Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/176805638?client_source=feed&format=rss
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Thursday, December 22, 2011
Monday, December 19, 2011
'Barefoot Bandit,' Colton Harris-Moore to plead guilty in US court
Barefoot Bandit:?The 20-year-old Colton Harris-Moore hopscotched his way across the United States as he evaded authorities during a two-year crime spree.
The young U.S. thief who gained an international following as the "Barefoot?Bandit" by stealing planes, boats and cars is expected to plead guilty in Washington state.
Skip to next paragraphThe 20-year-old Colton Harris-Moore hopscotched his way across the United States as he evaded authorities during a two-year crime spree. He was arrested after he flew a stolen plane from Indiana to the Bahamas in July 2010 and crash-landed it near a mangrove swamp.
Harris-Moore earned his nickname by committing some of the crimes?barefoot.
Harris-Moore has already pleaded guilty to federal charges, and on Friday he is expected to plead guilty to about 30 felonies, including burglary charges. Prosecutors will ask for a sentence of just under 10 years, while his lawyers are seeking a six-year term.
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DxO Optics Pro 7
DxO is better known for its embedded camera software and image-testing software, but the French company is increasingly sharing its expertise and strong academic ties with digital photographers. The results are little short of amazing, letting you get the most accurate and therefore lifelike images possible from your digital camera. Optics Pro 7 differs from most imaging software, such as Adobe Photoshop ($699, 5 stars) and its little brother, Photoshop Elements ($99.99, 4 stars), which offer lot of doodads to gussy up your photos. It also differs from professional workflow apps like Lightroom ($299, 4.5 stars) which offers an abundance of importing and organizing features. Instead DxO's $99 Optic Pro 7 can be thought of as a dedicated digital photo correction tool. It will be of interest not only to photography professionals, but also to enthusiast who want to get the most accurate images from their digital SLRs or high-end point-and-shoots.
DxO Optics Pro 7 does most of its work with simple-to-use automatic presets. Optics Pro 7's default is to use "modules" developed specifically for your camera body and lens combination.? To jump the gun on my evaluation a bit, my results were remarkable, particularly with raw camera files?the program can benefit JPG shots as well, but results on raw camera files are far more impressive. Optics Pro brought out submerged detail and eliminated obvious image noise and chromatic aberration better than Lightroom's similar equipment-specific correction. Lightroom's profile presets only correct geometric distortion, chromatic aberration, and vignetting. DxO adds noise reduction, color correction, and sharpening to Lightroom's, and DxO actually does a much better job at eliminating chromatic abberation.
Of course, these corrections depend on DxO having the data for your camera and lens in its database. Most popular DSLRs are represented, such as those made by Canon, Nikon, Pentax, and Sony, as well as some point-and-shoot models from the likes of FujiFilm, Panasonic, and Samsung. But if you have a lesser-known or not-really-enthiusast-level point-and-shoot, you're probably better off keeping your $99. The company expects to offer profiles for over 5,000 camera+lens combinations by the end of 2011, and 10,000 in 2012.
Unlike Adobe Lightroom, Optics Pro offers no workflow and few image-collection organization tools: There's no import feature at all?you simply choose a folder from the directory tree in the inaptly named Organize tab, the first one you start working in. Other software like Lightroom and Apple Aperture lets you apply adjustments and tagging during import. As soon as you open an image, Optics Pro applies its best-guess corrections, and if you do nothing more than accept this, your photos will be much improved from the default. I tested using raw image files from a Canon EOS T1i, a 7D, and a Sony a580.
Setup and Interface
DxO Optics Pro 7 comes in both Windows and Mac OS X flavors, and a free trial edition gives you access to its full feature set for 31 days. The 200MB installer creates only a 32-bit app on your system. That's one complaint I have with Optics Pro 7: for working with the huge photo files you get from high-end DSLRs these days, 64-bit would seem desirable. I tested on a quad-core 3.4GHz AMD Windows 7 64-bit system with 4GB RAM.
DxO Optics Pro 7's interface is clear, and mostly self-explanatory, with three tabs for its three modes?Organize (an overstatement), Customize, and Process. The first time you use any of these, an explanatory message box appears as part of the program's "first step wizard." Though it does let you rate images with 1 to 5 stars, DxO Optics Pro doesn't offer tons of organizational tools, the way Adobe Photoshop Elements or Lightroom do?forget things like face recognition, color coding, and extensive tagging.
During your first trips through the app, switching to any of the three modes pops up an explanation box, but you can disable these as you get more comfortable with the interface. As you'd expect, the image takes up the lion's share of the program window in the center, and below this a filmstrip-like image browser tray shows images available in the selected folder. Your mouse wheel zooms the main image view in and out. You can also fit the image to the window, set it to actual pixel size, or use a slider or percentage dropdown to zoom.
Cursor choices include a pointer, hand tool, and magnifier. Clicking the pointer over your image shows you the original, un-optimized image. You may be amazed by how much noise and other distortion appears when you click back to original. A double-image button lets you view the original and corrected images side-by-side, and the final toolbar item lets you choose a preset to apply.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ziffdavis/pcmag/~3/AGfwU8Dyt2M/0,2817,2397431,00.asp
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Sunday, December 18, 2011
Sniping pits old foes, new allies: France, Britain (AP)
PARIS ? France and Britain escalated an unusual bout of sniping Friday, as Prime Minister David Cameron took a swipe at religious freedoms in France while the French finance minister criticized the U.K. economy.
The latest cross-Channel squabbling ? triggered in part over a tense European Union summit last week ? bared efforts to win political points at home at a time when the financial crisis has pinched both governments.
The rabble-rousing also comes despite the lockstep military effort between the two countries in the NATO-led air campaign that helped spell the end of Moammar Gadhafi's longtime reign in Libya.
France and Britain, rivals for centuries, have been strong ? if at times uncomfortable ? allies since the 20th century. As western Europe's top military powers, they cooperate closely on defense and were joint pillars of the NATO-led air campaign that helped spell the end of Moammar Gadhafi's reign in Libya.
Friday's war of words got going as French Finance Minister Francois Baroin sought to deflect investor fears across the Channel to Britain, hours after the national statistics agency predicted France will slide into recession.
"We would prefer to be French right now than British, in terms of the economy," Baroin told Europe-1 radio.
Echoing comments from several top French officials this week, Baroin suggested ratings agencies should be paying more attention to Britain: "The economic situation of Britain is worrying today."
With French presidential and legislative elections on tap next spring, President Nicolas Sarkozy's conservatives have been on the defensive in recent weeks amid rumblings that France ? the eurozone's No. 2 economy after Germany ? may soon face a credit-rating downgrade.
Late Friday, Fitch ratings agency said it was keeping France's credit grade at Triple-A, but was revising its outlook on French sovereign debt to negative, from stable.
In Brussels last week, Cameron was the only European Union leader out of 27 to refuse to consider a new treaty that would impose tougher controls on state budgets to avert wider financial crisis. His decision left him isolated.
But in Britain, Cameron has been praised by many for his decision to hardball his European allies over their fiscal pact ? and some opinion polls show his governing Conservative Party winning a clear boost from the tough stance.
In a speech on religion in Oxford, Cameron appeared to take a swipe at France, switching focus from the economy to tolerance for minorities in the two countries. "Many people tell me it is much easier to be Jewish or Muslim here in Britain than it is in a secular country like France," Cameron said.
Britain's deputy prime minister Nick Clegg, leader of the pro-European Liberal Democrats who opposed Cameron's move to snub the European pact, urged French Prime Minister Francois Fillon to end the sniping from Paris.
During a trip to Brazil on Thursday, Fillon ? whose wife Penelope is Welsh ? acknowledged to reporters that France's debt was too high, before pointing to "our British friends who are even more indebted than we are."
"For the moment, the ratings agencies don't seem to notice," he said.
Clegg's office said Fillon had called him from Brazil to say that "it had not been his intention to call into question" Britain's credit rating.
Meanwhile, Clegg told Fillon that the recent remarks by some French officials about the British economy were "simply unacceptable and that steps should be taken to calm the rhetoric," the statement said.
Late Thursday, French statistics agency Insee forecast that the country's economy would shrink this quarter and next amid a worsening outlook for the whole 17-nation eurozone. Insee predicted the economy would contract 0.2 percent in the fourth quarter and 0.1 percent in the first quarter of 2012, and forecast renewed but weak growth in the second quarter.
___
David Stringer in London contributed to this report.
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Saturday, December 17, 2011
HBT: La Russa says Pujols 'in pain' since signing
Here?s an empathy test for you, Cardinals fans:?Tony La Russa says that Albert Pujols has been ?in pain? since signing his deal with the Angels last week:
La Russa said Pujols has been ?in pain? since he accepted the Los Angeles Angels? 10-year, $254-million offer. ?I know it was a painful decision and it pains him now,? La Russa said.
As you might expect, La Russa is being diplomatic here. He doesn?t call out the Cardinals for not being more aggressive, but you can sort of tell that that?s the ?pain? on Pujols? part that he?s trying to communicate.
Either way: $254 million buys something like 30 million extra large bottles of?ibuprofen, so I guess Albert?s good.
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Boy defies dad's rules to attend firefighter's wake
By msnbc.com staff
Jared Flanders faced a dilemma Wednesday evening: He had heard about the firefighter who was killed while looking for victims inside a burning building last week and he wanted to pay respects, but at only 11 years old, Jared wasn't allowed to go outside by himself and he had no one to take him.
NBC News
Jared Flanders, 11, rode his bike to a firefighter's wake to show his respects, even though he wasn't supposed to leave his house by himself.
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Jared, who lives in Worcester, Mass., ultimately decided to defy his father's orders and go to firefighter Jon Davies' wake. He carefully put on a coat and tie, hopped on his bike and went down to the funeral home, about a mile away, reported NBC affiliate WHDH.com.?
Jared didn't know the fireman, but he knows the pain of losing someone: His older half-brother fought in Iraq and died this summer, said Jared's dad, Gene Flanders, on his Facebook page.
"After what happened to my brother, I just -- I would feel bad for the other families and wanted to come support them," Jared told WHDH.com.
The firefighter, a 17-year veteran, died on Dec. 8 while battling a fire inside a triple-decker. He had been trying to rescue someone he thought was still trapped inside, local reports said. Firefighters and mourners across the area gathered at the funeral home to pay respects Wednesday evening, but pint-sized Jared stood out.
"He understood what the pain of the family was, and he wanted to come here and support the Worcester Fire Department and the family of Jon Davies, which to us says everything about the community of Worcester and its people," Chief Frank Diliddo of the Worcester?Police Department told WHDH.com.
Jared said he wanted to express his gratitude.
NBC News
Jared Flanders, 11, with a firefighter at Jon Davies' wake on Wednesday.
"I wanted to say thanks for saving all those people. Thanks for trying so hard. We?ll all miss you," he told The Boston Herald. "I felt very bad for him ? he was going to get married. The poor guy.?I kept thinking how good he was and how hard he worked.?What I was thinking about while watching everybody go up and pray was how brave he was and how such a hard worker he was."
Jared?himself?could wind up being a firefighter?one day, he told The Herald.
"I want to be a soccer player and if I don?t make that, I want to be a graphic designer or then a firefighter."
As for his tie, Jared said he learned how to tie it from a book called, "How to Be the Best at Everything," from which he also "read how to fly a helicopter and how to make a flute out of bamboo."
The funeral for Davies was being?held on Thursday. City officials told WBZ Wednesday they expected up to 12,000 mourners from Worcester and beyond to attend.
Firefighters said it meant so much to them?that Jared came?to the wake that?they invited him to ride on Davies' truck during the funeral procession Thursday, reported WBZ-TV.
Jared was given a police escort home Wednesday night from the wake, NECN.com said.
Gene Flanders, Jared's dad, admitted to The Herald that he can't punish Jared for breaking house rules in this situation.
"At first I was very startled. I am not quite sure how to deal with the situation. ... I was a little surprised when I called his phone and a police officer answered it, and he happened to say how Jared rode his bike to the funeral home. We were talking about how even though what he had done was very nice, we?re trying to go back over the rules that he wasn?t supposed to leave the house," Flanders said. "He has such a big heart."
More content from msnbc.com and NBC News:
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Judge hears 'Sister Wives' challenge of Utah law (AP)
SALT LAKE CITY ? Attorneys for a polygamous family made famous on a reality television show on Friday asked a Utah federal judge not to block their challenge of the state's bigamy law.
Kody Brown and wives Meri, Janelle, Christine and Robyn filed a lawsuit in Salt Lake City's U.S. District Court in July.
The stars of the TLC show "Sister Wives" contend the law is unconstitutional because it violates their right to privacy ? prohibiting them from living together and criminalizing their private sexual relationships.
Under Utah law, people are guilty of bigamy if they have multiple marriage licenses, or if they cohabitate with another consenting adult in a marriage-like relationship.
Formerly of Lehi, the Browns and their 17 children moved to Nevada in January after police launched a bigamy investigation. The Browns practice polygamy as part of their religious beliefs.
U.S. District Court Judge Clark Waddoups heard oral arguments in the case on Friday in Salt Lake City and took the matter under advisement. It's not clear when he will rule.
For the case to go forward, the judge must decide the Browns have been harmed by the bigamy law.
In court, the Browns' Washington-based attorney, Jonathan Turley, said the family has suffered losses of income and been forced to move out of state because they were under investigation for bigamy.
They've also suffered "reputational harm" because the law labels the Browns' family a "criminal association," and because some Utah County prosecutors have said publicly that it would be easy for authorities bring charges because the Browns have already acknowledged felonies on national TV.
"This family was fearful of arrest ... they still are," Turley said. "It's why they are not here (in court) today."
Assistant Utah Attorney General Jerrold Jensen called the Browns' lawsuit "great TV drama" but said there's no real threat to the family, which has neither been arrested or charged with any crime.
Jensen said it's more likely the Browns were harmed by publicizing their lifestyle on television, not by actions taken by the state.
"The Browns have perceived that they will be prosecuted," Jensen said. "That is a misperception, at least at this point."
Jenson also said the Browns assume that an ongoing investigation by Utah County authorities is related to allegations of bigamy.
"It's over something else," Jensen said.
Utah County Attorney Jeff Buhman has not disclosed the nature of their investigation publicly and a message left for him Friday was not immediately returned.
Buhman's office has no stated policy related to the prosecution of polygamists.
On Friday, Jensen said the attorney general's office policy is to only file bigamy charges against a polygamist in connection with other crimes, such as underage marriages, child abuse or welfare fraud. A straight bigamy prosecution hasn't been filed in Utah for more than 50 years, Jensen said.
A check of state court records by The Associated Press, however, found at least two cases.
Bob Foster had three wives when he was arrested and charged with bigamy in 1974. He pleaded no contest and was sentenced to six months in jail. He was released after 21 days and ordered to serve five years of probation. A judge also said Foster was not allowed to live with his families. Foster died from cancer in 2008. He was still married to all three women.
Mark Easterday was arrested and charged with bigamy in 1999. Authorities were alerted to Easterday's multiple marriage as part of a custody battle during his divorce from his first wife. He ultimately pleaded no contest to adultery because the divorce was finalized before the bigamy case went to trial. Easterday was sentenced to probation.
Easterday, who left Utah and is currently married to two women, told The Associated Press he believes the Browns are right to fear a bigamy prosecution.
"I know from experience that they do prosecute," Easterday said. I think they should change the law over the entire country. Why it is that in some places a woman and a woman can be married, but a man can't have another wife?"
Polygamy in Utah and across much of the Intermountain West is a legacy of 19th century Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Mormons abandoned the practice of plural marriage in the 1890s as a condition of Utah's statehood and now excommunicates members found engaging in polygamy.
An estimated 38,000 self-described Mormon fundamentalists continue the practice, believing it brings exaltation in heaven. Most keep their way of life a secret.
Typically, polygamous men are legally married to their first wives and wed subsequent brides only in religious ceremonies. The couples consider themselves "spiritually married."
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