Xi Jinping, widely expected to be the next president of China and currently serving as the country’s vice president, visited Des Moines, Iowa earlier this week, receiving a warm welcome from the state with a large agricultural economy. Xi also visited Washington, DC, of course, and spoke of various issues, from international issues to agricultural trade with the U.S. that favors Iowa. Prior to leaving Washington, Xi noted that he was seeking greater cooperation with the U.S. on issues of trade and security, specifically mentioning Iran and North Korea in the process. He also urged Washington to pay close attention to what he called Chinese “core interests,” including the issue of Tibet.

Xi’s visit to Iowa had him attending a state dinner with Governor Terry Branstad and sitting down to a meal that included pork tenderloin, Angus beef and a soybean and corn salad, all products that are near and dear to the hearts of Iowans. Iowa is the largest producer of corn, soybeans and pork in the U.S. and China has increasingly been purchasing those agricultural products from the U.S.

While Xi stressed both friendship between the two countries, as well as some advice, and he spoke in generally broad terms, noting, “The world is currently undergoing profound changes, and China and the United States face shared challenges and shoulder shared responsibilities in international affairs. We should further use bilateral and multilateral mechanisms to enhance coordination between China and the United States on hotspots, including developments on the Korean peninsula and the Iran nuclear issue.”

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Ford is a well known name in the car world that is again in discussions due to its latest released Used Ford Focus. A slight inferiority in the driving system is that the dual clutch transmission proves unable to shift in a smooth way, always. In addition, the touch screen in the car is placed out of driver’s reach. This seems little uncomfortable to operate it easily.

Ford, set its policies wisely on 2006 to bring down the cost of its models in order to trigger its demand in the market. The strategies also proved to be successful with the introduction of technical designing of these cars. Till the time, every launch of the company represents some innovative features. The interesting feature of every launch is that the size of ford cars becomes smaller gradually in its each reviewed model.

This time, new ford focus titanium is ready to show moving storm on road with its quite technical make. The appearance of this sedan is extremely awesome and luxurious. It is an ultimate combination of comfort, performance and design, of course. The ultimate model is available now in $ 22, 725. The extremely tough steel body of the car possesses a six speed gear box. These gears work in an efficient manner along with the dual clutch transmission technology to maintain the speed of the vehicle. Also consider the Used Ford kuga from Jennings ford direct.

Join Baratunde Thurston (left), The Onion’s Director of Digital and author of How to Be Black, for an entertaining look at creative social media campaigns in our Social Media Marketing Boot Camp starting today, February 16. Other speakers include Morin Oluwole (Facebook), Tim Devane (bitly), and Michael Brito (Edelman Digital). Learn more.

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For a brief lesson in modern U.S. politics, one need look no further than the flip-flop by the president on the issue of private political spending. In 2010, President Obama noted that a Supreme Court ruling that would allow private organizations, corporations and unions to spend unlimited amounts of money on political ads and other forms of “speech” was, in essence, a “threat to our democracy.” A couple of years later, the Obama campaign has noted that – with the president’s approval – the campaign will support a super PAC that is in favor of Obama.

Noted one senior campaign official, “We made a decision, announced last night, that we’re not going to allow for two sets of rules this election. A half billion dollars spent against the president’s re-election by Republican super PACs is not something that we take lightly, and it ultimately led to our decision that we’re not going to unilaterally disarm in this fight. Our message remains the same in terms of the type of things we’re fighting for.” In other words, if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. The official added, “The president did sign off on this decision.”

A statement that came out late on Monday night by Jim Messina noted that the president still opposes the Supreme Court finding but that the Obama campaign must “face the reality of the law as it currently stands.” Messina added, “With so much at stake, we can’t allow for two sets of rules in this election, whereby the Republican nominee is the beneficiary of unlimited spending and Democrats unilaterally disarm.”

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Of course, not everyone is into that type of game. Bubble Shooter is more tailored towards the casual gamer who’s looking for something to turn their brain off for a while.  It’s a fun and addicting game, but doesn’t require as much deep thinking and strategy as Mahjong – and that’s a good thing.  Coming home from work and sitting down to play a little Bubble Shooter can be just the mental break that some people need – including you.  I know that I definitely need a break after my job, especially since I have a boss that grinds down on me hard.  Take a load off and play some games!

Early reports are sketchy as to the details of the abduction, but it appears that the two American women were traveling in a minivan with their Egyptian guide when they were kidnapped. The Egyptian guide was also abducted, but at least three other tourists were not taken. The nationality of the remaining tourists has not been released. The group was traveling south from Saint Catherine’s monastery on Mount Sinai to the Red Sea resort, Sharm el-Sheikh when the abduction took place.

Kidnappings have been on the rise in Egypt as officials struggle to bring the nation to order following the ouster of former President Hosni Mubarak. 25 Chinese workers were kidnapped from a nearby area earlier in the week, but they were all released the following day without incident. It is believed that the American women were targeted by the kidnappers in the hopes that they would bring a ransom for their safe return. But with so little information about who may have taken them – or why – it is simply too soon to make those sorts of assumptions.

The U.S. Embassy in Cairo has yet to release a statement about the situation, but it’s safe to say that U.S. officials will be monitoring the situation very closely. Incidents like these will continue to erode the dwindling Egyptian tourism industry, which has seen a nearly 30% decline in 2011 tourism numbers from those achieved in 2010.

The kidnappings occurred against the backdrop of rising violence across Egypt, which is still reeling from the deaths of 74 fans in the aftermath of a recent soccer match. Citizens are blaming the deaths on a lack of security and have taken to the streets in protest. At least 4 additional deaths have occurred since, as protesters clash with police and military personnel.

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The Woman in Black is a fine and appropriate return to atmospheric horror movies for the once great Hammer Films. It sticks to the source material’s (the 1983 novel by Susan Hill) original time period (the late 19^th century to the early 20^th century), with authentic costumes, sets and a spectacularly creepy haunted house. The mood is perfect (emphasized by extreme isolation), the sustained dread is gut-wrenching, and the anticipation is a killer. Although this is a ghost story with the standard dilapidated, abandoned mansion as the central location for trepidation, it presents several very unique ideas for old-fashioned hauntings.

Young Arthur Kipps (Daniel Radcliffe) lost his wife (Sophie Stuckey) during childbirth a few years ago. He frequently has visions of her in her wedding dress (symbolically, the woman in white), which gives him a newfound sense of spiritualism, but hampers his ability to work effectively at the law firm that employs him. His last assignment, one that is necessary to prove his dedication to the company as well as demonstrate his recovery from grief, is to journey to a remote village on the outskirts of England. Once there, he must sort out the papers left at Eel Marsh House to finalize the financial and legal dealings of the recently deceased Mrs. Drablow. Although the townspeople wish for Kipps to leave as swiftly as he arrives, he finds a friend in Simon Daily (Ciaran Hinds), the only man in town with a car, and one who has lost his son in an accident and whose wife (Janet McTeer) has gone crazy with mental suffering. What is supposed to be a simple job becomes plagued by disconcerting secrets, the mysterious deaths of children, and the unnatural sightings of an ebony-veiled woman in black funeral attire.

The use of demonic-looking toy contraptions and unnerving dolls is nothing new. Nor are the expected, manipulative jump scares fueled by loud thuds, screeches, and jarring sound effects (and a pesky crow), or the sudden appearances of otherworldly imagery coupled with crescendo-favoring musical accompaniment. But the evil spirit itself is wonderfully singular in its ability to scare through subtle materialization (coming into sight in alarming manner, with slower paced emergences more traumatizing than the rapid ones), its targeting of children and pattern of avoiding physical harm to adults, and most of all in its vengeful mission that cannot be appeased, calmed or quelled. She’s a wronged poltergeist of legendary ill-omen stature, foreshadowing doom; she’s not meant to be satisfied but rather endured.

The explanation for the wraith is much more straightforward and understandable than in the previous film adaption. The many questions that arose from the 1989 version are neatly covered here, opting for a clear-cut motive of insatiable revenge. Kipps still possesses an uncanny bravery (or stupidity) in the face of genuinely frightful, spectral harassment, and attempts many panic-induced, pointless parries (such as locking the door on a ghost). The conclusion has changed, along with the previous unforgettable climax, but despite the morbid nature of the story and the terminal confrontation, screenwriter Jane Goldman (or perhaps interfering producers) has chosen the most assuaging method to wrap up a dark narrative of eerie tragedy and undying wrath.

- The Massie Twins (GoneWithTheTwins.com)

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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Newt Gingrich’s fast Florida fade is the latest indication that the Tea Party is losing its grip on the GOP, with the establishment poised to triumph once again.

An official endorsement Saturday night from last year’s Tea Party standout, Herman Cain; an all-but-official backing from longtime Tea Party darling Sarah Palin; and the support of the Tea Party Express have not lifted Gingrich back over Mitt Romney in the Florida polls. That weakened clout has been accompanied by the Republican establishment’s full-throttle charge at Gingrich’s past — to great effect with the primary here just one day away.

It’s a stunning twist of fate for the GOP, which just 18 months ago was mired in intraparty battles that gave rise to the grass-roots movement, and that had been desperately seeking anyone but Mitt Romney in the presidential race to satisfy its hard-right turn. Still, if Romney wins here on Tuesday and goes on to clinch the nomination in the coming weeks or months, it may not settle the question of whether he has quieted the Tea Party faithful heading toward the general election.

Its various favorites have failed to take hold. Michele Bachmann was ultimately not seen as credible, Cain was forced out of the race over charges of sexual harassment, and Rick Perry couldn’t pass muster through the debates.

Though Gingrich has embraced the Tea Party — and many of its leaders have hugged him back — he doesn’t fit the movement’s mold. The Romney campaign knows this and has had no qualms about highlighting that fact.

From former Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole, the GOP presidential nominee in 1996, to Sen. John McCain, the standard bearer in 2008, a growing number of Republican “insiders” have blasted Gingrich for his slip-ups and judgment lapses during his reign as House speaker.

That would be a risky strategy if Gingrich were a tried-and-true Tea Party candidate who hadn’t spent his time currying favor with Washington’s elite. When the establishment pounded candidates like Rand Paul and Christine O’Donnell in 2010, it backfired, and they won their primaries against Republican officeholders.

And yet, Romney has unleashed every surrogate he’s got to clamp down on Gingrich. McCain, when asked Friday by RealClearPolitics if Romney risked a backlash by employing this strategy, answered, “I think that’s always a risk, but once the Tea Partiers examine his fiscal record, then it’s very hard to get enthusiastic about a guy that supported a bill that had $ 14 billion in earmarks.”

That’s the difference: The establishment harangued O’Donnell, Paul and Herman Cain for being unqualified, even eccentric. But with Gingrich, “Washington insiders” are reminding everyone that he’s one of them.

Romney himself pointed that out during a Panama City rally Saturday afternoon, noting that Gingrich “was given the opportunity to lead our party.” An audience member shouted back, “He failed.” And Romney responded: “You’re right; he failed. We allowed him to lead our party, and some of us remember, ‘Oh, yeah — the ‘Contract With America,’ that was a good thing. We took over the House — that was great news.’ But what happened four years later? He was fined for ethics violations.”

Romney’s campaign has made Gingrich’s time in Washington the centerpiece of its attacks, even using a 1997 news report from the dean of the current news media, NBC’s Tom Brokaw, that detailed Gingrich’s ethics violations in an ad released late Friday.

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Acoording to a report by Reuters, Apple’s generous customer service may be causing huge problems for victims of iPhone theft. The warranty plan is tied to the iPhone and not the person who owns the phone; this means anyone can take an iPhone to an Apple Store for service or replacement.

The ease of trading in stolen iPhones and selling their replacements makes them nearly as tempting as grabbing cash. In cities from coast-to-coast, reports of iPhone thefts are common. While some thieves sell the phones through the traditional channels of fencing stolen goods, examples abound of stolen iPhones being brought back to Apple, as if broken, for either replacement or a discount on a new unit. ”Apple seems to have not considered stolen devices and instead is relying on the honor system,” says Robert Siciliano, a consultant for Intel Corp’s technology security unit McAfee and an identity theft expert. “The honor system is devised with the mindset that we are all sheep and there are no wolves.” Siciliano says he has known of this problem for a while, but doesn’t see any immediate solution. “Until consumers scream loud enough about this issue, Apple probably won’t do anything about it.”

While this approach is fantastic for the honest iPhone owners, thieves are using Apple’s good nature to carry out a type of laundering for stolen iPhones. When a phone is reported as stolen, a carrier can blacklist it as stolen and disable it by using its device specific IMEI number. If the device has been swapped or replaced at an Apple Store, that security measure has now been bypassed. This enables a thief to sell on or use a brand new iPhone without fear of recrimination.

Apple has yet to comment on the findings within the report but let’s hope a simple solution can be found that will not cause pain for the honest amongst us. The last thing we need is for Apple to change its policies and make life more difficult when it comes to iPhone service and replacement.

Source: Reuters, Image Wikipedia

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