Reyes wins batting title; Cabrera wins AL crown (AP)

NEW YORK ? Jose Reyes became the first player in the New York Mets' half-century history to win a National League batting title, edging Milwaukee's Ryan Braun by five percentage points in a controversial finish Wednesday.

Perhaps playing his final game for the Mets, Reyes led Braun .336 to .335 at the start of the day.

Reyes bunted for a hit in the first inning of New York's game against Cincinnati and then came out with a .337 average. That left Braun needing to go 3 for 4 or better in Milwaukee's regular-season finale against Pittsburgh, but Braun had an 0-for-4 night and wound up at .332.

"I'm humbled and honored," Reyes said in a statement issued by the Mets. "It means so much to my family and my country, the Dominican Republic. I have been through a lot over the past few years, so this really means a lot to me. It's also very special to be the first Mets player to win a batting title. There have been so many great players throughout our history."

Detroit's Miguel Cabrera won his first AL title, giving both leagues new batting champions for the second straight year. Cabrera finished at .344, with Boston's Adrian Gonzalez and the Texas Rangers' Michael Young at .338.

Fans at Citi Field booed when Reyes came out.

"It was kind of tough," said Reyes, who can become a free agent after the World Series. "I want to stay in the game. They have to understand, too, what's going on. They have to feel happy about it if I win the battling title."

That he did, about 9 1/2 hours after taking his final swing of the year.

"I'm not going to judge him. I respect whatever decision he decided to make," Braun said before the game, adding after: "I'm a little disappointed, of course, but the chances of actually going 3 for 4 weren't likely."

Toronto's Jose Bautista won his second straight major league home run title with 43, while the Los Angeles Dodgers' Matt Kemp homered in his next-to-last at-bat to lead the NL with 39, one more than Milwaukee's Prince Fielder.

After threatening to become the first Triple Crown winner since Boston's Carl Yastrzemski in 1967, Kemp faded from the batting race and had a .324 average. Kemp led the NL with 126 RBIs, the first Dodgers player to lead the league in homers and RBIs since Dolph Camilli in 1941.

The Yankees' Curtis Granderson topped the AL with 119 RBIs, one more than teammate Robinson Cano and two in front of Gonzalez.

Cincinnati's Drew Stubbs struck out 205 times, ending Mark Reynolds three-year run as strikeout king. Adam Dunn of the White Sox hit just .159, but didn't play Wednesday and finished with 496 plate appearances, six shy of qualifying. The post-1900 record low among qualifiers was set by Rob Deer at .179 in 1991.

Eugenio Velez of the Dodgers went 0 for 37 this season, a record for at-bats by a position player without a hit, topping Hal Finney's 0 for 35 with Pittsburgh in 1936. Hitless in 46 at-bats since May 2010, Velez broke the modern record for non-pitchers with one more than the mark shared by Pittsburgh's Bill Bergen (1909), Dave Campbell of San Diego and St. Louis (1973) and Milwaukee's Craig Counsell (this season).

Seattle's Ichiro Suzuki had 184 hits, ending his record streak of 10 consecutive 200-hit seasons. The Chicago Cubs' Starlin Castro (207) became the youngest player (21 years, 188 days) to win the NL hits title, Young and Gonzalez tied for the AL lead with 213, one ahead Boston's Jacoby Ellsbury.

Bautista (.608) and Braun (.597) led in slugging percentage, and Bautista (.447) and Cincinnati's Joey Votto (.416) topped on-base percentage, with Votto heading the NL for the second straight season.

Atlanta's Michael Bourn swiped two bases and his 61 steals led the NL for the third straight year, while Oakland's Coco Crisp and the Yankees' Brett Gardner shared the AL lead with 49.

Among pitchers, Detroit's Justin Verlander at 24-5 had the most wins in the majors since Arizona's Randy Johnson in 2002. Verlander also won the AL ERA (2.40) and strikeouts (250) titles, becoming the first winner of a pitching triple crown since San Diego's Jake Peavy in 2007.

Clayton Kershaw of the Dodgers led the NL in ERA (2.28) and strikeouts (248) and tied Arizona's Ian Kennedy for the lead in wins (21).

Tampa Bay's James Shields had 11 complete games, the first in double digits since Johnson's 12 in 1999, and Philadelphia's Cliff Lee became the first pitcher with six shutouts since Tim Belcher's eight for the Dodgers in 1989.

Detroit's Jose Valverde topped the AL with 49 saves, while Atlanta's Craig Kimbrel and Milwaukee's John Axford shared the NL lead with 46.

Pittsburgh (72-90) had a losing record for a major league-record 19th straight season, extending its own record.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/sports/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110929/ap_on_sp_ba_ne/bbo_leaders

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Obama says he cannot fix immigration on his own

President Barack Obama is silhouetted on stage after speaking at Abraham Lincoln High School, Tuesday, Sept., 27, 2011, in Denver. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

President Barack Obama is silhouetted on stage after speaking at Abraham Lincoln High School, Tuesday, Sept., 27, 2011, in Denver. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Facing weakening support among Hispanics, President Barack Obama expressed deep frustration Wednesday over what he called an inaccurate and damaging perception that he can fix the flawed U.S. immigration system on his own.

"This notion that somehow I can just change the laws unilaterally is just not true," Obama said during a White House roundtable targeting Hispanic voters, a key constituency for the president's re-election campaign.

Obama said comprehensive immigration reform continues to be a "top priority" for his administration. But he blamed Republicans in Congress for failing to join Democrats in supporting legislation that would address the flow of foreigners into the U.S. and deal with illegal immigrants already in the U.S.

"Only a few years ago, you had some Republicans who recognized that we needed to fix our immigration system," Obama said, noting that his predecessor, George W. Bush, was a proponent of comprehensive immigration reform. "Right now you do not have that kind of leadership coming from the Republican party."

A strong majority of Hispanics supported Obama's election in 2008. But his support among Hispanics has declined, as it has in the broader population. A recent Gallup survey found 48 percent of Hispanic voters approving of Obama's job performance, compared with 60 percent in January.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2011-09-28-Obama-Hispanics/id-be3d1edfd73f426db639362c40021486

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Bowling Rules: How to Play Fair

Wednesday, September 28th, 2011 at ?

Image by Andrew Ressa via Flickr

If bowling interests you, then it is time to put some time and effort to learn about its rules. Bowling rules are not that complicated, as a matter of fact, they are easier to understand compared to other sports. However, like any other game or sports, bowling rules must be followed strictly. Following the rules of a game promotes fairness and sportsmanship among players. This article will help you understand the rules of bowling.

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Many years have passed since the sports geniuses developed bowling rules. As years go by, the rules have been standardized to give players universal rules wherever they bowl. In America, the standards for bowling are supervised by two major groups.

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Bowling rules apply to each bowling tool such as balls, pins and lanes, bowling attires, etc. Rules also apply to scoring and technicalities.

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• Never Cross the Foul Line. Players must be very familiar with the alley they are playing at. Familiarize yourself with the standing or approach area and the foul line. Technically, an approach area measures more or less 15 f t. long. After that first 15 feet, you will find the ?foul? line. The foul line is where the proper ?lane? begins. It is crucial not to step past the foul line when releasing your ball.

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A standard proper lane (after the foul line) measures 60 feet in length and 41.5 inches in width. Bowlers are really familiar with the distinction between the approach area and the lane itself. Most of the time, the lane is more slippery than the approach or standing area. This is because the lane is usually coated with oil, to make the ball glide smoother. Take care not to cross the foul line or your knocked down pins won?t get counted. This is one of the bowling rules that you should never underestimate.

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• Know Your Pins. The ten pins that are used in bowling should weigh no less than 3 pounds and 6 ounces or no more than 3 pounds and 10 ounces. The height is more standard, which is 15 inches. The head pin is placed at the front part of the pin assembly. All the pins sit on numbered spots. The ten pins are divided into four rows, the head pin on the first, two pins on the second row, three pins on the third row and four pins on the fourth row. The pin spots are numbered; however, the pins are not. The goal of the game is to knock all the pins down at once.

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• The Perfect Ball. Bowling balls vary in size and weight.? Nevertheless, a ball used for bowling must not exceed 8.59 inches in diameter. The weight range from 6 pounds to 20 pounds, but the maximum weight allowed for a bowling tournament is only 16 pounds. Three types of bowling balls are allowed: the ten pin, five pin and candlepin. Generally, ten pins have three holes on them, but bowling rules allow a ball to have a maximum of five holes. Five pins have no holes. They are smaller than ten pin balls and are commonly used by children, beginners and weaker players. Candlepins and five pins are usually similar in size, but the former is much lighter.

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• Wear the Proper Shoes. Among the bowling rules that a player must not forget is the use of bowling shoes. Bowling requires you to wear special shoes ? bowling shoes. Tennis shoes and other shoes on that matter are usually not allowed because they tend to damage the alley. Additionally, the soles used on bowling shoes depend on whether you are left or right handed. For left handed bowlers, the right shoe will consist of a slider while the left shoe will have a breaker; and vice versa.

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Bowling Rules: The Game

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The list of bowling rules include the use of 10 score frames during the game. One frame represents one turn, but you throw two bowls with each frame. The total score on each frame is the number of knocked down pins after two ball throws. The player who got the most number of points at the end of the game wins.

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Scoring

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All bowling rules are important and relevant. However, in score keeping, you must completely learn all these rules by heart. Scoring for a bowling game is a really tricky task. For a beginner, one of the confusing things about bowling is score keeping. Bowlers usually are clueless on how the scores are recorded, even if they are using an electronic scorer. Technically, a bowling player can have up to 300 points with each game. Strikes in all 10 frames total to 300 points, which means perfect score. Remember, you have two chances to throw with each frame.

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How to Score a Spare

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When you knocked down all ten pins in one frame, it means a spare. In the score sheet, you score a spare by writing a slash ?/?. Before you mark a score for spare, wait until the player throws his next frame?s first throw. Add 10 to the number of knocked down pins and mark the score.

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How to Score a Strike

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If all ten pins went down during the first throw, that is scored as a strike. Like with a spare, the player must throw the next frame?s first ball first before recording a score. Ten is also added to numbers of knocked down pins. For example, the player got a 7 in frame 1 and a strike in the 2^nd frame, and then got a 6 on the 3^rd frame. That would be 7+10+6= 23.

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Beware of the most commonly violated of all bowling rules: stepping on the foul line. Most of the time, players accidentally step on the foul line, which result to disqualification of scores or worse, may result in injury since the lane is really slippery.

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To be a fair bowler, you must follow all the rules listed above. From the rules for balls and pins, to scoring a strike or spare, all of these matter.

Related posts:

1. The World Tenpin Bowling Association (WTBA)
2. Ten Pin Bowling: The Most Popular Bowling Game

Tagged with: bowling game rules ? bowling rules ? bowling rules and regulations ? bowling rules and scoring ? simple bowling rules ? ten pin bowling rules

Filed under: Bowling Education Articles

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Source: http://www.bowlingfromthepro.com/bowling-rules-how-to-play-fair/

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Frenzied finish on deck: 4 teams, but only 2 spots (AP)

A startling triple play. A spirited comeback. Huge hits by a rookie ? a Yale philosophy major, at that ? and monumental collapses on the brink.

After six months, 161 games and more than a half-million pitches, the playoff picture was still a blur with one day to go. Boston, Tampa Bay, Atlanta and St. Louis, desperate to play a little longer.

Talk about a fantastic, frenzied finish, more than anyone in the majors could've asked for. And it's not even October yet.

"I think it's really good for baseball," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. "Not so good for my stomach."

The regular season was supposed to wrap up Wednesday, but surely many fans were rooting for bonus baseball. In both leagues, the possibility loomed.

Boston and the Rays went into the final day even for the AL wild-card spot, the Braves and Cardinals were deadlocked for the NL wild-card berth. If they stayed that way, the slots would be decided with one-game tiebreakers Thursday in Tampa Bay at 4:07 p.m. EDT and in St. Louis at 8:07 p.m.

Mark Teixeira struck first, hitting a grand slam off Tampa Bay All-Star David Price to put the New York Yankees ahead of the Rays. The Red Sox, meanwhile, took an early lead at Boston.

Having fun, guys?

"It's like living out a bad dream," Braves star Chipper Jones said.

A few weeks ago, there didn't seem to be a single race left.

The Red Sox held a nine-game lead over Tampa Bay on the morning of Sept. 4. The Braves were 10 1/2 games ahead of St. Louis before play on Aug. 26.

"It's kind of fed us here the last few days, 120 years of baseball and this is one of those historic runs to tie," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said.

This is the third time in the wild-card era where a pair of playoff spots were open going into the last day, STATS LLC said. In 1995, the Angels, Yankees, Astros and Rockies were still competing; in 2005, the Indians, Red Sox, Phillies and Astros were in play.

This much was certain: The Yankees will host an AL playoff opener on Friday night, the Philadelphia Phillies will be home for Game 1 in the NL on Saturday.

Detroit and Texas had clinched AL spots, Milwaukee and Arizona had earned them in the NL. But no pairings had been set as those division champions scrapped for home-field advantage, down to the last out.

"We don't feel like we have anything to lose. We've had a great run," Tampa Bay's Ben Zobrist said. "We're hoping to cap it with a playoff berth."

Boston stranded the potential tying run at second base in the ninth, holding on for an 8-7 win at Baltimore on Tuesday night. The Red Sox haven't won consecutive games since sweeping a doubleheader against Oakland on Aug. 27.

Looking for a sign of serendipity, Red Sox Nation? Rookie Ryan Lavarnway, the Yale thinker who never played a big league game before August, started because of injuries to catchers Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Jason Varitek and hit a three-run homer and a solo shot.

"Everybody's been watching the scoreboard and knowing that we need to win tonight so we can come back tomorrow and fight through it again," Boston star David Ortiz said. "I hope if I'm still here next year we can make it easier. We're playing like this is a playoff already."

At Tropicana Field, the Rays turned a 5-4-3 triple play to beat the Yankees, only the third in franchise history.

"Everybody's thirsty for offense, and we'd like to score more," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "But we're built around pitching and defense."

In the NL, Atlanta lost to the best-in-the-majors Phillies on the next-to-the-last-night while St. Louis overcame a five-run deficit to win at worst-in-the-big-leagues Houston. The scheduled finales had the Braves starting about an hour before the Astros.

At Arizona, Ryan Roberts' grand slam capped a six-run 10th for a 7-6 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday. The D-backs became the first team to overcome a five-run deficit in extras and win since Pittsburgh against the Chicago Cubs on April 21, 1991, according to STATS LLC.

Roberts channeled his manager, pointing at the Arizona dugout and pumping his fist over and over to imitate Kirk Gibson's famed home run trot after his game-winning shot in the 1988 World Series.

"That was unbelievable," Roberts said. "I've never been a part of something like that. Everything on this team blows my mind."

___

AP Sports Writer Ronald Blum contributed to this report.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/topstories/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110929/ap_on_sp_ba_ne/bbo_frenzied_finish

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Ozzie Guillen headed to Florida Marlins: Report

Ozzie Guillen: ESPNChicago.com had reported that Guillen was traded to the Marlins for two minor-league players. The Marlins declined comment but did not deny the reports.

According to published reports out of Chicago, White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen is out the door and headed to South Florida to manage the Marlins when they open their new ballpark in April.

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The White Sox confirmed late Monday that the team and Guillen have parted ways.

"The White Sox have agreed to Ozzie Guillen's request to be released from his contract, allowing the manager to pursue other opportunities," the White Sox said in a statement.

"I personally appreciate everything Ozzie has done for this organization, our fans and the city of Chicago," White Sox team chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said. "We shared the greatest moments together and wish him nothing but future success in baseball and in life."

ESPNChicago.com had reported that Guillen was traded to the Marlins for two minor-league players. The Marlins declined comment but did not deny the reports.

Guillen, who was the Marlins' third-base coach during their run to the 2003 World Series and has long been a target of owner Jeffrey Loria, reportedly met with Reinsdorf on Monday and didn't leave happy. Guillen said last month he wouldn't return for the final year of his contract next season unless he received an extension beyond 2012.

Now, it appears the 47-year-old outspoken Venezuelan will be the Marlins next manager ? and fourth since 2010. The news comes on the same day Marlins interim manager Jack McKeon announced his retirement.

During the seventh inning of Monday's game against the Nationals, several Marlins fans in the crowd at Sun Life Stadium began chanting "Ozzie! Ozzie!"

"We talked about different things, my future here, how we're going to do it and what we think about the ballclub, what we want, and I left the meeting with nothing," Guillen told Chicago reporters before the game. "We have to wait.

"I showed him how I feel, the way I always do. He talked to me about how he feels about me, myself, my family, the team and the organization. But I left there ? I'm not going to say empty-handed ? because I left there with my ideas. I left there with what I want (to say), what I should do, and that's it."

Reinsdorf said in March the Marlins contacted the White Sox about trading for the manager, but the team's couldn't agree on compensation. If the reports are accurate, the Marlins will still likely end up having to send the White Sox a player or cash to acquire Guillen, who remains signed through 2012.

"You never hear me talk about (the Marlins)," Guillen said Monday. "I never say the word 'Marlins' out of my mouth, no. That's their problem.

"... It's not easy, like, 'OK, I want to get you, come here and do it.' No, that's a process. If the Marlins are interested in me, good for them. I'm open to anything."

Guillen was believed to be in line to make around $2?million next season with the White Sox. The team was expected to contend for the AL Central title this year, but has struggled to the third sub-.500 finish duringGuillen's eight-year tenure.

Guillen led the White Sox to the World Series in 2005 and has a record of 677-617. In 2003, he served as McKeon's third-base coach on a Marlins team that rallied to win the NL Wild Card and then the World Series in six games against the Yankees.

McKeon, who figures to remain as a consultant for the Marlins, said Monday he would have no say in who replaced him. McKeon took over a Marlins team that had lost 10 consecutive games under Edwin Rodriguez and fell from second place into the NL East basement at 32-40 before Rodriguez abruptly resigned.

The Marlins eventually got back to .500 on Aug. 2 in New York but lost second baseman Omar Infante and shortstop Hanley Ramirez to injuries "and the season went downhill from there," McKeon said.

The Marlins clinched last place in the division when they were swept by the Brewers over the weekend.

Monday, Loria met with current third base coach Jose Espada for an interview. Former third-base coach Bo Porter, now with the Nationals, reportedly also was supposed to be interviewed.

McKeon became the second-oldest manager in baseball history when he took over for Edwin Rodriguez, who abruptly resigned on June 19. Only Mack was older at 87 when he skippered the team he owned ? the Philadelphia Athletics ? in his last season of 1950.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/843bJm7oX4Y/Ozzie-Guillen-headed-to-Florida-Marlins-Report

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Is the Era of Music Video Games Really Over? (Mashable)

Scott Steinberg is the author of the new book Music Games Rock (100% free to download online). He is a noted technology expert, the CEO of high-tech consulting firm TechSavvy Global, and a frequent keynote speaker and media analyst for ABC, CBS and CNN. A celebrated author and entrepreneur, he also hosts video series Gear Up and Game Theory.

[More from Mashable: 6 Indie Games We Can?t Wait to Play]

The universe gave us rock ?n roll. Then it snatched it back in 2009, when the music video game industry collapsed from a record $1.7 billion the year prior.

The market suffered a nearly 50% sales collapse across the board in 2009. It didn?t help that MTV sold Rock Band maker Harmonix, and Activision decided to temporarily bench the once-proud Guitar Hero series. Some have even gone on to predict these kinds of setbacks could mean curtains for the genre. Just one problem for critics: Such prognoses are complete and utter bull.

[More from Mashable: 6 Tips for Launching a Product on Facebook]

Long before the Fab Four ever flirted with blockbuster band simulations, or Dance Central allowed us to get awkwardly footloose, each enjoyed a healthy romance with gaming fans ? not to mention success across other eras, concepts and formats.

For instance, mobile and online-enabled games like Tap Tap Revenge 4 and Slayer: Pinball Rocks continue to tear up the charts, and prove a more cost-effective alternative to $120 instrument bundles. Fans are also enthusiastic over karaoke and dancing games -- like Just Dance 3 and Dance Central 2 -- given the multiplatinum-selling success of Michael Jackson: The Experience. But, in all fairness, given the recent topsy-turvy performance of the rhythm gaming genre, one can?t exactly blame industry naysayers.

It?s a troubling sign that even games paired with headlining bands struggle to go multiplatinum. Furthermore, some of the most ambitious and fulfilling digital diversions fail to even tweak the dial on most fans? radars. However, dig a bit deeper into the reasons behind the recent financial troubles. You?ll find primary relegation to mobile and social games such as Tap Tap Glee and Say What?!, as well as general-purpose apps such as Songify and Cambox.

Today?s economic headaches are causing cash-strapped gaming enthusiasts to budget more than ever. Publishers have also been slow to realize when it?s time to give up the ghost. Much as virtual spin-offs sell as the interactive equivalent of collector?s boxed sets -- from DJ Hero to Green Day: Rock Band -- too many have flooded shelves in too short a period of time. Worse, most not only play to an increasingly limited audience, but also require the use of pricey plastic instruments. That?s a hard pill to swallow, especially because one is able to download value-priced content (e.g. new songs and track packs) that keep older games feeling fresh.

Nowadays, shoppers are smarter about how they spend their money. They?re less willing to buy pricey accessories only compatible with a small range of titles. Even more, the price of the average music and rhythm game more than doubled that of the average video game in recent years. Pair that with the rise of free-to-play alternatives for web browsers, smartphones and PCs, new on-demand digital download platforms, and a growing, but still relatively nascent audience averse to overspending on polystyrene turntables. Pullback is inevitable.

However, just as detractors once tried to write off rock ?n roll, or dub it a tool of the devil, one shouldn?t be so quick to abandon music gaming quite yet. It?s easy to see that music not only impacts every human being on the planet, but it also serves as a common unifier across age, gender, class and religion. Capable of bringing people of all ages together around shared social experiences, music games are an ideal way to bridge the gap between disparate backgrounds and generations -- hence the reason they?ve dubbed karaoke this generation?s happy hour activity of choice.

From a retail standpoint, new games that play to niche audiences, like Child of Eden and Rocksmith, may continue to face an uphill battle. However, each new day brings heightened acceptance and growth for the field, especially after an acclaimed musician endorses a game. Consider titles like Rock Band, which one might have expected to flounder without former parent company MTV?s guidance. Still going strong, it offers 2700+ songs by over 900 artists, with a million players continuing to login each month to download new tracks. It has now digitally distributed over 100 million tracks.

Already, we?ve watched games like Madden NFL provide an additional outlet for bands. Using this type of platform, bands have a better chance at mainstream success than individual radio station promotion. The world?s largest record labels are starting to feel threatened by the rise of music games, which offer audiophiles an interactive way to enjoy tracks. We?ve just begun to witness the rise of groundbreaking virtual distribution services such as Rock Band Network, which allows independent and unsigned bands the chance to be discovered by millions, without the need for a label?s input. Finally, the greatest acts of yesteryear have begun embracing music games as a way to bridge the gap between generations.

All things considered, critics shouldn?t be so hasty to dismiss music video games. These games? SoundScan numbers may be irrelevant. Instead we should be pioneering new ways to experience and enjoy some of history?s greatest recordings, not to mention blow open the doors for tomorrow?s headlining acts. Today?s market is not an indicator that it?s time to take a final bow. The music game industry?s current growing pains may rather be a sign that the party?s just getting started. Get your devil horns ready?

Images courtesy of Flickr, snailsareslimy, - reuben -

This story originally published on Mashable here.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/internet/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/mashable/20110926/tc_mashable/is_the_era_of_music_video_games_really_over

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Marcus Bachmann makes fundraising appeal (Star Tribune)

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Health and Safety in your Workplace | Health

Health and Safety in your Workplace

The HSE website advises: ?It is an employer?s duty to protect the health, safety and welfare of their employees, and other people who might be affected by their business?, and that ?the employer must do whatever is reasonably practicable to achieve this.?

Good management of workplace safety represents not only good business practice, but also it can improve both performance of staff and the business in general. Unfortunately whilst complying and keeping pace with statutory change is extremely time consuming ? especially given the growth of the compensation culture ? it is essential to ensure you are not left exposed in the event of an accident or injury in your workplace.

Workplace Safety Training & Inspection
By outsourcing to a specialized health and safety advisor, you will be provided with bespoke safety awareness training and inspections which can be used to promote workplace safety, leading to an improved safety culture for all your staff. From shop floor to senior management, specialized training courses are tailored to suit your organisation?s needs.

Workplace Safety Management
Health and Safety management systems will help you to ensure that your staff are adequately trained and that they buy-in to the concept that managing risks within the workplace is as much their responsibility as yours. This will further reduce your exposure to accidents in the work place and subsequent investigations by the Local Authority or the HSE.

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Writing a Health & Safety Policy from scratch
Any organisation with five or more employees is legally required to have a written Health & Safety Policy (Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 section 2(3)). It shouldn?t be a complicated document but it does need to be a concise summary, stating how your business manages safety.

If you?re thinking about writing your own Health and Safety Policy there are a few things you?ll need to consider. Your Policy should clearly set out how you manage Health and Safety, who is responsible and when things must be done. Starting a policy from scratch isn?t easy, particularly if you haven?t written one before and you don?t have access to professional advisors.

Some of the things you need to consider are:
A general statement
Responsibilities
Health and safety risks
Consultation with employees
Safe plant and equipment
Safe handling and use of substances
Information, instruction and supervision
Competency for tasks
Accidents, first aid and work related ill health
Monitoring ? accidents and work related sickness
Emergency procedures

Specialized Health and Safety advisors can write Health and Safety policies and managements systems for almost every industry; from construction through to care homes and retail to restaurants.

Updating an existing Health & Safety Policy
Once a Health and Safety policy has been written it?s important that it?s regularly reviewed and not just left on the shelf. This should be done whenever changes occur within the business and on a regular basis (at least annually).

Examples of when a Health and Safety Policy will need reviewing include:
If the work process changes
At the introduction of new technology or equipment
When any organisational changes occur
When Changes in legislation occur

If you need help writing a Health and Safety Policy or reviewing one that you have already written, contact specialized health and safety advisors.

Unlike many other Health and Safety advisors Bibbycas take the role of your statutory ?competent advisor?, proactively working alongside you to ensure that your business is safe.

Source: http://health.foxxbrain.com/2011/09/26/health-and-safety-in-your-workplace/

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How Internet Reputation Management Can Save You or Your ...

Internet Reputation Management is the practice of manipulating or reshaping one?s search results to reflect a more positive, or accurate, depiction of a particular person or company. This industry got started in 2006, originally to defend children from the dangers of social networking sites. However, it has evolved into something more than that.

The Internet, and search engines particularly, has become more important as a source for information, whether that is an impression of a celebrity or a review of a product. Think about it?when you are going to try a new restaurant, go see a movie, look up a celebrity, buy a new product, you look to the Internet, and especially search engines, for information. Search engines allow for the aggregation of a great deal of information, most of which is user-generated, rather than produced by any professional journalist. Using a search engine to find new information about a subject has become so common, in fact, that ?Google? has become a verb. You?ve heard it before, ??I don?t know anything about H.L. Mencken.? ?Well Google him!?? User-generated journalism, often in the form of blogging, is incredibly unpredictable, though, and notoriously unreliable.

Negative search results are quite common, and although they are sometimes perfectly understandable?often they are ridiculous or simply false. Input ?Octomom? or ?David Vitter? and you will see a plethora of negative comments which any person would say they may or may not deserve. However, I think we can all agree that both Nadya Suleman (Octomom) and David Vitter have a right to publicize themselves in a positive light, too, rather than letting their reputations be held hostage to the whims of angry bloggers and forum trolls.

The only effective way to fight back against this anonymous barrage of negativity in their search results is to hire an Internet Reputation Management professional. They will conduct a campaign, on a business or individual?s behalf, that will help them to publicize themselves more positively. Although they cannot remove the offending search results, they can push them down in rank?onto the second, third, or fourth page?where hardly anyone will see them. This is the essence of Internet Reputation Management, the suppression of links through the elevation of positive publicity.

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• How Internet Reputation Management Can Save You or Your Company From a Disaster

By Reput Hawk

Internet Reputation Management is the practice of manipulating or reshaping one?s search results to reflect a more positive, or accurate, depiction of a particular person or company. This industry got started in 2006, originally to defend children from the dangers of social networking sites. However, it has evolved into something more than that.

The Internet, and search engines particularly, has become more important as a source for information, whether that is an impression of a celebrity or a review of a product. Think about it?when you are going to try a new restaurant, go see a movie, look up a celebrity, buy a new product, you look to the Internet, and especially search engines, for information. Search engines allow for the aggregation of a great deal of information, most of which is user-generated, rather than produced by any professional journalist. Using a search engine to find new information about a subject has become so common, in fact, that ?Google? has become a verb. You?ve heard it before, ??I don?t know anything about H.L. Mencken.? ?Well Google him!?? User-generated journalism, often in the form of blogging, is incredibly unpredictable, though, and notoriously unreliable.

Negative search results are quite common, and although they are sometimes perfectly understandable?often they are ridiculous or simply false. Input ?Octomom? or ?David Vitter? and you will see a plethora of negative comments which any person would say they may or may not deserve. However, I think we can all agree that both Nadya Suleman (Octomom) and David Vitter have a right to publicize themselves in a positive light, too, rather than letting their reputations be held hostage to the whims of angry bloggers and forum trolls.

The only effective way to fight back against this anonymous barrage of negativity in their search results is to hire an Internet Reputation Management professional. They will conduct a campaign, on a business or individual?s behalf, that will help them to publicize themselves more positively. Although they cannot remove the offending search results, they can push them down in rank?onto the second, third, or fourth page?where hardly anyone will see them. This is the essence of Internet Reputation Management, the suppression of links through the elevation of positive publicity.

The Reputation Management Wizardis an expert in the field of internet defamation. He has studied reputation risk management for over three years and search engines for more than ten.

Published at Sooper Articles ? Free Reprintable Articles http://www.sooperarticles.com

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Reput Hawk has published 7 articles. Article submitted on Wednesday 25th November 2009. Word count: 365

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Source: http://spiderawards.info/2011/09/how-internet-reputation-management-can-save-you-or-your-company-from-a-disaster/

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Fit For Combat System, Health & Fitness

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Dinosaur Crafts for All the Family | Bid2.net Article Directory

Dinosaurs have always taken a fascination for little ones. Though it is millions of years since these beings last walked the Planet, the fossils that have been discovered give us an idea of what kind of animals these were. If you want to find a method to keep your small children entertained on a rainy afternoon, and in a way that is a lot more constructive than just sitting them in front of a TV or a games console, there is always the alternative of getting them to try to make various dinosaur crafts.

Dinosaur crafts are a terrific way for youngsters to develop their creative side, whilst also having a great time and learning. There is almost no end to the type of creatures that can be made, nor the materials that can be used.

There are numerous of different ways in which you can find ideas about various designs that are themed around dinosaurs. As an example, you can buy or take out on loan a book on craft making. Most booksellers and libraries have sections on pastimes, wherein you can come across lots of great ideas on what type of crafts you can make.

The easiest option perhaps is to use the internet to download various suggestions as to what type of creations you can attempt to build with your youngsters. There is a huge amount of information online in relation to dinosaur crafts, this involves creating lifelike models from old clothes, to baking treats that have the appearance of dinosaurs.

You may be amazed at just how easy it is even if you have never attempted to make any type of craft before. As long as you have a straightforward set of instructions to follow, and understand what the accomplished products should look like, there is no reason to think that the endeavor will be too difficult.

In fact, making mistakes is part of the fun. You and your youngsters should have a good chuckle at the peculiar looking dinosaurs that you make. It may even be the case that your son or daughter turns out to be more accomplished in making miniature dinosaurs than you are yourself.

It is important to find out exactly what material and other items you will need before you start to put together a scale model of a dinosaur. It makes sense to check out a number of different designs before you begin for this reason. Certain projects can be completed with items you may already have lying around your home, whereas others will need a trip to you local craft store for supplies.

It is hard to picture that our world was once the home of animals that were more than a hundred meters long. Thankfully, the world is no longer the home to creatures such as T-Rex and Pterosaurs, but your young children bedroom can soon become a miniature version of the Jurassic period by having fun with dinosaur crafts. This type of hobby may end up encouraging your child to develop a life long interest in animals or paleontology, you will never no after all.

Visit our site and check out some dinosaur games for kids and dinosaur stories.

Source: http://bid2.net/articles/dinosaur-crafts-for-all-the-family.html

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[OOC] Nothing more than darkness

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Medical Bankruptcy: Fact or Fiction?

You have probably heard someone use the term "medical bankruptcy." This is a word commonly used by individuals who either are going through a medically related financial crisis, or are acquainted with someone who is facing severe medical debt. Although medical bankruptcy is not a legal term, it is a useful term to describe a financial remedy for an individual who may have reached the end of their rope because of medical debt.

Medical bankruptcy can be a misleading term because there is no legal remedy available exclusively for medical debt. In general, bankruptcy is the dissolution or reorganization of some or all of an individual's debt. When you file for any type of bankruptcy you must include all your debt. This would apply to home mortgage loans, car loans, credit cards, and medical debt. There are several types of bankruptcies, but most individuals filing a bankruptcy for medical debt will typically file for a Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy. A Chapter 7 bankruptcy may allow an individual to eliminate their debt, while a Chapter 13 bankruptcy can allow an individual to reorganize their debt into a 3-5 year plan, while at the same time reducing the principle on their debt.

The idea that a medical bankruptcy exists as a legal remedy may have developed because the court handles medical debt in a different way than they might other types of debt. Not all debt will receive the same treatment in court. A bankruptcy court will generally divide an individual's debt into two classes: Secured Debt or Unsecured Debt. Secured debt is the type of debt that is usually tied to assets like an auto loan or home mortgage. Unsecured Debt is usually not tied to assets, yet can often be eliminated or greatly reduced through a bankruptcy. It's important to realize that medical debt is usually classified as an unsecured debt.

While the term "medical bankruptcy" is not a legal term, it is a useful way for an individual to describe how their finances fell into chaos. An experienced bankruptcy attorney will immediately understand what a client needs when they inquire about a medical bankruptcy. A bankruptcy attorney can then inform them how a bankruptcy could be a solution to their financial hardship caused by medical debt, and even help the individual decide whether a Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 is most appropriate for their situation. Once an individual has decided the best course of action, the attorney will then lead them smoothly through the legal process of filing, and obtaining a bankruptcy.

Tags: Bankruptcy, chapter 7, Chapter 13, medical

Source: http://www.212articles.com/medical-bankruptcy-fact-or-fiction/

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Make Money With Portrait Photography, Arts & Entertainment

• Brown signs compromise on Internet taxes - Record

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Talking to dogs and cats our pet hobby | Froxter.com

Cats can speak on the phone. They can also plot to overthrow human society. Consider yourself warned. Picture: Thinkstock Source: Supplied

80pc of Australians think they can comprehend pets "Believe they know pet well ? and can communicate" Einstein?s theory busted by new discovery

MORE than 80 per cent of Australia's dog and cat owners believe they can comprehend what their pet's woof or miaow means, a survey has found.

The survey of 800 Australian pet owners found more than 95 per cent of dog owners talked to their pets, while just over 89 per cent spoke to their cats.

And 87 per cent stated they understood what their pets were trying to say, according to the survey commissioned by an animal health-care company.

Veterinarian Dr Alister Webster stated the results raised concerns that we might think we know more then we actually do.

"Pets are important parts of our lives, and most of us believe they know their pet well ? and can even communicate with them," Dr Webster, from Pure Animal Wellbeing, stated in a statement.

"Particularly in winter periods I see pets that have been generally unwell or struggling with continued pain for extensive periods of time and their owners are not realising this.

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"Their owners may not have picked up on the signs, or have read them wrong. It?s not as simple to comprehend what pets are feeling as people think."

Of greatest concern, Dr Webster said, are owners? perceptions of what happens to their pets as they age.

The survey found 57 per cent of dog owners and just under half of cat owners thought their pets became grumpier as they aged.

"They rest this belief of seeing their pet being less inclined to go for a walk or play; they are maybe slowing down and experiencing more stiffness, becoming intolerant of people or no longer jumping up on the furniture.

"But these can be common signs of arthritis and joint pain, rather than grumpiness."

The survey, Read My PAW, was conducted by Empirica Research for Blackmores, of which Pure Animal Wellbeing is a division.

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Palestinians submit UN statehood bid (AP)

UNITED NATIONS ? The Palestinian leader took his people's quest for independence to the heart of world diplomacy on Friday, hoping to galvanize their flagging statehood campaign by seeking U.N. recognition of Palestine and sidestepping negotiations that have foundered for nearly two decades under the weight of inflexibility, violence and failure of will.

The bid to recognize a state in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem ? submitted against the will of a U.S. administration that had pressured President Mahmoud Abbas to drop it ? laid bare the deep sense of exasperation the Palestinians feel after 44 years of Israeli occupation. International reservations about the move has had the perhaps unintended effect of reenergizing international efforts to seek a negotiated settlement.

After Abbas submitted his formal application, international mediators called on Israelis and Palestinians to return to long-stalled negotiations and reach an agreement no later than next year. The "Quartet" ? the U.S., European Union, U.N. and Russia ? urged both parties to draw up an agenda for peace talks within a month and produce comprehensive proposals on territory and security within three months.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said the proposal "represents the firm conviction of the international community that a just and lasting peace can only come through negotiations between the parties." But similar plans have failed to produce a peace agreement in the past, and it was how the two sides could bridge their huge differences and resume talks.

And the Quartet statement was radically different from what diplomats had been hoping to draft since it became clear that Abbas would not back down. U.S. and European officials had been trying to craft a statement that would itself outline parameters of the negotiations, including a reference to borders being based on the 1967 lines and affirm Israel's identity as a Jewish state.

Instead, the Quartet focused on proposing deadlines for steps the two sides should take.

World sympathy for the Palestinian cause was evident from the thunderous applause that greeted Abbas as he mounted the dais in the General Assembly hall to deliver a speech that laid out his grievances against the Israeli occupation and why he felt compelled to take his appeal directly to the United Nations.

In a scathing denunciation of Israel's settlement policy, Abbas declared that negotiations with Israel "will be meaningless" as long as it continues building on lands the Palestinians claim for that state. Invoking what would be a nightmare for Israel, he went so far as to warn that his government could collapse if the construction persists.

"This policy is responsible for the continued failure of the successive international attempts to salvage the peace process," said Abbas, who has refused to negotiate until the construction stops. "This settlement policy threatens to also undermine the structure of the Palestinian National Authority and even end its existence."

The speech papered over any Palestinian culpability for the negotiations stalemate, deadly violence against Israel, the internal rift that has produced dueling governments in the West Bank and Gaza, and ignored Jewish links to the Holy Land. Some members of the Israeli delegation, including Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, walked out of the hall as Abbas approached the podium.

Abbas declared himself willing to immediately return to the bargaining table, but with longstanding conditions attached: Israel must first stop building on lands the Plaesitnians claim for their future state and agree to negotiate borders based on lines it held before capturing the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem in 1967. Israel rejects those conditions and has defied international pressure to freeze settlement construction. And it has staked out bargaining positions that are extremely distant from anything the Palestinians would accept.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, addressing the General Assembly shortly after Abbas, said his country was "willing to make painful compromises" in its quest for peace.

But while Palestinians "should live in a free state of their own," he said, "they should be "ready for compromise" and "start taking Israel's security concerns seriously."

Netanyahu opposes negotiations based on 1967 lines, saying a return to those frontiers would expose Israel's heartland to rocket fire from the West Bank. He argued that rocket fire on Israel from evacuated territory in south Lebanon and Gaza showed that territorial compromise would not automatically resolve the conflict.

Talks for all intents and purposes broke down nearly three years ago after Israel went to war in Gaza and prepared to hold national elections that propelled Netanyahu to power for a second time. A last round, backed by the U.S., was launched a year ago, with the ambitious aim of producing a framework accord for a peace deal. But it broke down just three weeks later after an Israeli settlement construction slowdown expired.

The statehood bid would not deliver any immediate changes on the ground: Israel would remain an occupying force in the West Bank and east Jerusalem and continue to restrict access to Gaza, ruled by Palestinian Hamas militants.

Even so, thousands of jubilant, flag-waving Palestinians, watching on outdoor screens across the West Bank, cheered on their president as he submitted his historic request for a U.N. nod. In Nablus, the crowd roared ecstatically when Abbas, known as Abu Mazen, told the General Assembly that he had submitted the request for full U.N. membership.

"We are here celebrating because Abu Mazen is making us a state. We want to have our own state, like any other country," said Reem al-Masri. The 30-year-old schoolteacher lost a brother and two cousins in fighting with Israel during the second Palestinian uprising against occupation a decade ago.

Abbas, who never enjoyed the popular adulation accorded his predecessor, the iconic Yasser Arafat, has seen his popularity take off over his U.N. move, allowing him to gain ground, at least for the time being, against his Islamic militant Hamas rivals.

U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon referred the statehood request to the Security Council, where U.S. opposition is expected to shoot it down. The U.S. and Israel have also been pressuring Council members to either vote against the plan or abstain when it comes up for a vote. The vote would require the support of nine of the Council's 15 members to pass, but even if the Palestinians could line up that backing, a U.S. veto is assured.

The Security Council will meet on Monday to examine the Palestinian membership request.

The Palestinians have said that in the absence of a positive outcome in the Council, they will turn to the General Assembly, which would be expected to approve a lesser status upgrade from permanent observer to nonmember observer state.

While more modest, this option would be valuable to the Palestinians because of the implicit recognition that negotiations would be based on lines Israel held before capturing the West Bank, east Jerusalem and Gaza in 1967. It would also give the Palestinians access to international judicial bodies such as the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court, which Israel fears would target them unfairly.

Hanging heavy in the air was the threat of renewed violence over frustrated Palestinian aspirations, in spite of Abbas' vow ? perceived by Israeli security officials as genuine ? to prevent Palestinian violence. The death on Friday of 35-year-old Issam Badram, in gunfire that erupted after rampaging Jewish settlers destroyed trees in a Palestinian grove, was the type of incident that both Palestinians and Israelis had feared would spark widespread violence.

It was not clear how serious Abbas was about his very public threat to dissolve his limited self-rule government, born of the landmark accords Israel and the Palestinians signed in the 1990s. Dissolution would put 150,000 Palestinians out of work and cause utter chaos. Israel, which is skeptical of such talk, would be saddled with the welfare and policing of 2.5 million unwanted Palestinian subjects.

_____

Associated Press writer Tarek el-Tablawy contributed to this report from the United Nations.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/un/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110923/ap_on_re_us/un_mideast

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Half of U.S. Views Online Video Ads - Website Magazine - Website ...

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Digital analytics firm comScore unveiled its August Web video rankings recently which show that, among other things, Americans watch a lot of videos on the Internet.

Without question, most videos that are viewed online are watched on YouTube; in fact, the Google-owned video streaming site racked up a total of 162 million unique visitors in the month of August. VEVO came in second with 62 million viewers and Facebook, believe it or not, was the third most popular video site on the Internet with 51.6 million people watching videos. Following the social network were Viacom Digital (fourth), Microsoft (fifth), Yahoo (sixth) and AOL (seventh), though on the whole, unique video watchers were on the rise across the board.

In fact, the total number of viewing sessions in August reached an all-time high as there were 6.9 billion sessions recorded during the month. YouTube and Google Sites hosted just over half of them.

What's more, approximately 85.8 percent of the U.S. "Internet audience" watched videos online in August, and the average Web video watcher took in approximately 18 hours of content. YouTube led the race, with an average of 5.7 hours of engagement per user, while Hulu came in second with an average of 3.2 hours.

And while that data is all well and good, it's not exactly useful to Web businesses or Internet marketers, at least until one considers the role that advertising plays in all of that video watching.

comScore calculates that there were over 5.6 billion video ads watched by Americans in just one month (to put it in perspective, the world's total population is just under 7 billion people). Statistically, this means that half of the population of the U.S. were exposed to video advertising an average of 37.6 times, and the total time spent watching video advertisements adds up to over 2.5 billion minutes. Remember, this is all in a single month.

Video ads made up about 13.4 percent of all videos viewed in August and account for about 1.3 percent of the minutes spent watching online videos.

Of course, what this ultimately means is that online video advertisers can reach a whole lot of people.

Source: http://www.websitemagazine.com/content/blogs/posts/archive/2011/09/23/half-of-u-s-population-sees-online-video-ads.aspx

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Dougherty siblings ordered to stand trial (Reuters)

DENVER (Reuters) ? A Colorado judge on Tuesday ordered three Florida siblings accused in a four-state crime spree to stand trial on attempted murder charges over accusations they fired at police during a high-speed chase.

Huerfano County District Court Judge Claude Appel ruled after a day-long hearing that there was enough evidence to try Lee Grace Dougherty, 29, and her brothers, Dylan Dougherty Stanley, 26, and Ryan Edward Dougherty, 21, for attempted second-degree murder.

The judge also ordered the trio tried on first-degree assault and auto theft charges.

According to testimony at the preliminary hearing, the Doughertys admitted to investigators robbing a bank in Georgia and firing at a Florida police officer while on the run.

After those two incidents, the siblings fled to Colorado where they were captured after a high-speed police pursuit on August 10.

The judge heard testimony from two police officers who said they were fired on by the fleeing fugitives as they raced down a Colorado interstate at speeds of up to 120 miles per hour in a stolen car.

No officers were injured in the shootout, but investigators testified that they found an array of weapons in the vehicle, including two AK-47s, a shotgun, and other handguns. Police said they also recovered 2,000 rounds of ammunition.

The fugitives were arrested after they crashed the vehicle.

Lee Dougherty was shot in the leg by an officer after she leveled a handgun at him after a brief foot chase. According to an arrest warrant affidavit, she admitted to pointing a machine pistol at the officer and said she "deserved to get shot."

The former exotic dancer also said her brother was firing at pursuing police not to hit them, but to get them "to back off," the affidavit said.

According to prosecutors, Ryan Dougherty was behind the wheel of the stolen car while Dylan Dougherty Stanley fired on pursuing officers with an AK-47.

(Editing by Dan Whitcomb and Cynthia Johnston)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/us/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110921/us_nm/us_crime_doughertys

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