV drama in TV marketers' coveted 18-49 demographic, was recently renewed for a third season, and is expected to return with new episodes in September.

In a post-performance conversation with the audience, show creator Shonda Rhimes gave up few answers about the fates of her "Scandal" characters.

"I think there are a lot of questions," Washington said. "What's happening with Jake (Scott Foley)? What's going on with Olivia and her family? What's going on with the first couple in the White House? I mean, there's just tons and tons of questions this year."

It seems only one thing's for sure. For "Scandal" fans, it's going to be a long summer.

___

Online:

http://beta.abc.go.com/shows/scandal

Follow Michael Cidoni Lennox at http://www.twitter.com/MikeCLennox

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/4e67281c3f754d0696fbfdee0f3f1469/Article_2013-05-17-TV-Scandal%20Finale/id-e3dce595c9b946c29559818622c42e6b

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IRS Planted Question About Tax Exempt Groups

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The Internal Revenue Service planted a question at an American Bar Association conference in order to reveal that it had inappropriately targeted conservative groups prior to the 2012 elections. But members of Congress are questioning why they weren't told earlier.

The question that prompted Lois Lerner, IRS director of tax exempt organizations, to apologize for the agency's actions came from Celia Roady, a prominent Washington lawyer in private practice. Roady said that she received a call from Lerner the day before the May 10 conference, requesting that Roady ask a question about tax exempt groups.

"I received a call from Lois Lerner, who told me that she wanted to address an issue after her prepared remarks at the [American Bar Association] Tax Section's Exempt Organizations Committee Meeting, and asked if I would pose a question to her after her remarks," Roady said in a statement obtained by ABC News.

"I agreed to do so, and she then gave me the question that I asked at the meeting the next day. We had no discussion thereafter on the topic of the question, nor had we spoken about any of this before I received her call. She did not tell me, and I did not know, how she would answer the question." (The event was not recorded.)

But at a House Ways and Means Committee hearing today, lawmakers questioned why Lerner had appeared before the committee just days before the conference and failed to disclose what she knew about the targeting.

"A little more than a week ago Lois Lerner was in front of our Oversight Subcommittee. She serves as the director of the Exempt Organization Division, and she has been directly involved in this matter, yet she failed to disclose what she knew to this committee, choosing instead to do so at an ABA conference two days later," Rep. Sander Levin (D-Mich.) said on Friday morning. "This is wholly unacceptable."

Acting IRS Commissioner Steven Miller was grilled by Rep. Peter Roskam (R-Ill.) over what he called the IRS's "scheme" to plant a question at the ABA but not inform Congress.

Miller said he spoke with Lerner about how to make the information in the inspector general's investigation public.

"So we were going to do it at the same time, I believe, that our intent was to talk to [Congress] at the same time," Miller said.

Asked by Roskam whether Congress was informed "at the same time," Miller said, "It did not happen, I don't believe."

In a conference call with reporters on May 10, Lerner said that she did not publicly reveal the fact that the IRS had targeted conservative groups earlier because she had never been asked.

"Somebody asked me a question today, so I answered it," Lerner said.

Also Read

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/irs-planted-tax-exempt-groups-225212609--abc-news-politics.html

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Friday, May 17, 2013

'We will get this done'

Washington Redskins v Pittsburgh SteelersGetty Images

Tracing Doug Whaley?s move from Wall Street to Bills G.M.

The Dolphins signed undrafted rookie T Rupert Bryan and plan to move him to fullback.

Do the changes on the defensive line foreshadow scheme changes for the Patriots?

Jets G Vladimir Ducasse knows he has one more chance with the Jets.

With Rolando McClain officially out of the picture, here?s how things look at inside linebacker for the Ravens.

Five students have received $20,000 in college scholarship money from the charitable organization run by Bengals coach Marvin Lewis.

Browns G Jason Pinkston feels great after returning to the field for the first time since he developed a blood clot in his lung last year.

Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com thinks Antonio Brown can prove himself as a No. 1 receiver with the Steelers this year.

After spending 2012 on injured reserve, Texans K Randy Bullock is excited to actually do some kicking.

Said Colts coach Chuck Pagano of WR Darrius Heyward-Bey, ?We are very fortunate to get him on board. Big, fast, long athletic guy, that can go up and find the football and can certainly stretch a defense and take the top off the secondary, off the backend.?

The new-look Jaguars jerseys seem to be selling well.

Titans rookie CB Blidi Wreh-Wilson has made a habit of learning quickly on the football field.

It?s hard to find a weakness when it comes to Broncos LB Von Miller.

Chiefs defenders are enjoying the aggressiveness in this year?s defensive scheme.

Josh Cribbs is looking forward to playing for Raiders special teams coach Bobby April.

A move to guard looks like it is working out well for Jeromey Clary of the Chargers.

A call for the Cowboys to add Collin Klein?to their roster.

Aaron Curry believes he can be an impact linebacker for the Giants.

How will the Eagles use their tight ends this season?

Some disbelief about reports of Redskins interest in RB Tim Hightower.

How much did the Bears spend on undrafted free agents?

The Lions? defensive backs should be tested frequently in 2013.

A group of Packers players went to Iowa to fire up the team?s fans in the state.

Vikings LB Chad Greenway wants you to be a farmer.

Said Falcons coach Mike Smith of the team?s belief in high-character players, ?We win in the locker room first.?

Several Panthers rookies made a good first impression.

The Saints signed DT Isaako Aaitui to a two-year deal.

Going one-on-one with Buccaneers rookie DT Akeem Spence.

Cardinals rookies are getting plenty of chances to impress their coaches.

G.M. Les Snead has completed his overhaul of the team?s scouting and personnel departments.

RB Marcus Lattimore was left inspired by his first meeting with new 49ers teammate Frank Gore.

On Friday, Washington Governor Jay Inslee is signing a bill that will allow people to get Seahawks license plates.

Source: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/05/16/dimitroff-on-matt-ryan-contract-talks-we-will-get-this-done/related/

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Pinterest's newest update for both iOS and Android finally brings us some long-awaited mobile featur

Pinterest's newest update for both iOS and Android finally brings us some long-awaited mobile features including notifications, @mentions, and saved search histories.

Read more...

    


Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/pIbEw9XoN6o/pinterests-newest-update-for-both-ios-and-android-final-506664640

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Chris Brown Channel: All Breezy, All the Time!

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2013/05/chris-brown-channel-all-breezy-all-the-time/

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Thursday, May 16, 2013

Clerks 3 Script: Finished!

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2013/05/clerks-3-script-finished/

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Phones4U to sell Huawei Ascend P2

Huawei Ascend P2

Phone seller will have exclusivity over white Ascend P2

Independent British retailer Phones4U has announced plans to stock the Huawei Ascend P2 when it's released next month. It's only the second retailer or operator to announce that it'll carry Huawei's latest handset, after Three UK revealed its plans last week.

Phones4U also says it'll exclusively offer the white version of the phone.

The Huawei Ascend P2, which packs a 1.5GHz quad-core CPU, a 4.7-inch, 720p display and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, is due to launch in the UK starting next month. For more on the device, check out our hands-on coverage from Mobile World Congress.

    


Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/Iphcdqo_dG4/story01.htm

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Wednesday, May 15, 2013

CA-ENTERTAINMENT Summary

Angelina Jolie has double mastectomy to elude breast cancer

LONDON (Reuters) - Hollywood star Angelina Jolie has had a double mastectomy to reduce her chances of getting breast cancer and says she hopes her story will inspire other women fighting the life-threatening disease. Jolie wrote in the New York Times on Tuesday the operation has made it easier for her to reassure her six children that she would not die young from cancer, like her own mother did at 56.

Cannes film festival opens with fittingly lavish 'Great Gatsby'

LONDON (Reuters) - The 2013 Cannes film festival opens on Wednesday with Baz Luhrmann's 3D version of "The Great Gatsby", a lavish throwback to the "Roaring Twenties" that befits the glamour and excess of the world's biggest cinema showcase. The Australian director's adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel starring Leonardo DiCaprio surprised some Hollywood insiders, because Cannes traditionally launches on the palm-lined French Riviera with a splashy world premiere.

TV psychologist Joyce Brothers dies at age 85

(Reuters) - U.S. psychologist Joyce Brothers, who parlayed her 1955 victory on the TV game show "The $64,000 Question" into a nearly six-decade career as a television personality and columnist, died on Monday, her publicist said. She was 85. Brothers died of natural causes in New York, said Sanford Brokaw, her Los Angeles-based spokesman.

Jack Bauer is back: TV thriller '24' to return in 2014

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Emmy-winning television thriller "24" will return in the summer 2014 with its lead star, Kiefer Sutherland, after a four-year hiatus, Fox network said on Monday. "24: Live Another Day" brings back Sutherland as counter-terrorism agent Jack Bauer in the series that follows his race against the clock to foil presidential assassination attempts and chemical weapons attacks.

In ratings challenge, NBC and Fox revive old favorites

(Reuters) - Broadcast networks Fox and NBC are turning to proven favorites to lure new viewers next season, with Fox rebooting the defunct Kiefer Sutherland action series "24" and NBC bringing back Michael J. Fox in a comedy loosely based on his life. The two networks pitched their TV schedules to advertisers on Monday at the start of the "upfront" selling season, an annual rite when broadcasters try to persuade advertisers to shell out billions of dollars in advance for their new shows.

Astronaut's 'Space Oddity' music video goes viral

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - A music video shot aboard the International Space Station went viral on Monday, turning an astronaut into an overnight music sensation with his zero-gravity version of David Bowie's hit "Space Oddity." As the first Canadian to command the space station, a $100 million project of 15 nations, Chris Hadfield had already earned himself a place in the history books.

Popstar Justin Bieber gives up on pet monkey Mally

BERLIN (Reuters) - Teenage pop star Justin Bieber appears to have given up on his pet monkey which was seized by German customs officials in March, according to the shelter looking after "Mally". The 19-year-old singer has until Friday to hand in the necessary paperwork to retrieve his capuchin monkey, which was seized at Munich airport during a concert tour.

Aretha Franklin cancels two concerts over health issues

(Reuters) - Soul singer Aretha Franklin has pulled out of two upcoming performances because of health issues, the two concert venues said on Monday. Franklin, 71, canceled a May 20 concert with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and a May 26 solo performance at the Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut.

U.S. TV journalist Barbara Walters announces retirement

(Reuters) - Trailblazing broadcast journalist Barbara Walters, known for her interviews with world leaders and celebrities and the first woman to co-anchor a U.S. evening news program, said on Monday she will retire in the summer of 2014. With tears in her eyes, Walters, 83, announced her upcoming resignation on "The View," the all-woman show she created in 1997.

Palestinians unite behind Gaza Strip "Arab Idol" star

GAZA (Reuters) - The fractious factions in the Gaza Strip and across the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories have found one voice to unite behind - a 22-year-old youth singing songs about a lost homeland on the Middle East's version of 'American Idol'. Gaza native Mohammed Assaf has become the first Palestinian to qualify for 'Arab Idol', a TV talent show staged in Beirut, in which singers perform for judges and voting viewers.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/ca-entertainment-summary-001649804.html

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Mining the botulinum genome

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

The toxin that causes botulism is the most potent that we know of. Eating an amount of toxin just 1000th the weight of a grain of salt can be fatal, which is why so much effort has been put into keeping Clostridium botulinum, which produces the toxin, out of our food.

The Institute of Food Research on the Norwich Research Park has been part of that effort through studying the bacteria and the way they survive, multiply and cause such harm. In new research, IFR scientists have been mining the genome of C. botulinumto uncover new information about the toxin genes.

There are seven distinct, but similar, types of botulinum neurotoxin, produced by different strains of C. botulinumbacteria. Different sub-types of the neurotoxin appear to be associated with different strains of the bacteria. Genetic analysis of these genes will give us information about how they evolved.

Dr Andy Carter, working in Professor Mike Peck's research group, used data generated from sequencing efforts at The Genome Analysis Centre, on the Norwich Research Park. Andy compared the genome sequence of five different C. botulinumstrains, all from the same group and all producing the same sub-type of neurotoxin.

An initial finding was that the five strains were remarkably similar in the area of the genome containing the neurotoxin gene. This suggests that the bacteria picked up the gene cluster in a single event, sometime in the past. Bacteria commonly acquire genes, or gene clusters, from other bacteria through this horizontal gene transfer. It is a way that bacteria have evolved to share 'weapons', such as antibiotic activity or the ability to produce toxins. To find out more about how C. botulinumacquired its own deadly weapon, Andy delved deeper into the genome sequence.

Like fossils of long lost organisms, Andy found, in the same region of the genome, evidence of two other genes for producing two of the other types of neurotoxin. Although these gene fragments are completely non-functional, finding them in the same place in the genome as the functional neurotoxin gene cluster is significant as it suggests that this region of the genome could be a 'hotspot' for gene transfer.

Looking to either side of the neurotoxin gene cluster uncovered more evidence supporting the hotspot idea. When the gene cluster inserted into the C. botulinum genome, it cut in two another gene. This gene is essential for the bacteria to replicate its DNA, so why does destroying it not prove fatal? C. botulinumwas unaffected by this because contained in the segment of imported DNA was another version of the chopped-up gene.

Perhaps this is pointing us to the way C. botulinumfirst picks up its lethal weapon. This should help us prepare against the emergence of new strains, and may even one day help us disarm this deadly foe.

###

The research was funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council and published in the journal Genome Biology and Evolution Advance.

Norwich BioScience Institutes: http://www.nbi.ac.uk/

Thanks to Norwich BioScience Institutes for this article.

This press release was posted to serve as a topic for discussion. Please comment below. We try our best to only post press releases that are associated with peer reviewed scientific literature. Critical discussions of the research are appreciated. If you need help finding a link to the original article, please contact us on twitter or via e-mail.

This press release has been viewed 26 time(s).

Source: http://www.labspaces.net/128267/Mining_the_botulinum_genome

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RNC chairman says Holder should resign

(AP) ? The chairman of the Republican National Committee says Attorney General Eric Holder should resign over the decision by the Justice Department to secretly obtain two months of telephone records of reporters and editors for The Associated Press.

RNC chairman Reince Priebus (ryns PREE'-bus) says Holder has "trampled on the First Amendment" by allowing the Justice Department to issue secret subpoenas to "spy" on The AP.

At the same time, the American Society of News Editors called the actions "outrageous" and "appalling."

The records obtained by the Justice Department for April and May 2012 listed calls for the work and personal phone numbers of individual reporters and AP office numbers in New York, Washington and Hartford, Conn.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/89ae8247abe8493fae24405546e9a1aa/Article_2013-05-14-US-AP-Phone-Records-Reaction/id-9559a0e9668847ff95da09e9fd162bb3

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You Can Play Atari Breakout on Google Image Search and It's Awesome

Google is famous for the Easter eggs buried in its products. This might be one of the most entertaining we've seen in while. Head over to Google Image Search and punch in a query for "atari breakout"?or just click this link?and say goodbye to the rest of your evening.

Read more...

    


Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/8O_0mq1RKcY/you-can-play-atari-breakout-on-google-image-search-and-504867660

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Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Troubling Behaviors ? Gay and Lesbian Relationships

Gay and Lesbian issues have gained tremendous prominence in the past couple of decades. Particularly in the US and selected countries in Europe their stock, according to some, could not be higher. There are parades in their honor, military acceptance amongst its ranks, many performing artists write music and performances about them and economically, they are a force to reckon with.

Notice that I am purposely focusing on gays and lesbians and not including others who have adjacent orientations?trans-gender, bi-sexual etc. They are even more stressed it seems in seeking prominence for their cause in part because they tend to be marginalized. By far,gays and lesbians are in the forefront of the movement to recognize alternative sexual lifestyles.

And yet, acceptance is slow and painful. Why?

Why do Gays and lesbians, for all their might, struggle? They are struggling for mainstream recognition and it seems losing out to the heterosexual peers. Gays have founds friends among politicians who are frankly exploiting them and not from the society, a segment of which still regards them as a fringe existence.

teenage-girls-holding-hands-webHere are some of the reasons.

  • Gays and lesbians have backed the wrong causes. Their cause should not be to force the constituional change to recognize marriage, but to demand equality of pay and benefits. While same sex marriage is being accepted in some states, what is at issue is ?gay penalty? and that should be eliminated.
  • They have resorted to ?in-your-face? style of protest. They must recognize that they are in the minority. An overwhelming majority of the world population is hetrosexual.
  • They have tried to expand their group by including a variety of other groups with similar but unrelated sexual orientation?trans-genders, cross-dressers etc. While the intent is noble, it dilutes their message.
  • They have behaved badly when confronted with genuine religious or moral concerns of opponents. Instead of engaging in reasonable discussion, they have become over-sensitive and frankly at times, boorish. So they come off as fringe elements.
  • They must recognize that politicians are using them for one and one thing only?votes and campaign donations. Many of these politicians are hypocrites?they will not tolerate a homosexual in their own families and yet they go around professing compassion and advocacy for homosexual causes. Gays and lesbians will do well to call them out.It is akin to professing love for public education while sending your kids to private schools.

The positive news for gays and lesbians is that attitudes are changing in their favor. People, despite their personal feelings, have a genuine and sincere empathy for gays and lesbians. So it is better to join them, have a dialogue and engage in healthy discussion.

I do believe that while the world will continue to be largely heterosexual, and there will always be an element of society that will dislike gays and lesbians, these groups should be intelligent and positive about their cause and go about it the right way?patience, dialogue, collaboration and exchange of ideas.

By?Shyam A Sunder

Source: http://cmvlive.com/life-style-a-fashion/life-style/troubling-behaviors-gay-and-lesbian-relationships

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Monday, May 13, 2013

Glympse posts its free location sharing SDK in Android, iOS and web flavors

Glympse in a Mini

Glympse has been gradually spreading the reach of its location sharing platform, but mostly through special deals like those with BMW and Ford. It's time to fling the doors open: the company has posted a public version of its Lite software development kit. Android, IOS and web app creators can now weave the core of Glympse's real-time position broadcasting features into their work at any time, whether it's to track a car's journey or find a friend around the corner. Developers don't have to pay a dime if they count fewer than 300,000 active Glympse users every month, which could give curious programmers a strong incentive to try the SDK first and ask questions later.

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Source: Glympse

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/05/13/glympse-posts-its-free-location-sharing-sdk/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget

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Sunday, May 12, 2013

Chris Brown's scary curbside art irks LA neighbors

LOS ANGELES (AP) ? Grammy-winning musician Chris Brown's neighbors are unhappy with what some are calling frightening art he's chosen to have painted along the curb of his Hollywood Hills home.

A neighborhood group said the grimacing, sharp-toothed, red-eyed goblins painted along a retaining wall have been scaring children, and is an eyesore to boot, according to the Los Angeles Times (http://lat.ms/19cjOBY).

"There are lots of babies, lots of children, and they're literally frightened. It's like devils on the wall ? big scary eyes and big scary teeth, and just the whole vibe is not what we're used to," Patti Negri, president of the Hollywood Dell Civic Association, told the newspaper.

L.A. city code officials responded to complaints about the monster art and cited the "Run It!" singer $376 for unpermitted and excessive signage.

Under city ordinances, it's illegal to create murals on most private properties. Though that didn't stop Madonna from painting her Hollywood Hills home in red and yellow stripes in the 1990s.

Brown has been ordered to remove the goblin paintings within 30 days, but his attorney Mark Geragos said the musician is not backing down.

"They are trying to suspend the First Amendment," Geragos said.

Geragos alleges neighbors are harassing Brown and have also made parking complaints about him and called animal control.

In a telephone interview with The Associated Press on Saturday, Negri said all she wants is for Brown to "tone it down and be a better neighbor."

Brown's tumultuous relationship with singer Rihanna and foul-mouthed Twitter presence have given him a bad boy reputation.

Brown won a Grammy in 2011 for Best R&B Album with "F.A.M.E." and was arrested shortly after the 2009 awards ceremony for assaulting Rihanna.

"I know a $300 fine is probably pocket change. But hopefully and maybe, he'll just see the light and decide to be a good neighbor," Negri told the Times. "We're happy to have him ? if he just tones it down."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/chris-browns-scary-curbside-art-irks-la-neighbors-201639859.html

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A look at new saints canonized by Pope Francis

VATICAN CITY (AP) ? Pope Francis has made hundreds of new saints at his first canonization ceremony in St. Peter's Square. Here is a look at the people receiving the Church's highest honor:

____

ANTONIO PEZZULLA AND 812 FELLOW MARTYRS

In 1480, some 20,000 Turkish troops overran the citadel of Otranto in what is now the southeastern Puglia region of Italy, in the "heel" of the boot-shaped peninsula. The invaders demanded that the locals, including many who took refuge in the city's cathedral, convert to Islam. The Turks took 813 men from among those refusing to convert..

Pezzulla, also known as Primaldo, was the group's leader, and the first among the martyrs to be beheaded. They are referred to as "The martyrs of Otranto."

_____

LAURA OF ST. CATHERINE OF SIENA MONTOYA Y UPEGUI

Colombia's first saint, also known as Mother Laura Montoya and born in 1874, worked as a teacher and spiritual mother to Colombia's indigenous peoples.

In 1914, she and five other women set out on horseback into forests for their mission. They made up the core of a new religious order, the Congregation of Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Virgin, who today work in 21 nations. She died in 1949.

_____

MARIA GUADALUPE GARCIA ZAVALA

Maria Guadalupe Garcia Zavala was a Mexican woman, born in 1878, who decided at 22 to dedicate herself to helping the sick. Her religious mission played out during a period of tension between church and state, when tens of thousands of people were killed during a 1926-1929 uprising by Roman Catholic rebels against anti-clerical laws.

She helped Catholics avoid persecution during a government crackdown on the faith, including hiding the archbishop of Guadalajara in an eye clinic for 1 1/2 years after fearful local Catholic families refused to shelter him.

Also known as Mother Lupita, she co-founded an order of nuns, the Congregation of the Servants of St. Margaret Maria and of the Poor. She died in 1963.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/look-saints-canonized-pope-francis-090426604.html

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