Futures Movers: Oil down, caution reigns on year’s first full week

By Claudia Assis and Virginia Harrison, MarketWatch

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) ? Crude-oil futures traded lower Monday, hovering around session lows as traders were cautious at the start of the first full week of the year and reaction to Iran?s threats to disrupt oil shipping was seen as overdone.

Crude for February delivery /quotes/zigman/2203132 CL2G -0.26% ?declined 84 cents, or 0.8%, to $100.73 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. It had earlier traded as low as $100.10 a barrel, and as high as $102.15 a barrel.

Sanctions may force Iran to sell oil at a discount

Oil prices spike on worries over Iran's moves in the Persian Gulf, but tighter sanctions on Iran may actually force Iran to sell at a discount. Photo: AP.

Oil lacked ?new impetus to run higher? and cautious traders may be backing off after ?an overdone reaction to the Iranian Hormuz threats,? said Bill O?Neill, a principal with Logic Advisors in New Jersey.

?Oil had a very nice run over the last couple of weeks? and although geopolitical concerns are likely to dominate trade reaction, Iran?s threat to disrupt oil shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz has been tempered, O?Neill said.

In addition, weak German industrial output data also raised eyebrows, he said. ?Germany is the leader in Europe and any decrease there is going to be reflected in general,? O?Neill said.

Germany industrial output declined 0.6% in November, adding to fears about Europe. Also Monday, German newspaper Die Welt reported a survey of 14 economists saw Germany already in a recession. Read more about the survey.

The softer start to the trading week followed a 2.8% rise for oil last week, as some positive U.S. economic reports supported the prospects for energy demand, while concerns about the spread of Europe?s debt crisis limited gains.

European jitters nagged investors further on Monday, weighing on Asian equities. European stocks had a choppy session, and the euro /quotes/zigman/4867933/sampled EURUSD +0.5554% gained the upper hand versus the dollar.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel met Monday, and after their meeting they said Europe has made progress toward tougher fiscal policies and their goal is to foster growth and job creation. Merkel said the haircuts being asked from Greek bond holders were an ?exceptional? case not to be repeated elsewhere in the euro zone. Read more about the Merkel, Sarkozy meeting.

The dollar index /quotes/zigman/1652083 DXY -0.31% ?traded lower, adding further support to commodities. The index recently traded at 81.141, from 81.263 in late North American trading on Friday.

A weaker greenback supports prices as it makes the commodity cheaper to holders of other currencies.

Iran remains a wild card

Iran?s threats to disrupt the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil-shipping lane, has been the wild card in oil trading in recent days.

Commerzbank strategist Barbara Lambrecht said an escalation of a potential conflict involving Iran and possible oil-supply disruptions ? as well as a string of monthly supply reports ? are expected to dominate oil markets this week.

Last week, Iran signaled it might close off the passage through the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation for economic sanctions from the U.S. and Europe announced last week.

?This week, attention [will be] focused on the consequences of the European Union?s impending oil embargo, which could be decided definitively at the end of January,? Lambrecht wrote in a research report.

Traders watched Nigeria, also a top oil exporter, as Nigerians protested the end of fuel subsidies, which could disrupt supplies in the region.

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Claudia Assis is a San Francisco-based reporter for MarketWatch. Virginia Harrison is a MarketWatch reporter based in Sydney.

Source: http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story.asp?guid=%7B41aac930-3a5c-11e1-a661-002128040cf6%7D&siteid=rss

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PFT: Fisher to pick Rams or Dolphins next week

Reuters

There?s been some talk this week that Drew Brees may have caught Aaron Rodgers in the Most Valuable Player race, but the voting on the Associated Press All-Pro team makes it clear that most members of the media view Rodgers as the superior player.

The full All-Pro votes were released today, and Rodgers was the overwhelming choice at quarterback, with 47.5 votes. Brees got the other 2.5 votes from the 50-member media panel.

There were no unanimous choices at any position, but two players came close: Lions receiver Calvin Johnson and Vikings defensive end Jared Allen were the highest vote getters at any position, with 49 votes apiece.

The full voting results are below.

Quarterback

Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay, 47.5; Drew Brees, New Orleans, 2.5.

Running Backs

Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville, 40; LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia, 29; Ray Rice, Baltimore, 24; Arian Foster, Houston, 3; Frank Gore, San Francisco, 1; Matt Forte, Chicago, 1; Darren Sproles, New Orleans, 1.

Fullback

Vonta Leach, Baltimore, 42; John Kuhn, Green Bay, 6; Marcel Reece, Oakland, 2.

Tight End

Rob Gronkowski, New England, 44.5; Jimmy Graham, New Orleans, 5.5.

Wide Receivers

Calvin Johnson, Detroit, 49; Wes Welker, New England, 23; Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona, 15; Victor Cruz, New York Giants, 9; Steve Smith, Carolina, 2; Jordy Nelson, Green Bay, 1; Mike Wallace, Pittsburgh, 1.

Tackles

Jason Peters, Philadelphia, 27; Joe Thomas, Cleveland, 19; Duane Brown, Houston, 11; Joe Staley, San Francisco, 11; Eric Winston, Houston, 10; Jake Long, Miami, 5; Jermon Bushrod, New Orleans, 3; Andrew Whitworth, Cincinnati, 3; Bryan Bulaga, Green Bay, 3; Michael Oher, Baltimore, 2; Jared Veldheer, Oakland, 2; Tyron Smith, Dallas, 1; Anthony Davis, San Francisco, 1; Jordan Gross, Carolina, 1; Michael Roos, Tennessee, 1.

Guards

Jahri Evans, New Orleans, 29; Carl Nicks, New Orleans, 27; Marshal Yanda, Baltimore, 17; Logan Mankins, New England, 10; Brian Waters, New England, 5; Chris Kuper, Denver, 4; Davin Joseph, Tampa Bay, 3; Chris Snee, New York Giants, 2; Evan Mathis, Philadelphia, 2; Mike Iupati, San Francisco, 1.

Center

Maurkice Pouncey, Pittsburgh, 13; Ryan Kalil, Carolina, 11; Nick Mangold, New York Jets, 11; Chris Myers, Houston, 7; Scott Wells, Green Bay, 7; John Sullivan, Minnesota, 1.

Kicker

David Akers, San Francisco, 32; Sebastian Janikowski, Oakland, 14; Rob Bironas, Tennessee, 1; Matt Bryant, Atlanta, 1; Matt Prater, Denver, 1; Josh Scobee, Jacksonville, 1.

Kick Returner

Patrick Peterson, Arizona, 33; Devin Hester, Chicago, 10; Darren Sproles, New Orleans, 3; Ted Ginn Jr., San Francisco, 2; Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh, 1; Joe McKnight, New York Jets, 1.

Defensive End

Jared Allen, Minnesota, 49; Jason Pierre-Paul, New York Giants, 34; Justin Smith, San Francisco, 9; Jason Babin, Philadelphia, 7; Elvis Dumervil, Denver, 1.

Tackles

Haloti Ngata, Baltimore, 38; Justin Smith, San Francisco, 35; Geno Atkins, Cincinnati, 9; Richard Seymour, Oakland, 5; Vince Wilfork, New England, 5; B.J. Raji, Green Bay, 1; Calais Campbell, Arizona, 1; Henry Melton, Chicago, 1; Mike Patterson, Philadelphia, 1; Sione Pouha, New York Jets, 1; Jay Ratliff, Dallas, 1; Ndamukong Suh, Detroit, 1; J.J. Watt, Houston, 1.

Outside Linebackers

Terrell Suggs, Baltimore, 47; DeMarcus Ware, Dallas, 42; Tamba Hali, Kansas City, 4; Von Miller, Denver, 4; Clay Matthews, Green Bay, 2; Sean Weatherspoon, Atlanta, 1.

Inside Linebackers

Patrick Willis, San Francisco, 32; NaVorro Bowman, San Francisco, 16; Derrick Johnson, Kansas City, 16; Brian Cushing, Houston, 13; London Fletcher, Washington, 8; Ray Lewis, Baltimore, 3; Brian Urlacher, Chicago, 3; Daryl Washington, Arizona, 3; Lance Briggs, Chicago, 2; D?Qwell Jackson, Cleveland, 2; DeMeco Ryans, Houston, 1; Lawrence Timmons, Pittsburgh, 1.

Cornerbacks

Darrelle Revis, NY Jets, 48; Charles Woodson, Green Bay, 19; Johnathan Joseph, Houston, 18; Carlos Rogers, San Francisco, 10; Champ Bailey, Denver, 3; Brandon Flowers, Kansas City, 1; Charles Tillman, Chicago, 1.

Safeties

Troy Polamalu, Pittsburgh, 29; Eric Weddle, San Diego, 20; Ed Reed, Baltimore, 17; Earl Thomas, Seattle, 16; Kam Chancellor, Seattle, 5; Adrian Wilson, Arizona, 4; Dashon Goldson, San Francisco, 3; Jairus Byrd, Buffalo, 2; Bernard Pollard, Baltimore, 2; Roman Harper, New Orleans, 1; Tyvon Branch, Oakland, 1.

Punter

Andy Lee, San Francisco, 29; Shane Lechler, Oakland, 20; Britton Colquitt, Denver, 1.

Source: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/01/06/jeff-fisher-says-his-decision-will-come-next-week/related/

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Romney brushes off rivals' barbs in NH debate (AP)

MANCHESTER, N.H. ? Mitt Romney brushed aside rivals' criticism Saturday night in the opening round of a weekend debate doubleheader that left his Republican presidential campaign challengers squabbling among themselves and unable to knock the front-runner off stride.

Three days before the first in-the-nation New Hampshire primary, Romney largely ignored his fellow Republicans and turned instead on President Barack Obama. "His policies have made the recession deeper and his policies have made the recovery more tepid," he said, despite a declining unemployment rate and the creation of 200,000 jobs last month.

Over the course of the lively 90-minute debate, there were attacks aplenty as Romney's five rivals vied to emerge as his principal rival in the primaries ahead. The former Massachusetts governor won an eight-vote victory in the Iowa caucuses last Tuesday and is far ahead in the pre-primary polls in New Hampshire.

That leaves his pursuers little time to stop his rise, and, all but conceding New Hampshire to the former governor of next-door Massachusetts, they're mostly focusing their efforts on the South Carolina primary on Jan. 21

Texas Rep. Ron Paul assailed Rick Santorum as a "big government person," an allegation the former Pennsylvania senator disputed. Santorum finished a close second to Romney in Iowa this week, with Paul coming in third.

Paul, who has called former House Speaker Newt Gingrich a "chicken hawk" who has not served in the military, drew withering criticism in return. "I personally resent the kinds of comments and aspersions he routinely makes," Gingrich said.

Paul got the last word, saying emphatically, "When I was drafted I was married and had two kids, and I went." He was an Air Force surgeon in the Vietnam War era.

Gingrich was fourth in Iowa, Perry fifth and Minnesota rep. Michele Bachmann, who has since quit the race, was last. Huntsman did not compete there, hoping to make a splash in New Hampshire.

Romney appeared uncertain only once, when he was asked if states have the right to ban contraception. He avoided a clear answer, suggesting the question was irrelevant.

"No. States don't want to ban contraception," he said. In a ruling in 1967, the Supreme Court said married couples have a right to use contraception, a finding that has been expanded in subsequent opinions

Romney, who often touts his business background, was attacked in the opening moments of the debate.

Santorum went first, dismissing him as a mere manager. "Being a president is not a CEO. You've got to lead and inspire," he said.

Gingrich followed a few moments later, referring to published accounts that described how some workers were laid off after Bain Capital, the firm Romney once led, invested in their companies and sought to turn them around.

He said Romney should be judged on the basis of whether "on balance, were people better off or worse off by this style of management."

Unruffled, the former Massachusetts governor retorted that Bain had created 100,000 jobs on balance, and that a businessman's experience was far better to fix the economy that a lifetime spent in Washington, D.C. "I'm very proud of the fact that the two enterprises I led were successful," he said, referring to Bain and another firm.

More than an hour later, Romney turned one question about his vision for the country into an attack on Obama that is part of his standard campaign speech. While his rivals stood by silently, he accused the president of trying to turn the United States into a "European-style welfare state."

Perry, who flirted with quitting the race after Iowa, emphasized that he was an outsider in the race as he sought to lump his rivals into one, unappealing category.

"I think you've just seen a great example of why I got in the race. ... I'm the only outsider," he said as he watched Santorum, Paul, Gingrich and Romney clash.

Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman dismissed much the back-and-forth as "insider gobbledygook ... a lot of political spin," saying he would focus on more important questions such as national security.

He drew one of the few barbs that Romney directed at a fellow Republican during the evening.

"I'm sorry, Governor. You were the last two years implementing the policies of this administration in China. The rest of us on this stage were doing our best to get Republicans elected across this country and stop the policies of this president from being put forward."

There were a few light moments.

At one point, Paul was interrupted by a bell meant to indicate his time to speak had expired. "There it goes again," he said.

Santorum replied instantly: "They caught you not telling the truth, Ron."

The intramural skirmishes reflected the state of the race ? Romney the acknowledged front-runner under attack from his rivals, who face an increasingly urgent need to emerge as his main conservative challenger.

The debate at Saint Anselm College was the first in more than three weeks, and the first since Bachmann dropped out of the race. The candidates faced a quick turnaround for the second debate, set for Sunday morning in Concord.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/gop/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120108/ap_on_el_pr/us_republicans_debate

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Britain's Hague says Myanmar needs more reforms (AP)

YANGON, Myanmar ? British Foreign Secretary William Hague cautioned Friday while visiting Myanmar that foreign supporters of democracy must not slacken pressure on its military-backed government while reforms remain incomplete.

Hague is the first British foreign secretary to visit Myanmar in more than 50 years, following counterparts including U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton late last year, as nations try to nuture ties to the country and encourage its reforms.

Hague said after a meeting with Aung San Suu Kyi, head of the country's democracy movement, that while reforms undertaken by elected President Thein Sein raise hopes that democracy and freedom are within reach, the measures taken so far are insufficient.

"I hope we are at a stage where we can say that a long-held dream now has a chance of being realized," he said, but added much more must be done.

Britain and other nations instituted political and economic sanctions against Myanmar ? also called Burma ? because of repression by the previous military regime, and these pressures should not yet be lifted while political prisoners are still being held, Hague said.

Thein Sein's government, which came to power last year after elections in 2010, has released about 200 political prisoners, legalized labor unions and eased some restrictions on freedom of expression. However, it still holds some 600 to 1,700 political activists, some on long prison sentences, and critics fear that liberalization and conducted dialogue with Suu Kyi's democracy movement are minimal gestures aimed at appeasement.

Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy party, however, have virtually endorsed the reform process by rejoining mainstream electoral politics after years of resistance to military rule.

The NLD won 1990 elections but the ruling junta detained Suu Kyi and other NLD figures for years and refused to allow parliament to be seated. Myanmar did not hold another election until November 2010, and the rules set by the military perpetuated its dominance in parliament and government. The NLD boycotted that election and was delisted as a result, but it was reinstated by the government Thursday, in time to run candidates in a by-election on April 1.

Hague, who met Thursday with Thein Sein, said he supported the president's reform efforts so far, but said much more needs to be done.

"It is not possible to say a country is free and democratic while people are still in prison on grounds of their political beliefs," he said, adding that such prisoners must be released before Britain supports a lifting of European Union restrictions against Myanmar.

Other areas of Britain's concern are improved humanitarian access to areas of ethnic conflict ? the government is currently engaged in a brutal fight with the Kachin ethnic minority in the country's remote north ? and openly free and fair by-elections.

"The risk is that we assume it's all done and forget that this is only part way through," Hague said, adding, "It's very important that we do not relax the pressure prematurely."

Suu Kyi, speaking alongside Hague after their meeting, said he reflected her movement's themes and aspirations exactly.

"In order to realize our dreams we have to work very hard indeed," she said, adding "We will work very hard and we are sure our friends will be with us at our side and together we will succeed in fulfilling the dreams of the people of Burma."

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120106/ap_on_re_as/as_myanmar_britain

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Obama vows US will stay world's top military power

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama vowed Thursday the United States will remain the world's pre-eminent military power even as the Pentagon scales back spending, shrinks the Army and Marine Corps and pulls back from Europe.

In a rare appearance at the Pentagon, Obama said the U.S. is "turning a page" after having killed al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden, withdrawn troops from Iraq and begun to wind down the war in Afghanistan. He outlined a vision for the future that would ensure an uncompromised U.S. military strength operating with less money.

"Our military will be leaner, but the world must know the United States is going to maintain our military superiority," Obama said, with Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and the Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey at his side.

Obama said his administration would not repeat the mistakes made after World War II and Vietnam when defense reductions left the military ill-prepared.

"As commander in chief, I will not let that happen again," he said. "Not on my watch."

Both Panetta and Dempsey said they anticipate heavy criticism of their new strategy, which is meant to guide future defense budgets, including the 2013 spending plan that Obama will submit to Congress in February.

The criticism from Republicans came quickly.

Rep. Howard "Buck" McKeon, R-Calif., chairman of the House Armed Services, issued a statement saying, "This is a lead-from-behind strategy for a left-behind America." He called it a "retreat from the world in the guise of a new strategy."

Dempsey praised the strategy and the work of crafting it, calling it inclusive and comprehensive.

"It's not perfect," the general said. "There will be people who think it goes too far. Others will say it doesn't go nearly far enough. That probably makes it about right. It gives us what we need."

Obama said the strategy overhaul is designed to contend with hundreds of billions of dollars in budget cuts and refocus the United States' national security priorities after a decade dominated by the post.-Sept. 11 wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The strategy, devised through a comprehensive review by civilian and military leaders, centered on the military the country needs after the "long wars of the last decade are over," Obama said.

Panetta said that smaller military budgets will mean some trade-offs and that the U.S. will take on "some level of additional but acceptable risk." But Panetta said that at this point in history, in a changing world, the Pentagon would have been forced to make a strategy shift anyway. He says the money crisis merely forced the government's hand.

The president announced that the military will be reshaped over time with an emphasis on countering terrorism, maintaining a nuclear deterrent, protecting the U.S. homeland, and "deterring and defeating aggression by any potential adversary."

Those are not new military missions, and Obama announced no new capabilities or defense initiatives. He described a U.S. force that will retain much of its recent focus, with the exception of fighting a large-scale, prolonged conflict like the newly ended Iraq mission or the ongoing war in Afghanistan.

"As we end today's wars and reshape our armed forces, we will ensure that our military is agile, flexible and ready for the full range of contingencies," the president wrote in a preamble to the new strategy, entitled, "Sustaining U.S. Global Leadership: Priorities for 21st Century Defense."

The strategy strongly suggests a reduced U.S. military presence in Europe, notwithstanding a continuing close relationship with NATO, and says Asia will be a bigger priority. It also emphasizes improving U.S. capabilities in the areas of cyberwarfare, missile defense, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.

Obama's decision to announce the strategy himself underscores the political dimension of Washington's debate over defense cuts. The administration says smaller Pentagon budgets are a must but will not come at the cost of sapping the strength of a military in transition, even as it gets smaller.

In a presidential election year, the strategy gives Obama a rhetorical tool to defend his Pentagon budget-cutting choices. Republican contenders for the White House already have criticized him on a wide range of national security issues, including missile defense, Iran and planned reductions in ground forces.

Obama also wants the new strategy to represent a pivotal point in his stewardship of defense policy, which has been burdened throughout his presidency by the wars he inherited and the drag these conflicts have placed on military resources.

The new strategy moves the U.S. further from its longstanding goal of being able to successfully fight two major regional wars - like the 1991 Gulf War to evict Iraqi forces from Kuwait or a theoretical ground war in Korea - at the same time.

The document released Thursday made clear that while some current missions of the military will be curtailed, none will be scrapped entirely.

"Wholesale divestment of the capability to conduct any mission would be unwise, based on historical and projected uses of U.S. military forces and our inability to predict the future," the document said.

It said the U.S. will maintain a robust nuclear arsenal but hinted at reductions.

"It is possible that our deterrence goals can be achieved with a smaller nuclear force, which would reduce the number of nuclear weapons in our inventory as well as their role in U.S. national security strategy," the strategy said.

The administration and Congress already are slashing projected defense spending to reflect the closeout of the Iraq war and the drawdown in Afghanistan. The massive $662 billion defense budget planned for next year is $27 billion less than Obama wanted and $43 billion less than Congress gave the Pentagon this year.

The Pentagon announced no specifics on the size of expected troop reductions; the Army and Marine Corps already are set to shrink beginning in 2015. The document said the Pentagon will have to find savings in pay and health care benefits for members of the military, but it offered no specifics.

Factors guiding the Obama administration's approach to reducing the defense budget are not limited to war-fighting strategy. They also include judgments about how to contain the growing cost of military pay and health and retirement benefits. The administration is expected to form a commission to study the issue of retirement benefits, possibly led by a prominent retired military officer.

The administration is in the final stages of deciding specific cuts in the 2013 budget, which Obama will submit to Congress next month. The strategy to be announced by Panetta and Dempsey is meant to accommodate about $489 billion in defense cuts over the coming 10 years, as called for in a budget deal with Congress last summer. An additional $500 billion in cuts may be required starting in January 2013.

A prominent theme of the Pentagon's new strategy is what Panetta has called a renewed commitment to security in the Asia-Pacific region.

The administration is not anticipating military conflict in Asia, but Panetta believes the U.S. got so bogged down in Iraq and Afghanistan after 9/11 that it missed chances to improve its strategic position in other regions.

---

Ben Feller and Pauline Jelinek in Washington contributed to this report.

- Robert Burns can be reached on Twitter at http://twitter.com/robertburnsAP

Source: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_DEFENSE_STRATEGY?SITE=INELK&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

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Ganso agent in London for Tottenham talks

Tottenham are launching a fresh bid for Santos sensation Paulo Henrique Ganso.

The Telegraph says Spurs are expected to hold talks today to sign the highly-rated Brazilian international midfielder Ganso in a deal that would be worth more than ?15 million.

Ganso?s agent, Teodoro Fonseca, arrived in London yesterday and is hoping to meet Spurs to discuss the future of the player who has been told he can leave Santos in this transfer window if a deal can be struck.

Santos president Luis Oliveira recently announced that Ganso could go if "the offer matches our expectations" before adding that the club had yet to receive a bid. It?s understood that 55 per cent of Ganso?s contract rights are currently held by an investment group, DIS.

A host of Europe?s leading clubs, including Manchester United and both AC and Inter Milan, have been linked with a move for the talented 22-year-old who recently featured in the Fifa World Club Cup in Japan.

Source: http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/399/f/607843/p/1/s/3f576bca/l/0L0Stribalfootball0N0Carticles0Cganso0Eagent0Elondon0Etottenham0Etalks0E260A49510Dutm0Isource0Fmain0Ifeed/story01.htm

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Lori Cooke voted Englishtown Council president

Lori Cooke voted Englishtown Council president

The Borough Council voted Councilwoman Lori Cooke president of the governing body at its organization meeting Tuesday. Cooke, who joined the council in 2007, replaces last year's council president,

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Source: http://www.app.com/article/20120104/NJNEWS/301040078/1004/NEWS01&source=rss

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Smallest-ever exoplanets found, one step closer to Earth-twin

These planets, while roughly the size of our planet Earth, are circling very close to their star, giving them fiery temperatures that are most likely too hot to support life, researchers said.

This story was updated at 1:54 p.m. ET.

Skip to next paragraph

Two planets orbiting a star 950 light-years from Earth are the smallest, most Earth-size alien worlds known, astronomers announced today (Dec. 20). One of the planets is actually smaller than Earth, scientists say.

These planets, while roughly the size of our planet Earth, are circling very close to their star, giving them fiery temperatures that are most likely too hot to support life, researchers said. The discovery, however, brings scientists one step closer to finding a?true twin of Earth?that may be habitable.

"We've crossed a threshold: For the first time, we've been able to detect planets smaller than the Earth around another star," lead researcher Fran?ois Fressin of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics in Cambridge, Mass., told SPACE.com. "We proved that Earth-size planets exist around other stars like the sun, and most importantly, we proved that humanity is able to detect them. It's the beginning of an era."

To discover the new planets, Fressin and his colleagues used?NASA's Kepler space telescope, which noticed the tiny dips in the parent star's brightness when the planets passed in front of it, blocking some of its light (this is called the transit method). The researchers then used ground-based observatories to confirm that the planets actually exist by measuring minute wobbles in the star's position caused by gravitational tugs from its planets.

"These two new planets are the first genuinely?Earth-sized?worlds that have been found orbiting a sunlike star," University of California, Santa Cruz astronomer Greg Laughlin, who was not involved in the new study, said in an email to SPACE.com. "For the past two decades, it has been clear that astronomers would eventually reach this goal, and so it's fantastic to learn that the detection has now been achieved." [Gallery: Smallest Alien Planets Ever Seen]

Chances for life

The two Earth-size planets are among five alien worlds orbiting a star called Kepler-20 that is of the same class (G-type) as our sun, and is slightly cooler.

Two of the star system's planets, Kepler-20e and Kepler-20f, are 0.87 times and 1.03 times the width of Earth, respectively, making them the smallest exoplanets yet known. They also appear to be rocky, and have masses less than 1.7 and 3 times Earth's mass, respectively. Scientists think that they are composed mainly of silicates and iron, much like the Earth, though they lack our planet's atmsophere.

Kepler-20e makes a circle around its star once every 6.1 days at a distance of 4.7 million miles (7.6 million kilometers) ? almost 20 times closer than Earth, which orbits the sun at around 93 million miles (150 million km).

The planet's sibling, Kepler-20f, makes a full orbit every 19.6 days, at a distance of 10.3 million miles (16.6 million km). Both planets circle closer to their star than Mercury does to the sun. [Infographic: Earth-Size Alien Planets Explained]

These snuggly orbits around their star give the newfound planets steamy temperatures of about 1,400 degrees Fahrenheit (760 degrees Celsius) and 800 degrees Fahrenheit (430 degrees Celsius) ? way too warm to support liquid water, and probably life, researchers said.

Fressin said the chance of life on either of these planets is "negligible," though the researchers can't exclude the possibility that they used to be habitable in the past, when they might have been farther from their star. There is also a slim chance that there are habitable regions on the planets in spots between their day and night sides (the planets orbit with one half constantly facing their star and the other half always in dark). But astronomers aren't holding out hope.

"The chances of liquid water and life as we know it on Kepler-20e and f are zero," Laughlin said.

Flip-flopped planets

The planetary system around Kepler-20 is an unusual one.

For one thing, scientists say the rocky planets can't have formed in their current locations.

"There's not enough rocky material that close to the host star to form five planets," Fressin said. "They didn't form here; they probably formed farther from their star and migrated in."

Furthermore, the five planets are in an odd order, with the rocky worlds alternating with their gaseous, Neptune-size siblings. That's quite different from most solar systems, including our own, which keeps the rocky terrestrial worlds in close to the sun, with the gas giants farther out.

"The architecture of that solar system is crazy," science team member David Charbonneau of Harvard University said during a Tuesday telecon announcing the finding. "This is the first time that we've seen anything like this."

Scientists will likely have to revise their theories of how planets form to fully understand the Kepler-20 system.

"How did that form?" Fressin said. "I think it's a puzzle the theorists will have to try to explain."

The star's other planets are called Kepler-20b, 20c, and 20d. Their diameters are 15,000 miles (24,000 km), 24,600 miles (40,000 km), and 22,000 miles (35,000 km), respectively, and they orbit Kepler-20 once every 3.7, 10.9, and 77.6 days.

The largest of these, Kepler-20d, weighs a little under 20 times Earth's mass, while Kepler-20c is 16.1 times as heavy as Earth, and Kepler-20b is 8.7 times our planet's mass.

Evolving effort

Scientists say finding the smallest exoplanets yet represents a significant milestone in the fast-evolving effort to learn about planets beyond the solar system.

The first alien planet was discovered in 1996, and the first planet found through the transit method came just 11 years ago. Both of those planets were roughly the size of Jupiter.

"I think we're living in special times," Fressin said. "This was unfeasible 10 years ago, and just with the quality of detectors and the quality of the treatment is it possible now."

The total tally of?known alien planets is above 700. Kepler alone has discovered 28 definite alien planets, and 2,326 planet candidates, since its launch in March 2009.

Earlier this month, the Kepler team announced another landmark find, the?first planet known to occupy the habitable zone?around its star where liquid water, and perhaps life, could exist.

That planet, called Kepler-22b, is about 2.4 times as wide as Earth.

The dream now is for astronomers to combine the two discoveries and find an Earth-size planet that's also orbiting its star in an Earth-like orbit that puts it in the habitable zone.

"The holy grail of the search for other worlds is to find an Earth analogue, a true Earth twin," Fressin said. "We just need to have these two pieces of the puzzle together."

While the newfound planets orbit with periods of 6.1 and 19.6 days, Fressin estimated the habitable zone around Kepler-20 begins at orbits that take roughly 100 days to make a circuit.

Astronomers think it's only a?matter of time before they finally find one?that's just right.

"These discoveries are a great technological step forward ? to detect small planets, in size like Earth ? but these planets are very hot and not in the habitable zone around their star," astronomer Lisa Kaltenegger of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics wrote in an email. Kaltenegger, who studies the habitability of exoplanets, was not involved in the new study. "If we can already find these small planets with radii around Earth's now, some future ones could be in the habitable zone of their stars and THOSE future ones would be great targets to look for liquid water and signatures for life."

A paper detailing the discovery was published online in the journal Nature Dec. 20.

You can follow SPACE.com assistant managing editor Clara Moskowitz on Twitter @ClaraMoskowitz. Follow SPACE.com for the latest in space science and exploration news on Twitter?@Spacedotcom?and on?Facebook.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/science/~3/2hS2EsdF1-M/Smallest-ever-exoplanets-found-one-step-closer-to-Earth-twin

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John Gulager Insists Piranha 3DD Is Still Coming to Theaters

There was a bit of stir when a British website reported that Piranha 3DD would be going straight-to-DVD in UK.? The film had already been delayed from its November release in the U.S., so was it possible the movie was going to have a similar direct-to-DVD fate in the states?? It would be a remarkably stupid idea to film a movie in 3D and then skip a theatrical release when most folks still don?t have 3D TVs.? But director John Gulager has come to put your fears to rest.

Hit the jump for why the release date was delayed, and when we can expect the returns of boobs, blood, and fish.? The film stars Danielle Panabaker, Matt Bush, Chris Zylka, Meagan Tandy, Katrina Bowden, David Hasselhoff, Christopher Lloyd, Paul Scheer, and Gary Busey.

Gulager tells Shock Till You Drop that Piranha 3DD is still getting a theatrical release in the U.S.? However, the original November release was overly optimistic and they had to push back the release date.? Gulager explains the reason for the delay:

The main problem was this thing called ?Winter?. There was no way we could ask anyone to strip down and jump into the water. Besides being inhumane and stupid, even with ?movie magic?, it would be too dangerous. So we waited until it was warm enough to shoot but not so late that our main location became unavailable (open to the public) and started shooting in real 3D on April 25th, 2011.

When this happened, it changed the worldwide release schedule.? Gulager says the movie will now come out sometime in the spring.

Here?s the official synopsis for Piranha 3DD:

Having awoken from their spring break extravaganza at Lake Victoria, the swarm heads upstream where they look to make a meal out of Big Wet, a local water park where when it comes to fun, nobody does it wetter! Though they came to get wet, get loaded and get some, the staff and patrons get more than they bargained for when they must face the fiercest, most bloodthirsty piranhas yet. Lead by the strong-willed, studious Maddy and her friends, Barry and Kyle, the trio must dive in and take on these man-eating creatures using every ounce of their being?but can they be stopped? Shot in 3-D and feauturing Esquire Magazine?s ?2011 Sexiest Woman Alive,? Katrina Bowden and the return of Christopher Lloyd, Paul Scheer and Ving Rhames alongside fresh bait Gary Busey and David Hasselhoff, the film that took an $80 Million bite out of the box office is back for more?only this time it has double the terror and double the D!

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1924227/news/1924227/

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Nissan and Dongfeng Motor to manufacture Renault vehicles in China

Nissan Motor Co. and China-based joint venture partner Dongfeng Motor Corp. have entered into a memorandum of understanding to produce Renault vehicles in the country, Wuhan newspaper Changjiang Evening News reported. Specifically, Dongfeng will enter into a joint venture with Renault in the central China city of Wuhan, the paper revealed, citing sources from Dongfeng. Details about the plans for Renault's China production are not available.

The current joint venture of Dongfeng and Nissan manufactures Nissan-brand automobiles in China. In 1999, Renault and Nissan created the industrial and commercial partnership Renault-Nissan Alliance.

Without an assembly facility in China, Renault must depend on imports. Thus, sales have been minimal. During the first 10 months of 2011, Renault sold 15,958 vehicles in China, an increase by 49 percent year-on-year, according to LMC. Dongfeng, which is a state-owned Chinese company based in Wuhan, also has partnerships with Kia Motors Co., PSA/Peugeot-Citroen and Honda Motor Co. [source: Autonews]

Source: http://www.4wheelsnews.com/nissan-and-dongfeng-motor-to-manufacture-renault-vehicles-in-china

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Samsung seeks to re-enter Japan TV market: report (Reuters)

(Reuters) ? Samsung Electronics Co Ltd is planning to re-enter the Japanese flat-panel television market next year, the Nikkei business daily reported on Tuesday, without citing sources.

The South Korean consumer electronics giant had withdrawn from the market in 2007, the newspaper said.

Samsung is in talks with Japanese consumer electronics retailers Yamada Denki Co and Yodobashi Camera Co about handling its flat-panel televisions, the paper said.

(Reporting by Supantha Mukherjee in Bangalore; Editing by Joyjeet Das)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/japan/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20120102/tc_nm/us_samsungelectronics_japan

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Man Sought In California Arson Investigation

LOS ANGELES (CNN) -- Authorities have detained a man for questioning in connection with a suspected arson spree in the Los Angeles area, officials said Monday.It was not immediately clear whether it's the same man seen in a surveillance video released by authorities.The video showed a man who appears to be in his late 20s to mid-30s and has a ponytail, receding hairline and dark hair.CNN saw a man with a ponytail detained in a sheriff's department vehicle near the location of several fires.At least eight new auto blazes erupted in Los Angeles early Monday, hours after authorities released the video.The cars were set on fire within an hour in Hollywood and Van Nuys, Capt. Jaime Moore of the Los Angeles Fire Department said early Monday.The latest fires brought the total number of blazes in the Los Angeles area to 47, the most since the city's riots in 1992.The new fires started hours after Michael Moriarty, a commander in the Los Angeles police department's detectives bureau, released the video."We have video of this individual in two instances" directly tied to recent fires, he said Sunday night."That person is out there, and we want to make sure that we apprehend him," city Councilman Tom LaBonge said, describing the fires as the work of an arsonist who struck "like lightning.""There's nothing worse than something that can be prevented," the councilman said.A joint task force that includes city and county fire and police department officials is investigating the string of fires.It includes about 25 personnel from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives that spokesman Patrick Gorman said would be on the scene by Monday.These personnel have "special experience to determine the cause and origin of fires," Gorman said.Moriarty said the law enforcement officers "executed a search warrant" Sunday morning at a single-family residence."We interviewed a number of people, (but) we did not make any arrests," he said.There is a $60,000 reward in the case.Police were asking residents in the area to bring forward any surveillance video from their properties that might show suspicious activity. Residents are also being encouraged to follow the "see something, say something" motto and report suspicious behavior to authorities.Officials sought Sunday to show their commitment to finding the person or people behind the fires."We're not going to rest and we're going to put all the resources out there," Assistant Fire Chief Patrick Butler said.They also asked residents to help deter the perpetrator by leaving porch lights on and locking their vehicles, as many of the fires were set using a car as the incendiary device."Auto fires, as soon as they get going, they get really hot, really fast," Butler said. "They essentially give off their own combustibles."Some of the fires spread to nearby buildings, though no injuries have been reported. Among the homes damaged was one that was once occupied by The Doors frontman Jim Morrison."When you have millions of people living with millions of cars in these very dense neighborhoods, this is becoming a new form of domestic terrorism that really has got our community in a very bad spot," West Hollywood Mayor John J. Duran told CNN Saturday.

Copyright CNN 2011

Source: http://www.10news.com/news/30114829/detail.html

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ACP's Ethics Manual examines emerging issues in medical ethics

Public release date: 2-Jan-2012
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Angela Collom
acollom@acponline.org
215-351-2653
American College of Physicians

The American College of Physicians (ACP) has released the sixth edition of its Ethics Manual, published as a supplement to the current issue of Annals of Internal Medicine, ACP's flagship journal, and available online at www.annals.org. The manual is intended to facilitate the process of making ethical decisions in clinical practice, teaching, and medical research, and to describe and explain underlying ethics principles, as well as the physician's role in society and with colleagues.

New topics in the updated manual address the patient-physician relationship during health catastrophes, providing culturally sensitive care, use of human biologic materials in research, social media and online professionalism, industry sponsored research, and the challenges of taking care of so-called very important persons, such as those with a degree of fame or prestige.

ACP's Ethics Manual also revisits and expands on issues of previous editions, such as end-of-life care, complementary and alternative medicine, physician-assisted suicide, physician-industry relations, genetic testing, and research ethics.

"ACP's Ethics Manual covers many of the ethical tensions in medicine and attempts to shed light on how existing principles extend to emerging concerns," said Virginia L. Hood, MBBS, MPH, FACP, president of ACP, and the former chair of ACP's Ethics, Professionalism, and Human Rights Committee. "We believe that ACP's Ethics Manual provides the best approach to the challenges addressed in it."

ACP's Ethics Manual is developed primarily for doctors of internal medicine but has been widely used by other physicians and is often cited in medical and ethical literature. The first ACP Ethics Manual was published in 1984. This sixth edition is an update of the 2005 fifth edition and was developed by ACP's Ethics, Professionalism, and Human Rights Committee and was approved by ACP's Board of Regents in July 2011.

"Medicine continues to pose challenging ethical dilemmas for patients and their physicians," said Lois Snyder, JD, director of ACP's Center for Ethics and Professionalism and lead author of the manual. "We hope ACP's Ethics Manual will provide guidance to clinicians, educators, researchers, and policymakers that will enhance trust in individuals, and the profession, by patients and the public."

In an accompanying editorial, Ezekiel Emanuel, MD, PhD, a medical ethicist at the University of Pennsylvania, praises ACP's Ethics Manual for having many clear and specific recommendations.

Dr. Emanuel writes: ACP's Ethics Manual "is an important guide for physicians. It goes well beyond the usual banalities to take brave stands on current issues. Yet this document is a worthy heir to the tradition of medical oaths and codes that stretches back millennia."

###

As an added bonus for ACP members and subscribers to Annals of Internal Medicine, ACP's flagship journal, a continuing medical education (CME) quiz and a maintenance of certification (MOC) module are available at www.annals.org.

About the American College of Physicians

The American College of Physicians is the largest medical specialty organization and the second-largest physician group in the United States. ACP members include 132,000 internal medicine physicians (internists), related subspecialists, and medical students. Internists specialize in the prevention, detection, and treatment of illness in adults. Follow ACP on Twitter and Facebook.

---

[ | 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: 2-Jan-2012
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Angela Collom
acollom@acponline.org
215-351-2653
American College of Physicians

The American College of Physicians (ACP) has released the sixth edition of its Ethics Manual, published as a supplement to the current issue of Annals of Internal Medicine, ACP's flagship journal, and available online at www.annals.org. The manual is intended to facilitate the process of making ethical decisions in clinical practice, teaching, and medical research, and to describe and explain underlying ethics principles, as well as the physician's role in society and with colleagues.

New topics in the updated manual address the patient-physician relationship during health catastrophes, providing culturally sensitive care, use of human biologic materials in research, social media and online professionalism, industry sponsored research, and the challenges of taking care of so-called very important persons, such as those with a degree of fame or prestige.

ACP's Ethics Manual also revisits and expands on issues of previous editions, such as end-of-life care, complementary and alternative medicine, physician-assisted suicide, physician-industry relations, genetic testing, and research ethics.

"ACP's Ethics Manual covers many of the ethical tensions in medicine and attempts to shed light on how existing principles extend to emerging concerns," said Virginia L. Hood, MBBS, MPH, FACP, president of ACP, and the former chair of ACP's Ethics, Professionalism, and Human Rights Committee. "We believe that ACP's Ethics Manual provides the best approach to the challenges addressed in it."

ACP's Ethics Manual is developed primarily for doctors of internal medicine but has been widely used by other physicians and is often cited in medical and ethical literature. The first ACP Ethics Manual was published in 1984. This sixth edition is an update of the 2005 fifth edition and was developed by ACP's Ethics, Professionalism, and Human Rights Committee and was approved by ACP's Board of Regents in July 2011.

"Medicine continues to pose challenging ethical dilemmas for patients and their physicians," said Lois Snyder, JD, director of ACP's Center for Ethics and Professionalism and lead author of the manual. "We hope ACP's Ethics Manual will provide guidance to clinicians, educators, researchers, and policymakers that will enhance trust in individuals, and the profession, by patients and the public."

In an accompanying editorial, Ezekiel Emanuel, MD, PhD, a medical ethicist at the University of Pennsylvania, praises ACP's Ethics Manual for having many clear and specific recommendations.

Dr. Emanuel writes: ACP's Ethics Manual "is an important guide for physicians. It goes well beyond the usual banalities to take brave stands on current issues. Yet this document is a worthy heir to the tradition of medical oaths and codes that stretches back millennia."

###

As an added bonus for ACP members and subscribers to Annals of Internal Medicine, ACP's flagship journal, a continuing medical education (CME) quiz and a maintenance of certification (MOC) module are available at www.annals.org.

About the American College of Physicians

The American College of Physicians is the largest medical specialty organization and the second-largest physician group in the United States. ACP members include 132,000 internal medicine physicians (internists), related subspecialists, and medical students. Internists specialize in the prevention, detection, and treatment of illness in adults. Follow ACP on Twitter and Facebook.

---

[ | 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/acop-enf122811.php

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Tournament of THG: The 2011 Champion is ...

The First Annual Tournament of THG has come to an end.

We began with 16 top stars in mid-December, with the simple mission of determining our readers' favorite celebrity on THG. Your votes narrowed it down to Miley Cyrus and Demi Lovato, who waged an epic championship round battle.

The margin was RAZOR-THIN: Just 50.1 percent for the champion and 49.9 for the runner-up. Could Lovatics carry their girl to victory, or would the Smilers prevail?

Who emerged victorious, after 36,787 votes? Find out after the jump...

Demi Lovato, trailing by as much as five percent yesterday afternoon, rallied to pull off the slimmest of victories in a tight, see-saw battle. Unbelievable!!!!

Congratulations to Demi, and also to Miley and their respective fans on an amazing, close competition and a great run. With results that close, there is really no loser.

More importantly, thank you to all who voted in the finals and throughout the last several weeks! The Tournament of THG was a success and we are forever grateful.

And not to worry, fans of Miley and other stars: Another chance will come.

In honor of March Madness, a new, much larger tournament will begin in just two months at The Hollywood Gossip! It is ON then! Happy New Year, all!

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2012/01/tournament-of-thg-the-2011-champion-is/

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Domestic policy chief starts, leaves amid crises (AP)

WASHINGTON ? Melody Barnes is leaving as White House chief domestic policy adviser at a time when President Barack Obama's administration is getting little notice for its work on the home front to fix the struggling economy.

Barnes, who will be gone by Tuesday, is quick to point out that there have been many domestic achievements, even though the public is dissatisfied.

"I completely understand what the American public is feeling," she said in an interview in her tidy West Wing office. "Real people are hurting in a significant way. ... At the same time, I'm proud of the things we've been able to accomplish over the last few years."

Her office is wrestling with multiple thorny issues now just as it was when Barnes started as Obama's domestic policy team director in 2009.

Back then, the economy plunged into free-fall and the country was in its worst economic crisis since the 1930s. Jobs were being lost at a rate of about 750,000 a month ? a number Barnes still finds so staggering she said she has to double-check it every time she says it.

Homes were being foreclosed, unemployment was skyrocketing and reaching double the national average in the black community. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan dragged on, an outbreak of H1N1flu virus became a pandemic, and a tsunami that hit Japan crippled a nuclear plant near Tokyo, to name some of the highlights.

Even her chance to play golf with the president, the first time a woman joined him, was a response to what was a public image crisis for Obama. The president was getting flak for playing basketball with men and fostering complaints about a boys' club in the White House.

Just before Christmas, the president and Congress wrangled over a two-month extension of a Social Security payroll tax cut and unemployment benefits. Obama won a victory when the proposal won bipartisan support in the Senate and finally was accepted by House Republicans under extreme pressure.

Barnes, a Richmond, Va., native with a career in government and private sector work, is bowing out of the political arena as Obama struggles with low approval ratings on his handling of the economy.

A majority of Americans do not think the president deserves a second term, according to the most recent Associated Press-GfK poll. But at the same time, the unemployment rate has dropped to 8.6 percent, the lowest level since March 2009. The president's overall approval rating stands at 44 percent, the lowest of his term in AP-GfK surveys.

His strong stance against House Republicans in the payroll tax standoff has caused an uptick in approval ratings in subsequent polls.

Barnes expects the list of legislative victories that she and others pulled off amid the hemorrhaging economy will become more clear in the coming year as the dark clouds of the economy disperse.

She tops that list with the early work to stabilize the economy, 21 months of consistent job growth and the president's long-term investments in education overhaul, an area that became her specialty.

"Our work on education reform, it'll be part of this president's legacy," she said.

Barnes said that with a fraction of what the federal government spends annually on education, about $100 billion, from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the administration tapped into an education reform movement taking place at the grass roots among governors and local communities frustrated with the prescriptive, one-size-fits-all mandates of No Child Left Behind, the Bush administration's education cornerstone.

Congress has yet to approve revisions to No Child Left Behind, states are using up the stimulus money, and Obama's Race to the Top grant program faces spending cuts. But Barnes said Obama has given a boost to education law changes that now allow such things as connecting student performance and teacher evaluations.

Barnes, chief counsel to the late Sen. Edward Kennedy on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said Obama also deserves credit for passage of a health care overhaul, legislation that she had worked on for eight years with Kennedy. The Massachusetts senator spent his career trying to restructure health care.

There's also the auto industry bailout, expansion of Pell grants to help fund college education, the end of the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy on gays and work to advance civil rights, she said.

"When you are worried about day to day, it's hard to step back and to take all those other things in," Barnes said. "Although at the same time, I'm literally in the grocery store and people come up to me and say, `Hey, you work for the president. You keep on doing what you are doing.' "

Married a few months into the president's first year, Barnes plans to spend more time with family. She is considering offers in the private sector but hasn't disclosed what those are.

___

Online:

White House Domestic Policy Council: http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/dpc

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/obama/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111230/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_white_house_adviser

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