Abducted German aid worker seen alive in video

BERLIN (AP) ? A German aid worker abducted in Pakistan 11 months ago was seen alive in a video broadcast Saturday urging authorities to fully meet his captors' demands, warning that otherwise they could kill him within days.

The undated video ? probably recorded under duress by his captors ? was broadcast Saturday by Pakistan's Dunya TV. The German Foreign Ministry in Berlin said it "knows the case" and is aware of the video. A duty spokeswoman declined to elaborate.

Aid organization German Agro Action declined to confirm whether the video indeed showed one of its two staffers abducted in the central Pakistan city of Multan in January. Spokeswoman Simone Pott only acknowledged "we know the video."

The aid worker, identifying himself in the video as 59-year-old Bernd Muehlenbeck, said he was captured by mujahedeen ? a generic term for militant Islamic extremists ? but didn't specify who they were or what their demands were.

In the message ? whose content is likely to have been dictated by the captors ? he said he was kidnapped "by mujahedeen because of the bad policies of the German government."

In January, gunmen seized the two foreign aid workers, Muehlenbeck and an Italian colleague, from just outside their office in Multan and bundled them into a car, according to Pakistan security officials. The men were working for a development project helping victims of the 2010 floods, the officials said.

Muehlenbeck did not name or explicitly mention his Italian colleague, but repeatedly used the plural when speaking about his situation.

He appealed to authorities not to attempt freeing them by force. "I would like to live and I would like to see back my family alive," he said, speaking in English with a slight German accent.

In the video lasting just less than a minute, Muehlenbeck is heard speaking calmly in front of a white wall, wearing glasses and a dark hoody.

He said he could be killed by his captors at any time. "We don't know when. Maybe today, maybe tomorrow, maybe in three days."

Pakistan, a poor predominantly Muslim nation of about 180 million, is struggling to fend off an insurgency fueled by Islamic extremists, many of whom are believed to hide in the lawless provinces bordering Afghanistan.

Kidnappings for ransom are common in Pakistan. Islamist militants have also abducted people. Several aid workers have been targeted over the past years.

This week saw a gruesome series of deadly attacks on Pakistanis working on a polio vaccination campaign. Six of the aid workers gunned down were women, three of whom were teenagers. Two other workers were critically wounded.

__

Zarar Khan in Islamabad contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2012-12-22-Pakistan-German%20Hostage/id-35bf7a2c32e443f1ac3ca9a34bf1d5ef

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No Comments - Online Video Streaming - ifygince's posterous

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Nowadays people don?t bother even if they don?t have TV or satellite connection. Any missed out television programs can be watched through video streaming. So, why do people have to worry about having satellite connection? Whether it is a serial, comedy show, cookery show sport, kids? show or anything else, you can watch it through online video streaming. The only thing you have to do is to sign up with the right video streaming website.

If you think that video streaming is helpful only for recreational purposes, then you are wrong. Even for educational need, one can make use of video streaming websites. Today, several educational institutions are rendering online service. So, huge numbers of people are making use of online education. It is the video streaming websites, which helps the students to learn their online lessons without any trouble.

Each one of the popular video streaming websites has numerous numbers of videos on varied categories. You will be really amazed to find millions of interesting videos. What is more special about the video streaming website is that you can even download the videos that you like the most. Your system has to be installed with appropriate software to download the preferred video to your system. The video streaming websites does not only allow you to download the videos, it also allows you to share the videos to any of your social networking account or to your own blog or a website. Youngsters are very crazy about sharing the link of unique online video clips to their social networking sites. It makes them feel pride among their group of friends.

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Source: http://onlinevideostreaming.net/video-overview/

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Mass. braces for Senate race if Kerry leaves seat

FILE - U.S. Sen. Scott Brown, R-Mass., pumps his fist during his re-election campaign kick-off in Worcester, Mass., in this Jan. 19, 2012 file photo. If Sen. John Kerry is confirmed by the Senate for secretary of state, as expected, Kerry would have to resign the seat he's held for nearly three decades, prompting a special election _ the state's third Senate contest since 2010. Already, jockeying is well under way. The big question is whether Republican Sen. Scott Brown will go for the seat, after losing his last month to Democratic challenger Elizabeth Warren. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)

FILE - U.S. Sen. Scott Brown, R-Mass., pumps his fist during his re-election campaign kick-off in Worcester, Mass., in this Jan. 19, 2012 file photo. If Sen. John Kerry is confirmed by the Senate for secretary of state, as expected, Kerry would have to resign the seat he's held for nearly three decades, prompting a special election _ the state's third Senate contest since 2010. Already, jockeying is well under way. The big question is whether Republican Sen. Scott Brown will go for the seat, after losing his last month to Democratic challenger Elizabeth Warren. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)

President Barack Obama, left, shakes hands with Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., as he announces his nomination of Kerry as next secretary of state in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, Friday, Dec. 21, 2012, in Washington. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

(AP) ? Massachusetts voters weary from one of the nation's costliest and most divisive U.S. Senate races are all but certain to find themselves thrown back into another tumultuous election now that President Barack Obama has nominated Sen. John Kerry for secretary of state.

If confirmed by the Senate, as expected, Kerry would have to resign the seat he's held for nearly three decades, prompting a special election ? the state's third Senate contest since 2010.

Already, jockeying is well under way. The big question is whether Republican Sen. Scott Brown will go for the seat, after losing his last month to Democratic challenger Elizabeth Warren.

He kept the door wide open to another run during a farewell address on the Senate floor, declaring that both victory and defeat are "temporary" things. "Depending on what happens, and where we go, all of us, we may obviously meet again."

And perhaps as soon as next year.

Brown would be a formidable candidate. He has a statewide political organization and more than $400,000 left in his campaign account. He remains popular and demonstrated an ability to raise millions of dollars in campaign donations. But he would still have to contend with all the hurdles facing any Republican in Massachusetts.

Still, he'd probably have a clear path to the GOP nomination. "The candidacy is his for the asking," said Rep. Brad Jones, the Republican leader in the Massachusetts House. "If he runs, then get out of the way and put your oar in the water and row in the same direction."

Should Brown opt out, former Gov. William Weld, former gubernatorial candidate Charles Baker and Richard Tisei, who lost a narrow race to Democratic U.S. Rep. John Tierney, are among the Republicans waiting in the wings for a possible run.

Democrats don't have a clear front-runner, given that Gov. Deval Patrick doesn't plan to break his pledge to serve out the last two years of his term.

He still could play a pivotal role.

Patrick could use his sway in the party to clear what looks like a potentially crowded Democratic field. His backing of Warren was seen as giving her a critical edge by helping energize Democratic voters. On Friday, however, he said he'd probably not endorse anyone in a Democratic primary.

Attorney General Martha Coakley, who lost to Brown in the 2010 special election, pulled her name out of contention on Friday.

Several Democratic members of the state's congressional delegation have said they would seriously consider running, including Reps. Michael Capuano, Edward Markey, Stephen Lynch, and Niki Tsongas. Most of those House members would begin a campaign with a financial edge. Markey has one of the largest war chests with more than $3.1 million, and Capuano has nearly half a million dollars in his account while Lynch has more than $740,000. Tsongas has about $166,000.

But all would have to work quickly to expand their appeal outside of their home districts.

Others mentioned by Democratic insiders as potential candidates: U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz and Ted Kennedy Jr., a son of the late senator, an advocate for the disabled and co-founder of the New York-based Marwood Group, which described itself as "a healthcare-focused strategic advisory and financial services firm."

The governor also will be required to fill Kerry's seat temporarily with an interim appointment, while setting a day for the special election between 145 days and 160 days after Kerry's resignation. In the 2010 special election to fill the seat left vacant by the death of Sen. Edward Kennedy, Patrick required his interim appointee, former Democratic Party chairman Paul Kirk, not to run for a full term.

Patrick said he expects anyone he appoints on a temporary basis this time would also not run in the special election.

Former Gov. Michael Dukakis, retiring Rep. Barney Frank and Victoria Kennedy, widow of Sen. Kennedy, have been mentioned in Democratic circles as possible interim senators. This week, Dukakis played down interest in the post while Kennedy declined comment.

Although Democrats are riding high off Warren's win, several of the arguments they brought to bear in the 2012 campaign wouldn't apply in a special election. They can't say, as they did in the Warren campaign, that defeating Brown might tip the balance of power in the Senate. Or that electing him would strengthen the hand of a Republican president.

Still, Democratic Party Chairman John Walsh said the party has a wide pool of candidates and attributed Brown's loss to a rejection of his voting record.

"I don't think Scott Brown is any kind of prohibitive favorite," Walsh said. But he'd "certainly be a front-runner."

If there is a special election, whoever wins shouldn't get too comfortable. The senator will face re-election in 2014, when Massachusetts voters will endure yet another Senate election.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2012-12-22-Kerry-Senate%20Scramble/id-89c56558f7104b99bbbec420f2b8a226

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Health Benefits Of Friends And Family: 8 Reasons Why It's Healthy To Spend Time With Loved Ones

'Tis the season to gather those you love and soak up the quality time together. And really, we should be doing this all year round -- even research shows that spending time with loved ones is good for health.

From decreasing loneliness to slashing stress levels, from helping with quitting smoking to making a difference in healthy eating habits, check out these eight reasons why it's healthy to spend time with people you love.

  • Parenting Lengthens Life

    Being a parent -- especially being a mom -- is linked with living longer, according to a study of 21,276 couples from Denmark. The research, published in the <em>Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health</em>, showed that women who gave birth to children were four times less likely to die early from cancer, accidents or circulatory disease. Fathers also had lower risks of early death from these causes, HuffPost UK reported.

  • Big Social Networks Are Good For Your Health

    Having many strong social ties could help you live a longer, healthier life, according to a study from Brigham Young University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill researchers. The study showed that social ties' impact on longevity is actually the same as that which is seen between people who smoke and don't smoke, <em>TIME</em> reported. The study is based on the findings of 300,000 people who were included in 148 different studies, and was published in the journal <em>PLoS Medicine</em>.

  • Sisters Decrease Loneliness

    Having a sister is good for your mental health, according to research from Brigham Young University. Specifically, researchers found that having a sister could help preteens to feel less lonely, self-conscious and afraid -- and more loved. And researchers found that having a sister <em>or</em> a brother was linked with more inclination to do good deeds, according to the <em>Journal of Family Psychology</em> study.

  • Friends And Family Make A Difference In Your Healthy Habits

    Your friends and family are highly influential when it comes to the kind of lifestyle you lead, according to a 2011 survey. Blisstree.com reported that 36 percent of people say their nutrition is affected by influence from their friends and family. And 46 percent of people in the survey said that their loved ones make a difference in their overall healthy lifestyles.

  • Dads Influence Teens' Sexual Activity

    Having a strong bond with Dad makes a big difference when it comes to risky teen sexual behavior, according to a study in the journal <em>Pediatrics</em>. <em>Deseret News</em> reported on the study, conducted by New York University and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention researchers, which showed that dads who were open about talking about sex and their opinions on sex with their children made a bigger influence on their children's actual sexual activity. The Deseret News reported: <blockquote>The study suggested that fathers' attitudes and the warmth of the parent-child relationship help shape a teenager's degree of sexual activity. For instance, teenagers appear to wait longer to become sexually active when they know their fathers don't approve of teenage sex.</blockquote>

  • Talking With Mom Lowers Stress

    Spending some quality talk time with Mom could help to lower stress, according to a 2010 study conducted by University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers. Health.com reported that talking on the phone with Mom seemed to decrease stress hormones and increase the feel-good chemical oxytocin among young girls, between ages 7 and 12. "Mothers know without being instructed how to soothe a child," oxytocin researcher Anne Campbell, of Durham University, who was not involved in the study, told Health.com. "They know because they come from a long line of women whose genes remained in the gene pool because they kept their kids alive. The challenge is for scientists to illuminate how mothering works -- and that's where oxytocin comes in."

  • Sisters Spread Happiness

    Spending time with your sister could help you feel happier, according to a University of Ulster study. The study, which included 571 people between ages 17 and 25 and was presented at a meeting of the British Psychological Society in 2009, showed that people with sisters had greater family communication, BBC News reported. "Emotional expression is fundamental to good psychological health and having sisters promotes this in families," study researcher Tony Cassidy told BBC News.

  • Mothers Influence Child's Obesity

    Being close with your mom could have an impact on your weight, according to a study published last year in the journal <em>Pediatrics</em>. The study shows that the relationship between a mom and her child when the child is young seems to be associated with his or her weight later on as a teen. Specifically, young kids with close relationships with their moms were less likely to be obese in the study in adolescence, compared with those with more distant relationships with their moms during toddlerhood, CNN reported.

  • Healthy Family Habits

    Find out what you need to be doing in order to keep your family healthy and happy this winter and year round.

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/22/health-benefits-friends-family_n_2317696.html

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Happy Holidays! Blogs All Around ? The Home Depot Foundation Blog

As part of the second annual Celebration of Service, The Home Depot Foundation joined bloggers specializing in military affairs, do-it-yourself projects, and home improvement to spread the word about the need for safe and comfortable homes for veterans and their families. This year, these veteran families had not only a safe place to call home ? they had a safe and extra special place to call home for the holidays. With family, friends and holiday cheer, these veterans received home visits from the bloggers themselves who helped them decorate with the help of Team Depot and Operation Homefront. Check out a few of the blogs below:

Lovely Crafty Home ? Celebration of Service 2012, In Summary

Rachael, an ?avid DIY-er who loves doing household projects, crafty things, and entertaining friends,? participated in seven projects as part of the 2012 Celebration of Service. Celebration of Service 2012, In Summary is a compilation of her coverage of each event that culminated with her holiday visit to a veteran?s family home in North Carolina.

D?cor Chick ? Celebration of Service: Hometown Visit

Emily has ?always loved to decorate? but now has ?found passion for it, on a budget.? She and her family visited a veteran family near her hometown in Texas to help them decorate for the holidays. This blog details Emily?s time spent with the family, representatives from Operation Homefront, and store associates of The Home Depot.

Witty Little Secret ? Good and Strong ? Home Depot and Operation Homefront Team Up to Visit Local Military?Family

Lori, an attorney and military wife from Washington State, details her final Celebration of Service project in Good and Strong. This blog is filled with holiday decorating, family time and interesting stories.

From North Carolina across the country to Washington State and back down south to Texas, bloggers from all over the United States had different experiences with veterans and their families. But one idea remained consistent across them all ? an appreciation for veterans and everything they have done to serve our country. So, grab a cup of hot cocoa, a blanket, and cozy up for some quality holiday reading. Check out some of the other bloggers we also worked with on Celebration of Service including 24/7 Moms, Beneath My Heart, Brown Paper Packages, In My Own Style, Military Avenue, My Repurposed Life, Not Just a Housewife, The Handmade Home and The New Normal.

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Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.

Source: http://www.homedepotfoundation.org/blog/happy-holidays-blogs-all-around/

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Sandy Hook shooting: Town in mourning inundated with gifts, money

Money, toys, food and other gifts have poured in from around the world as Newtown, Conn. mourns the loss of 20 children and six school employees at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

By Pat Eaton-Robb,?Associated Press / December 22, 2012

Cathy Zieff, postmaster at the Newtown, Conn., post office, holds a package sent to the families of the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.

Julio Cortez/AP

Enlarge

Peter Leone was busy making deli sandwiches and working the register at his Newtown General Store when he got a phone call from Alaska. It was a woman who wanted to give him her credit card number.

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"She said, 'I'm paying for the next $500 of food that goes out your door,'" Leone said. "About a half hour later another gentleman called, I think from the West Coast, and he did the same thing for $2,000."

Money, toys, food and other gifts have poured in from around the world as Newtown mourns the loss of 20 children and six school employees at Sandy Hook Elementary School a little over a week ago. The 20-year-old shooter, Adam Lanza, killed his mother before attacking the school then killing himself. Police don't know what set off the massacre.

Saturday, all the town's children were invited to the Edmond Town Hall in Newtown to choose from among hundreds of toys donated by individuals, organizations and toy stores ? and funeral services for victims continued.

The giving is a way for people beyond Newtown to deal with their own grief over the shooting.

"It's their way if grieving," said Bobbi Veach, who was fielding donations at the town hall building. "They say, 'I feel so bad, I just want to do something to reach out.' That's why we accommodate everybody we can."

Since Sandy Hook shooting, jitters in other schools ? some for good reason

The basement of the building resembled a toy store, with piles of stuffed penguins, Barbie dolls, board games, soccer balls and other fun gifts. All the toys were inspected and examined by bomb-sniffing dogs before being sorted and put on card tables. The children could choose whatever they wanted.

"But we're not checking IDs at the door," said Tom Mahoney, the building administrator, who's in charge of handling gifts. "If there is a child from another town who comes in need of a toy, we're not going to turn them away."

The United Way of Western Connecticut said the official fund for donations had $2.6 million in it Saturday morning. Others sent envelopes stuffed with cash to pay for coffee at the general store, and a shipment of cupcakes arrived from a gourmet bakery in Beverly Hills, Calif.

The Postal Service reported a six-fold increase in mail in town and set up a unique post office box to handle it. The parcels come decorated with rainbows and hearts drawn by school children.

Some letters arrive in packs of 26 identical envelopes ? one for each family of the children and staff killed or addressed to the "First Responders" or just "The People of Newtown." One card arrived from Georgia addressed to "The families of 6 amazing women and 20 beloved angels." Many contain checks.

"This is just the proof of the love that's in this country," said Postmaster Cathy Zieff.

The funerals for the victims were wrapping up after a wrenching week of farewells in Newtown. Services were scheduled Saturday in Connecticut for Josephine Gay, 7, and Ana Marquez-Greene, 6. A service was also planned in Utah for 6-year-old Emilie Parker.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/Tv8fLyfCWeY/Sandy-Hook-shooting-Town-in-mourning-inundated-with-gifts-money

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Concrete Wine Bunkers Let You Get Drunk Even After the World Ends

We're just hours from the Apocalypse at this point. It's way too late to take any preventative action, but that doesn't mean we can't be ready for the aftermath. And what are you going to want when you're battered and bruised, wandering around the torrid wasteland that once was Earth? Alcohol. As much as you can get. More »

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Rachael Ray dishes on her go-to meal | Food & Drink | The Sun ...

Rachael Ray was already the host of multiple TV shows and the editor of her own magazine (Every Day With Rachael Ray). Now she has literally turned her life upside down: "My Year in Meals" (Atria /Simon & Schuster, $29.99) documents every meal Ray cooked for a year. And when you flip it over, it becomes "My Year in Cocktails," with 100 recipes by her husband, musician and producer John Cusimano.

Before she hit the road for a recent speaking engagement, we asked Ray five questions.

Q: You've got books, TV shows and a magazine. When you run out of ideas, how do you juice your brain?

"I always keep these little notebooks with me. I write recipes all day long, so I can go back when I get stuck. ... And quite honestly, running, which I started when I turned 40. It really wakes me up. I have to bring my notebook with me to the gym. I'm literally climbing Stairmaster, listening to Foo Fighters and writing in my notebook. I look like a crazy person."

Q: Did you have to hide anything embarrassing in "A Year in Meals," like the night you ate Frosted Flakes over the sink?

"No! My husband and I love to cook. None of them were disasters, although there were things I wouldn't do again. One thing I probably won't do again - I did days of Christmas cookies last year. I've decided I really don't like baking. It sucked all the joy out of my holiday. I'm going back to the Archway homestyle cookies this year."

Q: So much of your life is in public view. Can you name something we wouldn't guess?

"Probably not. I babble on about literally everything. I love to jump out of planes. I take Italian lessons every Wednesday night. My dream job would be rock drummer."

Q: If you had to pick one to give up forever, would it be salt, extra-virgin olive oil or chocolate?

"Chocolate ... I like dark chocolate, but no big shakes if I gotta give that up. The olive oil gives me a shiny coat and I am a salty girl."

Q: What do you make when you don't know what to make?

"Aglio e Olio (pasta with anchovies and garlic). You always have it in the pantry."

AGLIO E OLIO

From "My Year in Meals," by Rachael Ray (Atria/Simon & Schuster, 2012).

1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil

8 to 10 anchovy fillets

5 or 6 cloves garlic, thinly sliced or chopped

2 red Fresno chiles, seeded and chopped

1/3 cup dry vermouth

Salt

1 pound spaghetti

1/2 cup flat-leaf parsley, chopped

Black pepper

Bring a large pot of water to boil. In a skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Melt the anchovy fillets into the oil, stirring until they break up and dissolve completely into the oil. Add the garlic and chiles. Reduce heat to low. Stir that a few minutes, then add the vermouth.

Salt the boiling water and cook the pasta to al dente. Before draining, ladle out about a cup of the starchy pasta-cooking water and add to the sauce. Drain the pasta and add to the sauce along with the parsley, tossing with tongs for 1 to 2 minutes for the flavors to absorb.

NOTE: Ray and her husband, John Cusimano, usually add a little black pepper "because we like things ridiculously spicy."

Yield: 4 servings.

Source: http://www.sunherald.com/2012/12/21/4371102/rachael-ray-dishes-on-her-go-to.html

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Bernard Madoff's brother gets 10-year sentence

NEW YORK (AP) ? Peter Madoff was "frankly, not believable" when he claimed he was as surprised as anyone to learn his brother had blown $20 billion of investor money in a massive Ponzi scheme that lasted for decades, a judge said as she sentenced him to 10 years in prison.

The disbelief was a recurring theme at the sentencing proceeding Thursday for the 67-year-old former chief compliance officer before U.S. District Judge Laura Taylor Swain in Manhattan. Two investors among 40 who wrote victim impact statements for the court expressed the same disbelief and a prosecutor was skeptical as well.

Investor Michael T. De Vita, 62, said he believed "it to be physically impossible for a single person to carry out such a gargantuan task all by himself."

"Four years later, Peter still has chosen to take no action and turn a blind eye, leaving us the true victims," said Amy Luria Nissenbaum, 49, whose home is in foreclosure as wave after wave of crippling financial news continues to hit her family. She choked back tears as she described her struggle to "clothe and feed my children" since Bernard Madoff four years ago revealed the Ponzi scheme that wiped out her family's life savings.

When Swain announced that Peter Madoff will not have to report to prison until Feb. 6, Nissenbaum laughed out loud bitterly. The delay will let Peter Madoff attend his granddaughter's Bat Mitzvah on Jan. 19.

The judge noted that 10 years was the maximum sentence allowed by the charges to which Madoff had pled and repeatedly urged Madoff to relieve the pain of investors by revealing more about the Madoff business.

"I challenge you to be honest about all that you have done and all that you have seen. In other words, all that you know," she said to Madoff, who wore a well-tailored charcoal suit. The judge said Peter Madoff was "frankly not believable" when he claimed he only learned of the fraud when his brother revealed it just before his arrest.

Peter Madoff had agreed when he pleaded guilty in June to conspiracy and falsifying the books and records of an investment adviser that he would not challenge a 10-year sentence. He follows to prison his 74-year-old brother, who is serving a 150-year sentence.

Peter Madoff spoke only briefly, saying: "I am deeply ashamed of my conduct and have tried to atone by pleading guilty and have agreed to forfeit all of my present and future assets."

He added: "I am profoundly sorry that my failures let many people down, including my loved ones."

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa Baroni said it would have been easy for Peter Madoff to blow the whistle on the fraud. Instead, she said, he even conspired with his brother to distribute the remaining $300 million in the company's accounts to family, friends and favored clients before the FBI put an end to the plan by arresting his brother.

The sentencing comes four years and a week after Bernard Madoff first revealed the fraud, which occurred as the former NASDAQ chairman built a reputation for delivering unparalleled investment results, even in bad times. The revelation came only days after the business sent out statements that made investors think their investments had grown to a total of more than $65 billion.

Peter Madoff said at his plea that he had no idea his brother was running a massive Ponzi scheme, paying off longtime investors at times with money from newer investors.

"My family was torn apart as a result of my brother's atrocious conduct," he said. "I was reviled by strangers as well as friends who assumed that I knew about the Ponzi scheme."

Peter Madoff, who joined his brother's firm after graduating from Fordham Law School in 1970, has been free on $5 million bail after agreeing to surrender all of his assets.

Prior to sentencing, his lawyer, John Wing, said in a memorandum that Peter Madoff will "almost certainly live out his remaining days as a jobless pariah, in or out of prison." He called him a victim of his loyalty to his brother, saying he had been mistreated by the sibling who was eight years older and was viewed as "the prince" by his mother.

As part of a forfeiture agreement, Madoff's wife, Marion, and daughter Shana must forfeit nearly all of their assets. The government said those assets and assets that will be forfeited by other family members include several homes, a Ferrari and more than $10 million in cash and securities. It said his wife will be left with $771,733. Besides the Madoff brothers, no other family members have been arrested.

Though Peter Madoff had been the firm's chief compliance officer for nearly four decades, the government marked his start in the conspiracy as 1996, when he created false and misleading compliance documents and false reports for the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Since the fraud was revealed, a court-appointed trustee has reached agreements to recover approximately $9.3 billion and is hoping to recover another $3 billion over the next 18 months. About $3 billion has been approved for redistribution to victims through an ongoing claims process.

Besides his brother, Peter Madoff is among six who have pleaded guilty, including the former finance chief, a payroll manager, an accountant, a comptroller and a securities trader.

Five others face trial next year, including Bernard Madoff's longtime secretary. All have pleaded not guilty.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/bernard-madoffs-brother-gets-10-sentence-224213417--finance.html

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Lizard tails detach at a biological 'dotted line'

Dec. 19, 2012 ? Like sheets of paper marked with perforated lines, gecko tails have unique structural marks that help them sever their tails to make a quick getaway. Though voluntarily shedding a body part in this manner is a well-known phenomenon, research published December 19 in the open access journal PLOS ONE reveals aspects of the process that may have applications for structural engineers making similar, quickly detachable structures.

Jan Enghild and colleagues from Aarhus University, Denmark, used advanced bio-imaging techniques to discover that a Tokay gecko sheds its tail along pre-formed "score lines" in specific regions of the tail, which is held together by adhesive forces at these lines.

The process of separation is independent of protein-cleaving enzymes, and microstructures at the ends of muscle fibers are most likely involved in the release of the tail. Enghild adds, "Our work has been driven by a curiosity to understand how tail autotomy is facilitated among lizards. In the present work we use a combination of advanced protein- and high-resolution imaging- techniques to address the mechanism involved in the process."

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Public Library of Science.

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Journal Reference:

  1. Kristian W. Sanggaard, Carl Chr. Danielsen, Lise Wogensen, Mads S. Vinding, Louise M. Rydtoft, Martin B. Mortensen, Henrik Karring, Niels Chr. Nielsen, Tobias Wang, Ida B. Th?gersen, Jan J. Enghild. Unique Structural Features Facilitate Lizard Tail Autotomy. PLoS ONE, 2012; 7 (12): e51803 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0051803

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Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/~3/B-EIS9KNT-4/121219173910.htm

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