Republican presidential candidate and Texas governor Rick Perry poses for pictures after a campaign meet and greet at The Button Factory restaurant on December 21, 2011 in Muscatine, Iowa.
A week before Iowa?s January 3 caucuses, the outcome of the Republican contest is hard to predict: Ron Paul, Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney all stand a chance at winning. But something else already seems clear: Iowa has blown its special claim as the first state to vote in presidential contests.
Iowa?s first-to-vote-status dates to 1972, when a quirk in Democratic Party rules scheduled its caucuses ahead of the New Hampshire primary, which had opened the presidential nominating process since 1920. Republicans followed suit four years later. Iowa?s political establishment quickly found that it enjoyed all the attention and economic activity that came with going first, and enshrined into state law a mandate that Iowa vote at least eight days before any other state.
Iowa seems to have gotten away with this leap to the front of the line in part thanks to its folksy all-American image as a heartland state home to honest, common-sense rural folks. But with every passing decade, Iowa?s electoral character grows more out of step with the reality of the United States. Iowa is an unusually homogenous ? that is, white ? and rural state in an increasingly diverse and urban nation. And it?s long been a custom of presidential politics to see the candidates extol the virtues of expensive farm and ethanol subsidies with precious little economic rationale.
In response, Iowans insist that their state has special virtues that make for sound presidential vetting. The state Republican Party?s website, for instance, boasts that Iowa?s small size, along with the intangible virtue of its people, justifies its exalted position:
Iowans take the caucuses very seriously and respect their position as First in the Nation. Many Iowans meet candidates personally and ask them detailed questions about particular policies. Some presidential candidates have noted that Iowa voters ask some of the most sophisticated and nuanced policy questions they receive while on the campaign trail.
Sounds nice, but that rationale doesn?t withstand much scrutiny. Iowa may take the caucuses seriously, but wouldn?t we expect any other state to do the same? And while Iowa voters sometimes ask great questions, so do voters elsewhere. I?ve also heard Iowa voters ask some really silly and uninformed questions. The idea that geography determines political aptitude is more than a little dubious.
Here?s where the experience of 2012 should be most damning for Iowa?s privileged place. The mythology of the caucuses is based on close personal contact between voters and candidates. In theory, the candidates traverse the state?s plains and cornfields to let voters size them up at close range, to test them and take their measure in coffee shops and meeting halls where people live plain and simple ? and political spin just doesn?t fly.
But the candidates who have spent the most time and effort on the state, Michele Bachmann and Rick Santorum (who has famously visited each of the state?s 99 counties, the poor man), are reaping precious few rewards in the polls. The caucus frontrunners, by contrast, haven?t really played by Iowa?s rules. Mitt Romney spent most of 2011 avoiding the state. Newt Gingrich campaigned there sporadically until his surge, and even then has showed his respect by leaving at critical moments. Then there?s Ron Paul, who may win the caucuses with a small plurality while peddling a foreign policy message totally unacceptable to most of the state?s Republicans.
So why have these candidates risen to the top? Because the entire Iowa campaign has tracked the national one. Iowa?s procession of frontrunners ? Bachmann, Herman Cain, Rick Perry, Gingrich, Paul ? has roughly mirrored the boom-and-bust pattern found in national polls. It seems unlikely that these fluctuations have been driven by the ?sophisticated and nuanced policy questions? of Iowans. More likely, they reflect the drama of the televised debates and national media events like Herman Cain?s string of female accusers. (Cain, by the way, leapt to first place in the state at a time when he was paying it no visits at all.) What?s the point in having Iowa go first if its voters are simply reacting to the same debate zingers as the rest of the country?
And by the way, remember the Ames straw poll in August? That contest was supposed to tell us important things about the candidates? true strength and appeal in the state, and to winnow the field in ways that would make it stronger. But the straw poll?s victor, Michele Bachmann, promptly tanked, and the candidate whose third-place finish drove him from the field ? Tim Pawlenty ? looks in hindsight like the credible Mitt Romney alternative for whom the party has spent the past six months searching. It?s been six months in which Iowa has played along with the hyping of one candidate after another.
Iowa is a lovely state packed with wonderful, thoughtful and good people. But is this really the picture of an unusually discerning and responsible electorate? And if not, why in the world should Iowa continue to get the first say?
A MAN wearing an Afghan army uniform has shot dead two members of NATO's US-led International Security Assistance Force, military officials say.
The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack which they said targeted French troops in Kapisa province, which is east of the capital Kabul.
"An individual wearing an Afghan National Army uniform turned his weapon against two International Security Assistance Forces service members in eastern Afghanistan, today, killing both service members," a coalition statement said.
ISAF said it was investigating but did not identify the nationality of the victims in line with policy.
"This morning one Afghan soldier named Ebrahim killed three French soldiers. He was also martyred," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said.
The Taliban frequently exaggerate their claims.
He said the incident took place in Tagab district in Kapisa province, which is part of the volatile east of the country.
There have been several incidents over the past year in which Afghan government security forces - or those purporting to be - have turned their weapons on foreign troops.
On Christmas eve an Afghan soldier was killed after opening fire on US troops in southwestern Farah province.
We've got 15 copies of Android Tablets Made Simple by Marziah Karch to give away to you fine, oustanding Android Central Readers. So, let's give some away. Just leave a comment in this post and we'll pick 15 of 'em at random. This one's U.S. only (don't worry, we'll have something for you international folks on Friday), and we'll shut it down at the end of today. Good luck!
LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Shots are being fired in the world of the digital camera.
California-based Red Digital Cinema alleges that a former executive at Delaware-based Arri engaged in corporate espionage when he hacked into the email server of a third camera company, according to a complaint Red filed December 21 in U.S. District Court in California.
According to the lawsuit, which was obtained by TheWrap, Red alleges Arri used the hacked emails to give its Alexa camera a competitive advantage over Red's Epic camera.
Red alleges unfair competition based on email hacking, invasion of privacy, conversion, misappropriation of trade secrets and unlawful trade practices, among other charges.
In September, Michael Bravin, Arri's ex-VP of market development for digital camera products, pleaded guilty to unlawfully accessing the email server of Band Pro Film & Digital while he was employed at Arri.
Bravin, who had previously worked for Band Pro, was charged with computer fraud and email hacking and, following a plea agreement, was sentenced to two years' probation, among other penalties.
Now, Red says some of the emails Bravin copied had sensitive information about the company's technology, including the Epic camera. Some of the emails were from Red personnel including founder Jim Jannard, Red also alleges.
At the time of the hacking, Red was allegedly in confidential business discussions with Band Pro, discussing a potential joint venture. Arri employees -- including Chief Technology Officer Glenn Kennel and Vice President of Camera Products Bill Russell -- were aware Bravin was engaging in the hacking, Red says. Therefore, Arri is liable, according to Red.
"Red is informed and believes, and thereupon alleges, that Bravin saved or forwarded, either directly or verbally, the information obtained from the Band Pro emails to other Arri executives and employees," the suit says.
Additionally, Red alleges that Arri started a false advertising campaign leading up to the launch of the Alexa camera, and that Bravin -- using his real name and a pseudonym -- posted on a Red blog, RedUser.net, disparaging the company's products. Red says one of the Web-blog board's policies is that users do not use false names.
Red is seeking damages, disgorgement, restitution and injunctive relief. The company is seeking a jury trial.
"It was quite shocking to them, that the vice president of Arri would steal business emails for use at Arri," lawyer Gregory L. Weeks, who represents Red, told TheWrap.
A representative for Arri did not respond to TheWrap's request for comment.
Movies including "The Hobbit," "Prometheus" and "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" were shot with Red cameras.
"Hugo," "Pariah" and "New Year's Eve" were shot with Arri cameras.
Sophomore Laurent Rivard and the Harvard Crimson have taken down all four of their Massachusetts opponents this season.
by Joshua Kummins
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. ? In front of a sold-out crowd of 8,606 fans at Conte Forum, the No. 23/24 Harvard Crimson struggled out of the gate and recovered late in order to take a 67-46 victory over the Boston College Eagles on Thursday evening.
?Obviously, it?s a terrific win for us and our program,? said Harvard head coach Tommy Amaker, who is in his fifth season at the helm in Cambridge. ?This time of year, it is always challenging no matter where and who you play coming off the break.?
Despite a week-long break, the cross-town visitors were able to capture their fourth victory in a row against the Eagles and have not fell since the 2005-06 season in the all-time series. The triumph was also Harvard?s 14th in a row against an in-state foe ? a streak that dates back to a 76-71 overtime decision against Northeastern.
?It?s definitely something we take pride in,? said Crimson junior guard Brandyn Curry, who scored 11 points in the contest. ?It?s just another game. We just come out, handled business and just played our game.?
The Crimson won the opening tip, but Eagles guard Matt Humphrey took the ball down the floor and opened the scoring with a jump shot in the paint with 51 seconds gone by in the contest.
After Oliver McNally?s two free throws tied the game just under 1:30 into the proceedings, the Eagles went to work and began building its largest lead of 11 points in a little over four minutes as an inside jumper by freshman Dennis Clifford capped off the 10-1 run for Boston College.
?It?s a credit to their team,? Amaker added. ?They came at us and put us in a hole?[However,] I thought our defense was outstanding and we had to be. They are a terrific three-point shooting team. I was very pleased with the effort we gave defensively.?
After that, the Crimson mounted their own upward trek which was capped by a 12-point lead with 1:16 to play in the half thanks to a three-point bucket from Harvard junior Christian Webster.
After a very slow start from the field, Harvard caught up and finished the half at 43.3 percent overall. The Eagles had a more consistent first half at 14-of-22 from the field, including a 3-of-4 mark from beyond the three-point arc.
The Crimson rolled in the second half, pulling away to the easy victory in the end, despite going just 9-for-23 from the field. The offense hit for just 40.9 percent on the whole in the game, but held the Eagles weak offense to just 13 points and 4-for-22 in the final 20 minutes of play.
BC?s previous season low for second half points was 20 during an 82-46 beatdown by Massachusetts on Nov. 21.
Harvard?s largest lead of the game of 23 points was eclipsed with just 1:56 to play in the contest as rookie Corbin Miller hit one of his four threes.
Harvard was led by the play of guard Laurent Rivard, who came off the bench and stormed to an impressive performance. The Saint-Bruno, Que. native went off for 18 points, including 15 in the first half on 7-for-12 shooting and 4-of-8 from beyond the arc.
?We refer to our team like we have six starters,? Amaker noted. ?Even though he?s played as well as anyone?and he is as good as anyone on our team. His ability to stretch the defense and be a physical player, not just his shooting ability.?
?I make him upset because I think every time he shoots it and I get bad at him whenever he misses anything, which is not fair or right, but that is how much confidence I have.?
Rivard, as just a sophomore, already ranks third in program history with a .407 shooting percentage from behind the three-point arc, including a career-high six triples on Dec. 10 at Boston University.
Freshman center Dennis Clifford, a Bridgewater, Mass. native, scored a team-high 14 points for the Eagles on 5-of-6 shooting. Fellow rookie Patrick Heckmann scored 13.
The Eagles fall to 5-8 on the season with the defeat, snapping a three-game winning streak. They return to Conte Forum to close a five-game homestand on Monday afternoon against Rhode Island.
Harvard has won three games in a row since dropping its only game of the season on No. 9 Connecticut on Dec. 8 and will return to Cambridge on Saturday to host St. Joseph?s.
Joshua Kummins, a junior honor roll student at Malden High School, is the Associate Editor for BostonSportsU18.com. He joined BSU18 in August 2010 and also serves as the Co-Head of Sports for the award-winning newspaper at MHS, The Blue and Gold. This fall, he enters his second year as the site's Hockey East beat reporter. He covered upwards of 35 games during the 2010-11 season, including the Beanpot and Hockey East Tournament at TD Garden and is also very excited to cover this year's Frozen Fenway events. He is also a frequent contributor to the site?s baseball coverage as he covers the Red Sox, minor leagues, and college games throughout the season. Each season, he is proud to cover the Cape Cod Baseball League and the New England Collegiate Baseball League?s North Shore Navigators. He also thinks that the CCBL and NECBL provide some of the best baseball in the country, truly showing ?how the game should be played.? Contact him via e-mail with any questions at jkummins@bostonsportsu18.com.
NEW YORK (Reuters) ? The euro weakened about 1 percent against the dollar and the yen on Wednesday, one day before an important auction of long-dated Italian debt, while U.S. stocks slid more than 1 percent on concerns about the economy in early 2012.
The European single currency hit a fresh 11-month low against the dollar of $1.291 and a 10-year low against the yen as data showed banks were hoarding the cash recently injected by the European Central Bank rather than lending it out - a bad omen for the European economy in 2012.
"If European banks are still this concerned, it's not a good sign," said Karl Schamotta, senior markets strategist with Western Union Business Solutions. "That underlines the possibility that this liquidity crunch is getting worse and will continue into the new year.
A strong sale of short-term bonds by Italy Wednesday morning initially brought some relief to European markets, but concerns about Thursday's more challenging auction eventually contributed to the weakness of the euro.
U.S. stock indexes fell more than 1 percent in thin trading as investors feared what many expect to be a tough start to the year. The broad S&P 500 index erased its 2011 gains after just turning positive in last week's rally.
"It seems like the weakness in euro, breaking that $1.30 level, really made investors push that 'sell' button," said Ryan Detrick, senior technical strategist with Schaeffer's Investment Research in Cincinnati, Ohio.
"But it's somewhat of an exaggerated move, considering that there isn't much volume, and this could end in a one-day selloff."
The Dow Jones industrial average (.DJI) closed down 139.94 points, or 1.14 percent, at 12,151.41, while the Standard & Poor's 500 Index (.SPX) lost 15.79 points, or 1.25 percent, to 1,249.64. The Nasdaq Composite Index (.IXIC) fell 35.22 points, or 1.34 percent, to 2,589.98.
Wall Street's decline weighed on European stocks, which erased early gains. The FTSEurofirst 300 (.FTEU3) index of top European shares fell 0.71 percent to end at 983.32, after rising as much as 0.63 percent earlier in the session.
The MSCI All-Country World index (.MIWD00000PUS) lost 1.34 percent, taking losses for the year to more than 10 percent.
The decline in stocks lifted prices of U.S. government bonds. Benchmark 10-year Treasuries rose 22/32 in price, with the yield at 1.925 percent - below the psychologically significant 2 percent level.
ITALIAN AUCTIONS
The euro slid to a session low of $1.291, its lowest since January, as investors worried about Italy's sale of 8.5 billion euros worth of debt with maturities of up to 10 years on Thursday. It last traded 1.0 percent weaker at $1.2937.
Against the yen, the euro hit its lowest level since June 2001 at 100.70.
Earlier, the single currency briefly rose against the dollar after Italy's short-term debt costs halved at an auction, helped by a new government austerity package and cheap liquidity from the European Central Bank.
However, Italy will need greater commitment from international investors to sell its bonds on Thursday.
"Tomorrow's auction is more important and will give more insight into general sentiment. Today was a warm-up," said Neil Mellor, currency strategist at Bank of New York Mellon.
U.S. crude oil prices fell $1.98 to settle at $99.36 a barrel. They had gained more than one dollar in the previous session following Iran's threat to stop oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz if Western countries impose new sanctions on its exports.
Tehran faces the prospect of further sanctions from the European Union by the end of January over its nuclear ambitions. Washington said it saw "an element of bluster" in the threat to close the Gulf, and the U.S. Fifth Fleet said it would not allow any disruption in the world's most important oil route.
"The threat by Iran to close the Strait of Hormuz supported the oil market yesterday, but the effect is fading today as it will probably be empty threats as they cannot stop the flow for a longer period due to the amount of U.S. hardware in the area," said Thorbjoern bak Jensen, oil analyst with Global Risk Management.
(Additional reporting by Angela Moon, Edward Krudy and Luciana Lopez; Editing by Kenneth Barry,; Jan Paschal and Dan Grebler)
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) -- Gulf Arab nations are prepared to offset any potential loss of Iranian oil in the world market, a senior Saudi oil official said as Iranian officials stepped up their rhetoric Wednesday about shutting off a key supply route.
The remarks from the world's largest oil producer came after Iran's vice president on Tuesday warned his country was ready to close the Strait of Hormuz - a vital waterway through which a sixth of the world's oil flows - if Western nations impose sanctions on its oil shipments.
And on Wednesday, Iranian navy chief Adm. Habibollah Sayyari, added that Iran's Navy can readily block the strait if need be. His comments to Iran's English-language state Press TV came as Iran held a 10-day drill in international waters near the strategic chokepoint.
Western nations are growing increasingly impatient with Iran over its nuclear program, and worries abound that new sanctions on the country could target its oil exports.
While the comments by Vice President Mohamed Reza Rahimi and the Iranian admiral may be little more than a warning by the Islamic Republic, they still stoked fears in the market.
A closure of the strait could temporarily cut off some oil supplies and force shippers to take longer, more expensive routes that would drive oil prices higher. It also potentially opens the door for a military confrontation with Iran that would further rattle global oil markets.
The Saudi oil ministry official told The Associated Press that OPEC kingpin Saudi Arabia and other Gulf producers were ready to step in if necessary. He did not say what other routes the Gulf nations could take to ship the oil if the strait was closed off. The official spoke late Tuesday on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the issue.
Theodore Karasik, an analyst at the Dubai-based Institute for Near East and Gulf Military Analysis, said Iran would likely need to use a combination of sea mines and direct attacks on ships passing through the strait to truly close it.
"They would physically have to attack and maintain hold of that property. And everyone in the neighborhood is going to (try to) stop them," Karasik said.
Reflecting unease over the rising tensions in the Middle East, the U.S. benchmark crude futures contract for February deliver was up above $101 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Its London-based Brent counterpart fell slightly, but still remained above $109 per barrel on the ICE Futures exchange.
Saudi Arabia, the world's largest oil producer, has been producing about 10 million barrels per day, leaving it with over 2 million barrels per day in spare capacity.
The oil rich kingdom is widely seen as the only producer able to offset production losses elsewhere. But others would have to also boost their output to accommodate a loss of exports from Iran, which is the world's fourth largest oil producer.
Gulf Arab oil ministers, who met in Cairo on Dec. 24, declined to comment on whether they were eying alternative routes for oil in the case that Iran closes off the Strait of Hormuz. The ministers had gathered for a meeting of the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries.
OPEC, of which both Iran and Saudi Arabia are members, agreed on Dec. 14 to set its output ceiling at about 30 million barrels per day - in line with the bloc's current production. In the OAPEC meeting in Cairo days later, the ministers appeared comfortable with that level and said future moves would be determined based on demand and supply fundamentals in the market.
Sanctions targeting Iranian oil would hit Europe and Asia markets hardest. Crude from the country does not go to the United States because of existing sanctions.
The West maintains that Iran is pursuing nuclear weapons, a charge the country denies. Iran says its nuclear program is purely for peaceful purposes, such as generating electricity.
---
El-Tablawy reported from Cairo. AP Business Writer Adam Schreck contributed reporting from Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
PALM HARBOR, Fla. ? A Florida animal sanctuary says Cheetah the chimpanzee sidekick in the Tarzan movies of the early 1930s has died at age 80.
The Suncoast Primate Sanctuary in Palm Harbor announced that Cheetah died Dec. 24 of kidney failure.
Sanctuary outreach director Debbie Cobb on Wednesday told The Tampa Tribune ( http://bit.ly/rRuTeJ) that Cheetah was outgoing, loved finger painting and liked to see people laugh. She says he seemed to be tuned into human feelings.
Based on the works of author Edgar Rice Burroughs, the Tarzan stories, which have spawned scores of books and films over the years, chronicle the adventures of a man who was raised by apes in Africa.
Cheetah was the comic relief in the Tarzan films that starred American Olympic gold medal swimmer Johnny Weissmuller. Cobb says Cheetah came to the sanctuary from Weissmuller's estate sometime around 1960.
Cobb says Cheetah wasn't a troublemaker. Still, sanctuary volunteer Ron Priest says that when the chimp didn't like what was going on, he would throw feces.
In 1985, Nolan Ryan, then with the Houston Astros, was bitten by a coyote while reaching into a dog pen. In 2006, Amelie Mancini left Paris to move to New York and fall in love with baseball. These two seemingly insignificant events collide with a new set of handmade baseball cards that mix pain and art.
Bizarre Injuries is the first set of cards from Mancini's Left Field Cards. Just like the name suggests, these aren't your average cards. Rather than taking the traditional approach of photographs and mass copies, Mancini's cards are by hand in the basement of a local church using linocuts.
"It's a kind of printmaking," explains Mancini. "A block of linoleum is carved by hand and then inked and pressed on the paper, leaving a print that has some relief to it."
Bizarre Injuries is sold as two separate five-card packs. One pack has cards of Ryan, John Smoltz, Bret Barberie, Terry Mulholland and?Glenallen Hill, who hurt himself in the midst of a spider nightmare. The second pack features Wade Boggs, Clint Barmes, Adam Eaton, Kevin Mitchell and Joel Zumaya. Each pack of five cards is $15.
Just like the subject matter, the cards aren't like traditional baseball cards. They measure 4 x 6, like a postcard.
"I got the idea after seeing one of these super-sized cards that came in single packs in the '80s," says Mancini.
Mancini, who holds a Master's Degree in Design and Fine Arts from Sorbonne University in Paris, moved to New York five years ago and soon discovered baseball.
"I didn't know anything about baseball until a couple of friends took me to Shea Stadium one afternoon in September, 2007. The Mets lost, of course," remembers Mancini. "Over the next couple of years I started watching games regularly, talking to people, reading books, and the more I found out about the game, the more fascinated I became. By then I'd finally realized what a bad decision it had been to become a Met fan [and] how miserable I would be. But at the same time I just loved reading about the '69 and '86 Mets. I've been a most loyal and passionate fan."
Mancini, who has a collection of Mets and other random cards, already has another set of cards in the works: Edible All-Stars, which is scheduled to be released in late January or early February. Following that, Mancini is unsure exactly where she'll go, but is planning to do one on epic baseball mustaches.
As for Bizarre Injuries, Mancini explains her inspiration, "I wanted a fun, silly, weird theme and this came to me after reading fun facts about baseball players on the Internet."
She said she doesn't have plans for another injuries set, but is open to it as long as players continue to hurt themselves in strange ways.
Packs of Bizarre Injuries cards can be purchased here. Through the end of 2011, Left Field Cards is also offering free shipping.
?????Tuesday 27th December, 2011??Source: New Kerala ??
Mumbai, Dec 27 : Anna Hazare's agitation attracted a modest crowd in Mumbai but Indians in the US and Japan Tuesday lent an international touch to the fight for a strong Lokpal bill.
Breaking News Tuesday 27th December, 2011
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TEHRAN, Iran ? The U.S. strongly warned Iran on Wednesday against closing a vital Persian Gulf waterway that carries one-sixth of the world's oil supply, after Iran threatened to choke off traffic through the Strait of Hormuz if Washington imposes sanctions targeting the country's crude exports.
The increasingly heated exchange raises new tensions in a standoff that has the potential to spark military reprisals and spike oil prices to levels that could batter an already fragile global economy.
Iran's navy chief said Wednesday that it would be "very easy" for his country's forces to close the strategic Strait of Hormuz, the passage at the mouth of the Persian Gulf through which about 15 million barrels of oil pass daily. It was the second such warning by Iran in two days, reflecting Tehran's concern that the West is about to impose new sanctions that could hit the country's biggest source of revenue, oil.
"Iran has comprehensive control over the strategic waterway," Adm. Habibollah Sayyari told state-run Press TV, as the country was in the midst of a 10-day military drill near the strategic waterway.
The comments drew a quick response from the U.S.
"This is not just an important issue for security and stability in the region, but is an economic lifeline for countries in the Gulf, to include Iran," Pentagon press secretary George Little said. "Interference with the transit or passage of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz will not be tolerated."
Separately, Bahrain-based U.S. Navy 5th Fleet spokeswoman Lt. Rebecca Rebarich said the Navy is "always ready to counter malevolent actions to ensure freedom of navigation."
Rebarich declined to say whether the U.S. force had adjusted its presence or readiness in the Gulf in response to Iran's comments, but said the Navy "maintains a robust presence in the region to deter or counter destabilizing activities, while safeguarding the region's vital links to the international community."
Iran's threat to seal off the Gulf, surrounded by oil-rich Gulf states, reflect its concerns over the prospect that the Obama administration will impose sanctions over its nuclear program that would severely hit its biggest revenue source. Iran is the world's fourth-largest oil producer, pumping about 4 million barrels a day.
Gulf Arab nations appeared ready to at least ease market tensions. A senior Saudi Arabian oil official told The Associated Press that Gulf Arab nations are ready to step in to offset any potential loss of exports from Iran. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment on the issue.
Saudi Arabia, which has been producing about 10 million barrels per day, has an overall production capacity of over 12 million barrels per day and is widely seen as the only OPEC member with sufficient spare capacity to offset major shortages.
What remains unclear is what routes the Gulf nations could take to move the oil to markets if Iran goes through with its threat.
About 15 million barrels per day pass through the Hormuz Strait, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
There are some pipelines that could be tapped, but Gulf oil leaders, who met in Cairo on Dec. 24, declined to say whether they had discussed alternate routes or what they may be.
The Saudi official's comment, however, appeared to allay some concerns. The U.S. benchmark crude futures contract fell $1.98 by the close of trading Wednesday on the New York Mercantile Exchange, but still hovered just below $100 per barrel.
U.S. State Department spokesman Mark Toner played down the Iranian threats as "rhetoric," saying, "we've seen these kinds of comments before."
While the Obama administration has warned Iran that it would not tolerate attempts to disrupt traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. officials do not see any indication that the situation will come to that. Nor do they believe that Iran, which is already under increasing pressure from sanctions, would risk disrupting the Strait because doing so would further damage Iran's own economy.
Instead, the administration believes Iran is playing the only card it has left: issuing threats and attempting to shift focus away from its own behavior.
U.S. officials have not said whether there is a concrete response plan in place should Iran seek to block the Strait. But the administration has long said it is comfortable with the U.S. Naval presence in the region, indicating that the U.S. could respond rapidly if needed.
The White House has been largely silent on Iran's threat, underscoring the administration's belief that responding at the White House level would only encourage Iran.
While many analysts believe that Iran's warnings are little more than posturing, they still highlight both the delicate nature of the oil market, which moves as much on rhetoric as supply and demand fundamentals.
Iran relies on crude sales for about 80 percent of its public revenues, and sanctions or even a pre-emptive measure by Tehran to withhold its crude from the market would already batter its flailing economy.
IHS Global Insight analyst Richard Cochrane said in a report Wednesday that markets are "jittery over the possibility" of Iran's blockading the strait. But "such action would also damage Iran's economy, and risk retaliation from the U.S. and allies that could further escalate instability in the region."
"Accordingly, it is not likely to be a decision that the Iranian leadership will take lightly," he said.
Earlier sanctions targeting the oil and financial sector added new pressures to the country's already struggling economy. Government cuts in subsidies on key goods like food and energy have angered Iranians, stoking inflation while the country's currency steadily depreciates.
The impetus behind the subsidies cut plan, pushed through parliament by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, was to reduce budget costs and would pass money directly to the poor. But critics have pointed to it as another in a series of bad policy moves by the hardline president.
So far, Western nations have been unable to agree on sanctions targeting oil exports, even as they argue that Iran is trying to develop a nuclear weapon. Tehran maintains its nuclear program ? already the subject of several rounds of sanctions ? is purely peaceful.
The U.S. Congress has passed a bill that penalizes foreign firms that do business with the Iran Central Bank, a move that would heavily hurt Iran's ability to export crude. European and Asian nations use the bank for transactions to import Iranian oil.
President Barack Obama has said he will sign the bill despite his misgivings. China and Russia have opposed such measures.
Sanctions specifically targeting Iran's oil exports would likely temporarily spike oil prices to levels that could weigh heavily on the world economy.
Closing the Strait of Hormuz would hit even harder. Energy consultant and trader The Schork Group estimated crude would jump to above $140 per barrel. Conservatives in Iran claim global oil prices will jump to $250 a barrel should the waterway be closed.
By closing the strait, Iran may aim to send the message that its pain from sanctions will also be felt by others. But it has equally compelling reasons not to try.
The move would put the country's hardline regime straight in the cross-hairs of the world, including nations that have so far been relative allies. Much of Iran's crude goes to Europe and to Asia.
"Shutting down the strait ... is the last bullet that Iran has and therefore we have to express some doubt that they would do this and at the same time lose their support from China and Russia," said analyst Olivier Jakob of Petromatrix in Switzerland.
Iran has adopted an aggressive military posture in recent months in response to increasing threats from the U.S. and Israel of possible military action to stop Iran's nuclear program.
The Iranian navy's exercises, which began on Saturday, involve submarines, missile drills, torpedoes and drones. A senior Iranian commander said Wednesday that the country's navy is also planning to test advanced missiles and "smart" torpedoes during the maneuvers.
The war games cover a 1,250-mile (2,000-kilometer) stretch off the Strait of Hormuz, northern parts of the Indian Ocean and into the Gulf of Aden near the entrance to the Red Sea and could bring Iranian ships into proximity with U.S. Navy vessels in the area.
The moderate news website, irdiplomacy.ir, says the show of strength is intended to send a message to the West that Iran is capable of sealing off the waterway.
"The war games ... are a warning to the West that should oil and central bank sanctions be stepped up, (Iran) is able to cut the lifeblood of the West and Arabs," it said, adding that the West "should regard the maneuvers as a direct message."
___
El-Tablawy reported from Cairo. Associated Press writers Adam Schreck in Dubai, Julie Pace in Honolulu, Hawaii, and Abdullah Shihri in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, contributed.
Knesset holds first discussion on possible recognition of Turkey's Armenian genocide; Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin says Israel has an ethical commitment to recognize other nations' genocides.
Breaking News Monday 26th December, 2011
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ATLANTA (AP) - In the weeks and months after tornadoes tore through homes across the South, pictures and documents rained on yards hundreds of miles away.
An Alabama woman began collecting them in an online database, posting the cherished scraps of people's lives on Facebook so they could be identified and claimed by grateful families.
Now, eight months after the April tornadoes struck in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi and Tennessee, Patty Bullion says she plans to discontinue the online database of pictures and documents.
She says she will leave Facebook page up for a couple more weeks, then take it down and focus on other things in her life. She said the items pictured are highly personal, and she doesn't think they should be online indefinitely.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - "Mission: Impossible ? Ghost Protocol" cruised to No. 1 at box offices on Sunday, even as major new movies opened on Christmas Day which may change top 10 results when final numbers are tallied.
The new Tom Cruise movie rang up an estimated $26.5 million in U.S. and Canadian ticket sales over the three-day weekend, according to studio estimates, after expanding from a limited release in Imax and other large-screen theaters last week.
Paramount Pictures, which released the movie, said it expects a four-day tally of slightly more than $40 million by Monday, when final estimates are reported. The film's cumulative ticket sales are expected to reach just over $72 after Monday.
Indeed, the weekend box office race truly will finish on Monday because Christmas day annually is among the most crowded days in theaters and on Sunday, director Steven Spielberg's widely-anticipated "War Horse" makes its debut along with another newcomer, thriller "The Darkest Hour."
Hollywood's major studios loaded the release schedule last week heading into the holiday, expecting the films to play well between now and New Year's Eve while parents and kids are away from work and school. As a result, a clear picture of how the movie studios fared this Christmas season awaits the full week of box office reports.
Meanwhile, over the weekend Warner Bros' "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows" took the No. 2 spot on U.S. and Canadian (domestic) box office charts with $17.8 million, according to Sunday's estimates. Cumulative ticket sales for "Sherlock" after two weeks now stand at roughly $76.5 million.
Another holdover from last week, family comedy "Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked" squeaked into No. 3 with $13.3 million, pushing its total domestic ticket sales to $50.3 million after two weeks in theaters.
Following it were a trio of last week's newcomers, widely-anticipated "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo," family film "The Adventures of Tintin" and comedy "We Bought A Zoo."
"Dragon Tattoo" landed at No. 4 on Sunday with $13 million, a hair behind the chipmunks, and a Sony spokesman cautioned the studio's figure could change when Sunday's figures are final.
"Today and tomorrow should be our strongest days of the holiday frame," the spokesman said, noting that the studio did not have a Monday estimate.
"Dragon Tattoo" now has estimated total domestic ticket sales of $21.4 million since its debut.
"Tintin," another Spielberg film released by Paramount, landed at No. 5 over the weekend with $9.1 million. The studio sees it rising to $14.3 million after Monday. Total ticket sales by Monday are seen at $22.3 million since its debut.
Finally, another new entry this weekend, the comedy "We Bought a Zoo," landed at No. 6 with $7.8 million.
Paramount Pictures is a unit of Viacom Inc. Warner Bros. is part of Time Warner Inc.. "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" was released by the movie studio division of Sony Pictures Entertainment, a unit of Sony Corp. "Chipwrecked" and "Zoo" were both released by film divisions of 20th Century Fox, a unit of News Corp..
(Reporting by Bob Tourtellotte; Editing by Sandra Maler)
[brightcove video="1347944471001 " /] Reddit user SelfProdigy has declared Dec. 29 Dump GoDaddy Day, following the domain registrar's short-lived public support for the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA). Although GoDaddy has announced that it no longer supports SOPA, the site is still facing the backlash from its initial position.
[More from Mashable: iTunes 12 Days of Christmas App Offers Free iPad Downloads [VIDEO]]
SEE ALSO: Stop Online Piracy Act: What You Need to Know [INFOGRAPHIC]
Despite the public reversal in a press release, Dump GoDaddy Day is quickly spreading among the Reddit community.
[More from Mashable: TwitWipe Gives You a Fresh Start by Deleting All Your Tweets [VIDEO]]
The domain registrar reportedly lost 20,000 accounts in a single day following the SOPA outcry, but only time will tell how many accounts they will lose.
CANADA - The Ministry of Agriculture is inviting British Columbians to contribute to the development of two bylaw standards related to the creation of on-farm energy.
One bylaw standard will cover anaerobic digestion on farms in the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) and the other will cover combined heat and power co-generation in greenhouses in the ALR. Both systems present farmers possibilities to improve operating efficiency.
Anaerobic digestion systems use a combination of manure and organic materials to produce renewable energy in the form of methane gas. This methane gas can be upgraded to natural-gas quality or converted to electricity. A discussion paper and survey propose:
Minimum farm size on using a system.
Restrictions on the materials and their origins that can be used in the system.
Planning, administrative and record-keeping requirements.
Criteria for anaerobic digestion activities that would not require local-government rezoning.
Greenhouse growers use natural gas-based combined heat and power co-generation systems to produce electricity, heat and carbon dioxide, which are used to fertilize greenhouse crops. A discussion paper and survey propose:
Requirements that cogeneration production be commensurate with the heat demand on the farm and/or total greenhouse size.
Minimum operating efficiency.
Sites and management that minimize noise impacts.
Criteria for cogeneration activities that would not require local-government rezoning.
Bylaw standards are not legally binding. Rather, they provide interested local governments with criteria on a topic, should they be interested in developing a bylaw. The call for public comments follows the distribution of the ministry?s discussion papers to local governments and stakeholders.
Respondents are advised to familiarise themselves with the respective discussion paper prior to participating in the survey.
The surveys will be open until March 15, 2012. All comments will be included in the ministry?s consideration in developing the bylaw standards.
This discussion paper and survey are available here.
So many classic Christmas movies have toys that everyone wants. That toy might not even be real, but that didn't stop us from dreaming that somehow Santa would bring us the gift that didn't actually exist. So as we open our presents on this Christmas morning, we've made a list of some of our favorite [...]
DALLAS ? NBA Commissioner David Stern opened his lockout-delayed season by hearing boos from fans.
Stern was in Dallas for the NBA finals rematch between the Mavericks and Heat, and he was on the court for the start of the Mavs' banner-raising ceremony honoring their first championship. The jeers came as soon as he started speaking, but he quickly turned them into cheers by offering his congratulations to team owner Mark Cuban.
Cuban's often contentious relationship with Stern could've been as much of a reason for the boos as the lockout, which pushed the opener from Nov. 1 to Christmas and cut the season by 16 games.
Cuban and Miami's Mickey Arison were among five owners who voted against the labor deal. Stern downplayed that, hailing the agreement as beneficial to everyone.
Markets were shaken by violent protests in Greece and the death of Libya's Gadhafi.
Apple Still Shines, Buffalo Wild Flies Higher
Apple is a drag but Intel and others with nice surprises give a lift.
Equity Opportunities In Emerging Markets
Riedel Research chief David Riedel's insight on overseas investments.
Apple Crushed But Builders And Banks Bounce
Euro optimism stokes rally but Apple falls short under Cook.
Banks Are Buys, Euro Will Survive
European plan not perfect but it is coming together.
Wall Street Occupied By Earnings
Apple hits new high, Google gains on blowout quarter.
JPMorgan Misses And Wall St Is Occupied!
JPMorgan missed on earnings while Google surged.
Steel, Coal And Google For A Fat Earnings Season
It could also be a time for small and midcap stocks to shine.
Smiles Everyone, Stocks Soar Again
Explosive bullish action could be a turning point or just Fantasy Island.
Warren Stephens Wants Government Out Of The Way
Economic expansion would take hold if regulation and taxes were not so onerous.
Fed Powerless To Prop Up Economy
Reduce regulation and simplify taxes to spark recovery, says former Dallas Fed chief economist.
Europe Gets A Plan, Stocks Come Alive
Chatter about an EU bank plan sparks a late rally.
Banks Whacked, Stocks Lose Support
Big sell-off to start October sends stocks crashing through technical support.
Dividends Still Work After A Crushing Quarter
Look into outperforming sectors like utilities, staples, tech and health care.
Sirius Slammed, Netflix Extends Breakdown
The Dow stays green but look around and you see the color of blood.
Risk Clapper Kills Rally, Bezos Opens Fire On Apple
European angst suffocates stocks as Amazon.com shows off its new Kindle Fire tablet.
Cash And Caution For Muhlenkamp
Blue chip cash machines are selling for cheap. So why is Ron Muhlenkamp holding cash?
European Rollercoaster: Buy The Rumor, Sell The Rumor?
Markets jumped on rumors the EU had solved some problems, then halved its gains on more rumors.
Apple Unbruised, Banks And Boeing Take Flight
Stocks fly higher as a Greek solution appears within reach.
Self-Made Mining Magnate
St. Elias Mines CEO Lori McClenahan shares the secrets of her success.
Bloodbath In Gold And Silver
Stocks stabilize but metals take it in the kisser.
Stocks Smashed As Recession Fears Spike
Weakness in China and Europe and the Fed?s uninspiring twist take markets down.
Behind The Curtain Of College Admissions
Officials from U. Penn and Michigan on applying to (and affording) higher education.
Bernanke Does The Twist
Bernanke announced a $400 billion operation to extend the maturity of the Fed's balance sheet.
Get Ready For Bernanke With Gold Miners
Gold gains ground on the eve of the end of the Fed?s two-day meeting.
Banking On Apple, Stamps And Smokes
Financials pull back on low volume, Apple and Stamps.com hit highs on massive turnover.
RIM And Netflix Tank, Geithner Gives Pierogi Pep Talk In Poland
Two growth stocks flame out as Europe waits to help Greece.
Liquidity Injection To Save Euro Banks Fuels Rally
Global central banks injected US dollar liquidity to save the Euro banks, helping Wall St.
Fire Up The Great Chinese Bailout And Helicopter Ben
Adrenaline for markets as Europe gropes for a solution and the Fed gets ready to meet.
Billionaire Baron Says It's Time To Buy
Billionaire investor Ron Baron says stocks are cheap and opportunities are everywhere.
Ringing Up Fat Yields In Russia's Mobile TeleSystems
The stock yields 6.7% and valuation looks quite modest.
Greek Default Still Looms, Italians Try Chinese Connection
Reports that China may invest in Italy stokes stocks late.
Dumpster Diving As Stocks Get Euro Trashed
European banks fall hard as Greek default talk thickens.
Don't Get Burned By Gold Or Facebook
Ask anybody from 1980 about gold being a safe haven, Facebook has some wild valuation.
The Lost Economic Decade Since 9/11
Stocks have gone nowhere while deficits, oil, gas and gold have soared.
Stocks Take A Dusty, Bernanke Channels Inner Chuck Norris
With no job growth in August, Ben and the president both fight to revive economy.
Jobs, Shocks, and Socks: Obama, AutoZone and the Gap
The jobs report will set the stage for President Obama's Sept. 8 address to Congress.
Obama Pitching Jobs Plan To Congress
This could be hugely bullish for stocks.
Fed Ready To Buy Another Round Of QE
Looks like it's party time after next month's FOMC meeting.
Will Boomers Outlive Their Pensions?
Economist Olivia Mitchell on retirement's new realities and how America can rethink Social Security.
Ben's Speech Pleases, Irene Aims For NYC
Stocks, bonds and gold like Bernanke's message but the dollar falls.
Apple, Bernanke, And Gold? Oh My!
Jobs quits, Buffett buys BofA and gold steadies ahead of Bernanke's speech.
Notes From A Contrarian Investor
Tocqueville Asset Management's CEO on bubbles, emotions in investing and the lessons of 2008.
Holding The Line With Defensive Stocks
Banks and energy are in bear markets but staples and utilities show strength.
Listen To (Jimmy) Buffett, Beat Mr. Market
Stocks go weak. Time to go fishing down at rock bottom again.
There's Lots Of Cheap Stocks With Juicy Dividends
Instead of digging your head in the sand, go out there and buy some sexy dividend stocks.
Burt Reynolds Beats Fabio, Go Long America
U.S. stocks and bonds outperform the rest of the world in 2011. Stick with the home team.
Rebounding With Fat Yields In Cheap REITs
Market turmoil smacked down REITs. The bounce is nice.
Insiders Beat The Bear Market That Never Was
Corporations and their bosses buy stocks hand over fist through the sell-off.
William Rhodes, Banker To The World
Ex-Citi chair spent decades solving sovereign debt crises and details why austerity isn't enough.
Quality Stocks For A Smoother Ride
Jensen fund manager beats the market without getting too fancy or cyclical.
Navellier Biting Into Apple, Chipotle, Deere
Growth guru sees no Armageddon, buys with both hands.
Gurus Pick AT&T And Intel In Bear Market
Top advisors weigh in on what to do now.
Has QE failed?
Has Ben Bernanke lost confidence that monetary policy can bring the economy out of it's slump?
Measuring The Fundamentals
Rob Arnott on sizing up a company's economic footprint and crafting a winning portfolio.
Crashing Into An Eventual Bounce
Stocks get splattered. Here's the good and bad news and a couple of ideas.
Protect Your Portfolio From The 3-D Hurricane
Investing guru Rob Arnott on how debt, deficit and demographics affect investor strategy.
Global Markets Get Butchered, From Equities To Oil
The Dow took a massive, 513 point hit in the chin on Thursday, along with oil and gold.
Another Tech Bubble?
Jeremy Siegel on how people tend to overpay for the next big thing and whether 2011 is the new 2000.
Low-Priced Plays On Gold, Housing Rebound
Marc Gerstein likes Claude Resources and Builders FirstSource
Dig Into Diesel And Dermabrasion
Jim Oberweis has two small-cap growth picks.
Sticking With Sirius But Pandora's Cheaper
Some people prefer to pay for Sirius XM Radio even if other services are free.
Expert Investors On Saving For Retirement
Gurus share their wisdom on investing for an increasingly long retirement period.
No Need For U.S. To Stiff China
What would the U.S. gain by not paying back $1.16 trillion owed to China?
Slam Dunkin' In Restaurant Stocks
Dunkin goes public, Panera goes pop, Buffalo Wild and Chipotle still look good.
No Bubbles In Tech, Take A Seat At OpenTable
Jim Oberweis sees growth still looking good enough to warrant owning OPEN.
Scoring Monsters Like Green Mountain, Baidu
Jim Oberweis looks for accelerating growth in sales and profits and doesn?t sell too early.
Jeremy Siegel Still Invests For The Long Run
Noted author and finance professor advocates tried and true stock strategy for sweet future returns.
Greece & The Domino Effect
Harry Wilson on how public debt-to-GDP can factor in to defaults in the PIIGS crisis...and beyond.
CAT Misses, GE Scores, Mickey D's Cooks
Earnings keep rolling in with McDonald's and Schlumberger coming out big winners.
State Finances Are Worse Than You Think
Harry Wilson explains how bad things are for States and how to get their fiscal houses in order.
Banks Fly Higher, Airlines Still Grounded
Meanwhile Intuitive Surgical surges to new highs and Travelzoo gets eviscerated on soft sales.
Eurozone's Austerity Disaster
Restructuring guru Harry Wilson weighs in on Greece and sovereign debt crises plaguing the EU.
Baidu And Apple Go Boom, Microsoft Steps On Deck
Also on Wednesday, Zillow does nicely on its first day trading.
Playing Earnings Winners And Losers
IBM and Coke blow away forecasts but Goldman and BofA slump again.
Netflix Climaxes, Apple Cooks And Banks Probe Bottom
Selling climax hits Netflix while a rally past Friday?s close this week would be bullish for banks.
Harry Wilson & The Art Of Restructuring
The investor's insights on Greece, the U.S. debt ceiling and fostering economic growth.
Playing Google And Other Earnings Poppers
Google earnings blow past estimates and the stock soars. Who?s next?
A Powerful Force In Investing
Michael Mauboussin on why mean reversion is a crucial concept most people don't fully understand.
JPMorgan Impressed Investors, Will The Other Banks?
Financials have lagged almost every other sector, how will they do this earnings season?
Gold Is Money And So Is China
Bernanke tells Ron Paul gold isn?t money after hitting its high; China is still the king of growth.
Dipping Into Chip Stocks
Semiconductors get hammered on Tuesday, creating bargains in some great names.
How Would Ted Williams Invest?
Michael Mauboussin on how the Hall Of Famer's hot hand on the diamond relates to the markets.
Want To Play Gold? Check Out The Gold Miners
Gold has been on a roll for a while now, but look to miners for safety from commodity volatility.
Paradox Of The Skilled Investor
Legg Mason's Michael Mauboussin on how luck can trump skill when investing in the stock market.
Stick With Strength In Health Care, JPM For Financial Rebound
Expect health care to stay strong this year and JPMorgan looks promising among laggard financials.
Rearview Mirror Investing?
Joel Greenblatt on his stock formula and whether the past is predictive of the future.
Playing The Big Pop In Retail
Urban Outfitters and Quiksilver look solid, but don't get burned in Hot Topic or pinched by Buckle.
Fat Pitch From Portugal: Swing Like Teixeira, Sail Like Da Gama
Look past the downgrade of Portugal's debt and focus on homerun opportunities.
An Investor's Time Horizon
Joel Greenblatt on how individuals can find opportunity while institutions focus on short-term gain.
Macau Casinos Rocked By Hos And Woos
Chinese gambling has made billionaires of Stanley Ho and Lui Che Woo. Here's how you can catch up.
Joel Greenblatt's Market Secrets
The best-selling author shares choice advice for small investors with Steve Forbes.
The U.S.A. Is No Greek Tragedy
America has racked up some huge bills but the world knows we're good for it.
Get Tiffany Twisted, Live Large In Luxury
Fresh breakouts in Coach, Tiffany and LVMH show that the luxury market is still kickin'.
Zeus, Kronos, Coffee And Copper For A Greek Rally
Cyclical stuff like steel and chemicals shoot higher as stocks rally hard for fourth day.
Advice For A Changing World
Highlights from Steve Forbes' interviews with the top investing minds of 2011.
You Can't Say That About Apple!
It's the darling of pundits and analysts. Does that mean Apple's a buy? Marc Gerstein breaks it down
How To Screen Stocks
Low-price stock picker Marc Gerstein on common mistakes of the individual investor.
Weak Dollar, Desperate Fed
Economist David Malpass on Federal Reserve policy, Treasurys and job growth in the U.S.
The Marriage Of Government & Business
Economist David Malpass on how America is becoming a corporatist state.
How The GOP Plays Into Obama's Hands
Economist David Malpass says Congress needs to act to give the president the power to spend less.
Inflation In Asia
Matthews Asia Funds CIO Robert Horrocks discusses inflation concerns for India, China and Japan.
Challenging The China Bears
Matthews Asia Funds CIO Robert Horrocks lays out why investors should be less bearish on China.
Invest For Your Age
Ken Kamen, author of Reclaim Your Nest Egg, has pointers for a well-balanced portfolio.
Spring Clean Your Finances
Reclaim Your Nest Egg author Ken Kamen's tips for getting your financial house in order.
Avoid The Financial News Noise
Why Mercadien's Ken Kamen wants you to tune out talking heads and invest for the long-term.
Political Gridlock: A Good Thing?
Loop Capital CEO Jim Reynolds on divided government and getting America moving forward again.
In Praise Of Chris Christie
Loop Capital CEO Jim Reynolds on New Jersey's governor, Illinois' budget crisis and the end of QE2.
Boutique Firm Vs. Big Banks
Jim Reynolds of Loop Capital Markets on how his firm competes with the nation's banking behemoths.
30-Yr Mortgages Are Root Of All Evil
Why ING Direct chief Arkadi Kuhlmann wants to do away with the 30-yr fixed rate.
Online Banking Hack Attack
ING Direct USA's Arkadi Kuhlmann can attract customers. The hard part is keeping their data safe.
How ING Direct Reengineered Banking
Arkadi Kuhlmann on creating a new banking experience for consumers.
Ken Fisher On Winners In Tech
Nerdsters create the technology, hipsters create the products and the consumer ultimately wins.
Ken Fisher Hates Annuities
Considering annuities? You might as well give the salesperson money to put their kid through school.
Debunking Dollar Cost Averaging
Ken Fisher has little use for the time-tested investing approach. Here's why.
Epoch's Big Party Portfolio
CEO Bill Priest explains how a well-diversified portfolio feeds into the firm's investment strategy.
Investing In Global Champions
Epoch Holding Corp CEO Bill Priest on whether his firm's yield strategy works in emerging markets.
Epoch Chief Sees M&A Rise
CEO Bill Priest says a substantial increase in mergers & acquisitions activity is on the horizon.
Priceline, Netflix Work The Cloud
T. Rowe Price's Dave Eiswert on how well the companies leverage cloud computing functionality.
Investing In The Cloud
T. Rowe Price's Dave Eiswert on outsourcing business to the Web, plus companies to watch in Asia.
Tech Players Create New Paradigm
T. Rowe Price's David Eiswert on companies leading the next wave of growth in computing technology.
Disruption In The Tech Industry
T. Rowe Price's David Eiswert on how innovation is changing technology playing field.
Buying Equities Amid Gov't Debt
Investor John Mauldin reveals which sectors will be strong as governments confront the debt endgame.
Overcoming The Debt Supercycle
Investor and author John Mauldin on government debt and why Paul Krugman is right.
Paul Ryan's Game Changer
John Mauldin and Steve Forbes on how Congress might deal with the congressman's budget template.
TD Ameritrade's Trade Architect
CEO Fred Tomczyk details plans for his company's next big technology push.
The Breakaway Broker
TD Ameritrade's Fred Tomczyk on indexing and the rise of the registered investment advisor channel.
Maintaining TD Ameritrade's Brand
CEO Fred Tomczyk on how a major merger strengthened the firm's brand.
Exercising Caution With REITs
Third Avenue Funds CIO Curtis Jensen surveys the real estate investment landscape.
How To Zig When Markets Zag
Third Avenue CIO Curtis Jensen on the advantages of a small, risk-conscious portfolio.
An Eye For Distressed Debt
Third Avenue Funds CIO Curtis Jensen discusses a time-tested investment sweet spot for the firm.
Sarbox Compliance Woes
Third Avenue Funds CIO Curtis Jensen on small caps and the trouble with Sarbanes-Oxley.
Myth Of The Villainous CEO
Honeywell chief David Cote on the pervasive portrayal of American businesses as evildoers.
Energy Policy Follow Through
Honeywell CEO David Cote on whether cohesive, actionable energy policy will ever become reality.
Is Obama Anti-Business?
Honeywell CEO David Cote, who served on a presidential commission, provides perspective.
Honeywell's Organic Growth
CEO David Cote discusses his company's acquisition agenda and the importance of corporate culture.
Trump Talks Real Estate
Donald Trump says we're long past the date of a predicted commercial real estate meltdown.
Trump, Casinos And Competition
Donald Trump discusses trends and what he believes is a destructive force in the casino industry.
Can The Donald Be The POTUS?
Billionaire real estate mogul Donald Trump shares some foreign policy ideas with Steve Forbes.
China Is Hoarding Gold
Richard Lehmann has concerns about China establishing a large gold reserve.
QE2's Bait & Switch
Richard Lehmann on Ben Bernanke's hidden intentions.
Lehmann Likes Blue Chip Stocks
Bond guru Richard Lehmann has a hankering for high dividend paying blue chips.
Small Business And Health Care
Howard Dean expects a migration from employer-based insurance to health exchanges.
The Case Against Interstate Health Care
Howard Dean on why crossing state lines for health insurance is flawed policy.
Upsides Of Health Care Reform
Howard Dean says States will begin to innovate and offer more health care choices for consumers.
Attack Of The VC Poverty Pimps
George Gilder says venture capitalists are angling for U.S. subsidies to support their green dreams.
Deep Packet Inspection Is Critical
George Gilder says FCC intervention in this space will prohibit necessary innovation.
The Future Of Carbon Nanotubes
George Gilder on water filtration, space exploration and great expectations for nanotechnology.
What's To Like About Healthcare?
Despite government's overhaul, Gary Shilling sees smart investment opportunities in the sector.
China's Export Excess
Gary Shilling on China's attempts to shift toward a domestically-oriented economy.
The Next Big Thing Is Small
Gary Shilling on small luxuries as status symbols, plus stocks, sectors and a commodities bubble.
Bear Markets & Corporate Profits
Gary Shilling lauds the cost-cutting of American businesses but wonders if profits are sustainable.
Large Caps, Indexes And The Fed
Wealth manager Todd Morgan lays out his investment strategy for Steve Forbes.
Celebrity Investing Master Class
Got millions? Todd Morgan will manage your wealth like you're on the A-List.
What Makes Bel Air So Special?
Todd Morgan details how Bel Air Investment Advisors is unique in a crowded field of wealth managers.
A Thriving Stock Market
As the Dow plays peek-a-boo with 12,000, economist Nouriel Roubini discusses the market's rebound.
Another Real Estate Crisis
Nouriel Roubini on commercial real estate, housing sector insolvency and the coming double dip.
End Of The Eurozone?
Nouriel Roubini on whether the EU as we know it can survive its multiple sovereign debt crises.
Dr. Doom Is A Little Less Bearish
Nouriel Roubini on the Eurozone, real estate and the U.S. states on the verge of bankruptcy.
The Bankrupt States Of America
Economist Nouriel Roubini on whether a number of debt-ridden U.S. states are too big to fail.
America Vs. The World
Former World Bank president James Wolfensohn on how the U.S. can regain its competitive edge.
A Balanced, Bubble-Free China
James Wolfensohn, former World Bank president, says China is managing itself well.
Regulatory Flexibility
Former CFTC head Walter Lukken says fluid market innovation requires flexible rules of the road.
Confessions Of An Ex-Regulator
Former CFTC chair Walter Lukken looks back on how his commission dealt with the financial crisis.
Jack Bogle On ETFs
Wall Street legend says the jury's out on whether ETFs are a good investment idea.
Jack Bogle's Bond Funds Buys
Vanguard founder details which bond funds have a place in his personal portfolio.
IPOs & Biotech In Israel
Tel-Aviv Stock Exchange CEO Ester Levanon discusses the fuel behind TASE's record growth for 2010.
TASE Rolls Out New Products
Tel-Aviv Stock Exchange CEO Ester Levanon on the new offerings for investors in 2011.
The Zuckerman Initiative
Billionaire publisher/real estate mogul's ideas for accelerating America's economic recovery.
All Episodes
About This Show
Steve Forbes hosts a weekly, half-hour uninterrupted interview program with the best minds in business The thoughtful, long-form show with influential and insightful guests includes the best market strategists, forecasters and money managers from Wall Street and beyond.
Meet The Host
Steve Forbes
Steve Forbes is Chairman and Editor-In-Chief of Forbes and the host of Intelligent Investing, a weekly interview series with leaders in business and investing.
Forbes.com Video Network | Intelligent Investing: Drilling Into Energy Stocks And ETFs
30-Yr Mortgages Are Root Of All Evil
Why ING Direct chief Arkadi Kuhlmann wants to do away with the 30-yr fixed rate.
2010's Top 5 Financial Pornographers
Forbes Publisher Rich Karlgaard on why you shouldn't believe all market forecasters.
A Major League Contraction?
The Oakland A?s and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays might feel the effects of a shrinking MLB.
A Comeback For Bonuses
Reform in executive pay unlikely as Washington looks elsewhere.
$100 Million Dollar Pink Panthers
Jewel robberies rise in Europe. Suspects arrested in Harry Winston heist.
$700 Billion Is Just A Start
Economist Barry Ritholz sees the Treasury bailout cost doubling and says the plan is rushed.
In 1985, Nolan Ryan, then with the Houston Astros, was bitten by a coyote while reaching into a dog pen. In 2006, Amelie Mancini left Paris to move to New York and fall in love with baseball. These two seemingly insignificant events collide with a new set of handmade baseball cards that mix pain and art.
"I didn't know anything about baseball until a couple of friends took me to Shea Stadium one afternoon in September, 2007. The Mets lost, of course," remembers Mancini. "Over the next couple of years I started watching games regularly, talking to people, reading books, and the more I found out about the game, the more fascinated I became. By then I'd finally realized what a bad decision it had been to become a Met fan [and] how miserable I would be. But at the same time I just loved reading about the '69 and '86 Mets. I've been a most loyal and passionate fan."
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Steve Forbes 