Movie-camera maker accuses rival of corporate espionage (omg!)

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Shots are being fired in the world of the digital camera.

California-based Red Digital Cinema alleges that a former executive at Delaware-based Arri engaged in corporate espionage when he hacked into the email server of a third camera company, according to a complaint Red filed December 21 in U.S. District Court in California.

According to the lawsuit, which was obtained by TheWrap, Red alleges Arri used the hacked emails to give its Alexa camera a competitive advantage over Red's Epic camera.

Red alleges unfair competition based on email hacking, invasion of privacy, conversion, misappropriation of trade secrets and unlawful trade practices, among other charges.

In September, Michael Bravin, Arri's ex-VP of market development for digital camera products, pleaded guilty to unlawfully accessing the email server of Band Pro Film & Digital while he was employed at Arri.

Bravin, who had previously worked for Band Pro, was charged with computer fraud and email hacking and, following a plea agreement, was sentenced to two years' probation, among other penalties.

Now, Red says some of the emails Bravin copied had sensitive information about the company's technology, including the Epic camera. Some of the emails were from Red personnel including founder Jim Jannard, Red also alleges.

At the time of the hacking, Red was allegedly in confidential business discussions with Band Pro, discussing a potential joint venture. Arri employees -- including Chief Technology Officer Glenn Kennel and Vice President of Camera Products Bill Russell -- were aware Bravin was engaging in the hacking, Red says. Therefore, Arri is liable, according to Red.

"Red is informed and believes, and thereupon alleges, that Bravin saved or forwarded, either directly or verbally, the information obtained from the Band Pro emails to other Arri executives and employees," the suit says.

Additionally, Red alleges that Arri started a false advertising campaign leading up to the launch of the Alexa camera, and that Bravin -- using his real name and a pseudonym -- posted on a Red blog, RedUser.net, disparaging the company's products. Red says one of the Web-blog board's policies is that users do not use false names.

Red is seeking damages, disgorgement, restitution and injunctive relief. The company is seeking a jury trial.

"It was quite shocking to them, that the vice president of Arri would steal business emails for use at Arri," lawyer Gregory L. Weeks, who represents Red, told TheWrap.

A representative for Arri did not respond to TheWrap's request for comment.

Movies including "The Hobbit," "Prometheus" and "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" were shot with Red cameras.

"Hugo," "Pariah" and "New Year's Eve" were shot with Arri cameras.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/entertainment/*http%3A//us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/external/omg_rss/rss_omg_en/news_movie_camera_maker_accuses_rival_corporate_espionage010924289/44031842/*http%3A//omg.yahoo.com/news/movie-camera-maker-accuses-rival-corporate-espionage-010924289.html

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Romney's ride stays remarkably smooth in GOP race

Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney speaks during a campaign stop at Homer's Deli and Bakery in Clinton, Iowa, Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2011. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney speaks during a campaign stop at Homer's Deli and Bakery in Clinton, Iowa, Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2011. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney greets supporters after a campaign stop at Homer's Deli and Bakery in Clinton, Iowa, Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2011. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) ? Regardless of whether Mitt Romney wins the Iowa Republican caucus Tuesday, he has enjoyed a remarkably easy presidential race so far.

When his rivals have stopped battering each other long enough to criticize him, they've often done so tentatively and ham-handedly. Romney's injury-free journey is all the more surprising because, despite some obvious campaign skills, he has well-known vulnerabilities ripe for attack.

The turn of events has astonished campaign pros in both parties, who expected Romney to be more bloodied. And it has dismayed President Barack Obama's allies, who assumed Republicans would at least soften up the man they viewed as the likeliest nominee from the start.

"By all rights, Romney should have spent the last six months with a target painted on his back," said Dan Schnur, a former GOP adviser who teaches politics at the University of Southern California. "But he has been able to keep his head low," Schnur said, while a series of rivals have taken turns quarreling, surging and falling.

New polls show Romney heading into Tuesday's caucus as the front-runner in a state that seems ill-suited to his background, and which snubbed him four years ago. The Iowa Republican caucus is usually dominated by evangelical voters, home-schoolers and other social conservatives. Yet his rivals have done little here to turn those dynamics against Romney, a Mormon who supported legalized abortion and mandatory health insurance as governor of liberal Massachusetts.

Romney began this year's campaign de-emphasizing Iowa. But his rivals' inability to produce a clear leader has opened a possible path for him to seize the prize.

A Romney win in Iowa, which is far from certain, would make him the clear favorite to win the nomination. Next up is the Jan. 10 primary in New Hampshire. Romney has a second home there, and the GOP voters' greater emphasis on financial matters is better suited to his politics.

Romney's luck stems largely from his opponents' early conclusion that he had enough money and experience to go deep into the nominating contest, and only one viable alternative could emerge. They've been competing for that spot, and attacking each other, ever since.

"If you have modest resources, you're going to spend your time differentiating yourself from the rest of the non-Romney crowd," said GOP lobbyist and strategist Mike McKenna.

Campaign attack ads in Iowa underscore the point. When former House Speaker Newt Gingrich surged in polls earlier this month, he was quickly pilloried by TV ads and mailings financed by groups associated with Romney, Texas Gov. Rick Perry and Rep. Ron Paul of Texas.

In two weeks in Iowa, a PAC that supports Romney dumped $2.6 million into the effort, according to records compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics. Having little money to respond, Gingrich has plummeted in the polls.

A far smaller sum was spent on anti-Romney ads, mostly by a pro-Obama group trying to fill the vacuum.

Campaign veterans say Perry had the best chance to establish himself early as the Romney alternative. That could have positioned him to hammer away at his Massachusetts rival. A proven fundraiser with 10 years as Texas governor, Perry rocketed to the top of GOP polls when he announced his candidacy in mid-August.

But he quickly fell after debate performances that typified the GOP field's inability, or unwillingness, to train sustained fire on Romney's obvious soft spots: his changed positions on abortion, gun control and gay rights, and his policy of requiring Massachusetts residents to buy health insurance or pay a penalty.

In a Sept. 22 debate in Florida, Perry started to describe Romney's various flip-flops. But he stammered and wandered so badly that it was nearly impossible to understand his point.

After that, the GOP field showed little interest in launching focused attacks on Romney's policy changes.

Romney was equally lucky in June. Then-candidate Tim Pawlenty had said in a TV interview that "Romneycare" was the inspiration for "Obamacare," the GOP term for the Democrats' 2010 health care overhaul. But in a televised debate that followed, Pawlenty refused to repeat the criticism. His reticence contributed to his fast decline, and gave Romney a big break.

Conservative columnist George Will said on ABC in September: "Tim Pawlenty got in trouble when he got a chance to attack Romney and didn't. Perry's in trouble because he attacked Romney and did it so incompetently."

Romney has enjoyed other breaks. James Pethokoukis of the conservative American Enterprise Institute noted that Romney recently stopped short of endorsing a value-added tax without ruling it out in all circumstances.

"Many conservatives/libertarians simply hate, hate, hate the idea of a VAT," Pethokoukis wrote. "I would be surprised if those quotes don't end up in a 30-second, anti-Romney ad in Iowa or New Hampshire."

So far, they haven't.

Democrats contrast Romney's easy ride with Obama's grueling Iowa campaign against Hillary Rodham Clinton and John Edwards, two well-financed politicians with sharp debating skills.

Rodell Mollineau heads American Bridge, a Democratic group that gathers information to use against Republicans in campaigns. This year's GOP candidates have tried to attack Romney at times, Mollineau said, "but they're just not very good at it."

"Perry has the money, but he can't get a sentence out," Mollineau said. Gingrich is articulate, he said, but hasn't raised enough money to wound Romney with broadcast ads.

Romney's luck continued Wednesday. Rep. Michele Bachmann criticized two rivals during her fast-moving bus tour of Iowa. She said Perry has spent "27 years as a political insider," and Paul would be "dangerous as president" because of his hands-off views on national security.

Romney largely escaped her ire.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/89ae8247abe8493fae24405546e9a1aa/Article_2011-12-29-Romney-Easy%20Ride/id-53edfd45ebfc4e77aacf054414e30722

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Shanahan maintains optimism despite 11-20 record in Washington

Credit: AP PHOTO/BILL KOSTROUN

As Shanahan nears the conclusion of a second consecutive season with double-digit losses, though, he has developed an appreciation for the magnitude of the building project.

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By: RICH CAMPBELL | The Washington Times
Published: December 27, 2011 Updated: December 27, 2011 - 12:00 AM

ASHBURN --

Transforming the Washington Redskins from a 4-12 geriatric unit into a perennial Super Bowl contender never was going to be easy for executive vice president/head coach Mike Shanahan. Talent deficiencies were rampant on the NFL's oldest roster when he took over in January 2010.

As Shanahan nears the conclusion of a second consecutive season with double-digit losses, though, he has developed an appreciation for the magnitude of the building project.

"A lot longer than I first anticipated," he told reporters at Redskins Park on Monday afternoon. "We had less depth than I thought. We were a little bit older at a few different positions, and I thought we might keep those players a little bit longer than we did.

"But that's not a negative. You've just got to evaluate your squad on a day-to-day basis, a year-to-year basis, and put the best football team together. And I think that's what we're doing."

Shanahan addressed the big picture Monday, sounding like a coach who believes he will get to see his plan through to the next stage.

Redskins owner Daniel Snyder has fired coaches with better records than Shanahan's mark of 11-20, but Shanahan's message emphasizing the importance of stability has at least fostered self-confidence.

Although a win in Sunday's season finale at Philadelphia would only equal last season's total of six wins, progress is evident to the Redskins' top personnel decision-maker.

"I see a big difference from two years ago," Shanahan said. "We have a much younger football team. We have a lot more depth at a lot of different positions. I feel good with the type of players that we do have."

Many players agree. The Redskins overcame a slew of serious injuries to several of their top offensive players and have played competitive football during the second half of the season.?Starting running back Tim Hightower, first-string left guard Kory Lichtensteiger and two-time Pro Bowl tight end Chris Cooley were lost to season-ending injuries by the seventh game. And left tackle Trent Williams and tight end Fred Davis were suspended for violating the league's drug policy.

Nevertheless, three of their past four losses were by seven points or fewer, and they led in the other loss ? their 34-19 defeat against the New York Jets ? in the fourth quarter.

"We've got the right guys in this locker room," linebacker Brian Orakpo said. "Guys are fighting hard. We don't have any, really, issues as much. Guys play for each other. We've got a great coaching staff. We've got everything. We've got an owner that's doing everything possible to win. Just got to be optimistic."

Shanahan is, at least. A loss to the surging Eagles on Sunday would ensure his worst record in 18 seasons as an NFL head coach, but he senses progress, especially on defense.

The Redskins made upgrading defensive personnel last offseason a priority ? particularly the front seven ? and the unit has improved from 30th?to 17th?in yards allowed per play.

"I feel good about that," Shanahan said. "Not only do we have some first-teamers there, but we believe we have some second- and third-teamers there, and that's what you're looking for is depth in that front seven, front eight."

Much work remains, though, especially on offense. Only two teams have turned the ball over more than the Redskins' 34 giveaways. Washington ranks 21st?in the NFL with a 5.21 yards-per-play average.

Shanahan has discussed their need for playmakers, and the time to add some is approaching.

"We still need a good draft, a good free agency," he said. "We still need to improve from where we're at right now. Our record obviously dictates that, but I feel good about the football team and the direction we're headed."

NOTES: Running back Roy Helu was inactive for Saturday's 33-26 loss to the Minnesota Vikings because his knee and toe injuries were problematic. "We ran him about three hours before the game," Shanahan said. "We tried to get him to push off and do all the football-related drills, but I talked to him, and our gut was no."

Helu's replacement, Evan Royster, rushed for 132 yards on 19 carries. "I thought Evan made a lot of great cuts, and he was very productive throughout the whole game," Shanahan said.

Source: http://www2.timesdispatch.com/sports/2011/dec/27/tdsport03-shanahan-maintains-optimism-despite-11-2-ar-1569620/

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Consumer confidence hits 8-month high in December (Reuters)

WASHINGTON (Reuters) ? Consumer confidence rose more than expected in December, hitting an eight-month high, as Americans grew more upbeat about the labor market and their financial situation.

The Conference Board, an industry group, said its index of consumer sentiment increased to 64.5 from a downwardly revised 55.2 in November.

Economists had expected a reading of 58.3 from a previously reported 56.0 in November.

The rise in sentiment offered hope for a pick-up in consumer spending after a tepid performance in November.

Labor market conditions have improved in recent months, with the unemployment rate falling to a 2-1/2 year low in November and applications for first time jobless benefits at the lowest since April 2008.

The survey's present situation index rose to 46.7 this month --- the highest since September 2008 -- from 38.3 in November. The expectations index surged to 76.4 from 66.4 in November.

"Consumers are more optimistic that business conditions, employment prospects and their financial situations will get better," the Conference Board said in a statement.

"While consumers are ending the year in a somewhat more upbeat mood, it is too soon to tell if this is a rebound from earlier declines or a sustainable shift in attitudes."

(Reporting By Lucia Mutikani; Editing by Kenneth Barry)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/economy/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111227/bs_nm/us_usa_economy_confidence

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Military / Holiday Bowl GameThread, 1.30p / 5p

First up on this bowl Wednesday doubleheader is the Northrop-Grumman-sponsored Military Bowl, starring Air Force (which makes sense) and...Toledo (which I suppose makes sense because they're Rockets). I should warn you that rooting for Toledo means you are anti-American.

Next up is the Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl, featuring Cal and Texas, two schools associated with prominent athletes who leave school early (like Vince Young and geometry whiz Jason Kidd). A commitment to education, indeed. Perhaps in "Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl," "Education" is modifying "Holiday"? Yeah, that would make more sense.

Source: http://www.sonsofstevegarvey.com/2011/12/military-holiday-bowl-gamethread-130p.html

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Video: Possible serial killer loose in Detroit

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Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/newsnation/45798340/

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China premier urges protection of farmers' rights (AP)

BEIJING ? Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has urged officials to share profits from the development of rural land with the millions of farmers who have to give it up.

Wen's speech to officials at a work conference Tuesday comes a week after southern Chinese officials gave in to protesting villagers after a two-week standoff with police over a land dispute.

He says China can no longer sacrifice farmers' land rights for the sake of reducing the cost of urbanization and industrialization.

Last Wednesday, the village of Wukan called off protests that had driven out local officials after a provincial party official agreed to release detainees and return some confiscated land to farmers.

Land disputes cause tens of thousands of protests in China every year.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111227/ap_on_re_as/as_china_land_disputes

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Cruise takes quiet Christmas with $26.5M 'Mission' (AP)

LOS ANGELES ? Tom Cruise's latest mission has won a holiday weekend that's shaping up with some silent nights at movie theaters as business continues to lag.

Studio estimates Sunday placed Cruise's "Mission: Impossible ? Ghost Protocol" a solid No. 1 with $26.5 million domestically over its first weekend in full release. The movie raised its total to $59 million since it started a week earlier in huge-screen cinemas and expanded nationwide last Wednesday, and distributor Paramount estimated that revenues will reach $72.7 million by Monday.

Cruise's fourth "Mission" flick was a bright spot over a Christmas weekend filled with so-so tidings for Hollywood, whose usually busy holiday stretch since Thanksgiving has been a bust.

Generally well-reviewed movies from Steven Spielberg ("The Adventures of Tintin"), David Fincher ("The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo") and Cameron Crowe ("We Bought a Zoo") ? with casts that include Matt Damon, Scarlett Johansson and Daniel Craig ? opened with modest to weak results.

Despite predictions from studio executives that 2011 could be a record-setter that would finish with a bang, domestic revenues remained stuck at a sluggish pace that has lingered all year.

Hollywood should finish the year with $10.1 billion domestically, down 4.5 percent from 2010, according to box-office tracker Hollywood.com.

The picture gets worse taking into account higher ticket prices, which mean Hollywood brings in fewer fans for each dollar spent. Actual domestic attendance for 2011 will close out at about 1.27 billion, down 5.3 percent from the previous year's and the lowest head count since 1995, when admissions totaled 1.26 billion.

"Thank God 2011 is almost over, because we've had a real rough run here at the end of the year," said Hollywood.com analyst Paul Dergarabedian. "We always count on the holiday season to give us a big boost at the end of the year, and it just didn't happen.

"These admission numbers this year just tell me that we maybe have to set our sights a little lower in terms of attendance every year."

Since peaking at a modern high of 1.6 billion in 2002, domestic movie admissions have been on a general decline since.

Studio executives always insist that slow times result from weak films, but on paper, the strong lineup Hollywood presented this year should have had fans lining up in huge numbers. Pretty good films are out there this holiday season, yet blockbuster expectations fizzled, a sign that people might be skipping a trip to the theater in favor of home-viewing, video games or the countless other entertainment options their gadgets now offer.

Rising ticket prices, particularly the extra few dollars it costs to see 3-D films, also could be causing a backlash among fans.

With "Ghost Protocol" climbing toward the $100 million mark, it's a return to box-office form for Cruise, who had been Hollywood's most-dependable earner for two decades until he turned off fans with odd antics in his personal life six years ago.

"Ghost Protocol" will be Cruise's first top-billed $100 million hit since 2006's "Mission: Impossible III." He had a supporting role in 2008's $100 million comedy hit "Tropic Thunder," which was headlined by Ben Stiller, Robert Downey Jr. and Jack Black.

Even with a No. 1 debut, "Ghost Protocol" still was a shadow of its predecessors. The first three "Mission: Impossible" movies ranged from $45 million to $58 million over opening weekend, but those installments opened at the start of the busy summer season.

As of Friday, "Ghost Protocol" also had brought in a healthy $118 million overseas.

Downey's "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows" fell from No., 1 to No. 2 in its second weekend with $17.8 million. The family sequel "Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked" dropped from second to third with $13.3 million.

Both sequels trail well behind the business their predecessors did. "A Game of Shadows," from Warner Bros., lifted its domestic haul to $76.6 million, while 20th Century Fox's "Chipwrecked" pushed its receipts to $50.3 million.

The weekend's newcomers failed to light up the box office, too. Fincher and Craig's "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" from Sony was No. 4 with $13 million, Spielberg's "The Adventures of Tintin" from Paramount was No. 5 with $9.1 million and Crowe, Damon and Johansson's "We Bought a Zoo" from 20th Century Fox was No. 6 with $7.8 million.

"Dragon Tattoo" raised its total to $21.4 million since opening Tuesday night, while "Tintin" lifted its take to $17.1 million since debuting Wednesday.

European literary exports "Dragon Tattoo," adapted from Stieg Larsson's Swedish best-seller, and "Tintin," based on Belgian artist Herge's storybook classics, are finding a lukewarm reception among U.S. crowds.

"Dragon Tattoo" has been a sensation among U.S. readers yet failed to challenge "Mission: Impossible" and the other established franchises at the top of the box office.

Beloved by generations of readers overseas, "Tintin" launched internationally two months ahead of its U.S. release. But the blockbuster global attention, with nearly $250 million already in the bank from foreign markets, did not translate to crowds in the United States.

The calendar made it a tough weekend for Hollywood, with Christmas Eve ? always a slow night for movie-going ? falling on Saturday, usually the best day of the week at theaters.

Christmas Day typically is a strong one for movies, as fans squeeze in a film between unwrapping presents and sitting down to family dinners.

Two big holiday releases ? Spielberg's World War I epic "War Horse" and Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock's Sept. 11 drama "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close" ? opened Christmas Day, but estimates on their revenues will not be available until Monday.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Hollywood.com. Where available, latest international numbers are also included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.

1. "Mission: Impossible ? Ghost Protocol," $26.5 million.

2. "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows," $17.8 million.

3. "Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked," $13.3 million ($20.1 million international).

4. "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo," $13 million.

5. "The Adventures of Tintin," $9.1 million.

6. "We Bought a Zoo," $7.8 million ($1.1 million international).

7. "New Year's Eve," $3 million.

8. "Arthur Christmas," $2.7 million ($9.7 million international).

9. "Hugo," $2.03 million.

10. "The Muppets," $2 million ($500,000 international).

___

Online:

http://www.hollywood.com

http://www.rentrak.com

___

Universal and Focus are owned by NBC Universal, a unit of Comcast Corp.; Sony, Columbia, Sony Screen Gems and Sony Pictures Classics are units of Sony Corp.; Paramount is owned by Viacom Inc.; Disney, Pixar and Marvel are owned by The Walt Disney Co.; Miramax is owned by Filmyard Holdings LLC; 20th Century Fox and Fox Searchlight are owned by News Corp.; Warner Bros. and New Line are units of Time Warner Inc.; MGM is owned by a group of former creditors including Highland Capital, Anchorage Advisors and Carl Icahn; Lionsgate is owned by Lions Gate Entertainment Corp.; IFC is owned by AMC Networks Inc.; Rogue is owned by Relativity Media LLC.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/movies/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111225/ap_on_en_ot/us_box_office

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4 Chinese Busted With Gold & Guns

FOUR CHINESE nationals who have been engaging in illegal gold mining activities, also known as galamsey, at Dikoto, a village near Wassa Akropong in the Western Region, have been arrested by a joint military-police team under the auspices of the National and Western Regional Security Councils.

The four, Xu Xio Guang, 26, Tang Jian Guo, 59, Tang Lin He, 37 and Yang Xian, 19, were arrested on December 21, 2001 during an operation mounted by the team in the area.

DCOP Moses Ransford Ninson, Western Regional Police Commander, who disclosed this to DAILY GUIDE, explained that the destructive activities of illegal miners on the water bodies, arable lands and forest reserves within the region necessitated the operation.

He indicated that the Chinese alleged that they were brought into the country by a Tarkwa-based Chinese called Dai Ming Shing.

According to the regional police commander, one of the suspects, Tang Neng Bring, 27, managed to escape arrest during the operation while another suspect, Tan Wei Min, was also in China. He noted that efforts were being made to have them apprehended.

Items retrieved from the four Chinese galamsey operators included five gold ingots, two pump action guns together with 19 live AAA cartridges, 179 live BBB cartridges, 169 empty cartridges, one chainsaw machine, one sledge hammer, three domestic and one industrial cylinder.

The rest are one military camouflage uniform, 11 mobile phones, three unserviceable walkie-talkies, one HP computer, notebook, one double cabin Toyota pick-up with registration number GN 1997 Z, one Konka television set, a cash sum of 2,020 Yuan and GH?50.00.

DCOP Ninson said at about 300 metres from the Chinese suspects? site, a Ghanaian, Godwin Jones, 38, and a mechanical engineer were also arrested for engaging in illegal mining with two excavator machines and a washing plant.

The suspect claimed that he and his cousin, Kwabena Amoah, acquired the site from Nana Dikoto of Dikoto village and that they started the illegal mining activities about three weeks ago.

DCOP Ninson said all the suspects were put before court and were remanded into police custody to reappear on January 11, 2012.

The regional police commander appealed to all galamsey operators to make sure they acquired mining licences and permits from the Minerals Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency respectively before starting their operations.

Source: http://news.peacefmonline.com/social/201112/86235.php

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Cottonwood High football players team up to help homeless

Cottonwood High School football players teamed up Friday to help the homeless.

The clothing, including 2400 pairs of warm socks and other items, were gathered by Zach Taylor of Highland for his Eagle Scout project.

?

"They've got stuff to help these guys stay warm in the winter andons of food--looks like good food. They're trying not to eat all the food but they're happy to be here and help out," said Josh Lyman, head football coach at Cottonwood High School.

Santa also came to hand out gifts to the children at the event.

Source: http://americanfork.fox13now.com/news/community-spirit/66233-cottonwood-high-football-players-team-help-homeless

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Lawyer Morvillo, Martha Stewart defender, dies (Reuters)

(Reuters) ? Lawyer Robert Morvillo, who led the courtroom battle of media celebrity Martha Stewart and other high-profile white-collar criminal defendants, has died at the age of 73, according to a notice on his firm's website on Sunday.

Morvillo was regarded as one of New York's savviest criminal-defense attorneys, a master of establishing a kind of just us-folks rapport with jurors.

The website statement did not specify the cause of death.

Stewart may have been his best-known client. In 2004, despite Morvillo's efforts, she was convicted of lying to investigators about a sale of ImClone Systems shares and served five months in a West Virginia federal prison. ImClone is a wholly owned subsidiary of Eli Lilly and Co.

Other prominent clients included John Zaccaro, husband of the late politician Geraldine Ferraro, who in 1984 became the first woman to run on a major party national ticket for vice president. Zaccaro, a real estate developer, was acquitted of felony bribery charges in 1987 with Morvillo defending him.

Morvillo was an editor of White Collar Crime: Business and Regulatory Offenses and a co-author of the "White-Collar Crime" in the New York Law Journal. He was a founding partner in 1973 of a predecessor to the firm Morvillo, Abramowitz, Grand, Iason, Anello & Bohrer, P.C., where he was principal partner until his death.

(Reporting By Jim Wolf in Washington)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/crime/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111225/us_nm/us_usa_morvillo

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Hedge funds are bullish on Apple these days

Of 350 funds tracked by Insider Monkey, 125 are long on Apple

Source: Insider Monkey

Apple is a perennial favorite among hedge funds,?and a recent survey of insiders and hedge fund managers suggest that it may be more popular than ever among the folks with the power to move the market up or down.

In a list of companies with recent insider trades posted on Seeking Alpha by Insider Monkey, a free (after registration) site that lists the holdings 350 hedge funds, Apple was No. 1 among the hedge funds with bullish positions. No. 2, Qualcomm (QCOM) wasn't even close.

Here, in full, is Insider Monkey's entry on Apple:

Apple Inc (AAPL)?is the most popular stock among hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey. There are 125 hedge funds reported to own AAPL at the end of September. For example,?Ken Griffin's Citadel Investment Group had $928 million invested in AAPL shares as of September 30. The stock was also purchased by one insider over the past month. On November 29, Robert Iger bought 1370 shares at $374.4856 and another 1300 shares at $375.3292. Now the stock is trading at $396.19. AAPL has a market cap of $368B and a P/E ratio of 14.31. It returned 20.14% since the beginning of this year.

Source: http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?r5659296618&f=378

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Scott Weiland's 'Winter Wonderland' Frame By Frame

Foster the People and others help break down the Stone Temple Pilots frontman's Christmas video.
By Matt Elias

Scott Weiland in his "Winter Wonderland" video
Photo: Atco / Softdrive Records

With Christmas just around the corner, it's safe to assume you're enveloped in holiday tunes — whether inescapably at the mall or blaring from your laptop by choice. Beyond the old standards, there's Michael Bublé's chart-topping Christmas album and even Justin Bieber's first Christmas contribution, Under the Mistletoe, but you might not be aware that Stone Temple Pilots frontman Scott Weiland released his own holiday disc this year.

That's right, and while Weiland's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year dropped back in October, even some of his contemporaries were unaware of his Xmas effort. That gave us the perfect opportunity to share the album's first music video with the bands on the bill at KROQ's annual Almost Acoustic Christmas earlier this month. In true holiday spirit, the artists graciously took us through the kitschy retro-themed clip for "Winter Wonderland," frame by frame.

Initially, everyone was surprised by the video, in part due to Scott's never-before-heard classic croon, but also by his "Mad Men"-inspired, clean-cut new look.

"I like his scarf a lot," Marcus Mumford of Mumford & Sons said.

"He's very handsome," fellow bandmember Winston Marshall added.

While the reactions ran the gamut from "good" to "insane," there were other clues in the video, some believed, that this whole thing might be more of a wink and a nod than a serious musical venture.

"He kinda has a very weird eyebrow thing that I only noticed now for the first time," Grouplove's Ryan Rabin said.

"I can't tell if it's tongue-in-cheek or not," Mark Foster of Foster the People wondered. "You think it's tongue-in-cheek or you think he just lost his mind? 'Cause he definitely had a bout with [in]sanity for a while."

Of course, the sight of a '90s rock icon cozying up to the Yule log left some baffled, but Death Cab for Cutie had their own take on Weiland's "Wonderland."

"I mean, is he more Bing Crosby or is he more Danny Kaye?" DCFC's Chris Walla asked.

"He's got a lotta Bing, he's got a lot of ... I mean there's some Sinatra there too," DCFC bassist Nick Harmer said.

They both agreed that Weiland was fully committed to the act.

"And it's good! It's classic," Walla said.

"Thank you! I mean — yeah! Thanks for making that Scott, seriously," Harmer concluded.

What do you think of Weiland's version of "Winter Wonderland"? Tell us in the comments.

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1676455/scott-weiland-winter-wonderland-video.jhtml

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New particle identified at LHC

22 December 2011 Last updated at 05:59 ET

The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) on the Franco-Swiss border has made its first clear observation of a new particle since opening in 2009.

Known as Chi-b 3P, it is a boson - the label given to particles that carry the forces of Nature.

The discovery is reported on the Arxiv pre-print server.

The LHC is exploring some of the fundamental questions in Big Physics by colliding proton particles together in a huge underground facility.

Detail in the sub-atomic wreckage from these impacts is expected to yield new information about the way matter is constructed.

The Chi-b 3P is a more excited state of Chi particles already seen in previous collision experiments, explained Professor Roger Jones, who works on the Atlas detector at the LHC.

"The new particle is made up of a 'beauty quark' and a 'beauty anti-quark', which are then bound together," he told BBC News.

"People have thought this more excited state should exist for years but nobody has managed to see it until now.

"It's also interesting for what it tells us about the forces that hold the quark and the anti-quark together - the strong nuclear force. And that's the same force that holds, for instance, the atomic nucleus together with its protons and the neutrons."

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/science-environment-16301908

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APNewsBreak: 10,000 US troops leave Afghanistan (AP)

WASHINGTON ? President Barack Obama's order to withdraw 10,000 American troops from Afghanistan this year has been accomplished, a little more than a week before the year-end deadline, military officials said Thursday.

The drawdown is the first step in the plan to wind down the war, transition security to Afghan forces and end the combat role for international troops by the end of 2014.

It also gives the Obama administration a second war-related accomplishment to tout this month ? coming just a week after U.S. officials marked the end of the war in Iraq and the last convoy of American soldiers rumbled out of that country into Kuwait.

Officials say there are now 91,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan ? down from the peak of 101,000 in June.

In December 2009 Obama announced he was sending an additional 33,000 U.S. troops to Afghanistan in a bid to beat back the escalating Taliban insurgency and change the course of the war. Six months ago, declaring that the "tide of war is receding," Obama said he would withdraw 10,000 troops by the end of this year, and another 23,000 by the end of next summer.

The decision was met with initial opposition from military leaders who thought the withdrawal was too much, too soon, particularly since it would pull troops out before the end of next year's fighting season, which can last well into October and even November.

Last week, however, during a trip to Afghanistan, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta repeatedly told troops that the U.S. had reached a turning point in the war. And at one point he went so far as to say, "I really think that for all the sacrifices that you're doing, the reality is that it is paying off and that we're moving in the right direction. ... We're winning this very tough conflict here in Afghanistan."

Contrasting that assessment is the ongoing violence in Afghanistan's east, along the Pakistan border, and the high-profile attacks and assassinations that continue to wreak havoc in and around Kabul. The violence is compounded by worries about government corruption, the fragile economy, and fears that Afghan forces won't be ready to take over security of the country as American and NATO troops leave.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111222/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_us_afghanistan

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Chrono Trigger comes to Android (in Japan)

Chrono Trigger, the 1995 Squaresoft SNES title that nobody in their right mind dislikes, is now available on Android devices. The game, like the recent iOS version, is taken from 2008's DS port, meaning that title's extras and side-quests remain available for mobile players.

So far, Chrono Trigger's available through the Japan-only Square Enix Market, though it's unlikely Western players ought to have to wait too long for the title. After all, this was one of the games that, along with Secret of Mana and FFVI, taught English-speaking players to stop worrying and love big-eyed cartoon characters with numbers jumping out of their heads. Aside from the minor hindrance of availability, the title offers all the same content as the iOS release - which is to say, all the SNES' great bits and then some...

Source: http://www.gamesradar.com/chrono-trigger-comes-android-japan/

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Maria Conchita Alonso Slams "Communist" Sean Penn

Sean Penn is known as an outspoken liberal humanitarian -- but to his former Colors costar Maria Conchita Alonso, he's something else entirely. The Cuban-born, Venezuelan-raised actress has serious issues with Penn's politics and told him so in a public feud at the Los Angeles airport Sunday, Dec. 18.

Source: http://www.ivillage.com/maria-conchita-alonso-disses-communist-sean-penn/1-a-412749?dst=iv%3AiVillage%3Amaria-conchita-alonso-disses-communist-sean-penn-412749

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10 Ways To Get Your Girl Into Gaming | N4G

[unable to retrieve full-text content]Complex Magazine put together a list of careful tactics to get your girlfriend to embrace her gaming side, and maybe not hassle you so much because you've sunk so many hours into Skyrim. Note: Results may vary. (Culture, Nintendo DS, PS2 ...

Source: http://n4g.com/news/908449/10-ways-to-get-your-girl-into-gaming

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Mexico telecom regulator signs contracts to friends (Reuters)

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) ? The president of Mexico's phone and television regulator approved two contracts worth roughly $200,000 for businesses run by two friends, including one who works as a lobbyist for telecom companies.

The contracts were for public relations and legal work for Mexico's telecom regulator Cofetel and were signed by the agency's head, Mony de Swaan.

There is no evidence that de Swaan received a financial benefit from the contracts and he denies any wrongdoing.

But they are raising questions about his judgment as he tries to enforce fair play and more competition in industries dominated by the world's richest man, Carlos Slim, and companies representing a quarter of Mexico's stock exchange.

Mexico's public servants' law says officials should recuse themselves from matters in which they might have a personal interest, but it is vague on what constitutes a "personal interest".

"In light of these contracts, any decision by the regulator could be questioned," said Shannon O'Neil, a scholar at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York and an expert on Latin America who has previously written about Slim and the telecommunications industry.

De Swaan is adamant that he has always acted within the rules. "Mine is an irreproachable track record over 14 years as a public servant," he told Reuters.

In Mexico, any carelessness by regulators can have heavy consequences. Earlier this year, de Swaan's peer at Mexico's competition watchdog made offhand comments that raised charges of bias against Slim and he has since been blocked from voting on an appeal against a record $1 billion fine levied against one of Slim's companies.

De Swaan, appointed 18 months ago, has had success in cutting back phone fees but his decisions have been challenged in court by companies including Slim's fixed-line phone giant Telmex, while media mogul Ricardo Salinas' cellphone company Iusacell has also complained.

"Behind every legal attack, there's an interest that I've hurt," he said. "In every instance I will and I have defended myself ... Have no doubt of that."

He said he has never accepted gifts and once returned a bicycle given to him by an executive from Mexico's biggest television network, Televisa. A Televisa spokesman said there was no record of any gift to de Swaan.

De Swaan was appointed by President Felipe Calderon, who has repeatedly called for more competition in key industries, including telecommunications. The government declined to comment on Cofetel's decision to give the contracts to de Swaan's friends.

CLOSE FRIENDS

At issue are two contracts, which have been reviewed by Reuters, that de Swaan, a London School of Economics-trained technocrat, signed in August for work from a lobbying and public relations firm as well as legal counsel. An outline of the contracts is also available on Cofetel's website.

One went to outside counsel Pablo Hector Ojeda, who received roughly $90,000 for four weeks of work, and the other to Total Strategy, a PR firm founded by attorney Peter Bauer, which was paid about $120,000 for about four months' work.

Bauer and Ojeda are partners in a separate law firm and de Swaan calls them both close friends.

De Swaan has been using Bauer's weekend retreat at upmarket Valle de Bravo outside of Mexico City since mid-September, a few weeks after Total Strategy got its Cofetel contract, both men said.

De Swaan said he pays one-third of his monthly income to Bauer for the house. According to a declaration of income and assets dated May 2011, he earns 2.1 million pesos ($152,000) a year.

Both men declined to provide payment documents but Bauer said the arrangement is proper and defended their ties.

"(Ours is a) friendship based on mutual respect, trust and particularly on our common belief in honesty and ethical standards in our work and towards our country," Bauer said.

Ojeda declined to comment for the story.

Bauer also advises TV Azteca. As a lawyer, Bauer lobbied for the telephone industry early this year and tried to pitch for more work in the sector while Total Strategy had its Cofetel contract, according to Bauer and a memo reviewed by Reuters.

Three individuals in the industry said that de Swaan has in the last twelve months pushed them to hire Bauer. De Swaan denied that, saying he only responded to a request from business-to-business phone company Alestra, which was looking for an adviser in Supreme Court matters.

"There are times when regulated companies come to me and ask 'Do you know someone who could be good for this work?'" he said.

Bauer and de Swaan said they believe Cofetel's relationship with Total Strategy and that company's clients was proper since their interests were aligned. De Swaan says there have been no conflicts of interest because neither Bauer nor Ojeda have brought any official business to Cofetel's full board.

($1 = 13.80 pesos)

(Reporting by Patrick Rucker and Elinor Comlay; Editing by Krista Hughes, Kieran Murray and Alix Freedman)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/latam/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111216/wl_nm/us_mexico_telecoms

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?Warrior? DVD release on Tuesday: Greg Jackson helped make it super realistic

He's nicknamed "The Maestro" and "The Professor" for a reason.

Greg Jackson knows his mixed martial arts in and out of the cage. That's why the producers of the movie "Warrior" leaned on the MMA trainer so heavily.

You can check out "Warrior" when it's released this Tuesday Dec. 20 for digital download and on DVD/Blue-ray.

Cagewriter has several copies of the DVD to give away. Check out the Cagewriter Facebook page for details. Happy Holidays!

The movie sounds great and it certainly has the stamp of approval from Jackson.

The Albuquerque-based owner of Jackson's MMA was an integral part of making the movie feel realistic. Jackson schooled the actors on the key moves and actions of the fight game, but he was on point in making sure everyone in the film knew how important it was to get across the positive messages of MMA.

"The biggest thing for me was how MMA and combat and martial arts in general can be a tool for good," Jackson told ESPN1100/98.9 FM. "[The producer] wanted to come at it from a more artistic point of view, a more realistic point of view."

Jackson thought "Warrior" was a true reflection of the game.

[...] It's as accurate as any movie can get about MMA. It shows again how martial arts can be a healing thing not just a tool of violence. So there's all these great messages in it that really resonated with me. I was excited to be a part of it," said Jackson.

ProMMANow did a nice review of the film that features brothers, who meet in the finale of a $5 million MMA tournament.

The attention to detail for the MMA fight scenes and the training the actors had to undergo to make them look like authentic fighters on screen will be appreciated by MMA fans.

The most difficult thing audiences will have to deal with is their sympathy and alliance between the brothers. They'll find themselves rooting for both guys, but for very different reasons.

Professional fighters Stephan Bonnar, Yves Edwards, Rashad Evans and Nate Marquardt all make appearances in the film. There's even a bow-tied Josh Rosenthal playing the referee role.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/-Warrior-DVD-release-on-Tuesday-Greg-Jackson-h?urn=mma-wp10825

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Myanmar seeks "everlasting peace" in 3 years: minister (Reuters)

YANGON (Reuters) ? Myanmar's government plans to bring an end to a series of decades-old conflicts with ethnic rebels within three years and has ordered troops to halt offensives against Kachin militias, its top peace negotiator said.

The government was discussing ceasefire agreements with numerous armed ethnic groups and would eventually shore up the deals at a special conference in parliament to find "everlasting peace," said Aung Thaung, Minister of Industry and head of the Union Level Peace-Making Group.

"It will take us up to three years to reach peace agreements with all ethnic armed groups," Aung Thaung told reporters on Friday.

Ceasefires with Myanmar's many border-based armed ethnic groups have been a key demand by the West for sanctions to be lifted and the government has made it a priority among a wave of reforms launched in the past few months.

The reforms include the release of more than 200 political prisoners.

U.S. officials say the peace process might prove the toughest challenge ahead for civilian leaders who are eager to bring the long-isolated Southeast Asian nation in from the cold after five decades of iron-fisted army rule.

Aung Thaung said agreements had been reached with 10 groups so far and President Thein Sein had told the military to withdraw from combat with the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), one of Myanmar's most formidable guerilla forces.

However, fighting with the KIA continues, according to rights groups and Kachin sources, despite Thein Sein's order, the existence of which had not been disclosed until now.

"There might be sporadic skirmishes in remote areas because troops there might not have received the instruction due to a lack of a proper telecommunication system," Aung Thaung said when asked why troops had not heeded Thein Sein's instruction.

Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, who plans to run in a by-election next year for a vacant parliamentary seat, has been pushing for peace deals for years and has advocated autonomy under a federal system for at least three ethnic groups.

Suu Kyi called for a "Second Pinlong Agreement" last year, a revival of an autonomy plan drafted in February 1947 and backed by her late father and independence hero, Aung San, but aborted after his assassination five months later.

Thein Sein planned to hold a conference in parliament that would be much bigger than the Pinlong Conference, Aung Thaung said, aimed at cementing all the separate ceasefire agreements and ensure the conflicts would not reignite.

(Reporting by Aung Hla Tun; Writing by Martin Petty; Editing by Paul Tait)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111217/wl_nm/us_myanmar_conflict

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'The Artist' speaks up with 6 noms to lead Globes (AP)

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. ? Silent film is taking over Hollywood's awards scene. The silent-era tale "The Artist" heads the Golden Globes with six nominations, among them best comedy or musical, and acting honors for its French stars, Jean Dujardin and Berenice Bejo.

Tied for second-place with five nominations Thursday are the 1960s racial tale "The Help" and George Clooney's Hawaiian family story "The Descendants." Both films are up for best drama, while Clooney was nominated for best dramatic actor and "The Help" earned acting slots for Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer and Jessica Chastain.

Also competing for best drama: Martin Scorsese's Paris adventure "Hugo"; Clooney's political thriller "The Ides of March"; Brad Pitt's baseball chronicle "Moneyball"; and Steven Spielberg's World War I epic "War Horse."

Joining "The Artist" in the best musical or comedy category are: the cancer story "50/50"; Kristen Wiig's wedding romp "Bridesmaids"; Woody Allen's romantic fantasy "Midnight in Paris"; and Michelle Williams' Marilyn Monroe tale "My Week With Marilyn."

Dujardin, who won the best-actor prize for "The Artist" in its premiere at last May's Cannes Film Festival, was nominated for best actor in a musical or comedy. He plays a silent-film star whose career nosedives as talking pictures take over in the late 1920s in "The Artist," which has virtually no spoken dialogue and is shot in the boxy, black-and-white format of the silent era.

The actor called his nomination an "incredible gift."

"To be recognized alongside such brilliant actors is an honor," Dujardin said. "The Golden Globe nomination for `The Artist' has left me speechless!"

"The Artist" also picked up a supporting actress honor for Bejo as a rising star of the sound era. Filmmaker Michel Hazanavicius earned directing and screenplay nominations for the film, which also is up for best musical score.

Clooney has three nominations. Besides best dramatic actor as a neglectful dad tending his daughters in "The Descendants," he's up for directing and screenplay for "The Ides of March." For the acting prize, Clooney will compete against his "Ides" co-star Ryan Gosling, who plays a presidential candidate's aide. Gosling had a second nomination for best musical or comedy actor as a ladies man in the romance "Crazy, Stupid, Love."

Glenn Close is also a dual contender, as best dramatic actress as a woman masquerading as a male butler in the Irish drama "Albert Nobbs" and for best song for writing the lyrics to "Lay Your Head Down," the film's theme tune.

Also nominated for dramatic actress: Davis as a black maid going public with stories about her white employer in "The Help"; Rooney Mara as a traumatized victim-turned-avenger in "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo"; Meryl Streep as British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in "The Iron Lady"; and Tilda Swinton as a grieving woman coping with her son's terrible deeds in "We Need to Talk About Kevin."

Clooney has another pal in the dramatic actor race, his "Ocean's Eleven" franchise co-star Pitt, who's nominated for his "Moneyball" role as Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane. And Clooney also is competing for best director against his boss in "The Descendants," filmmaker Alexander Payne.

Gosling, Clooney and Pitt are up against Leonardo DiCaprio as FBI boss J. Edgar Hoover in "J. Edgar" and Michael Fassbender as a sex addict in "Shame."

Pitt's romantic partner, Angelina Jolie, picked up a nomination for foreign-language film for her directing debut, the Bosnian war drama "In the Land of Blood and Honey."

Scorsese for "Hugo" and Allen for "Midnight in Paris" join Clooney, Hazanavicius and Payne in the directing category.

"Making `Hugo' was an extraordinary experience for me," said Scorsese, whose tale is a loving nod to early film and French director Georges Melies. "It gave me a chance to work in 3-D, which I've wanted to do since I was young; it allowed me to make a child's adventure, the type of picture that I loved when I was young; and it provided an occasion to pay tribute to one of the cinema's greatest pioneers, Georges Melies."

Though "War Horse" made it in for best drama, Spielberg missed out on a directing nomination.

Spielberg has a consolation prize with a nomination for his first animated film, "The Adventures of Tintin." Other animation nominees are: James McAvoy's "Arthur Christmas," Owen Wilson's "Cars 2," Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek's "Puss in Boots" and Johnny Depp's "Rango."

Along with Gosling and Dujardin, Wilson was nominated for musical or comedy actor as a writer nostalgic for the 1920s France of Hemingway and Fitzgerald in "Midnight in Paris." Also nominated are Brendan Gleeson as a bawdy, rule-breaking Irish cop on a drug investigation in "The Guard" and Joseph Gordon-Levitt as a cancer patient aided by an assortment of oddballs in "50/50."

Roman Polanski's domestic showdown "Carnage" earned musical or comedy actress slots for both Jodie Foster and Kate Winslet as mothers squabbling over their sons' schoolyard fight. The other nominees are: Charlize Theron as a delusional woman plotting to win back her high school boyfriend from his wife in "Young Adult"; Wiig as a maid of honor whose life is unraveling in "Bridesmaids"; and Williams as Marilyn Monroe during a chaotic film shoot in "My Week With Marilyn."

Kenneth Branagh as Laurence Olivier, Monroe's exasperated co-star and director on "The Prince and the Showgirl," was nominated for supporting actor. Also in the race: Albert Brooks as a gregarious but ruthless gangster in "Drive"; Jonah Hill as a statistics prodigy in "Moneyball"; Viggo Mortensen as Sigmund Freud in "A Dangerous Method"; and Christopher Plummer as an ailing, elderly father who comes out as gay in "Beginners."

Besides Bejo, supporting-actress nominees include Spencer as a sassy maid in "The Help" and Chastain as her lonely new boss. The other nominees are Janet McTeer as a cross-dressing laborer in "Albert Nobbs" and Shailene Woodley as a troublesome teen in "The Descendants."

Winslet had a second nomination, as best actress in a TV miniseries or movie for "Mildred Pierce." "Downton Abbey" and "Mildred Pierce" tied for the most television nominations with four, with both shows competing for best miniseries or movie.

Several newcomers were among the nominees, including "Boss, "New Girl," "American Horror Story" and "Homeland."

Along with the Screen Actors Guild Award nominations a day earlier, the Globes field helps narrow down prospects for the Academy Awards, whose nominations come out Jan. 24.

With drinks and dinner, the Globes are a laid-back affair for Hollywood's elite compared to the Oscars. The show turned a bit touchy last year as host Ricky Gervais repeatedly made sharp wisecracks about stars and the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, a group of about 85 entertainment reporters for overseas outlets that presents the Globes.

But Gervais helped give the show a TV ratings boost, and he's been invited back as host for a third-straight year.

Before the nominations announcement, the press group's president, Aida Takla-O'Reilly, joked that Gervais is a "naughty, naughty schoolboy."

Five-time Academy Award and Globe nominee Morgan Freeman ? who won the supporting-actor Oscar for "Million Dollar Baby" and a best-actor Globe for "Driving Miss Daisy" ? will receive the group's Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime achievement at the Jan. 15 ceremony.

___

Online:

http://www.goldenglobes.org

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/topstories/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111215/ap_on_en_mo/us_golden_globe_nominations

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PFT: Players win big in new TV deal

Getty Images

Well, I?m finally gaining some ground.

Not much, but some.

A stellar 14-2 weekend could have been 15-1, but for that late collapse by the Cowboys.? In that moment, a three-game win over Rosenthal slid to a one-game edge.

I?m nine back with three weeks to go. ?For the season, he?s 142-66.? I?m 133-75.

This week, we disagree on four games.? This is my last chance to make a push.

Hopefully, God likes me better than him.

Jaguars at Falcons

Florio?s take:? If the Falcons can?t beat the Jaguars, the Falcons have no shot at winning at New Orleans on December 26.? And if the Falcons can?t win at New Orleans on December 26, the Falcons won?t have to worry about another one-and-done performance in the playoffs.

Florio?s pick:? Falcons 31, Jaguars 16.

Rosenthal?s take: The Jaguars are back in prime time! Atlanta is a 10-point favorite, which seems crazy until you look at the state of the Jags. An undrafted rookie and journeyman will cover Roddy White and Julio Jones.? At wideout for Jacksonville: Chastin West and Jarrett Dillard. Interim coach Mel Tucker isn?t playing with a stacked deck.

Rosenthal?s pick: Falcons 28, Jaguars 13.

Cowboys at Buccaneers

Florio?s take:? The best way for Dallas to avoid blowing a close game late in the fourth quarter is to never allow it to be close in the fourth quarter.? If this one gets too out of hand, Tampa coach Raheem Morris could be the fourth coach to go before Christmas.

Florio?s pick:? Cowboys 34, Buccaneers 17.

Rosenthal?s take: The Bucs are slump busters. The Panthers defense couldn?t stop anyone, but they could stop the Bucs. Jacksonville?s offense couldn?t score on anyone, but they could score on Tampa. This game is exactly what Jason Garrett and the ?Boys need.

Rosenthal?s pick: Cowboys 40, Buccaneers 27.

Dolphins at Bills

Florio?s take:? Nothing takes the steam out of a team that is playing hard down the stretch to try to save its coach?s job than the coach losing his job.? The Bills end a six-game losing streak with their sixth, and likely last, win of the season.

Florio?s pick:? Bills 28, Dolphins 21.

Rosenthal?s take: It?s weird and a little sad that J.P. Losman?s status decides my pick. If Matt Moore is out, I like Buffalo. Bills fans will happily tell you not to bet on J.P. Losman in Buffalo. (Especially with Jake Long out.) If Matt Moore starts, I like the Dolphins. (Can we make conditional picks, Florio?)

Rosenthal?s pick: Dolphins 20, Bills 17.

Seahawks at Bears

Florio?s take:? If the Bears had Jay Cutler and Matt Forte, they?d be the clear pick to win.? But they don?t, and if they can?t beat the Chiefs at home without these key players, they?ll have a rough time handling an underrated Seahawks team.? The bell continues to toll for the Bears, whose only remaining hope will be to do to the Packers on December 25 what the Dolphins did to the Bears in 1985.

Florio?s pick:? Seahawks 14, Bears 7.

Rosenthal?s take: Bears fans swore Chicago could go 4-2 or 3-3 at worst with Caleb Hanie to close the season. They haven?t won a game yet. Seattle, meanwhile, has won four of five because of a physical defense and running game. After this game, the Seahawks will have a better chance to make the playoffs.

Rosenthal?s pick: Seattle 16, Bears 13.

Panthers at Texans

Florio?s take:? The Texans keep losing key components.? And the Texans just keep winning.? This one won?t be easy without defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, but the Texans simply continue to find a way.

Florio?s pick:? Texans 34, Panthers 24.

Rosenthal?s take: If Cam Newton and T.J. Yates faced off last year, Yates? team would not be favored by a touchdown. Things change quickly. The Texans are a defense tough enough to withstand the loss of their best pass rusher. They can survive losing their playcaller for a week or two.

Rosenthal?s pick: Texans 21, Panthers 17.

Titans at Colts

Florio?s take:? It?s time.? Call it a gut feeling.? Call it a hunch.? Call it clinical insanity.? But it?s time for the Colts to win a game.? Especially since this very well could be their last chance to avoid going 0-16 and getting everyone not named Jim Irsay fired.

Florio?s pick:? Colts 19, Titans 17.

Rosenthal?s take: The Colts look likely to face three straight rookie quarterbacks. Unfortunately, Jake Locker isn?t a huge downgrade from Matt Hasselbeck. The Titans offense is different with Locker, but not necessarily worse. The Titans are just mediocre enough to let the Colts make this interesting.

Rosenthal?s pick: Titans 24, Colts 21.

Packers at Chiefs

Florio?s take:? Interim coach Romeo Crennel could go a long way toward securing the permanent job by winning his first game.? He likely wishes Todd Haley had lasted one more week.

Florio?s pick:? Packers 35, Chiefs 10.

Rosenthal?s take: The Chiefs have enough secondary talent to give the Packers offense some issues. Kansas City certainly upgrades this week at quarterback with Kyle Orton. And that ends the portion of this preview where I try to convince myself this game will stay interesting.

Rosenthal?s pick: Packers 31, Chiefs 14.

Saints at Vikings

Florio?s take:? From epic NFC title game to overhyped season opener to Cornell-Hofstra slaughter.? Les Steckel gets closer and closer to getting off the hook.

Florio?s pick:? Saints 34, Vikings 14.

Rosenthal?s take: Drew Brees is peaking at the right time. The Vikings are peeking at the No. 2 overall pick in the draft.? This is the game where Brees makes sure he wins the yardage crown for the season.

Rosenthal?s pick: Saints 33, Vikings 17.

Redskins at Giants

Florio?s take:? After the Redskins beat the Giants in Week One, safety Antrell Rolle said that Washington would win five out of 100 games between the two teams.? More recently, Rolle dropped that number to one.? Though we?re not ready to agree with a 99-percent success rate, we?re comfortable with 50.

Florio?s pick:? Giants 28, Redskins 14.

Rosenthal?s take: A Giants? loss Sunday could make next week?s Jets-Giants game almost inconsequential. A win against the Redskins would guarantee Big Blue a ?win and in? scenario in Week 17 against Dallas. Washington is feisty, but they are one-win-in-seven-games feisty. Rex Grossman is just good enough to get you beat.

Rosenthal?s pick: Giants 33, Redskins 28.

Bengals at Rams

Florio?s take:? It won?t be easy to keep a young Bengals team focused and motivated after losing a heartbreaker to the Texans.? But the Bengals are playing the Rams.? The Rams.? Yes, the Rams.

Florio?s pick:? Bengals 34, Rams 14.

Rosenthal?s take: Despite winning seven games last year, the Rams are on pace to have the worst five-year run of any team in NFL history. Steve Spagnuolo coached the worst NFL team in 2009 and the second worst team this year. It may not be fair, but it?s hard to imagine any coach surviving that combination.

Rosenthal?s pick: Bengals 23, Rams 13.

Lions at Raiders

Florio?s take:? The Lions have struggled lately, but the Raiders have struggled more.? Neither team may make it to the postseason after promising starts, but the Lions have at least shown a recent ability to find a way to win.? Plus, while he?s not as dominant as he was in 2010, the return of Ndamukong Suh should help.? The ongoing absence of Darren McFadden doesn?t.

Florio?s pick:? Lions 24, Raiders 20.

Rosenthal?s take: These are two desperate teams that peaked too early. At least the Lions are getting players back: Ndamukong Suh, Kevin Smith, and cornerback Chris Houston all look likely to return for Detroit. The Raiders might get Denarius Moore back. The Lions win that trade.

Rosenthal?s pick: Lions 27, Raiders 24.

Browns at Cardinals

Florio?s take:? Though a little too late, the Cardinals have found their groove, regardless of whether Kevin Kolb or John Skelton is playing quarterback.? With a couple more wins, they?ll be one of the teams we?re all picking to make the playoffs in 2012.? The Browns, on the other hand, continue to be the Browns.

Florio?s pick:? Cardinals 30, Browns 17.

Rosenthal?s take: Skeltonmania is sweeping the nation. The Cardinals are 4-1 in the former Fordham quarterback?s games, winning insane, inexplicable games late in the fourth quarter. They are 2-5 without him. Skelton fever could last into the playoffs. I?d bet on a 9-7 team making the playoffs and the Cardinals should be 7-7 after this one.

Rosenthal?s pick: Cardinals 22, Browns 13.

Patriots at Broncos

Florio?s take:? The list of ?thou shalt nots? now includes a line regarding picking against Tim Tebow.? New England?s defense stinks, and Denver?s defense is good enough to keep it close.? If the Broncos keep it close, the guy who says God has spoken to him will overcome the once little-known sixth-round pick who possibly struck a deal with the devil.

Florio?s pick:? Broncos 24, Patriots 23.

Rosenthal?s take: The Patriots defense can barely slow down Grossmania, so Tim Tebow should have a big day. Tom Brady should be even better. There are weak spots in this Broncos? secondary that Brady can exploit, especially at safety. This result will test Florio?s Tebow man-crush.

Rosenthal?s pick: Patriots 31, Broncos 27.

Jets at Eagles

Florio?s take:? The Dream Team is waking up too late, but not late enough to crush the dreams of Team Rex.? And that will make next week?s Giants-Jets game even more intriguing.

Florio?s pick:? Eagles 27, Jets 23.

Rosenthal?s take: The Eagles won last week, but Michael Vick looked very rusty. The offensive line got pushed around. The Jets are not a defense you want to face when your passing game is out of synch and your line is not recognizing blitzes. The Dream should finally die for good, to the delight of many Eagles fans.

Rosenthal?s pick: Jets 22, Eagles 10.

Ravens at Chargers

Florio?s take:? The Ravens finally realize the connection between beating inferior foes and hosting home playoff games.? Chargers fans finally realize that they could have a new coach and G.M. in 2012.? Both could be very happy after Sunday night.

Florio?s pick:? Ravens 24, Chargers 17.

Rosenthal?s take: This is Norv?s last stand, and he has a shot to win. Philip Rivers? pinpoint accuracy returned the last two weeks. So did his pass protection. This is a dangerous game for the Ravens, but it?s hard to imagine Rivers? rag-tag linemen holding up against the Baltimore pass rush.

Rosenthal?s pick: Ravens 27, Chargers 24.

Steelers at 49ers

Florio?s take:? When the Steelers enter the red zone at Heinz Field, giant ketchup bottles unleash their contents onto the scoreboard.? When the 49ers get into the red zone on Monday night, the Steelers will be putting ketchup on Frank Gore?s legs and Alex Smith?s arm.

Florio?s pick:? Steelers 20, 49ers 13.

Rosenthal?s take: The Cowboys? 3-4 defense gave the 49ers problems. Baltimore?s 3-4 defense ate up the 49ers line. Arizona?s defense ? coordinated by former Steelers coach Ray Horton ? allowed two first downs to the 49ers in the second half last week. You see where I?m going with this one.

Rosenthal?s pick: Steelers 13, 49ers 10.

Source: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/12/14/players-win-big-under-new-tv-deals/related/

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