Rebel capture security posts in northern Syria

In this Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012 photo, a Syrian rebel runs for cover to avoid Syrian Army sniper fire on Sabaa al- ahriat street, in the Old City of Aleppo, Syria.(AP Photo/Monica Prieto)

In this Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012 photo, a Syrian rebel runs for cover to avoid Syrian Army sniper fire on Sabaa al- ahriat street, in the Old City of Aleppo, Syria.(AP Photo/Monica Prieto)

In this Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012 photo, a Syrian rebel fighter takes cover a few meters away from the Castle, used as a military position by Bashar Assad's forces in the Old City of Aleppo, Syria.(AP Photo/Monica Prieto)

BEIRUT (AP) ? Activists say Syrian rebels have killed more than 20 soldiers and captured three security compounds in a northern town near the border with Turkey.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says the capture of the compounds and the deaths on Friday came during intense clashes in the town of Ras al-Ayn near the border with Turkey.

The Observatory said the captured compounds belonged to the Military Intelligence, Air Force Intelligence and General Intelligence Directorate. They are the most powerful security agencies in the country.

The Local Coordination Committees, another activist group, said regime forces are sending tanks to the town to help in the fight.

The heavy clashes in the town started Thursday afternoon forcing thousands of people to flee across the border to Turkey for safety.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2012-11-09-Syria/id-15afdf3430604fd8b923f9e5e4bb79fd

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Trailblazing Fisheries Biologist Receives Award ? TheRockyRiver.com

press release

Bennett Wynne, a fisheries biologist with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, was named Fisheries Biologist of the Year by the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies at its 66th annual conference on Oct. 9, in Hot Springs, AR.

Wynne received the honor for his outstanding work in both aquatic habitat conservation and fisheries management.

As the agency?s Anadromous Fisheries Coordinator, Wynne coordinates the management of coastal migratory stocks of shad, herring, striped bass and Atlantic sturgeon. He has developed critical working relationships with numerous stakeholders concerning enhancement of aquatic habitats for the benefit of these populations.

?Bennett works diligently to assure adequate spawning flows for migratory fish in North Carolina?s coastal rivers, continually looking for opportunities to increase access to upstream habitats,? said Robert Curry, chief of the Division of Inland Fisheries.

On the Cape Fear River, Wynne advocated for years in support of construction of a rock arch fish passageway over Lock and Dam 1 ? the first impediment to anadromous fishes migrating upriver from the ocean. Beginning June 1, 2011, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began construction of a rock arch fish passageway at this location, and the project is now almost complete.

?This is a landmark accomplishment, representing the first rock arch structure for fish passage built in North Carolina, and one of only a few in the Southeast,? Curry said.

Wynne is currently involved with evaluating the effectiveness of this structure and will help determine the potential for similar passage projects on dams upstream.

In 2010, he coordinated Atlantic sturgeon sampling in the upper Roanoke River basin, which resulted in the first documented capture of sturgeon from this area. Currently, he is leading the effort to develop plans to enhance river herring stocks in the Chowan River basin.

?Bennett fills a unique niche, seamlessly blending habitat conservation with fisheries management,? Curry said. ?His contributions to anadromous fish population restoration in North Carolina are extensive and make him well deserving of receiving an honor as prestigious as the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies? Fisheries Biologist of the Year.?

The Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies is an organization whose members include the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission and state agencies with primary responsibility for management and protection of the fish and wildlife resources in 14 other states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

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Source: http://therockyriver.com/trailblazing-fisheries-biologist-receives-award/

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Epsilon goes omnichannel with its acquisition of Hyper Marketing ...

November 09, 2012

In the early days of digital, providers of marketing services could get away with focusing on innovative point solutions. But as always-on consumers now exist in an omnichannel world, those same marketers find they need to have across-the-board expertise, from database management to in-store selling. It's because of this environment that Alliance Data Systems has agreed to acquire Hyper Marketing Inc. (HMI) on behalf of its marketing services division Epsilon for approximately $460 million. HMI is a network of nine marketing services providers that include search agency MediaWhiz and shopper-and-retail focused agency Catapult.

Through this acquisition, which Epsilon CEO Bryan Kennedy expects to close by the end of the year, Epsilon will add key talent?including HMI CEO Zain Raj?and some major clients, including Mars, Unilever, and The Home Depot. Within Epsilon's top 30 individual enterprise customers, Kennedy says, the two companies already share around a dozen clients and in many of those cases already have a complementary relationship.

Ultimately, the HMI acquisition is expected to give Epsilon new capabilities, such as user interface design, mobility, social business platforms, and websites?and these new capabilities are expected to facilitate Epsilon's continued expansion into areas like consumer packaged goods (CPG).

?If you look at CPG,? Kennedy says, ?it's a high growth vertical for Epsilon, where we've been focused on building out database solutions, CRM programs, and have a large email and digital messaging business that's very important there, as well.? Using HMI assets, Kennedy says, Epsilon will be able to expand what it can offer to the CPG space. For instance HMI agencies like Ryan Partnership?with expertise in customer behavior?and Catapult?with expertise in the retail space?allow Epsilon to use its data assets to develop and nurture individual relationships with customers. ?Both Ryan and Catapult groups have deep experience in activation and shopper marketing,? Kennedy says, ?which isn't where [Epsilon] plays.?

Ultimately, Kennedy believes that integrating services like shopper marketing expertise will boost his company's value proposition in the CPG space?an industry that's increasingly looking for innovative ways to drive purchasing and customer relationships both in-store and online. In Kennedy's example, Epsilon will provide data and information; HMI will provide the strategies and tactics that drive in-store traffic.

If anything, the needs of CPG marketers can be extended to marketers across all verticals. ?This whole idea of customer connections is important,? Kennedy says. ?Not just understanding who the consumer is and having analytics and insight and data, which is the Epsilon core, but to take strategy and creative and brand planning and really inject meaningful messages into channels to create those connections into brands.?

Both HMI and Epsilon expect the acquisition to provide marketers the full services to do what they've always sought to do, even before the advent of digital: create a bond with consumers. ?As marketing becomes more one-on-one, as we touch the right customers at the right points in time with the right content and insight, it creates the ability for the new world of marketing,? says HMI's Raj. Brands, he says, are built by generating real emotional connections with consumers. ?When there's an emotional connection a customer has with products and services, this is what we believe will drive brands forward.?

The agreement to acquire, Kennedy says, happened quickly?over the past few months?and details around branding and company structure have yet to be worked out.

Source: http://www.dmnews.com/epsilon-goes-omnichannel-with-its-acquisition-of-hyper-marketing/article/267757/

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Video: More on November 9: Why Romney lost

Statue of Liberty relit for first time after storm

You still can?t visit the Statue of Liberty in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, but you will once again be able to see the beloved American icon shining bright after sunset in New York Harbor.The storm knocked out power on Liberty Island, so Lady Liberty has been enveloped in darkness at night for almost two weeks now. But starting Friday, the statue will be re-lit by a temporary, generator-powered system donated to the National Park Foundation, the official charity of America?s national parks.Musco Lighting, a company that specializes in lighting sports stadiums and arenas, is providing the equipment and services that will illuminate the statue, while the National Park Service evaluates the damage to the attraction?s permanent lighting system.?While we work to do everything necessary to reopen the statue and every other national park damaged by the hurricane, we are grateful to Musco and the National Park Foundation for turning the lights on Lady Liberty, another step forward in the recovery of this region,? said National Park Service Director Jonathan B.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036697/vp/49765631#49765631

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2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid Test Drive

On-Sale Date: Mid-December 2012

Price: $24,995 to $31,180

Competitors: Acura ILX Hybrid, Ford C-Max, Honda Civic Hybrid, Honda Insight, Lexus CT200H, Toyota Prius, Toyota Prius V

Powertrains: 1.4-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder, 150 hp, 184 lb. ft.; electric motor, 27 hp, 114 lb. ft.; combined system output: 170 hp, 184 lb. ft.

EPA Fuel Economy (city/hwy): 42/46 (est.)

What?s New: The hybrid Jetta adds a fifth player to VW?s compact sedan roster. It?s VW?s second hybrid, after the Touareg crossover, but represents a much different engineering approach.

Like most contemporary hybrids, the new Jetta gets its basic propulsion from an internal combustion engine with an electric motor adding supplemental power on demand. Unlike most hybrids, though, the Jetta employs a turbocharged engine (1.4 liters, four cylinders) as that primary power source. The electric motor supplies 27 hp, and Volkswagen rates max combined system output as 170 hp and 184 pound-feet. The system sends power to the front wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, and combined fuel economy is forecast to be 44 mpg.

Tech Tidbit: Similar to Honda?s integrated motor-assist system, the Jetta?s powertrain integrates the electric motor and transaxle in a tidy engine/transmission package that mounts transversely in the engine bay. When the car is coasting, the system decouples the engine to reduce drag, enhancing replenishment of the lithium-ion battery pack.

Driving Character: The Jetta Hybrid has the same suspension as the sporty GLI?MacPherson struts up front, multilink rear?as well as the GLI?s firmer tuning. At 3312 pounds, the hybrid outweighs the GLI by 154 pounds, but it delivers the same willing-to-play persona, sharp steering, and supple ride quality. With engine and electric motor maxed, the Hybrid sprints to 60 mph in 8.6 seconds, according to VW. That seems conservative. The turbo?s ample torque comes on early, peaking at 1600 rpm. The seven-speed DSG tranny keeps the powertrain in its sweet spot, and the hybrid system is transparent.

Favorite Detail: The Jetta is the only hybrid in its class with a conventional step transmission. It?s one of VW?s excellent DSG units?dual clutch (a dry clutch, in this application), seven speeds, and the option of manual shifting. The manual shifting would be more rewarding if this setup included paddle shifters. But it adds a driver-involving aspect missing in other compact hybrids while eliminating the slipping-clutch feel of the continuously variable transmissions many of VW?s competitors use.

Driver?s Grievance: A key component in all hybrid systems is regenerative braking, which converts heat energy from the calipers and rotors to electricity that?s returned to the battery. Some regenerative systems provide smoother operations than others. The Jetta?s regenerative brakes are among the ?others.? It?s a little tricky to get the right touch with them, and they?re prone to grabbing abruptly when employed at parking lot speeds.

Bottom Line: The Jetta Hybrid?s prospective fuel-economy ratings measure up well among competing compact hybrid sedans, but this new VW stands out from its small pack for reasons other than mpg. It?s the only turbo hybrid going, and it goes quite well?passing on two-lane highways, for example. Like all turbos, it performs well at higher altitudes. The sporty suspension and stiff body shell deliver the kind of decisive dynamics that still distinguish German sedans. And if this heaviest of Jettas is a little chunky, the location of the 80-pound lithium-ion battery pack at the rear gives the car better front-to-rear weight balance.

Jetta styling isn?t exactly compelling to begin with, and there?s little to distinguish the hybrid visually: The design includes blue highlights around the VW emblem, a specific wheel design, and a revised front air dam and decklid spoiler. And like other hybrids, this one carries a price premium that will make it the most expensive Jetta. On the other hand, the fuel economy benefit seems to be there, along with a fun-to-drive factor that?s all but absent in competing hybrids.

Source: http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/reviews/drives/2013-volkswagen-jetta-hybrid-test-drive-14617040?src=rss

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Secrets, Schemes, and Lots of Guns: Inside John McAfee's Heart of Darkness

As dawn broke over the interior of Belize on April 30, an elite team of 42 police and soldiers, including members of the country's SWAT team and Special Forces, converged on a compound on the banks of a jungle river. Within, all was quiet. The police called out through a bullhorn that they were there looking for illegal firearms and narcotics, then stormed in, breaking open doors with sledgehammers, handcuffing four security guards, and shooting a guard dog dead. The compound's owner, a 67-year-old white American man, emerged bleary-eyed from his bedroom with a 17-year-old Belizean girl. The police cuffed him and took him away, along with his guards. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/YNmXYGyRusg/secrets-schemes-and-lots-of-guns-inside-john-mcafees-heart-of-darkness

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