Indigo is a cloud-based, cross-platform personal assistant for Android and Windows Phone 8 (hands-on)

The idea of a personal assistant needs no introduction: you already know Siri, and those of you fortunate to own a Jelly Bean handset (or at least a hacked ICS one) have the privilege of using Google Now. So there's very little we haven't seen here. And yet, we were inclined to take a look at Indigo, a new personal assistant for Android and Windows Phone 8 that launched yesterday, and will be available as a free download in the coming weeks. Meet us past the break to find out why.

Gallery: Indigo personal assistant hands-on

Filed under: Software, Mobile

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Did Amanda Seyfried Dress Bomb Anne Hathaway?!

We'd heard that Anne Hathaway's controversial pink Prada Oscar dress was a last-minute pick. But why ditch the dress she'd been planning on wearing for months? Now, thanks to a statement Hathaway issued to People, we know the truth. 

Source: http://www.ivillage.com/anne-hathaway-apologizes-oscar-dress-not-reason-you-think/1-a-524162?dst=iv%3AiVillage%3Aanne-hathaway-apologizes-oscar-dress-not-reason-you-think-524162

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Weiner says media shouldn't jump to conclusions

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) ? Baseball union head Michael Weiner says reporters should refrain from jumping to conclusions about media reports linking players to a Florida anti-aging clinic accused of distributing banned performance-enhancing drugs.

Starting his annual tour of the 30 spring training camps, Weiner cautioned that Major League Baseball is still investigating Biogenesis of America, a defunct anti-aging clinic in Coral Gables, Fla.

"The players understand that what's happening in Miami at this point remains to be seen in terms of fairness and judging things on the evidence," Weiner said Thursday. "But there is a lot of talk in the clubhouse about where we should be on the joint drug program, and that's a good thing."

After his one-hour session with the Mets, Weiner also discussed the agreement with management last month to extend blood testing for human growth hormone into the regular season. HGH testing began last year but was limited to spring training.

As part of the changes to the joint drug agreement, the World Anti-Doping Agency laboratory in Laval, Quebec, will keep records of each player, including his baseline ratio of testosterone to epitestosterone.

"They understand the blood testing is only postgame, so nobody can have their blood drawn pregame, and they also understand there are protections there in case there's a health-related or a weather/heat related reason why they can't give blood," Weiner said. "Players understand it's important to have the strongest program possible, and given both the testosterone changes and the HGH changes, they're very much for it."

Weiner succeeded Donald Fehr as union head in 2009, and this tour is his first of spring training since announcing in August he is being treated for a brain tumor. The 51-year-old appeared thin and never specifically addressed his health or how he was feeling. He spent time in the Mets clubhouse before the meeting chatting and laughing with players, including third baseman David Wright and pitcher Johan Santana.

Part of Weiner's talk with media was a discussion of changes to draft-pick compensation for free agents under the new labor contract. Teams made $13.3 million qualifying offers last November to nine free agents ? teams signing those players would lose a top selection in this June's amateur draft.

The Mets were hesitant to negotiate with outfielder Michael Bourn because they didn't want to lose the 11th overall pick. While the teams among the top 10 selections cannot lose their first-round pick, the Mets were vulnerable because they dropped from 10th to 11th in the selection order when Pittsburgh failed to sign No. 8 pick Mark Appel last summer ? meaning the Pirates gained an extra selection after this year's eighth pick.

New York had maintained its first-round pick should have been protected because it originally was among the top 10. Bourn agreed to a $48 million, four-year deal with Cleveland, and the issue never went before an arbitrator.

Pitcher Kyle Lohse is the only one of the nine free agents carrying compensation who remains unsigned.

"Prior to going to the qualifying offer system, we had 30, 35 guys that carried compensation with them; it was reduced to nine, and many of those nine had no problem signing like Nick Swisher or B.J. Upton and others," Weiner said. "Is it a concern that it seemed to be an issue and continues to be an issue with Kyle Lohse, that is seemed to be an issue with Adam LaRoche, that it seemed to be an issue with Michael Bourn? Yes. And we'll try to address that.

"The good news is we're down to, in the Basic Agreement, a very small number of players who carry compensation. The compensation affected those guys fairly dramatically this year, and we'd like to try to address that."

While the current collective bargaining agreement runs through 2016, Weiner said there could be discussions about altering the agreement before then.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/weiner-says-media-shouldnt-jump-conclusions-192125442--mlb.html

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The new Yahoo! design: What's changed?

TODAY

By Rosa Golijan

On Wednesday, Yahoo! CEO?Marissa Mayer unveiled the?Web portal's new site design on TODAY. Things are basically the same, but a tiny bit different. (And that's a good thing!)

Yahoo!

The "new Yahoo! experience" appears to be a slightly cleaner version of the old site design.

The new Yahoo! experience places a news section with an infinity scroll ??meaning that you can keep going and going down the page as much as your heart desires ??front and center.?Gone are all the links and items previously buried at the bottom of the site and everything is just plain more pleasing to the eyes.?To make things more convenient, Yahoo! now allows you to log in with your Yahoo! ID or with your Facebook account.?(Yes, logging in via Facebook does indeed mean that you'll wind up seeing articles shared by your friends on top of everything else.)

And is it just us or did the site's background color change subtly while an extra splash of purple was added here and there?

You won't just be seeing changes on the desktop, mind you. The Yahoo! mobile apps got a slick new coat of paint, too. (The apps are now supposedly a bit speedier, too, thanks to some under-the-hood updates.)

Yahoo!

The Yahoo! mobile apps got a bit of a redesign as well, to match the new look of the site.

Mayer,?who became the CEO of Yahoo! in July 2012 was previously the vice president of local, maps, and locations services at Google. Prior to that, she was the vice president of search products and user experience for the search engine giant. In those positions, she was known for pushing for data-driven decisions ? as author Steven Levy explains in "In The Plex: How Google Thinks, Works, and Shapes Our Lives"?? which means that every little tweak made to a product was backed up by plenty of solid research. (Moving a button by ten pixels? Sure, but only if there's evidence that's what makes users click it more often.)

Yahoo!

The old Yahoo! design looks a bit outdated in comparison to its replacement now, doesn't it?

With that detail ? pun only somewhat intended???in mind, it's no surprise that the new Yahoo! design is full of small but significant changes. Subtle variations on color, cleaner fonts, elements that are shifted into more visible locations, and so on are found everywhere. Mayer's bringing her Google knowhow to Yahoo! and it might just work. But don't let us be the judges?? vote in the poll below and tell us what you think about the new Yahoo! design.

(Oh, and if you aren't seeing the new Yahoo! design just yet, you can check it out by following this link.)

Source: http://digitallife.today.com/_news/2013/02/20/17028847-the-new-yahoo-design-whats-changed?lite

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Feed Fluffy while at work with the Pintofeed automatic pet feeder

Throughout the years, feeding your pet has evolved from a bowl on the floor to an electric feeder that provides perfect portions. Pintofeed has taken this a step further with their automatic pet feeder that is controlled with your smartphone. When connected to your home WiFi network, the Pintofeed can be accessed by multiple users [...]

Source: http://the-gadgeteer.com/2013/02/20/feed-fluffy-while-at-work-with-the-pintofeed-automatic-pet-feeder/

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Dog Rehab? Two Hands, Four Paws In Los Angeles, Calif. Treats Injured Pets (VIDEO)

A rehab center for dogs in Los Angeles, Calif. offers massage and laser therapy, acupuncture, weight loss help and more to troubled pets. The services sound like something out of "Beverly Hills Chihuahua," but the canines walking through the doors at Two Hands Four Paws are not pampered little pooches; instead, they're dogs with serious injuries and health issues.

One-eighth of the business' clientele are wheelchair-bound at some point in their therapy, explained founder Leslie McMahon to KTLA in the video above. For those dogs, water treadmills, swim sessions and massage therapy can strengthen injured limbs and loosen tight muscles. Other clientele include aging pets suffering from arthritis, torn ligaments or sore joints.

In a phone interview with The Huffington Post, McMahon revealed the two most common injuries she sees at the clinic: disc diseases, which are congenital, and torn anterior cruciate ligaments in knees.

"Squirrels are the number one cause of a torn ACL," said McMahon. "It's not a joke! I see it all the time in breeds that have a high-prey drive." Those would include German Shepherds, Labradors, Pitt Bulls, Terriers and Corgis. McMahon also added that the clinic treats a fair amount of "working dogs" -- police dogs and show dogs -- but most of the clientele are simply beloved pets.

The clinic is 15 years old and the largest of its kind in California. In addition to treating about 180 dogs per week, the center also offers day care, "Sunday Fun Swims" for dogs who love the water, and help for owners with overweight pets. Check out photos of some dogs receiving care at the clinic and check out the Two Hands Four Paws site to learn more.

Photos courtesy of Facebook: Two Hands Four Paws.

• Kashmir

  Kashmir, a Doberman, receives acupuncture therapy.

• Pug Goes Swimming

  Pug exercises on a water treadmill.

• Sasha

  Sasha, a doberman, goes through therapy for her wobbler syndrome.

• Chihuahua

  Chihuahua in a leg cast.

• Rosie

  Rosie received laser therapy to help relieve discomfort in her tendons and ligaments.

• Layla

  Layla, a Shepherd mix, has a partial tear on her ACL. Water treadmill therapy helps strengthen her limb.

• Mariah

  Caption from <a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151140142336538&set=pb.101280981537.-2207520000.1361400227&type=3&theater">Facebook: Two Hands Four Paws</a> <blockquote>Look into my eyes, little one, and listen well. Great things await you. You are a descendant of champions. You took to water immediately. In agility, you will take to the air. Soon the sporting world will exalt your name. Mariah! But for now, ten more laps. On the double!</blockquote>

• Jack P.

  Jack P. is one of the center's amputee clients. Swim therapy helps keep him fit, and massage therapy helps loosen his muscles.

• Duke

  After suffering a spinal-cord stroke, this American Bulldog is learning how to walk again. His therapies include acupuncture, massage and water therapy.

• Winston

  Winston participates in the holiday fun swim to keep in shape.

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/20/dog-rehab-two-hands-four-paws_n_2728615.html

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UFC 158 shuffled after Rory MacDonald injury

When the UFC announced the mostly welterweight line-up for UFC 158, it was near the end of injury-2012. After so many big fights were affected by injury, the UFC wisely prepared in case one of their fighters had to pull out of his bout. It turned out to be a smart move, as Rory MacDonald had to pull out of his bout with Carlos Condit.

Now, Johny Hendricks, who was supposed to fight Jake Ellenberger at UFC 158, is stepping in to face Condit. Ellenberger also has his opponent set. Nate Marquardt saw an opportunity and tweeted:

Just heard @ellenbergermma doesn't have anyone to fight March 23 as of today. Just so happens I'm free that night! ;) Whatcha think?? #fb

? Nate Marquardt (@NathanMarquardt) February 19, 2013

He later corrected the date of the fight to March 16, but didn't change his sentiment. He still wanted the Ellenberger bout, and got his wish. Marquardt will face Ellenberger at UFC 158. The updated main card now includes the UFC welterweight champ, the former UFC interim champ, and the former Strikeforce champion.

Champion Georges St-Pierre vs. Nick Diaz
Carlos Condit vs. Johny Hendricks
Jake Ellenberger vs. Nate Marquardt
Chris Camozzi vs. Nick Ring
Colin Fletcher vs. Mike Ricci

Marquardt lost the Strikeforce welterweight belt in the promotion's final card. He dropped a decision to Tarec Saffiedine. This will be Marquardt's first fight with the UFC since he was cut from the promotion the day before a fight. Marquardt couldn't get clearance from the state commission to fight because of his high testosterone levels.

Want to make early picks on the new fights? Speak up in the comments, on Facebook or on Twitter.

College basketball video from Yahoo! Sports:

Other popular content on Yahoo! Sports:
? Ronda Rousey is a promoter's dream come true
? Manti Te'o, quarterbacks can't falter at NFL scouting combine
? Yankees shouldn't brag about recent track record of homegrown arms
? Forde Minutes: College basketball coaches go a bit crazy

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/ufc-158-shuffled-rory-macdonald-injury-153900266--mma.html

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Drew Peterson seeking new murder trial

AAA??Feb. 20, 2013?3:04 AM ET
Drew Peterson seeking new murder trial
AP

FILE - In this May 8, 2009 file photo, former Bolingbrook, Ill., police sergeant Drew Peterson arrives at the Will County Courthouse in Joliet, Ill., for his arraignment on charges of first-degree murder in the 2004 death of his former wife Kathleen Savio, who was found in an empty bathtub at home. Peterson's wisecracking, limelight-hogging, sunglasses-wearing lawyers faced the media horde every day of the former suburban Chicago police officer's 2012 trial ? one that ended with a murder conviction and a falling out among the erstwhile colleagues. But the lawyerly war of words in public between lead trial counsel Joel Brodsky and former partner-turned-nemesis Steve Greenberg that began within hours of the trial's end will come to a head Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2013 at a hearing where the defense will argue Peterson deserves a new trial because Brodsky did a shoddy job. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green, File)

FILE - In this May 8, 2009 file photo, former Bolingbrook, Ill., police sergeant Drew Peterson arrives at the Will County Courthouse in Joliet, Ill., for his arraignment on charges of first-degree murder in the 2004 death of his former wife Kathleen Savio, who was found in an empty bathtub at home. Peterson's wisecracking, limelight-hogging, sunglasses-wearing lawyers faced the media horde every day of the former suburban Chicago police officer's 2012 trial ? one that ended with a murder conviction and a falling out among the erstwhile colleagues. But the lawyerly war of words in public between lead trial counsel Joel Brodsky and former partner-turned-nemesis Steve Greenberg that began within hours of the trial's end will come to a head Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2013 at a hearing where the defense will argue Peterson deserves a new trial because Brodsky did a shoddy job. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green, File)

Defense Lawyers for Drew Peterson, back left, Steve Greenberg, Joe Lopez, right, and David J. Peilet, front, leave the Will County Courthouse Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2013, in Joliet, Ill., after a hearing in Drew Peterson's murder trial. The hearing for Peterson ended without a ruling on the former suburban Chicago police officer's request for a new trial. A judge recessed Tuesday after the defense sought to bolster arguments Peterson deserved a retrial on charges he murdered his third wife, Kathleen Savio. Peterson's attorneys contend his former lead trial attorney, Joel Brodsky, botched his case. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)

Joel Brodsky, center, former attorney for convicted murderer Drew Peterson answers questions as he leaves the Will County Courthouse Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2013, in Joliet, Ill. after a special hearing involving Peterson's murder trial. A judge recessed Tuesday after the defense sought to bolster arguments Peterson deserved a retrial on charges he murdered his third wife, Kathleen Savio. Peterson's attorneys contend Brodsky his former lead trial attorney, botched his case. Among witnesses they called was Brodsky. Current Peterson attorney Steve Greenberg questioned him. The hearing resumes Wednesday. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)

Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow leaves the Will County Courthouse Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2013, in Joliet, Ill., after a hearing in Drew Peterson's murder trial. The hearing for Peterson ended without a ruling on the former suburban Chicago police officer's request for a new trial. A judge recessed Tuesday after the defense sought to bolster arguments Peterson deserved a retrial on charges he murdered his third wife, Kathleen Savio. Peterson's attorneys contend his former lead trial attorney, Joel Brodsky, botched his case. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)

JOLIET, Ill. (AP) ? A hearing is set to resume that will determine if former suburban Chicago police officer Drew Peterson gets a new trial on charges he murdered his third wife.

Peterson's lawyers are asking for a retrial on grounds that his lead attorney at the 2012 trial failed to adequately defend him.

Will County Judge Edward Burmila heard a full day of testimony Tuesday before recessing without a ruling. The hearing resumes Wednesday.

Lead state prosecutor James Glasgow told reporters Tuesday he expects a ruling Wednesday.

The judge has said he'll proceed straight to sentencing if he rejects the defense request for a retrial.

The 59-year-old Peterson faces a maximum 60-year prison term for Kathleen Savio's death.

He's also a suspect in the 2007 disappearance of his fourth wife, Stacy Peterson.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2013-02-20-Drew%20Peterson/id-259635486c0c40c09b3662d9279cc0b9

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Mayor Foxx seeks delay on legislation to shift airport control to independent authority

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CHARLOTTE--Mayor Anthony Foxx and Charlotte City Council members are asking Mecklenburg County's delegation in Raleigh to hold off on proposed legislation that would affect Charlotte-Douglas International Airport.

A bill introduced last week would transfer airport control from the city to an independent airport authority.

In a letter sent Monday, city leaders said they haven't been told about problems with the current system, and it seems rash to push through such a big structural change. They also asked for a study to find out, among other things, whether such an authority would drive up costs for future airport improvements.

Most airports in North Carolina are controlled by an independent authority.

Source: http://charlotte.news14.com/content/local_news/charlotte/688668/mayor-foxx-seeks-delay-on-legislation-to-shift-airport-control-to-independent-authority

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Verizon won't carry the HTC One, Droid DNA will have to do for now

You may have noticed a conspicuous absence in the US carrier plans for the HTC One. Your eyes didn't deceive: once again, Verizon is sitting out the primary launch of an HTC flagship. Just why isn't clear. When asked, Big Red told us it doesn't comment on its device strategy; an HTC spokesperson pointed to the Droid DNA, saying that there was nothing more to announce at present. As such, it's tough to know whether or not Verizon will have another specially-built phone as a consolation prize. While it's hard to complain too vociferously when the carrier already has a 1080p HTC smartphone, those who want the device maker's latest will have to turn to one of the three other major networks in the near future.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, HTC, Verizon

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Nudes check out nudes at Austrian museum

VIENNA (AP) ? These museum goers didn't just leave their coats at the coat check. They handed over their shirts, trousers and underwear.

Everything, in fact, except their shoes and socks. After all, the stone floor can get chilly when you're touring an art exhibit in the nude, which was what more than 60 art lovers did in a special after-hours showing at Vienna's prestigious Leopold museum.

For many, the tour of "Nude Men from 1800 to Today" ? an exhibit of 300 paintings, photographs, drawings and sculptures focused on the bare male ? was a goose-bump-raising instance of life imitating art.

"I can't say I'm sweating," said office worker Herbert Korvas as he stood waiting in the atrium with other young men, wearing only socks, sneakers and a smile. Despite the cold, he said he was drawn to the idea of naked museum viewing "because it was something different."

But after a while it really wasn't. With no other viewers around, nude quickly became the new normal as the visitors quickly gathered around a ? dressed ? exhibition guide and moved slowly from one art work to the next, listening intently to their history.

And they weren't the first visitors to get naked either, despite the hoopla around the event that drew dozens of reporters and camera teams from Austria and elsewhere.

A man had already stripped at the exhibition of pictures and sculptures in November, calmly sauntering through the exhibition and dressing again only after a security guard asked him to do so. That act made news ? and sparked demand for Monday's all-nude showing, said museum spokesman Klaus Pokorny.

"We got requests from all over the world from people who were inspired by the exhibition ... who asked us 'can we visit the exhibition naked?'" he said.

On Monday, interest was definitely skewed along gender lines. Irina Wolf smiled as she looked around at the mostly male crowd lining up for tickets.

"I'm at a big advantage here," she said. "Only men around."

While Wolf said she is not someone who regularly strips in public places, the 40-something computer engineer and occasional theater critic, said "I want to see how I relate to such a group."

For others, Monday's event fulfilled a long-cherished wish ? even though they had a hard time explaining why.

Florian Kahlenberg from Munich said he found it "interesting to stroll through a museum naked, adding. "I've always wanted to do that."

Few visitors, naked or dressed, have complained about the show, despite some explicit material showing sexual acts. Described as among the most successful ever staged by the Leopold, it has drawn well over 100,000 people.

That fits with Vienna's relaxed attitude. Its turn-of-the-century decadence allowed Egon Schiele and Gustav Klimt to flourish, and the Leopold itself has a world-class collection of those and other artists known for their explicit depiction of the flesh.

But the Austrian capital's acceptance of nudity goes beyond museum exhibits. Thousands of men, women and children skinny dip daily in the Danube along stretches reserved for them during the summer, while racy lingerie ads dot huge billboards across the city all year round and a mass-circulation daily regularly prints photos of half-naked women.

Still, there are limits to Viennese tolerance. The Leopold was forced into cover-up mode last year after complaints over promotional posters plastered city-wide that showed three young and athletic men of different races wearing nothing but blue, white and red socks and soccer boots.

Swaths of red tape were subsequently placed over their sensitive parts.

____

Associated Press video journalist Philipp Jenne contributed.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/nudes-check-nudes-austrian-museum-083032430.html

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Video: Pistorius, accused of premeditated murder, shares his story

>>> oscar pistorius was back in court today. and for the first time, we heard his side of the story, what he says really happened inside his home the night his girlfriend was killed on valentine's day of last week. it was all part of a very emotional day in which the defense and prosecution laid out their cases. nbc's michelle kosinski was inside the courtroom.

>> reporter: oscar pistorius faced the court, the world's cameras, and told his side of the story. in a statement read by his lawyer, he claimed he acted in self-defense against a suspected intruder. he said he woke up in the middle of the night , brought a fan in from his balcony, returning to the bedroom, he said, i heard a noise in the bathroom and realized someone was in the bathroom. i felt a sense of terror rushing over me. as i did not have my prosthetic legs on and felt extremely vulnerable, i knew i had to protect reeva and myself. i grabbed my .9-millimeter pistol from underneath my bed, screamed words to the effect for him -- them -- to get out of my house. it was pitch dark and i thought reeva was in bed. prosecutors say he fired four times, three of them into the small locked bathroom seen here in a photo from a real estate website. those shots struck reeva as she sat inside. only then pistorius says did he realize his girlfriend was not in bed. he broke through the bathroom door, tried to save her, called a friend, then paramedics, he said, but she died in my arms. prosecutors made it clear they don't buy it. why would a burglar lock himself into a toilet? they said reeva locked that door for a purpose. arguing even if he did think it was an intruder, this would still be premeditated murder of a defenseless burglar. they said pistorius armed himself that morning, put on his artificial legs, walked 23 feet down a hallway to the bathroom and fired. lawyers for pistorius insist there was no motive for murder, no premeditation, and read statements from friends who described the two as deeply in love. steenkamp's best friend said steenkamp would have married pistorius if he had asked. at the same time as all this today, steenkamp's funeral.

>> reeva.

>> reporter: a promising young life ended by a terrible accident or premeditated murder ? michelle kosinski , nbc news, pretoria, south africa .

Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/nightly-news/50863169/

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Pope, nearing retirement, says pray "for me and next pope"

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Benedict asked the faithful to pray for him and for the next pope, addressing a crowded St. Peter's Square in his penultimate Sunday address before becoming the first pontiff in centuries to resign.

The crowd chanted "Long live the pope!," waved banners and broke into sustained applause as he spoke from his window. The 85-year-old Benedict, who will resign on February 28, thanked them in several languages.

Speaking in Spanish, he told the crowd which the Vatican said numbered more than 50,000: "I beg you to continue praying for me and for the next pope".

It was not clear why the pope chose Spanish to make the only specific reference to his upcoming resignation in his Sunday address.

A number of cardinals have said they would be open to the possibility of a pope from the developing world, be it Latin America, Africa or Asia, as opposed to another from Europe, where the Church is crisis and polarized.

After his address, the pope retired into the Vatican's Apostolic Palace for a scheduled, week-long spiritual retreat and will not make any more public appearances until next Sunday.

Speaking in Italian in part of his address about Lent, the period when Christians reflect on their failings and seek guidance in prayer, the pope spoke of the difficulty of making important decisions.

"In decisive moments of life, or, on closer inspection, at every moment in life, we are at a crossroads: do we want to follow the ?I' or God? The individual interest or the real good, that which is really good?" he said.

FOR THE GOOD OF THE CHURCH

Since his shock announcement last Monday, the pope has said several times that he made the difficult decision to become the first pope in more than six centuries to resign for the good of the Church.

"In a funny way he is even more peaceful now with this decision, unlike the rest of us, he is not somebody who gets choked up really easily," said Greg Burke, a senior media advisor to the Vatican.

"I think that has a lot to do with his spiritual life and who he is and the fact he is such a prayerful man," Burke told Reuters Television.

The pope has said his physical and spiritual forces are no longer strong enough to sustain him in the job of leading the world's 1.2 billion Roman Catholics at a time of difficulties for the Church in a fast-changing world.

Benedict's papacy was rocked by crises over the sex abuse of children by priests in Europe and the United States, most of which preceded his time in office but came to light during it.

His reign also saw Muslim anger after he compared Islam to violence. Jews were upset over his rehabilitation of a Holocaust denier. During a scandal over the Church's business dealings, his butler was convicted of leaking his private papers.

People in the crowd said the pope was a shadow of the man he was when elected on April 19, 2005.

"Like always, recently, he seemed tired, moved, perplexed, uncertain and insecure," said Stefan Malabar, an Italian in St. Peter's Square.

"It's something that really has an effect on you because the pope should be a strong and authoritative figure but instead he seems very weak, and that really struck me," he said.

The Vatican has said the conclave to choose his successor could start earlier than originally expected, giving the Roman Catholic Church a new leader by mid-March.

Some 117 cardinals under the age of 80 will be eligible to enter the secretive conclave to elect Benedict's successor. Church rules say the conclave has to start between 15 and 20 days after the papacy becomes vacant, which it will on February 28.

But since the Church is now dealing with an announced resignation and not a sudden death, Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said the Vatican would be "interpreting" the law to see if it could start earlier.

CONSULTATIONS BEGUN

Cardinals around the world have already begun informal consultations by phone and email to construct a profile of the man they think would be best suited to lead the Church in a period of continuing crisis.

The Vatican appears to be aiming to have a new pope elected and then formally installed before Palm Sunday on March 24 so he can preside at Holy Week services leading to Easter.

New details emerged at the weekend about the state of Benedict's health in the months before his shock decision.

Peter Seewald, a German journalist who wrote a book with the pope in 2010 in which Benedict first floated the possibility of resigning, visited him again about 10 weeks ago and asked what else could be expected from his papacy.

According to excepts published in the German magazine Focus, the pope answered: "From me? Not much from me. I'm an old man and the strength is ebbing. I think what I've done is enough."

Asked if he was considering resigning, the pope said: "That depends on how much my physical strength will force me to that".

Seewald said he was alarmed about the pope's health.

"His hearing had deteriorated. He couldn't see with his left eye. His body had become so thin that the tailors had difficulty in keeping up with newly fitted clothes ... I'd never seen him so exhausted-looking, so worn down."

The pope will say one more Sunday noon prayer on February 24, hold a final general audience on February 27. The next day he will take a helicopter to the papal summer retreat at Castle Gandalf, south of Rome, flying into the history books.

Vatican officials said he would stay there for the two months or so needed to restore the convent inside the Vatican where he will live out his remaining years.

(Additional reporting by Hanna Rantala; Editing by Robin Pomeroy)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/pope-one-last-appearances-says-pray-next-pope-113139215.html

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Kiwi Developers Find Major Windows XP and IE Security Flaws

Microsoft rolled out updates for basically every single version of Internet Explorer last week as part of its Patch Tuesday cycle, but a Kiwi security firm says it helped fix two vulnerabilities in Internet Explorer 8 and Windows XP.

According to a report by Stuff.co.nz, both security flaws could allow attackers to gain full control of an unpatched system, so the information provided by Security-Assessment.com, a Dimension Data division, was pretty helpful for both Microsoft and users.

The Redmond-based software firm fixed both holes on Patch Tuesday using the integrated Windows Update feature, but the security engineers behind the report claim no one was attacked.

?Dimension Data has no reason to believe that anyone has fallen victim to an attack. Microsoft is thorough in its response when vulnerabilities are brought to its attention. We are pleased to see that this issue has been addressed and we strongly recommend users apply the patch made available through the Windows Update website,? Dimension Data marketing manager Phil Goodwin was quoted as saying.

Source: http://news.softpedia.com/news/Kiwi-Developers-Find-Major-Windows-XP-and-IE-Security-Flaws-330533.shtml

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Study: Better TV might improve kids' behavior

EMBARGOED UNTIL MIDNIGHT EASTERN TIME SUNDAY, FEB. 17 - Joe Jensen, 2, watches television as a special treat in the afternoon, Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013 at his home in Seattle. Joe's mother, Nancy Jensen, was a participant in a new University of Washington study on the effects of television viewing on kids that will be published Monday, Feb. 18, 2013. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

EMBARGOED UNTIL MIDNIGHT EASTERN TIME SUNDAY, FEB. 17 - Joe Jensen, 2, watches television as a special treat in the afternoon, Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013 at his home in Seattle. Joe's mother, Nancy Jensen, was a participant in a new University of Washington study on the effects of television viewing on kids that will be published Monday, Feb. 18, 2013. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

EMBARGOED UNTIL MIDNIGHT EASTERN TIME SUNDAY, FEB. 17 - Nancy Jensen, right, watches as her children, Elizabeth, 6, left, and Joe, 2, center, play with a building set and other toys, Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013 at their home in Seattle. Nancy was a participant in a new University of Washington study on the effects of television viewing on kids that will be published Monday, Feb. 18, 2013. As a result of what she learned, her children spend more time with hands-on toys and less time watching TV. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

EMBARGOED UNTIL MIDNIGHT EASTERN TIME SUNDAY, FEB. 17 - Nancy Jensen, left, looks on as her son Joe, 2, is given a special treat of a little TV time Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013 at their home in Seattle. Nancy was a participant in a new University of Washington study on the effects of television viewing on kids that will be published Monday, Feb. 18, 2013. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

EMBARGOED UNTIL MIDNIGHT EASTERN TIME SUNDAY, FEB. 17 - Nancy Jensen, second from left, looks on as her son Joe, 2, is given a special treat of a little TV time Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013 at their home in Seattle. Nancy was a participant in a new University of Washington study on the effects of television viewing on kids that will be published Monday, Feb. 18, 2013. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

EMBARGOED UNTIL MIDNIGHT EASTERN TIME SUNDAY, FEB. 17 - Elizabeth Jensen, 6, center, and her brother Joe Jensen, 2, left, are given the special afternoon treat of a little TV time, Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013 at their home in Seattle. The children's' mother Nancy Jensen was a participant in a new University of Washington study on the effects of television viewing on kids that will be published Monday, Feb. 18, 2013. As a result of what she learned, her children spend more time with hands-on toys and less time watching TV. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

SEATTLE (AP) ? Teaching parents to switch channels from violent shows to educational TV can improve preschoolers' behavior, even without getting them to watch less, a study found.

The results were modest and faded over time, but may hold promise for finding ways to help young children avoid aggressive, violent behavior, the study authors and other doctors said.

"It's not just about turning off the television. It's about changing the channel. What children watch is as important as how much they watch," said lead author Dr. Dimitri Christakis, a pediatrician and researcher at Seattle Children's Research Institute.

The research was to be published online Monday by the journal Pediatrics.

The study involved 565 Seattle parents, who periodically filled out TV-watching diaries and questionnaires measuring their child's behavior.

Half were coached for six months on getting their 3-to-5-year-old kids to watch shows like "Sesame Street" and "Dora the Explorer" rather than more violent programs like "Power Rangers." The results were compared with kids whose parents who got advice on healthy eating instead.

At six months, children in both groups showed improved behavior, but there was a little bit more improvement in the group that was coached on their TV watching.

By one year, there was no meaningful difference between the two groups overall. Low-income boys appeared to get the most short-term benefit.

"That's important because they are at the greatest risk, both for being perpetrators of aggression in real life, but also being victims of aggression," Christakis said.

The study has some flaws. The parents weren't told the purpose of the study, but the authors concede they probably figured it out and that might have affected the results.

Before the study, the children averaged about 1? hours of TV, video and computer game watching a day, with violent content making up about a quarter of that time. By the end of the study, that increased by up to 10 minutes. Those in the TV coaching group increased their time with positive shows; the healthy eating group watched more violent TV.

Nancy Jensen, who took part with her now 6-year-old daughter, said the study was a wake-up call.

"I didn't realize how much Elizabeth was watching and how much she was watching on her own," she said.

Jensen said her daughter's behavior improved after making changes, and she continues to control what Elizabeth and her 2-year-old brother, Joe, watch. She also decided to replace most of Elizabeth's TV time with games, art and outdoor fun.

During a recent visit to their Seattle home, the children seemed more interested in playing with blocks and running around outside than watching TV.

Another researcher who was not involved in this study but also focuses his work on kids and television commended Christakis for taking a look at the influence of positive TV programs, instead of focusing on the impact of violent TV.

"I think it's fabulous that people are looking on the positive side. Because no one's going to stop watching TV, we have to have viable alternatives for kids," said Dr. Michael Rich, director of the Center on Media and Child Health at Children's Hospital Boston.

____

Online:

Pediatrics: http://www.pediatrics.org

___

Contact AP Writer Donna Blankinship through Twitter (at)dgblankinship

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2013-02-18-TV%20and%20Tots/id-1fb493a52422449a96c1b50b7fe090d0

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California murder suspect arrested in Bay area

Safety Harbor, Florida-- Friday night, US Marshals arrested a man suspected of murdering his wife on a cruise ship years ago.

The case that goes back to 2006 when the suspect, Lonnie Kocontes, lived in Mission Viejo, California-??just outside of Los Angeles.

According to the L.A. Times, FBI agents believed Kocontes killed his ex-wife for financial gain during an Italian cruise and tossed her body overboard near Naples.

He reportedly said she went missing, but an Italian doctor performed an autopsy and determined that she'd likely been strangled to death.?

Friday night, nearly seven years later, US Marshals, Orange County detectives and local deputies arrested Kocontes.

Officials say he was taken into custody in?Pasco County.

10 News will have more details on this developing story as soon as they're available.?

Source: http://safetyharbor.wtsp.com/news/news/167130-california-murder-suspect-arrested-bay-area

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Sen. Marco Rubio begins Middle East trip to Israel, Jordan

Sen. Marco Rubio began a week-long trip to Israel and Jordan today on a fact-finding mission as part of his official duties with the Senate Intelligence Committee and Foreign Relations Committee.

He said he?s headed overseas to learn more about the Syrian civil war and the Israel-Palestinian peace process.

Rubio plans to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel as well as Palestinian Prime Minister Fayyad.

?America's friendship with Israel is a truly special one, and we must continue to do all we can to support this beacon of democracy, religious freedom and free enterprise in the heart of an unstable region,? he said on his website.

Rubio has once before traveled to Israel.

In his first trip to Jordan, the Florida Republican will meet King Abdullah and members of the Jordanian government.

Jordan is a key US ally in the Middle East.

?I am also interested in learning more firsthand about the impact the Syrian civil war and how the humanitarian crisis that has resulted is impacting Jordan and the region,? Rubio said.

Rubio ? who delivered the Republican response to President Obama?s state of the union address this week ? is considered a rising star in his party and a potential presidential candidate in 2016.

New Secretary of State John Kerry and President Obama are also planning trip to the area in the coming weeks, The Hill reported.

Rubio?s trip will also answer criticism from the National Jewish Democratic Council, which chastised him for not mentioning Israel in his SOTU speech, according to CNN.

?On foreign policy, America continues to be indispensable to the goal of global liberty, prosperity and safeguarding human rights,? Rubio said, CNN reported. ?The world is a better place when America is the strongest nation on Earth. But we can?t remain powerful if we don't have an economy that can afford it.?

More from GlobalPost: Sen. Marco Rubio responds to Obama?s SOTU address

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/united-states/130216/marco-rubio-middle-east-israel-jordan

Source: http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/united-states/130216/marco-rubio-middle-east-israel-jordan

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