Justin Bieber, Rihanna Nab NRJ Awards

Adele, LMFAO also take home prizes at the French music awards show over the weekend.
By Jocelyn Vena

Justin Bieber at the NRJ Music Awards
Photo: WireImage

<P><P>With awards season in full gear, a number of the music industry's biggest names headed out to Palais des Festivals on the French Riviera in Cannes for the NRJ Awards. <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/adele/artist.jhtml">Adele</a>, <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/rihanna/artist.jhtml">Rihanna</a> and <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/lmfao/artist.jhtml">Justin Bieber</a> all walked away with trophies. </p><div class="player-placeholder right" id="id:1672718" width="240" height="211"></div><p> Adele won two awards, taking home International Revelation of the Year and International Song of the Year for "Someone Like You." <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/lmfao/artist.jhtml">LMFAO</a> also walked away with two prizes: Music Video of the Year for "Party Rock Anthem" as well as International Group/Duo of the Year. The guys performed the song at the show along with their party track "Sexy and I Know It." Rihanna won International Female Artist and later took to <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/rihanna/status/163404747896926208">Twitter</a> to thank everyone for the recognition. "Thank you NRJ and my #FRENCHNavy and all the fans who voted, for your immense support!" she wrote. "I love you always #InternationalFemaleOftheYearNRJ." Shakira won the NRJ Award of Honor, and Bieber took home the male version of the award. The teen star took the stage in his baby blue printed jacket and black jeans, telling the room, "I'm just really excited to be here. I want to thank all my fans for being so amazing. I want to do another French song. I did one French song but I want to do some more French and hopefully perfect. My grandma's first language is French." He later <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/justinbieber/status/163405397548470272" target="_blank">tweeted</a>, "I never thought i would ever get out of stratford and now im celebrating in france. never gets old. ALWAYS grateful! #Ilovemyfans" Other winners included Francophone (French) Revelation of the Year for Keen V and Francophone Male Artist of the Year for M. Pokora. Mika won the International Male Artist of the Year while Shy'm took it home for Francophone Female Artist of the Year. Francophone Song of the Year went to "A Nos Actes Manqu&#233;s" performed by M Pokora. Simple Plan and Marie-Mai nabbed Francophone Group/Duo of the Year while Myl&#232;ne Farmer won NRJ Award of Diamond. <i>What do you think of this awards season so far? Leave your comments below!</i></p></p>

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1678119/justin-bieber-rihanna-nrj-awards.jhtml

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Julian Assange to appear on 'The Simpsons'

Homer and Marge meet their new neighbor Julian Assange (guest voice as himself) in "At Long Last Leave," the show's 500th episode, airing Feb. 19.

By Anna Chan

"The Simpsons" is making some big headlines, and not just because its 500th episode is just around the corner.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is set to appear on the animated show's landmark episode on Feb. 19.?EW.com reports?that?Assange -- who is still under house arrest -- recorded his lines for the guest spot over the summer from a location unknown to "The Simpsons" producers.

"I was just given a number to call," executive producer Al Jean told EW of directing Assange remotely.

That 500th episode, titled "At Long Last Leave," the Simpsons family are evicted from Springfield, according to Fox. It is in their rugged new community where they meet their new neighbor played by Assange, Jean told EW. "He invites them over for a home movie and it's an Afghan wedding being bombed," Jean revealed to the magazine.

The WikiLeaks founder is accused of sexual assault?on two of the website's volunteers. U.S. officials are also debating whether to bring any charges against him, possibly under the Espionage Act, for publishing U.S. diplomatic cables online.

"The Simpsons" airs at 8 p.m. Sundays on Fox.

What do you think of Assange guesting on "The Simpsons"? Share your thoughts on our Facebook page.

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Related content:

Source: http://theclicker.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/30/10273772-julian-assange-to-appear-on-the-simpsons

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NJ woman denied bail in online sex abuse case (AP)

TRENTON, N.J. ? A New Jersey waitress cried in court Monday as she heard a prosecutor accuse her of "extreme sexual assault" on a 5-year-old girl she was baby-sitting and of streaming video of the abuse online.

Authorities say Jennifer Mahoney, 32, of Manalapan, laughed while she sexually assaulted the child, and again as she streamed the video to at least two other people. They say she confessed twice to different sets of investigators.

Mahoney has been charged with two counts of sexual exploitation of a child and was denied bail at a federal court hearing in Trenton. She had requested to wear a global positioning device, stay away from the victim and post her parents' home as collateral for bail, which has been set at $500,000.

"Law enforcement has recovered a video capture of extreme sexual assault," Assistant U.S. Attorney John Clabby said. "There is danger to the public, and the risk of flight."

During the hearing in U.S. District Court, Mahoney wiped away tears, buried her face in her hands and cried softly as her attorney, Herbert Ellis, rubbed her back. Later, she rocked quickly back and forth in her chair, not speaking except to reply, "Yes, your honor," when asked whether she understood her rights.

Ellis, her lawyer, said he needs to speak to Mahoney in detail before deciding how to proceed. He said he wants to see her videotaped confession to authorities to determine how it was given and under what circumstances.

Mahoney has been in custody since Dec. 14, the day after three pornographic videos showing assaults on the girl were found on the computer of a 32-year-old Texas man to whom she had streamed them, prosecutors said.

That man, Robert Ramos Jr. of Austin, was charged with possession of child pornography and sexual exploitation of minors. Prosecutors in Texas say he set up seven fake Facebook accounts to solicit teenage girls to send him nude photos and videos of themselves engaged in sexual acts.

When the FBI questioned her, she acknowledged performing a sex act on the child while she was baby-sitting her, court documents say.

She also told investigators she streamed live video of one of the sexual assaults to two men using a chat service and acknowledged filming another assault with her cellphone and sending video of it to two other people, court documents say. No other mention of a second recipient is included in court documents.

Later on the day of her arrest, she gave a separate videotaped confession to New Jersey authorities, Clabby said.

Two of the videos appeared to have been made in Mahoney's bedroom, the third in the bathtub of her home, the affidavit says.

The affidavit describes the sexual assaults in graphic terms. On one, the FBI agent notes, there is no audio. But, the agent notes, "it appears that the adult female is talking and laughing during the video, and it appears that the adult female is talking to another person over the Internet via a webcam."

Ramos remains in custody in Texas. Court documents include a transcript of a handwritten statement Ramos gave to the FBI in which he acknowledges soliciting underage girls to send him nude photos but insists he never had sexual contact with a minor.

"What I have done was stupid and not worth anything," he wrote. "I am very sorry and have made some terrible mistakes."

His lawyer did not immediately return a message seeking comment Monday.

___

Wayne Parry can be reached at http://twitter.com/WayneParryAC.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/internet/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120130/ap_on_hi_te/us_child_molestation_streaming_video

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Topless protesters detained at Davos forum (AP)

DAVOS, Switzerland ? Three topless Ukrainian protesters were detained Saturday while trying to break into an invitation-only gathering of international CEOs and political leaders to call attention to the needs of the world's poor.

After a complicated journey to reach the heavily guarded Swiss resort town of Davos, the women arrived at the entrance to the congress center where the World Economic Forum takes place every year.

With temperatures around freezing in the snow-filled town, they took off their tops and climbed a fence before being detained. "Crisis! Made in Davos," read one message painted across a protester's torso, while others held banners that said "Poor, because of you" and "Gangsters party in Davos."

Davos police spokesman Thomas Hobi said the three women were taken to the police station and their papers were checked. They were told that they weren't allowed to demonstrate, and will be released later, he said.

The activists are from the group Femen, which has become popular in Ukraine for staging small, half-naked protests to highlight a range of issues including oppression of political opposition. They have also conducted protests in some other countries.

"We came here to Switzerland to Davos to explain position of all poor people of the world, to explain that we are poor because of these rich people who now sit in the building," said protester Inna Schewcenko.

Protesters from the Occupy movement that started with protests against practices on Wall Street held a separate demonstration in Davos on Saturday. A small group of protesters are camped in igloos in Davos to call for more help for the needy.

About 40 protesters from the Occupy movement gathered in front of the town hall. Some held placards with slogans such as "If voting would change anything, it would be illegal" and "Don't let them decide for you, Occupy WEF." The event has been peaceful.

A member of the Occupy camp was invited to speak at a special event outside the Forum on Friday night discussing the future of capitalism attended by British opposition leader Ed Miliband.

Soon after the panel discussion began, some activists in the audience jumped up and started chanting slogans, and the protester panelist walked off the stage.

Other members of the audience told the activists to "shut up" and arguments disrupted the panel for about 20 minutes. The discussion then resumed, without the Occupy panelist.

___

Anja Niedringhaus and Paolo Santalucia contributed to this report.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/europe/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120128/ap_on_re_eu/eu_davos_forum_protests

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Mitt Borrows Brokaw to Hit Newt (TIME)

Share With Friends: | | Politics - Top Stories News, News Feeds and News via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/192632412?client_source=feed&format=rss

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Top stars cover Bob Dylan songs for Amnesty Int'l (AP)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. ? Anyone who ever doubted the transformative power of Bob Dylan's music need only look to Ke$ha.

Yes, Ke$ha.

The irreverent pop star known for singing about brushing her teeth with "a bottle of Jack" turns poignant while covering a song from one of music's great lyricists on the new four-disc "Chimes of Freedom: The Songs of Bob Dylan Honoring 50 Years of Amnesty International." The project features 75 newly recorded Dylan songs by 80 artists, including Adele, Sting, Sugarland, Elvis Costello, hip-hop artist K'naan and others to support the human rights organization.

Ke$ha is one of the more unlikely stars to contribute to the compilation, released Tuesday. The pop star defined by party anthems like "Tik Tok" and "Your Love Is My Drug" took on Dylan's "Don't Think Twice, It's Alright." As she found herself alone in her bedroom for the first time in months, the words of the song ? about a person bidding goodbye to a lover ? took on a new, deeply personal meaning. She realized she was saying goodbye to her carefree, former life ? before big hits and world tours brought on pressure and priorities. She broke down as she began singing, and the emotion is captured on the record.

"Everything has changed. It's amazing, but there are moments that are incredibly lonely. This caught me at one of those incredibly lonely moments, and it really struck home. There's a line, `It's a long and lonesome road, babe, where I'm bound I can't tell.' It's tragically relevant," said Ke$ha in a phone interview. "I think these are all positive things for young people to see that you can be strong and you can be irreverent and you can say what you want and you have the freedom of speech, but I've learned that vulnerability is actually an asset. It can be just as much of an asset as strength."

Ke$ha isn't the only eye-popping name on the compilation: Nineteen-year-old Miley Cyrus does a rendition of "You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go." The project has a wide range of acts, from Maroon 5 to 92-year-old folk legend Pete Seeger, who sings "Forever Young" with a children's chorus. Dylan waived the publishing rights to his entire catalog, and all of the artists, musicians, engineers and others involved in the recording process did everything pro-bono.

Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry, who recorded "Man of Peace," describes it as "thin ice" to cover an artist as iconic as Dylan, because not only are his songs brilliant, but his performances of those songs have become so revered themselves.

"(Artists like Dylan) know where (the songs) live and breathe and where the heartbeat is. So covering them can be a touchy thing," said Perry, who recorded the Dylan song "Man of Peace." "Hopefully you don't make it different just for the sake of making it different. I just wanted to kind of reinterpret my take on the song and just have fun singing it."

Legendary country artist and actor Kris Kristofferson considers Dylan a personal friend but says he's been an inspiration and a hero a lot longer than that. Johnny Cash introduced them while Kristofferson was working as a janitor at Columbia Recording Studios in Nashville in the 1960s. At 75, Kristofferson says he has been around long enough to understand and appreciate Dylan's impact on music.

"If you look at pop songs before Dylan, none of them were poetry like his are. He opened up the doors for creative writers and made songwriting to me what it is today," said Kristofferson, who covers "Quinn the Eskimo (The Mighty Quinn)." "Music was a whole lot different when I was a little kid. Pop music was lifted up as an art form by Bob Dylan."

British pop singer Natasha Bedingfield recorded "Ring Them Bells" in Nashville during her U.S. tour last year. She said she used to listen to it as a kid with her brother and sister.

"To me the song is about freedom, `Ring them bells for the blind and the deaf, for the innocent,'" she said. "For me it felt quite poignant, particularly for this album, where Amnesty is all about people who are being unjustly treated."

"Chimes of Freedom" is a follow up to Amnesty International's 2007 collection of John Lennon songs performed by major artists, called "Instant Karma," which raised over $4 million for their efforts in Darfur.

"Music has been at the heart of so many movements for change," said Julie Yannatta, who served as the album's executive producer with Jeff Ayeroff. "Music has a way of reminding us who we are at our essence and what we need to do to live together in a better world, and Amnesty is very much a part of that."

The album will be available internationally on Jan. 30.

__

Online: http://www.amnestyusa.org/chimes

__

AP Writer Natalie Rotman contributed to this report from Los Angeles.

__

Caitlin R. King covers entertainment for The Associated Press. Follow her at: http://www.twitter.com/CaitlinRKing

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/entertainment/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120127/ap_en_ot/us_music_bob_dylan_covers

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Jesse Jackson adds voice to Grammy protest (Reuters)

(Reuters) ? Civil rights activist the Rev. Jesse Jackson on Friday urged Grammy organizers to reinstate 31 ethnic and minority musical categories that have been cut from the music industry's top awards.

In a letter to Recording Academy president Neil Portnow, sent three weeks before the February 12 Grammy Awards show, Jackson said the elimination of awards for Native American and Hawaiian musicians, and cuts in Latin Jazz, R&B and other categories were ill-considered and unfair.

Jackson said some of the categories dropped by the Recording Academy in a major overhaul last year "constitute the very heart of the music that nourishes and inspires minority communities."

Writing on behalf of the Rainbow Push Coalition of U.S. civil rights groups, Jackson called for an urgent meeting with Portnow to try and resolve the conflict that has spurred months of protests and a lawsuit by leading musicians.

Portnow said on Friday he was "receptive to meeting with the Rev. Jackson to explain how our nomination process works and to show the resulting diverse group of nominees it produced" for this year's Grammy Awards.

Paul Simon, Carlos Santana, Bonnie Raitt and Bobby Sanabria are among dozens of musicians who have protested the decision, announced last April, to slash the number of Grammy categories to 78 from 109 for the 2012 Grammy Awards.

Some categories, such as Hawaiian and Native American albums were dropped completely, while others including Latin music and R&B saw the number of award categories halved.

Portnow said at the time the changes were necessary to maintain "the prestige of the highest and only peer-recognized award in music."

Sanabria and three other Latin Jazz musicians filed a lawsuit in New York in August saying the cuts would harm their careers financially. They have also called for a boycott of the CBS network, which broadcasts the annual Grammy Awards show in Los Angeles.

The 2012 Grammy Awards take place on February12. Rapper Kanye West leads the field of contenders with seven nominations followed by British singer Adele, Bruno Mars and alternative rock band Foo Fighters.

(Reporting By Jill Serjeant; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)

Corrects Jackson name in paragraph 1.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/music/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20120128/music_nm/us_grammys_protest

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Insurance Quiz | Real Science

1. If twice as many people living along the?coast?are paying twice as high insurance premiums, ?and insurance losses double ? who is making out like a bandit?

2. What organization of Sicilian fame is believed to have wide influence in the Chicago insurance business?

http://www.tdu.org/node/56

I went to college with David Dorfman. He was a nice guy. His dad was straight out of The Godfather.

• Real Science - If You Like This Story, Please Share It:

This entry was posted in Uncategorized. Bookmark the permalink.

Source: http://www.real-science.com/insurance-quiz

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The New Techmeme Design: Plus Your World, Minus Underlined Links

In a world of personalized, distributed information sharing, Techmeme and its sister sites have successfully gone the opposite direction. They're machine-powered, human-controlled technology news aggregator that have readers -- especially media types -- following like drug addicts jonesing for another hit. And the flagship site, Techmeme.com, has just gotten a big redesign that modernizes the look and feel of the interface, and emphasizes new social features. Here's one junkie's reaction.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/JAXHjCbbtwg/

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Stocks rise after solid economic reports, earnings (AP)

Stocks are opening higher as solid economic news and strong corporate earnings highlight the economy's growing momentum.

The government said Thursday that orders to factories for long-lasting manufactured goods increased in December for the second straight month as companies bought more machinery and equipment. New claims for unemployment benefits rose only modestly.

Manufacturing conglomerate 3M rose 1.5 percent after its fourth-quarter profit beat Wall Street's estimates. Caterpillar rose 3 percent after beating analysts' estimates last quarter. The heavy equipment maker said it expect to do the same this year.

The Dow Jones industrial average is up 52 points, or 0.4 percent, at 12,809. The Standard & Poor's 500 index is up 4, or 0.3 percent, at 1,329. The Nasdaq composite average is up 10, or 0.4 percent, at 2,828.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/business/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120126/ap_on_bi_st_ma_re/us_wall_street

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Major Tropical Cyclone Funso analyzed by 2 NASA satellites

Public release date: 25-Jan-2012
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Rob Gutro
Robert.j.gutro@nasa.gov
443-858-1779
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center

Tropical Cyclone Funso is now a dangerous Category 4 cyclone in the Mozambique Channel, moving southward between Mozambique on the African mainland and the island nation of Madagascar. As Funso became a major cyclone two NASA satellites were providing forecasters with valuable storm information.

Two instruments aboard NASA's Aqua satellite and instruments aboard NASA and JAXA's Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite provided cloud extent, cloud temperature, rainfall rates, and a look at the eye of the storm.

On Jan. 25 at 7:40 UTC (2:40 a.m. EST), the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument on NASA's Aqua satellite captured a visible image of Tropical Cyclone Funso. The image revealed the cloud cover extends from Mozambique on the African mainland, east to the coast of the island nation of Madagascar. MODIS imagery also revealed a clear 11 mile-wide eye.

When NASA's Aqua satellite passed over Cyclone Funso the day before, January 24 at 11:17 UTC (6:17 a.m. EST) the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) instrument measured the cloud top temperatures. Thunderstorm cloud tops around the entire center of circulation colder than -63 Fahrenheit (-52.7 Celsius) indicating strong storms, dropping heavy rainfall.

The TRMM satellite also had a good view of powerful tropical cyclone Funso battering the Mozambique coast when it flew over on January 24, 2012 at 2204 UTC (5:04 p.m. EST). TRMM data showed that Funso was dropping moderate to heavy rainfall in bands covering the Mozambique Channel from eastern Mozambique to western Madagascar.

On January 25, 2012 at 0900 UTC (4 a.m. EST), Major Tropical Cyclone Funso had maximum sustained winds of 120 knots (138 mph/222 kph). Hurricane-force winds extend out 40 miles (64 km) from the center. It was located near 22.7 South and 38.7 East, about 400 nautical miles (460 miles/741 kmh) northeast of Maputo, Mozambique. It was moving to the south-southwest at 4 knots (~4.6 mph/7.4 kph). Funso is generating maximum significant waves 32 feet (9.7 meters) high.

Cyclone Funso continues to track the over open waters of the southern Mozambique Channel and forecasts take it out into the Southern Indian Ocean over the next three days without any danger of a direct landfall.

###

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Public release date: 25-Jan-2012
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Rob Gutro
Robert.j.gutro@nasa.gov
443-858-1779
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center

Tropical Cyclone Funso is now a dangerous Category 4 cyclone in the Mozambique Channel, moving southward between Mozambique on the African mainland and the island nation of Madagascar. As Funso became a major cyclone two NASA satellites were providing forecasters with valuable storm information.

Two instruments aboard NASA's Aqua satellite and instruments aboard NASA and JAXA's Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite provided cloud extent, cloud temperature, rainfall rates, and a look at the eye of the storm.

On Jan. 25 at 7:40 UTC (2:40 a.m. EST), the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument on NASA's Aqua satellite captured a visible image of Tropical Cyclone Funso. The image revealed the cloud cover extends from Mozambique on the African mainland, east to the coast of the island nation of Madagascar. MODIS imagery also revealed a clear 11 mile-wide eye.

When NASA's Aqua satellite passed over Cyclone Funso the day before, January 24 at 11:17 UTC (6:17 a.m. EST) the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) instrument measured the cloud top temperatures. Thunderstorm cloud tops around the entire center of circulation colder than -63 Fahrenheit (-52.7 Celsius) indicating strong storms, dropping heavy rainfall.

The TRMM satellite also had a good view of powerful tropical cyclone Funso battering the Mozambique coast when it flew over on January 24, 2012 at 2204 UTC (5:04 p.m. EST). TRMM data showed that Funso was dropping moderate to heavy rainfall in bands covering the Mozambique Channel from eastern Mozambique to western Madagascar.

On January 25, 2012 at 0900 UTC (4 a.m. EST), Major Tropical Cyclone Funso had maximum sustained winds of 120 knots (138 mph/222 kph). Hurricane-force winds extend out 40 miles (64 km) from the center. It was located near 22.7 South and 38.7 East, about 400 nautical miles (460 miles/741 kmh) northeast of Maputo, Mozambique. It was moving to the south-southwest at 4 knots (~4.6 mph/7.4 kph). Funso is generating maximum significant waves 32 feet (9.7 meters) high.

Cyclone Funso continues to track the over open waters of the southern Mozambique Channel and forecasts take it out into the Southern Indian Ocean over the next three days without any danger of a direct landfall.

###

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/nsfc-mtc012512.php

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Target to expand Brooklyn Park campus by ... - Finance & Commerce

Posted: 11:10 am Mon, January 23, 2012
By Chris?Newmarker
Tags: Brooklyn Park, Jason Aarsvold, Target

Target Corp. is planning 700,000 square feet of additional space at its Brooklyn Park campus, and intends to quadruple its workforce in the city to 5,200 by 2014, according to environmental review documents posted on the city?s website.

The Minneapolis-based retail giant presently has 561,000 square feet of office space and 130,600 square feet of technical support space located in four office buildings and two technology buildings at its Target North Campus, which sits on ?330 acres northeast of U.S. 169 and Highway 610.

Target?s initial plans call for a 700,000-square-foot project, but it could construct even more down the road. In total, Target is seeking an environmental review that would examine the effects of a total 1.1 million square feet of extra office space. Future plans also call for 300,000 square feet of commercial space south of 97^th Avenue North and the office campus.

The 700,000-square-foot figure is much larger than the figure of at least 350,000 square feet previously listed in documents filed with the city. Jason Aarsvold, Brooklyn Park?s economic and redevelopment director, says his understanding in the past has been that Target would initially start building something around 350,000 square feet in the first half of 2012, with more construction coming in the next 18 months.

Aarsvold still expects the city to provide Target an initial $1.7 million to $2.5 million subsidy based on the 350,000-square-foot figure. If Target starts building more than that in the next six months, the city would seek to hammer out some kind of property tax abatement arrangement for the additional square footage, he said.

The money for the subsidy comes from $5 million to $6 million in funds that Brooklyn Park has available in its three existing tax increment financing (TIF) districts. Target will then forgo abatements of a similar amount that it would have received for the new construction in coming years under a previous 2006 agreement.

The environmental review plans show three new office buildings at the Target North Campus: two that are four to five stories and 350,000 square feet apiece, and one that is five and a half stories and 439,000 square feet.

This entry was posted on Monday, January 23rd, 2012 at 11:10 am and is filed under Business & Economy, Construction & Development. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

Source: http://finance-commerce.com/2012/01/target-to-expand-brooklyn-park-campus-by-700000-square-feet/

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Boettcher Communications Set to Expand | WDOR

During times when the economy is weak, some firms cut back & others go into hibernation. But, there are businesses that decide to expand no matter how the economy is going. Boettcher Communications in Sturgeon Bay is one of them. The full service marketing agency, now entering its eighth year in business will soon be expanding its offices at 101 North 4th Avenue. Dina Boettcher, president of Boettcher Communications, says it?s important to move ahead with positive changes no matter what shape the economy is in?

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Boettcher Communications has been broadening its horizons by taking on larger scale projects as well as several key accounts located out of the area. An increase in staff & an expanded office area was needed in order to continue to offer the best service possible. To learn more about Boettcher Communications visit their web site http://www.boettchercommunications.com/

Source: http://www.wdor.com/news/boettcher-communications-set-to-expand/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=boettcher-communications-set-to-expand

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Pierce, Bass carry Celtics over Magic, 87-56

Boston Celtics small forward Paul Pierce (34) tries to shoot as Orlando Magic forward Hedo Turkoglu (15) reaches to block during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Boston, Monday, Jan. 23, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Celtics small forward Paul Pierce (34) tries to shoot as Orlando Magic forward Hedo Turkoglu (15) reaches to block during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Boston, Monday, Jan. 23, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard (12) reacts after being called for a foul against the Boston Celtics during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Boston, Monday, Jan. 23, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Celtics small forward Sasha Pavlovic (11) looks to pass as he is trapped by Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard (12) during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Boston, Monday, Jan. 23, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

BOSTON (AP) ? The Boston Celtics' injuries didn't affect what coach Doc Rivers always wants ? solid defense.

Paul Pierce and former Magic forward Brandon Bass each scored 19 points to carry the injury-riddled Celtics to an 87-56 win over Orlando on Monday night.

The Magic set franchise lows for points and field goals (16).

"Defensively that was as good as you can get," Rivers said after his team matched a club record for fewest points allowed in the shot-clock era, also done last season against Milwaukee.

Boston was minus starters Ray Allen, Rajon Rondo and three bench players, drastically reducing its roster.

Bass and Pierce carried the offense and Boston got some strong play from a cast of down-the-bench reserves. The Celtics snapped a streak of six straight losses against teams with winning records.

Pierce is looking for it to shake Boston out of its early season woes.

"Hopefully it'll funnel over to the guys that were out," said Pierce, who followed a 34-point effort in a win at Washington on Sunday. "There's no more excuses."

Avery Bradley and Sasha Pavlovic started in the backcourt for Boston and attempted to pressure Orlando's guards early, helping the Celtics pick up the pressure defensively.

"(It) started with Avery," Rivers said. "The ball pressure ? and then it led to everyone. They're a great shooting team. ... Everything had to be precise and it was."

Dwight Howard led the Magic with 18 points and 14 rebounds. He needs eight points to surpass Nick Anderson as the Magic's career scoring leader.

Howard was 0 for 6 from the floor and just 4 for 10 from the free throw line in the second half.

"They came out and absolutely dominated us with their energy and defensive intensity," Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said.

Kevin Garnett added 14 points and 10 rebounds for Boston.

The Celtics led by 10 at the half, turned up the pressure defensively and scored 16 of the first 21 points in the second half to pull ahead 62-41. Pierce had seven points in the run and set up Marquis Daniels for a layup that gave Boston its 21-point edge with 2:31 remaining in the quarter.

The Celtics held Orlando to one field goal in the opening 9:52 of the third and just two for the quarter ? both 3-pointers. The Magic hit 2 of 11 shots and had nine turnovers.

"It was a tough game. They pressured us a lot," Howard said. "We rushed shots. It just wasn't a good night overall for us."

Howard, who missed 5 of 8 free throws in the third and went 0 for 5 from the field, flung the ball in frustration at the end of the quarter, nailing the backboard from his own end of the floor as the horn sounded with Boston holding a 69-46 lead.

Boston didn't let up in the fourth until Pierce and Garnett came out with just over five minutes to play. The Magic had a season-high 25 turnovers, 20 in the second half, and a season-low points.

Jermaine O'Neal and Howard were involved in a brief shoving match in the lane and both were given technicals midway into the third quarter. O'Neal got the initial foul on the play with a hard shove.

The Celtics led 36-36 at halftime, with Pierce and Bass each scoring 13 points.

The Celtics acquired Bass in a sign-and-trade deal with Orlando that sent Glen "Big Baby" Davis to the Magic.

Boston forwards Mickael Pietrus (shoulder) and Chris Wilcox (left calf) and guard Keyon Dooling (right knee) were also out ? though not missed on this night.

Boston scored nine straight points late in the second quarter, pulling to a 43-33 lead on Pierce's 3 from the left wing with 45 seconds left.

"There's no way KG should be beating me up and down the floor," Howard said, before joking about the age difference. "There was a couple plays where he beat me up and down the floor. There's no way. He's 40 and I'm 25. I just can't allow that to happen. I have to step up and be the leader for this team."

NOTES: Orlando's previous season-low was 78 points. The franchise-low was 57, set Dec. 4, 1996 against Cleveland. ... The Celtics welcomed back Davis during a break in the opening quarter with highlights and "Thank You Big Baby" on the jumbotron. He got a standing ovation from the crowd, walked onto the court and pumped his fist. ... Van Gundy said before the game that he's amused how people are talking about Boston's slow start this season. "People see the record and panic," he said. "People talk about 'The Celtics are too old and can't play.' I'm not buying it. What are they going to say when they start winning, they got younger?" ... Forward Jeff Green, who had surgery Jan. 9 to repair an aeortic aneurysm, visited Boston's locker room before the game and in the morning. "It was awesome," Boston coach Doc Rivers said. "I'm amazed. Two weeks and he's walking around. We were sarcastic this morning, saying 'He's walking around and you guys can't play.'"

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2012-01-23-Magic-Celtics/id-71fbd002b34942949bc60fd0027c44ee

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Three Reasons Ron Paul Should Drop Out of the Presidential Race (ContributorNetwork)

COMMENTARY | According to CNN, Texas Congressman Ron Paul is still seeking the Republican nomination for the presidency. "It's the momentum that we want," Paul said Saturday, "and our goal is to get delegates. And we're going to be doing the states were they allocate by percentages as well as caucus states. So that's been our plan all along."

There comes a time in a candidacy, when continuing forward is paramount to Don Quixote to tilting at windmills. It's time, lest he undo what he has accomplished, for Paul to step aside. He never had a slingshot's chance in a gunfight of becoming president, but he has done what he came to do. While there are a plethora of reasons for him to step aside, three rise to prominence:

First, while according to ABC News, Paul finished fourth in South Carolina, and according to CNN, he is third in the delegate count, the fact is he's not third by inches. He's third by a landslide. He can't win the nomination. Staying in the race only serves to keep his party from coalescing around whichever of the two viable candidates left in the race, Mitt Romney or Newt Gingrich, will eventually win the nomination. You don't beat the sitting president by dragging the delegate fight to the convention.

Second, he has gained the national voice he needs to continue playing a viable role in the national discussion. He gains no more voice by staying in the race. He's got his seat at the table. Nobody (at least not me) is saying he should sit down and shut up. But, he's already got his voice. He should use it without harming his party's chances of choosing their nominee quickly enough to have a shot in November.

Third, unlike the other three candidates, he's got a job. He's a member of Congress. It would be one thing if he had a chance of winning, or if he was still in the hunt for a national voice. He doesn't and he's not. As such, he has a responsibility to the people of his district, to go back to Washington and to do the job for which he is actually paid, for the people who are actually paying him to do it.

He's run a good race. He's earned his voice, and he's got other work to do. It's time for him to get out of the way.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/uscongress/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ac/20120122/pl_ac/10868991_three_reasons_ron_paul_should_drop_out_of_the_presidential_race

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Streaming Movie of the Night: Star Wars Uncut [Video]

It was over a year ago when we first heard about Star Wars Uncut, the 15-second-at-a-time, crowdsourced remake of Star Wars: A New Hope. And it's now finally available in its entirety for your streaming pleasure. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/7Hq7vR4Z99k/streaming-movie-of-the-night-star-wars-uncut

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AUTOMOTIVE - VIDEO: Barrett-Jackson Block Action

VIDEO: Barrett-Jackson Block Action

More videos of live action at the Scottsdale auction.

Here are some more great videos of celebrity interviews and exciting on-the-block action from Barrett-Jackson?s Scottsdale auction:

Driving champ Brad Keselowski helps auction off his race-winning NASCAR Nationwide 2010 Dodge Charger for Paralyzed Veterans of America: Keselowski Nationwide Winner.

SPEED?s Rick DeBruhl interviews Brad Keselowski and NASCAR team owner Roger Penske: Keselowski, Penske Interviewed.

Steve Saleen and Bob Bondurant help sell the special 2011 Camaro SS SMS to benefit Cox Charities and Make-A-Wish Foundation of Arizona: Saleen Bondurant Camaro SS.

Rock star Bret Michaels psyches up the bidders for his 2004 Bentley Continental GT: Bret Michaels At the Podium.

If you always wanted to live in a Yellow Submarine, you missed your chance: Yellow Submarine.

The first 2010 Corvette ZR1 to roll off the production line hits the stage: Corvette ZR1.

A very hot ?70 Mustang Boss 302 scores serious bidding: Mustang Boss 302.

Bob Golfen, Automotive Editor for SPEED.com, is a veteran auto writer based in Phoenix, Arizona, with a passion for collector cars, car culture and the automotive lifestyle. SPEED.com fans can email Bob Golfen at

Source: http://automotive.speedtv.com/article/video-barrett-jackson-block-action/

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Remembering Etta James, "The Matriarch of the Blues" (The Week)

New York ? The legendary soul singer, best known for her searing take on "At Last," died Friday from complications of leukemia at the age of 73

On Friday, "Matriarch of the Blues" Etta James died from complications of leukemia. The 73-year-old singer may best be remembered for her passionate rendition of the torch song "At Last," but her career spanned over 60 years. A foster home runaway, James scored her first hit, "Dance With Me Henry," at age 15, and released her last album, The Dreamers, in 2011. Though praised as a "force of nature" with a "powerhouse" voice, the six-time Grammy winner had a troubled life, weathering numerous drug addictions, hepatitis C, obesity (and then gastric bypass surgery), dementia, and leukemia. Here's how the press and other singers who felt her influence are remembering James:?

1. She had an unshakable voice
James "had grit in her voice that could melt like sugar or rub like salt in a wound," says Neda Ulaby at NPR. What was remarkable about it was its range, says Peter Keepnews at The New York Times. Her vocals could "enliven the raunchiest blues as well as the subtlest love songs." A survey of her career attests to that versatility: The bouncy soulfulness of "Dance With Me Henry," the "funky and high-spirited" "Tell Mama" in 1967, and her aching torch songs, "At Last" and "I'd Rather Go Blind." She's the rare artist to be inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Blues Hall of Fame, and even performed as the Rolling Stones' opening act in the '70s and '80s. Watch any James clip on YouTube, "and dare tell me the world hasn't lost one of its most heart-stopping performers," says James Reed at The Boston Globe.

SEE ALSO: Jay-Z's 'touching' song about his newborn

?

2. There was "darkness beneath the joy"
"It was often said of Etta James that you could hear her whole life in her voice," says Ulaby. And it was a tortured life, too. During a career high from 1960-63, she had 10 records on the R&B charts. But after a slump n the mid-1960s, James fell prey to a drug habit, resorting to bouncing checks, forging prescriptions, and stealing from friends in order to feed her addiction. After a stint in rehab, she emerged a darker, more soulful singer, channeling all of that life experience into her music. She often spoke candidly about her drug addiction, and the affect it had on her career. "A lot of people think the blues is depressing," she told The Los Angeles Times in 1992, "but that's not the blues I?m singing. When I'm singing blues, I'm singing life. People that can't stand to listen to the blues, they've got to be phonies."

3. She reinvented "At Last," and made it a classic
James is best known for her take on the standard "At Last," which was originally written in 1941 and recorded by Glen Miller's orchestra, but was made indelible by James in 1961. She crooned the song "with a measured contralto," says Dave Hoekstra at The Chicago Sun-Times, surrendering to "the dynamics of an entire relationship: The wanting, the discovery, and renewal."? Thanks to James' "shimmering, torchy" vocals, says Ben Greenman at The New Yorker, the song has become ubiquitous. Beyond popping up in films and commercials, "At Last" is now the consummate wedding song, says Mandi Bierly at Entertainment Weekly. "The lyrics are so simple, her voice and string section so triumphant ? no song captures the jubilation of knowing you've found love better." When Beyonce Knowles played the singer in the 2008 film Cadillac Records, she recorded James' version of the song, reprising it for Barack and Michelle Obama on the night of his inauguration.

SEE ALSO: Has Bruce Springsteen delivered another 'rousing political anthem'?

?

4. She influenced generations of singers
James' reach was vast, says Reed, influencing the sound of female singers ranging from Dusty Springfield to Bonnie Raitt. Flip on the radio today, and you can hear James' trademark, wrenching soulfulness in the voices of Adele, Christina Aguilera, and Beyonce. "Playing Etta James taught me so much about myself," Beyonce said after filming Cadillac Records, "and singing her music inspired me to be a stronger artist." After learning of James' death Friday, the "Single Ladies" singer posted on her website: "Etta James was one of the greatest vocalists of our time? Her musical contributions will last a lifetime."

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Zoe Saldana Rescues Elderly Woman After Crash

Zoe Saldana is apparently an action hero on screen and in real life.

The Avatar star, 33, rushed to the aid of an elderly woman who had reportedly gotten into a car accident in Culver City, Calif., on Wednesday afternoon.

"Zoe witnessed the accident and was so quick to help," says an onlooker. She "immediately got on the phone with 911 and seemed very concerned."

The actress, reportedly dating Bradley Cooper, and another passerby transported the woman – who was conscious but injured – from her car to the curb.

They called 911 and waited for police and paramedics on the scene.

The onlooker also told People: "While waiting for help to arrive, Zoe returned to the woman's car and picked up the woman's handbag and sweater."

"Zoe was very caring and sweet to the woman."

[Photo: WENN.com]

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2012/01/zoe-saldana-rescues-elderly-woman-after-crash/

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Exclusive 'The Raid' Clip Will Make You Tired Just Watching It

If you've heard anything about "The Raid," you've probably heard all the right things. Whenever the Indonesian martial arts film has screened, including Midnight Madness at the Toronto International Film Festival, it has left rave reviews in its wake.
We have an exclusive clip from "The Raid" called "Four-On-One," and it's called that for a [...]

Source: http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2012/01/19/the-raid-exclusive-clip/

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LG X3 supposedly leaks, to challenge HTC Edge as first quad-core phone?

Your next tablet is going to rock a quad-core chip, so why not stuff that same silicon into your next phone too? Per PocketNow, that's apparently what LG has up its sleeve with the forthcoming X3. Evidently, the four-core Tegra 3 device will also tote a 1280 x 720 4.7-inch display, 16GB of storage, Ice Cream Sandwich and NFC all in a svelte 9mm package. The whispers didn't stop there, of course, indicating it'll also wield 21Mbps HSPA support coupled with 802.11b/g/n WiFi and Bluetooth 4.0. So will the X3 be the world's first quad-core phone, much in the vein of LG's G2X that preceded it? Or will it be beaten to the punch by HTC and Samsung? Here's to hoping we'll find out at MWC.

LG X3 supposedly leaks, to challenge HTC Edge as first quad-core phone? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Jan 2012 18:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Parade of Champions

City officials plan to host a parade this Saturday at 1 in the afternoon.

It's to congratulate the players for winning the division two championship title.

It will start at 14th and broadway and will end at Pritchet Pavillion .

Also on the agenda is a community pep rally along with a fireworks show .

Both will take place at the pavillion.

"For the fans to come out one final time and really show their support for these guys really proves to the athletic department and the university and the guys on the team how important they are to the town," says Emily Moses, Director of Athletic Marketing at Pittsburg State University.

To be part of the parade you will need to fill out and turn in an entry form by Friday. You can do so at any city department.

Source: http://fourstateshomepage.com/fulltext?nxd_id=249452

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Rams officially announce Jeff Fisher as new head coach

KMOV.com

Posted on January 17, 2012 at 1:19 PM

Updated today at 3:56 AM

(KMOV.com) -- It is official. ?The Rams management announced the hiring of former Tennessee Titan head coach, Jeff Fisher, as the new head coach of the St. Louis Rams.

?

The Rams management made the announcement at a press conference Tuesday afternoon at Rams park. ?Fisher said the decision to take the job was very simple. ?He said he felt he could contribute to the Rams' new vision. ?Fisher did not outline the vision, but said he hoped he could contribute.

?

Fisher and the Rams inked the deal earlier on Tuesday. ?The length of the contract was not discussed. ?Fisher added that he still has faith in the Rams and wants to restore the franchise back to a place of significance, but stressed that doing that will be a collective effort.

?

Download the FootballStL app for the Rams news on your phone

Source: http://www.kmov.com/home/Rams-officially-announce-Jeff-Fisher-as-new-head-coach-137502678.html

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Obama rejects Canada-Texas oil pipeline _ for now

White House Press Secretary Jay Carney speaks during the daily briefing at the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

White House Press Secretary Jay Carney speaks during the daily briefing at the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, center, accompanied by House Majority Leader Eric Cantor of Va., right, and Rep. Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, gestures during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012, to discuss President Barack Obama's decision to halt the Keystone XL pipeline. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

White House Press Secretary Jay Carney speaks during his daily briefing, Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012, in the Brady Briefing Room of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)

WASHINGTON (AP) ? President Barack Obama on Wednesday rejected a Canadian company's plan to build a U.S.-spanning, 1,700-mile (2,700 kilometer) pipeline to carry oil across six U.S. states to Texas refineries, raising the stakes on a bitter election year fight with Republicans.

Though the project promises thousands of temporary jobs for the recovering U.S. economy, Obama said a February deadline set by Congress would not allow for a proper review of potential harm from the $7 billion Keystone XL project.

"As the State Department made clear last month, the rushed and arbitrary deadline insisted on by congressional Republicans prevented a full assessment of the pipeline's impact, especially the health and safety of the American people, as well as our environment," Obama, a Democrat, said.

The plan proposed by Calgary-based TransCanada would carry oil from tar sands in western Canada to Texas.

Republicans assailed Obama's decision as a job-killer and said the fight was not over.

And the State Department said the decision was made "without prejudice," meaning TransCanada can submit a new application once a route through environmentally sensitive areas of Nebraska is established.

Russ Girling, TransCanada's president and chief executive officer, said the company plans to do exactly that. If approved, the pipeline could begin operation as soon as 2014, Girling said.

Republicans were not assuaged.

Newt Gingrich, campaigning for the Republican presidential nomination in South Carolina, called Obama's decision "stunningly stupid," adding: "What Obama has done is kill jobs, weaken American security and drive Canada into the arms of China out of just sheer stupidity."

Sen. John Hoeven, a Republican, has said of the Canadian crude oil: "It's going to go to China if we don't build it here."

But Alex Pourbaix, TransCanada Corp.'s president for energy and oil pipelines, said last week the company soon will have a new route through the state of Nebraska "that everyone agrees on."

For now, though, Mitt Romney, the Republican nomination front-runner, called Obama's decision "as shocking as it is revealing," adding that it "shows a president who once again has put politics ahead of sound policy."

The Republican leader of the House, Speaker John Boehner, said Obama was breaking his promise to create jobs.

"This is not the end of this fight," said Boehner. He called the pipeline good for the U.S. economy and a major job creator.

The pipeline proposal has forced the White House to make a politically risky choice between two important Democratic constituencies. Many labor unions back the project because of the prospects of new jobs in a fragile economy. Environmental groups fear the pipeline could lead to an oil spill disaster.

Some liberal donors threatened to cut off funds to Obama's re-election campaign to protest the project, which opponents say would transport "dirty oil" that requires huge amounts of energy to extract.

Obama said his decision was not based on the pipeline's merits but on what he called an arbitrary Feb. 21 deadline set by Republicans in Congress. They set the deadline as part of a tax bill that Obama signed into law in late December.

"I'm disappointed that Republicans in Congress forced this decision, but it does not change my administration's commitment to American-made energy that creates jobs and reduces our dependence on oil," Obama said.

Under his administration, domestic oil and natural gas production is up, while imports of foreign oil are down, Obama said.

"In the months ahead, we will continue to look for new ways to partner with the oil and gas industry to increase our energy security," Obama said.

To underscore the point, Obama signaled that he would not oppose development of an oil pipeline from Oklahoma to refineries along the Gulf of Mexico. TransCanada already operates a pipeline from Canada to Oklahoma.

Refineries in Houston and along the Texas Gulf Coast can handle heavy crude such as that extracted from Canadian tar sands ? the type of oil that would flow through the Keystone XL pipeline.

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said he was profoundly disappointed that Obama turned down the pipeline.

Sen. Kent Conrad, a Democrat, said he doesn't believe the Keystone XL is a dead project. He said the Obama administration did not have enough time to review the project, given the Republican-imposed timeline.

"I don't believe this is the end of the story," Conrad told The Associated Press. "My personal view is that it should be constructed. It's clear Canada is going to develop this resource, and I believe it is better for our country to have it go here rather than Asian markets."

Bill McKibben, an environmental activist who led opposition to the pipeline, praised Obama's decision to stand up to what he called a "naked political threat from Big Oil." Jack Gerard, the oil industry's top lobbyist, had said last week that Obama faced "huge political consequences" if he rejected the pipeline.

"It's not only the right thing, it's a very brave thing to do," McKibben said. "That's the Barack Obama I think people thought they were electing back in 2008."

___

Associated Press writers Dina Cappiello, Ben Feller and Laurie Kellman in Washington, Shannon McCaffrey in Warrenville, South Carolina, and Ramit Plushnick-Masti in Houston contributed to this story.

Follow Matthew Daly on Twitter: (at)MatthewDalyWDC

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2012-01-18-Oil%20Pipeline/id-a67e7ebe242445c28f4cbe7e2547638a

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