'The Voice' reacts to Oklahoma tornado tragedy

TV

Brittany Frederick and Ree Hines TODAY

16 hours ago

NBC

Blake Shelton shares his thoughts on the devastation in Oklahoma on "The Voice."

Monday night was a particularly difficult performance show on "The Voice," and that had nothing to do with the typical top-ten stress. A much more important thing occupied the minds of the coaches and performers -- the devastation in Oklahoma following one the deadliest tornadoes in the nation's history.

Coach Blake Shelton, an Oklahoma native, described his feelings about going on with the show in the wake of the tragedy.

"They're going through hell there right now," he said of the folks back home during Monday's show. "When we went live here, I finally set my phone down. The bad news just keeps coming in -- a lot of fatalities, a lot of children. It makes it hard to actually sit here and do this tonight. But I've got a job to do, the team's counting on me, so here I am."

As for his family in particular, Shelton assured that, luckily, they're all safe.

When Team Blake act The Swon Brothers prepared for this week?s ?Voice? performance, they had no idea what their next song would mean to them. Yet after the tornado ravaged their home state, the country duo found themselves taking the stage with heavy hearts too.

?We just want to let everybody know at home (that) we're praying for you,? Colton Swon told the national audience after the pair performed Randy Houser?s ?How Country Feels.?

?Our hearts are definitely going out to you,? agreed Zach Swon.

Speaking after the show, a somber Colton told TODAY.com that the performance was ?just one of those things you've gotta (do). That's how we cope with things, is music. That's what we do. So that felt natural -- and then when you get in front of the crowd and just get that energy going, it's a great feeling. It was hard to enjoy, but at the same time we felt good about it.?

Backstage, Zach Swon reflected on what he loved about his home state. ?The music scene,? he said, naming several major country artists who are also from Oklahoma. ?(There?s) Garth (Brooks), Reba (McEntire), Blake, Vince Gill, Carrie Underwood, (and) Brooks and Dunn.?

Colton Swon was optimistic about the situation. ?Oklahoma's going to pull through this,? he said. ?They've been in these situations before, unfortunately, and it's a very strong state.?

"Voice" fans can see more from the Shelton and the Swons on Tuesday night's live episode at 9 p.m. on NBC. A recap episode, originally scheduled for 8 p.m. , will be preempted to make way for a one-hour special focused on the latest from Oklahoma.

Source: http://www.today.com/entertainment/voice-reacts-oklahoma-tornado-tragedy-6C9996719

Coughing eddie murphy Stephanie Bongiovi stanford football guy fieri Jill Kelley hope solo

#7: NYDJ Women's Plus-Size Helen Short Colored Denim ~ Denim ...

Do you think about getting?#7: NYDJ Women's Plus-Size Helen Short Colored Denim?and you simply looking the best deal this product? or you want to find some reviews from people who have used this product before you buy it?

If so then you are at the right place. I'll give you some tips before you buy this product. So you are not disappointed after buying it and in accordance with the product you need. You can also find price comparisons from sellers that I met, so you really get the best price currently for this great product.

Buy new: $78.00

(Visit the Best Sellers in Denim list for authoritative information on this product's current rank.)

The Internet is a great research tool but sometimes all of the information can make you feel like your head is goung to explode. Fortunatey we have done some research for you. If you interest to buy this product, Add To Your Cart and get today special offers for

Don't Miss this Amazing Deal!?Just a few more days before prices go up again!!?Purchase now to ensure you get the best price

Source: http://denimstyle2013.blogspot.com/2013/05/7-nydj-womens-plus-size-helen-short.html

oosthuizen great expectations jake owen oosthuizen louis double eagle bubba masters winner

Nonprofit developer LAND hires executive director to continue ...

[unable to retrieve full-text content]Land Assembly for Neighborhood Development or LAND, a not-for-profit developer formed 13 years ago to work on Detroit's east side, has hired Jacqueline Bejma as its first executive director. In the new role, Bejma will be responsible for overseeing LAND's portfolio of properties and also ... Detroit and Southeast Michigan's premier business news and information website. Home · Subscription Center · E-Newsletters · RSS · Search · Reprints · Newsstand Locations ...

Source: http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20130521/NEWS/130529973/nonprofit-developer-land-hires-executive-director-to-continue

boston globe Cnn.com Chechen Boston bombers chechnya live news nbc

EA announces EA Sports Ignite, a next-generation game engine

Thought Frostbite 3 was EA's only big next-gen games engine? Think again: the publisher just announced EA Sports Ignite at Xbox One's reveal event, a new game engine designed specifically for high-end sports titles. "EA Sports Ignite is designed specifically to help us blur the line between the real and the virtual," Andrew Wilson said as he took the stage, listing off a quartet of new games powered by the engine: FIFA, Madden NFL, NBA Live and UFC. Wilson says the engine will allow EA developers to soak its next-gen sports titles in an unprecedented amount of detail, promising to hurdle the animation limitations of current sports games by a factor of 10. The engine's computational claims are even more impressive, offering as much as "four times more calculations per second," according to Wilson, who says it will allow EA to create "human-like intelligence." I guess developers are sick of bad computer AI too.

Check out our Xbox One reveal liveblog right here.

Comments

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/05/21/ea-announces-ea-sports-ignite-a-next-generation-game-engine/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget

the curious case of benjamin button secret service prostitute rich ross april 20 secret service prostitution 4 20 george zimmerman

NBC hires news division chief from Britain

NEW YORK (AP) ? NBC went out of the company and out of the country to find a president for its news division, on Monday naming the first woman to hold the top job.

Deborah Turness, former editor of ITV News in Britain, replaces Steve Capus, who resigned earlier this year, and will begin her new job in August.

Turness will take over a news division bruised by the "Today" show losing its long-held dominant position in the morning to ABC's "Good Morning America." NBC's flagship "Nightly News" broadcast still tops the evening news ratings, but anchor Brian Williams recently saw his "Rock Center" newsmagazine abruptly canceled after less than two years on the air.

"It is quite simply the greatest imaginable honor to be named as the next president of NBC News," Turness said.

In NBC's new management structure, she reports to Pat Fili-Krushel, head of the NBC Universal News Group, as do MSNBC President Phil Griffin and CNBC President Mark Hoffman.

Fili-Krushel was not immediately available for comment. She said in a statement that Turness is "very familiar" with NBC News through a partnership the two networks have.

Turness, who is 46, became editor of ITV News in 2004, the first woman and youngest person to hold that job. Often overshadowed by the state-funded BBC, ITV is Britain's largest commercial television network. ITN, which is 40 percent owned by ITV, is Britain's top commercial news producer. Turness joined the company in 1988 as a news producer and worked for four years during the 1990s in the company's Washington bureau.

"Deborah epitomizes everything that is best about ITN, inspiring our newsrooms with her ideas, enthusiasm and energy," said John Hardie, CEO of ITN. As editor of ITV News, Turness was in charge of news coverage and business operations.

The morning will no doubt be her top priority upon joining NBC. The decline of "Today" is a major blow to the company's pride and bottom line. Women dominate the show's viewership and the ham-fisted replacement of anchor Ann Curry with Savannah Guthrie last year tore at the show's popularity. It has not gone unnoticed that men supervised the show during its turnover.

Within the next two years, Turness will likely be responsible for choosing Matt Lauer's successor on "Today" should the long-running anchor decide to leave.

"Nightly News" still has a comfortable lead in evening news ratings over ABC and CBS. But Turness will probably face lingering morale issues related to the cancellation of "Rock Center" after being bounced around the network's prime-time schedule.

___

Associated Press writer Raphael Satter in London contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/nbc-hires-news-division-chief-britain-144036508.html

the last waltz earth day activities mel gibson splunk dark shadows iau msft

Spot satellite-powered Global Phone keeps adventurers connected for $499

Sick of that spotty (read: non-existent) cell coverage 1,000 miles off the coast of Alaska? This time, you can't blame AT&T. There is an option for getting connected, though, and it's not quite as pricey as you think. Spot, a subsidiary of satellite communications giant Globalstar, recently announced its new Global Phone, a fairly basic lightweight handset that supports phone calls, SMS and compressed data at speeds of up to 28 kbps for $499. Usage fees are also fairly reasonable, with plans ranging from 10 minutes per month for $25 to unlimited calling for $150, plus a $50 activation fee. There's also an 80-minute plan for $40, 200 minutes for $65 or 400 minutes for $100 with monthly billing. The device itself sports four hours of talk time or 36 hours of standby, and provides direct access to GEOS International Emergency Response Coordination Center when you dial 911. The Global Phone is available now through a variety of retailers, including Bass Pro Shops, Cabela's and REI.

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile

Comments

Source: Spot

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/rGKq6rUqPCs/

cory monteith Holly Sonders jimmy fallon jimmy fallon Pizza Lemon phillies

High court uphold FCC power in cell tower disputes

WASHINGTON (AP) ? The Supreme Court has affirmed the authority of federal regulators to try to speed local government decisions on proposals to build or expand cell phone towers.

The court voted 6-3 Monday to uphold an appeals court ruling in favor the Federal Communications Commission.

The case involves complaints to the FCC by telecommunications companies and the wireless industry that local authorities are delaying the placement and construction of wireless service facilities. The FCC said that local jurisdictions generally should act on applications within three months for existing structures and five months for new towers.

Several cities challenged the FCC's authority.

Justice Antonin Scalia, writing for the court, rejected the cities' claims.

Chief Justice John Roberts, joined by Justices Samuel Alito and Anthony Kennedy, dissented.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/high-court-uphold-fcc-power-cell-tower-disputes-144027871.html

nate robinson lena horne klay thompson kate upton one world trade center Benghazi Ariel Castro

Lawn And Garden Decor With Proper Landscape Design | Total ...

Tip! If you are installing an outdoor kitchen on your property, you should try to use granite for most of your surfaces. Granite is a low maintenance material so while it might cost you more during the initial install, it will be worth the money later on since you won?t be faced with constant bills for replacements and repairs.

Landscaping is a great way to beautify the look of a home. You can improve your landscaping skills. Read on for simple tips to make your house can be the talk of the neighborhood.

Tip! Choose quality over price. You can find many inexpensive items in a home-improvement store.

Try to use native plants when you are landscaping. When you are landscaping your yard or garden, always try to use trees, shrubs and trees that are considered to be local to the area.

Don?t plant things in shady areas. You want trees in small growth areas. Take the time to make sure your plants in areas where they are planted.

Tip! Take the time to talk with fellow gardeners or professions before you embark on a landscaping project. While you might not need to hire them to complete the entire job, you will find that the small amount you pay for a consultation is well spent as it will help you to avoid mistakes and get started on the right foot.

Landscaping is so much more than just planting of trees and grasses. To add distinctive beauty with texture, try using different woods, cement or iron structures. You can be a little more creative with decks, birdbaths, arches or perhaps a nice deck from which to survey your handiwork. These elements can be in many different prices no matter your budget.

Tip! Include several different plant varieties while landscaping. This will be helpful in the case your yard gets invaded by a disease of insect.

Consult a professional prior to starting any major landscaping project. While you may not need them to do everything for you in regards to your landscaping, spending a little money for a short consultation could help you avoid making expensive mistakes down the line. This step is doubly important if you are inexperienced in landscape design.

Tip! Consider existing structures before beginning any landscape project. Look at all facets of your home, from cable and wire entry points to gutters and air conditioning units, and build them into your landscaping plan.

Include several different plant species when you plan the look of your yard or garden. This will protect your landscape if a disease or a pest infects your design. If you use all the same plants, you could lose them all with an outbreak of disease or an attack of insects. Diversity in plant health when landscaping.

Tip! When mowing your lawn, leave some grass clippings where they fall. This will give good nutrients to the lawn and grass and you won?t need to add as much fertilizer.

This just ends up costing you large amounts of money. You may want to consult with a landscaper, and pay them for the service, to get some guidance on how to best approach your project.

Tip! Sometimes, doing things in the least expensive way possible is not always best. When it comes to landscaping, you often get what you pay for, making the cheapest options the worst ones.

Shop around on the Internet for better deals and more variety. There are many good sites that offer quality landscaping products at affordable prices. Make judicious use of customer reviews to see if you are getting products to ensure proper packaging is used when transported.

Tip! There are some landscaping items that you don?t need to spend a lot of money on. Things such as containers, mulch, and regular perennials are things you want to buy cheaper, as the costly versions are the same.

Wildflowers are a great way to add color to your yard or garden. The result will provide you with lots of all types and colors! You can also cut the wildflowers into bouquets to give as gifts or adorn your home in lovely bouquets.

Tip! Instead of sticking with the traditional straight edging, add some curved borders to your landscape. Having rounded shapes in your yard looks prettier than geometric shapes.

It is okay to go cheaper with lower-cost products. When dealing with mulch, containers and regular perennials, you will notice that there is not much of a difference between the pricier and less expensive versions. It is very important that you be sure to look over the plants. Places that sell them at a reduced price might not have given them the care that they need.

Tip! Mulch is a smart addition if you are incorporating flower beds into your landscape designs. Mulch will help your plants retain moisture, and that can be very useful if you are in a region where heat may be a major issue.

As you could see, landscaping is not that hard when done correctly. Use the ideas in this piece to get the outcomes you have always desired. Once you?ve done the necessary research and get in some practice, you?ll be able to landscape like a pro. There is no time like the present to get your landscaping journey underway!

Source: http://talkonmovie.com/lawn-and-garden-decor-with-proper-landscape-design/

arizona cardinals Big Bird Adam Greenberg Fall Leaves Jim Lehrer 666 Park Avenue Kara Alongi

Billboard Awards Red Carpet: 2013 Music Stars Shine In Las Vegas (PHOTOS)

The Billboard Awards (you know, the music awards show that's not the Grammys and not the MTV Video Music Awards) are here! That means it's time yet again to honor the biggest names in the music biz, from Taylor Swift and Maroon 5 to fun. (each nominated in 11 categories). Also finalists: Rihanna, Carly Rae Jepsen and One Direction -- cue the T-Swift and Harry Styles drama...

But forget the awards -- it's all about the clothes! Since the award shows take place in Las Vegas, we're looking forward to glitter, cutouts, neon and more glitter. Who will be best-dressed? Who will commit a sartorial stumble? And who will make a style statement like Miley Cyrus' pantsless Jean Paul Gaultier look to be remembered for years to come?

See all the fashion in our red carpet slideshow and watch the red carpet livestream at JustJared.com.

• Taylor Swift

  Taylor Swift arrives at the Billboard Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sunday, May 19, 2013 in Las Vegas. (Photo by John Shearer/Invision/AP)

• Taylor Swift in Zuhair Murad

• Miley Cyrus in Balmain

• Emmy Rossum in Zuhair Murad

• Kelly Rowland in Rami Al Ali

• Jenny McCarthy

• Jennifer Lopez in Zuhair Murad

• Ke$ha in Givenchy and Palladium

• Alyssa Milano in Emilio Pucci

• Chad Kroeger, Avril Lavigne

  Chad Kroeger, left, and Avril Lavigne arrive at the Billboard Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sunday, May 19, 2013 in Las Vegas. (Photo by John Shearer/Invision/AP)

• Selena Gomez in Atelier Versace

• Selena Gomez in Atelier Versace

• Shania Twain

• Chloe Moretz

• Jennifer Nettles in Edition by Georges Chakra

• Hayden Panettiere

• Jennifer Morrison in Kristian Aadnevik

• Psy

• Z LaLa

• Carly Rae Jepsen

• Nayer

• Amber Rose

• Lecrae

• Neil Perry, Kimberly Perry & Reid Perry

• Audrina Partridge

• Roshan Fagan

• Shaun Robinson

• Sky Blu

  Sky Blu arrives at the Billboard Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sunday, May 19, 2013 in Las Vegas. (Photo by John Shearer/Invision/AP)

• Megan Wollover & Tracy Morgan

• Cathy Guetta & David Guetta

• Kacey Musgraves

• Ariana Grande

• Rocsi Diaz

• Keaton Stromberg, Drew Chadwick, and Wesley Stromberg of Emblem3

• Renee Bargh

• Gabriel Mann

• will.i.am

• Jason Derulo

• Chris Brown

• Stana Katic

• Ed Sheeran

• Chandler Parsons

• Brian Kelley & Tyler Bubbard of Florida Georgia Line

• Tracy Morgan Exclusive Interview?: Billboard Music Awards Cover Shoot 2013?

  Billboard takes you behind the scenes of Tracy Morgan's cover shoot. Tracy will host the 2013 Billboard Music Awards, live from Las Vegas at the MGM Grand on Sunday, May 19, airing on ABC.

Want more? Be sure to check out HuffPost Style on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Pinterest and Instagram at @HuffPostStyle.
--
Do you have a style story idea or tip? Email us at stylesubmissions@huffingtonpost.com. (PR pitches sent to this address will be ignored.)

"; var coords = [-5, -72]; // display fb-bubble FloatingPrompt.embed(this, html, undefined, 'top', {fp_intersects:1, timeout_remove:2000,ignore_arrow: true, width:236, add_xy:coords, class_name: 'clear-overlay'}); });

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/19/billboard-awards-red-carpet-2013_n_3303805.html

Maria Montessori clint eastwood Julian Castro Blue Moon August 2012 Eddie Murphy Dead Democratic National Convention 2012 myocardial infarction

Visualizing The Silver Squeeze | Zero Hedge

Despite 'crashes' in the market, the demand for physical silver continues to rise. "Buyers are already outpacing sellers by a stunning 50-to-1 ratio. We are seeing the beginning of shortages; but this will only accelerate if Western governments continue with this raid on paper gold and silver."

?

?

The Silver Squeeze ? An infographic by the team at The Silver Squeeze Free Infographic

Average:

Your rating: None Average: 4.8 (28 votes)

Source: http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-05-18/visualizing-silver-squeeze

USC shooting halloween lsu football lsu football Jessie Andrews bloomberg bloomberg

Small Talk: Retiring boomers driving sales of small businesses | The ...

In this photo taken Tuesday, May 14, 2013, Roberta Bonoff, owner of Creative Kidstuff, a toy store chain, poses at the store in St. Paul, Minn. The toy retailer based in Minneapolis, just expanded by buying a 26-year-old online and catalog toy retailer, Sensational Beginningsa . Bonoff said the owner was tired and ready to sell. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)

Baby boomers preparing for retirement are driving a surge in small business sales, as they find more and more buyers confident enough in the improving economy to expand their own businesses through acquisitions.

In the first three months of this year, the number of sales that closed jumped 56 percent from the same time in 2012, according to BizBuySell.com, an online marketplace for small businesses. Retirement was the No. 1 contributor to business sales in the fourth quarter of last year and the first quarter of 2013, according to a survey by Pepperdine University and two trade groups, the International Business Brokers Association and M&A Source.

"It was almost like a light switch went on in January," says Michael Schuster, a broker with World Business Brokers in Miami. "We started getting a lot of activity with sellers who said, ?I don?t want to go through another downturn or tough time. I want to see if I could sell my business.?"

Sales are so strong in Florida that Schuster?s brokerage is opening two more offices in the state. Three-quarters of the sellers or potential sellers that his company sees are baby boomers, most of whom don?t have family members willing to take over their businesses. Some of these owners want to sell just part of their firms, essentially taking on a partner, because they don?t want to keep carrying all the risk themselves.

Honey Rand fits the category. After 17 years of running her Tampa, Fla., public relations firm Environmental PR Group, she?s starting to think about selling. The 55-year-old wants to get away from the administrative work that goes into running a business, and focus on working with clients.

"Like most people who end up starting a business, I?m really good at the work I do and I?d love the opportunity to wallow around in it," says Rand. She?s optimistic that she?d be able to sell, because she was approached twice by prospective buyers in the last 10 years. And Rand expects that she would remain with the company for a period following a sale to help with the transition to new management ? something that many business owners do.

While she hasn?t definitely decided to sell just yet, she plans to talk to a broker soon.

"I like to think ahead, to understand the process and the things that could affect a sale or sale price. When the time comes, or if it comes, I want to be ready. I don?t want to feel like it?s a fire sale," she says.

In California, the pace of sales is more of a "slow pickup, not a huge spike," says Dave Richards, owner of Keystone Business Advisors, a brokerage in Westlake Village, Calif.

"Baby boomers are where we?re really seeing the growth. It?s pent-up demand," Richards says.

story continues below

One of those boomers is Walt Pocock. In late 2011, Pocock met with a broker to discuss possibly selling his Chino, Calif., business, Palo Verde Landscape Management Co. But he and his wife Dee, who also worked with the company, weren?t quite ready to let it go. However, selling became "something we were thinking about from then on," Pocock said.

Within a year, the 70-year-old decided he was ready to retire and Dee, 78, agreed. The difficult business climate was a factor in their decision.

"The economy had not been good and it had been a struggle and we got tired of the struggle," he said.

The put the company on the market in January, and quickly had several bidders. Pocock got his full asking price, and the deal closed April 1. Now he and his wife are looking forward to traveling around the country in their motor home.

Sellers like Pocock are going to keep the market for small businesses thriving for years to come.

"Trillions of dollars of business value are going to change hands in the next 10 to 20 years," says Bob Balaban, managing director at Headwaters MB, an investment bank based in Denver. He believes so-called ?strategic acquisitions? ? purchases by companies looking to expand ? will be a key factor in that trend. In a tight economy, companies looking to grow feel that it would take years to build up their businesses.

"They have to do acquisitions to continue to grow and grow quickly," Balaban says.

Buyers appear to be ready to step up and are looking for companies that will be good fit with their existing operations. Health-care related businesses like medical billing firms, pharmacies and even medical and dental practices are particularly in demand, says Keystone?s Richards. He?s seeing less interest in restaurants and retailers, industries where profit margins are thinner and where many companies are still struggling. Schuster, the Miami broker, says he sees people who were waiting for the economy to pick up, and they?ve decided that business is good enough for them to take the plunge.

"There?s a lot of people who were sitting the sidelines and could not do that anymore ? the election?s over and things are getting better," he says.

Sellers are benefiting from this trend because buyers are willing to pay more money if a deal will quickly get them into the markets they want to serve, says Mike Carter, CEO of BizEquity, a company that helps businesses calculate their sales price.

"For a growth company, we?re seeing them getting almost 15 percent more than what they were getting four years ago (during the recession)," he says.

Next Page >

Copyright 2013 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/money/56321348-79/business-says-businesses-sales.html.csp

Obama 2016 Who Is Winning The Election 2012 Election Coverage 2012 Linda McMahon Voting Results 2012 pbs ron paul

Top officials call to overhaul euro institutions

BERLIN (AP) ? Engineering a financial bailout for Cyprus in March was such a chaotic process that top European officials say it is time to rethink how the region manages its crisis ? and who should be involved.

Officials say the International Monetary Fund, which has contributed financial expertise and billions in emergency loans, may no longer be needed as a key decision-making partner. And they say that the eurozone would be able to make decisions and take action more quickly if it wasn't bound by the need for unanimous agreement among its 17 member countries.

These concerns have been raised before by analysts and government officials outside of Europe, but now two of the region's leading financial decision-makers have said publicly that something needs to be done. Olli Rehn, the top economic official at the European Commission ? the European Union's executive arm ? and Joerg Asmussen, who sits on the European Central Bank's six-member executive board, said at a hearing last week that the easing of the financial crisis presents an opportunity to fix what is broken.

"If the IMF can take decisions with an 85 percent majority and not with unanimity, why on earth the eurozone cannot do so?" Rehn asked, referring to the IMF's executive board. "That would make our decision-making more effective."

And Asmussen questioned whether help from the IMF ? part of the "troika" of decision makers that also includes the ECB and the European Commission ? is even needed anymore. In effect, he said it is time for Europe to handle its problems without outside help.

Commerzbank analyst Christoph Weil says European leaders are slowly waking up to what has been evident to financial markets for a long time. "The current decision structure is dysfunctional," Weil said. "It was born in the urgency of the crisis ... It needs to be overhauled."

The 17-country eurozone has been severely tested by a three-year crisis over too much government debt which has seen five of its members bailed out ? Greece, Portugal, Ireland, Spain and Cyprus.

The "troika" arrangement to monitor the bailout process has been in place for eurozone bailouts since Greece's debt problems began to unfold in 2010. The setup gives a prominent role to the Washington-based IMF ? although it contributes much less money to bailouts than the eurozone nations.

Some eurozone member countries insisted on having the IMF on board for its experience in handling such crises around the world. Germany ? Europe's biggest economy ? also saw the fund's presence as a crucial check against political horse-trading that could have resulted in watered-down bailout conditions.

However, the troika's inspection teams have been heavily criticized for their insistence on harsh austerity measures that have plunged countries like Greece or Portugal in a yet deeper recession and that they're not answerable to voters.

"The Europeans wanted the IMF aboard for its expertise, even though many at the IMF thought that Europe is economically strong enough to solve its problems on its own," said analyst Weil.

"Now the Europeans feel stronger, and they realize that it would have been easier sometimes without the IMF, who insisted on radical up-front measures in Greece or Cyprus before granting aid," he added.

This view was given a boost last week by the ECB's Asmussen during a hearing at the European Parliament's economic committee in Brussels.

"I would not change the troika system in the midst of the crisis because we have no alternative available right now but in the longer-term future ... we should return to a fully EU-based system," he said.

The IMF recognizes that it's up to the EU's executive arm, the Commission, and the ECB as to whether it has a role to play in future bailouts, fund spokesman Gerry Rice said.

"I understand from reports that Mr. Asmussen underscored that he would not advise to change the troika system right now," he said.

In place of the IMF, Asmussen suggested the eurozone could use the body set up to manage its permanent 500 billion euros rescue fund, the European Stability Mechanism. However, the makeup of the ESM means that it is currently technically outside of the EU's system of institutions.

"The setup is a bit of a stranger decided in a crisis mood," Asmussen said. "We had nothing else available and it had to be done quickly," he added.

The end of the troika arrangement would come once the ESM will be fully turned into an institution of the 27-nation European Union, he added. The ESM could then play its role as Europe's IMF.

As well as looking at the IMF's role in international rescues, the Eurogroup - the meeting of the eurozone's 17 finance ministers, IMF and ECB - has also come under the microscope.

The Eurogroup was initially planned mostly as a forum to exchange views on economic and financial policies ? but the crisis has turned it into a major decision-making body. At the moment, it has to reach a unanimous agreement on its decisions ? a daunting call when 17 ministers try to forge a deal.

The cumbersome decision-making process reached its climax when the bloc fought bitterly over a 10 billion euro bailout for Cyprus.

In March after marathon negotiations, the Eurogroup and Cyprus patched together a bailout agreement that shocked markets and Cypriots. Cyprus's banks had their assets frozen and a one-time levy on all bank deposits was imposed to help pay for the rescue ? a measure that violated EU deposit insurance rules guaranteeing all savers with fewer than 100,000 euros in their bank accounts. It was scrapped about 48 hours later.

Meanwhile, the ECB, seemingly fed up with the politicking, set a deadline for a deal after which it would cut off emergency funding for Cyrpus's banks? a move that would have plunged the country into chaos and out of the eurozone.

So, about a week later, the finance ministers descended again on Brussels. The second agreement saw Cyprus' insured depositors protected, but enforced a harsh restructuring of the country's outsized banking sector and heavy losses for those holding deposits worth more than 100,000 euros.

Another example of the Eurogroup's cumbersome decision-making was seen this week at a meeting to thrash out crucial details of the bloc's banking union ? a complex project that's seen as vital to help stabilize the EU's financial sector and turn the tide on its crisis ? but failed to make much headway. At the moment they can neither agree how far-reaching the banking union ought to be, nor how fast they want to move in setting it up.

Analysts maintain a reform of the Eurogroup is long overdue, but it's fraught with difficulty: A simple majority vote could mean small countries ganging up and overruling the few big ones while a system based on economic strength would mean Germany and France alone would hold almost 50 percent of the voting rights.

But the EU already has the answer. The ESM boasts a voting system that combines both, the number of countries and their economic weight. That makes it difficult to overrule countries but it is still possible to reach a decision if there are only few and small holdouts.

Europe's currency ? used by more than 330 million people ? is still a relative teenager, it was launched in 1999, "but it has grown up rapidly amid the crisis," German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said.

But while it has evolved into the world's second-most important currency trailing only the dollar, its institutional doldrums seem far from over despite the optimism bolstered by the recent stabilization.

"We're still in the process of curing the teething troubles of the euro. Now that the acute pressure is easing, it gets more difficult again to push through sweeping reforms," said analyst Weil.

___

Marjorie Olster in Washington D.C. contributed to this report.

___

Follow Juergen Baetz on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/jbaetz

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/top-officials-call-overhaul-euro-institutions-152851797.html

academy of country music awards brad paisley zac brown band aubrey born to run pranks pregnancy test

Social Trip Planning App Tripshare Converts Travel Inspiration To Bookings

Tripshare, an iPad application for travel planning, is joining a crowded space. But its CEO knows a little something about the industry – Bob Dana was the former employee No. 1 and first CFO of Virgin America. He once wrote the business plan and feasibility study for Sir Richard Branson in 2003.?And now he’s doing a travel startup. Dana tells us the inspiration for Tripshare was based on a personal experience he had years ago. As CFO, he spent 10 hours on a plane each week flying back and forth from New York to California. In 2006, Dana was trying to convince his family to come out to California for a vacation, so he put together a proposed?itinerary?to help sell the idea. “I ended up preparing this 10-page Word document that included text and photos I cut and pasted from various websites. It was intended to be?persuasive in nature, and collaborative, too,” he explains. “I thought afterwards, that collaborative travel planning was something that was rather difficult to do.” But not only was it difficult to plan, it was also hard to move from the point of inspiration and discovery to actually booking the trip. This idea later formed the basis for Tripshare, which he founded two years ago. The app was originally built in?conjunction?with then co-founder and CTO Ken Goto, a former director of engineering at Apple. Goto has since moved on but his ex-Apple development team, including acting CTO Eric Kapke, now continues the work. The app itself has actually been live in the iTunes App Store as unpublicized beta since August 2012. However, though that app was functionally similar, it drew some criticisms from early users because of its user interface. Today’s version is an overhaul and much improved. Still, despite having done no publicity or marketing, Tripshare has been downloaded nearly 20,000 times while still a work in progress. In other words, today’s release is technically a version 2.0, but for all intents and purposes, this is the big debut. Designed for those planning vacations or other complex trips with multiple destinations or activities, Tripshare allows you to browse, collect and share information with others before booking. Using the iPad’s big screen, you can flip through photos of destinations and lodgings, create itineraries and discover flights, hotels, restaurants, activities and more. Today, the app allows you to explore more than 20,000 cities worldwide, plus 500,000+ lodging

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/YooTbmsk8PI/

peter paul and mary edgar rice burroughs dallas clark litter marinol flight attendant pau gasol trade

Cheap Cleocin - Buying Cleocin in internet saturday shippin ...

ORDER Cleocin ONLINE

side effects of Cleocin use
Cleocin generic cheapest at NV
generic Cleocin in internet wire transfer priority mail in Kentucky Elizabethtown
Cleocin medication online delivery at MS Raleigh
overnight cheap Cleocin
Cleocin diners club in Wantage
purchase Cleocin in internet medicine in Kentucky
Cleocin 200 mg for opiate withdrawl
generic Cleocin tablet in Leeds
Cleocin drug classification in Nevada Fallon
Cleocin in internet pill
Cleocin without a presciption at Dundee
legit places to order Cleocin 10 mg
where to buy Cleocin in bangkok
Cleocin dose children
Cleocin Ophthalmic Ointment
buy cod Cleocin 300 mg in internet cod accepted
delivery free shipping buy Cleocin cheap in Caldicot
no prescription Cleocin online without a perscription
buy Cleocin online pill saturday delivery in IL
i want Cleocin
best price Cleocin no doctors in Blandford Forum
purchase Cleocin cod cash delivery Sacramento
buy Cleocin 30 mg cheap cod no rx at tallinn
availability of generic Cleocin at Ingleton
Cleocin comprar in Ambleside
best buy Cleocin how to order at Wisconsin Auburndale
order Generic Cleocin priority mail
low price Cleocin in internet mastercard free shipping in WI Port Washington
Cleocin online drugs without script in Kentucky Dunmor
Cleocin no rx saturday delivery
pharmacy Cleocin joint stiffness online drug no script in Avebury
cash on delivery Cleocin Orlando
Cleocin weight gain in Colorado Lafayette
buy cheap uk Cleocin el paso in Omagh
children's Cleocin coupon
canadian pharmacy generic Cleocin online sale
Buy Cheaply Buy Discount Cleocin 4mg Buy Nosmoq
buy Cleocin or generic at Maesteg
Cleocin use
no prescription Cleocin online store cod accepted
comprar fed ex Cleocin
discount coupon Cleocin in Wisconsin
buy Cleocin online rx without prescription in Cirencester
Cleocin active chrohns in Truro
Cleocin without pre_script_ion shipped overnight express at Georgia
buy Cleocin in internet saturday shipping at NC Lenoir
Cleocin overnight fed ex no prescription.
generic Cleocin fda in Scotland
comprare Cleocin di
no prescription cheapest Cleocin in Castleton
Cleocin 1 mg diners club saturday delivery
money order Cleocin 20 mg
Cleocin oflodura in internet without prescription at NM Santa Teresa
Cleocin drug high blood pressure
buy cheap online Cleocin at Laredo
Cheapest Cleocin
Cleocin name brand prescription discount prices in NV Pahrump
where to buy discount Cleocin 250 mg no rx cheap
cheap Cleocin london
No Prescription Generic Cleocin In CA
cheap fedex overnight Cleocin i.us online in Arkansas Mount Judea
Cleocin no rx overnight cod delivery research chemical sellers
Cleocin Without A Script Yakima
pharmacy search Generic Cleocin
how to take Cleocin at Magherafelt
overnight delivery of Cleocin in us no prescription needed in Shreveport
where to buy cheap Cleocin no prescription at Charlotte
Cleocin extended release generic
Cleocin medication.
Cleocin metoprolol 50 mg side effects
generic Cleocin walmart at Hawaii
buy by check Cleocin non pre_script_ion colored contacts at HI Pahala
Docs dont presribe Cleocin
does Cleocin increase fsh
cheap Cleocin mania in internet check at MD Port Republic
purchase Cleocin u-cort medicine no script in Askrigg
Cleocin combo
Cleocin used for in AL
Cleocin burning
puchase Generic Cleocin online
give high triglycerides Cleocin
Cleocin 250 mg OK Sayre
Cheap buy Cleocin ofloxacin overdose order pills dose
no prescription required for Generic Cleocin
colorants include ferric oxide Cleocin patients in Airdrie
ordering Cleocin discreetly online in Ballymena
cheap Cleocin online without script at Abergele
Cleocin sale no prescription required
Cleocin they

Cleocin in internet west in MT Augusta
buy no prescription Cleocin cheap yellow online at Devizes
does generic Cleocin cheap canada Denver
buy cod Cleocin discount at Ventnor
can Cleocin injection cause sore throat? at WI Eland
Cleocin enteric coated why enteric coated
Cleocin from mexican pharmacies at St Clears
ordering Cleocin cheap free shipping United Arab Emirates
free delivery Cleocin online in Whitland
cod Cleocin in Wroclaw
buy Cleocin online american express cod accepted in Arkansas Delaware
order Cleocin without prescription from us pharmacy at Shaftesbury

Source: http://www.malikounda.com/discussions/economie-mali-business-f6/cheap-cleocin-buying-cleocin-internet-saturday-shippin-t119977.html

c. difficile carmelo anthony nurse jackie nurse jackie peeps nhl playoffs 2012 masters

Love on Top: Beyonce Pregnant, Allegedly | Black and Married With ...

Black Celebrity Marriages

by Briana Myricks ?|? on May 17th, 2013 ?|?

Rumors have been flying around the Internet about whether Beyonce is expecting baby #2. New source E! Online posted an article saying multiple sources have confirmed the pregnancy.

It?s hard to know whether this is confirmed or not compared to her first announcement, which was made very public at the MTV Music Awards, where the infamous belly rub seen round the world followed her performance of ?Love on Top?. Russell Simmons and his site Global Grind tweeted it it, which increased the attention the possible confirmation is getting. Others close to the couple such as Solange, Gwyn Paltrow and Dream Hampton haven?t said a word as of yet.

Fans have been tweeting their congratulations while others have been voicing their concerns about how a possible pregnancy will affect the Mrs. Carter tour. Beyonce has already canceled a show in Belgium due to ?dehydration and exhaustion?, so some are wondering if the same will happen for her North American tour dates.

Beyonce?s HBO documentary Life is But A Dream showed a more personal side to the star, including her opening up about her miscarriage, and her pregnancy with Blue Ivy. She also recently told ABC News that she would? ?like more children? to keep Blue company.

If the rumors are true, congratulations to Beyonce, Jay-Z, and Blue Ivy for the new addition to the family.

About the author

Briana Myricks is a 20 something wife, Social Media Specialist, and student of life. She blogs about her world at BrianaMyricks.com.

Source: http://blackandmarriedwithkids.com/2013/05/love-on-top-beyonce-pregnant-allegedly/

mario batali lone ranger aaron brooks dave matthews band solar flares 2012 whitney houston will toyota recall

Injuries reported as Conn. commuter trains collide (Providence Journal)

Share With Friends: | | Politics - Top Stories News, News Feeds and News via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/306574072?client_source=feed&format=rss

sweet potato casserole turkey Pumpkin Pie Recipe wii u wii u American Music Awards turkey brine

Authorities: Crime not ruled out in Texas blast

WEST, Texas (AP) ? Investigators working in the remnants of an exploded Texas fertilizer plant sifted by hand through untold kernels of corn, moved tons of debris and conducted more than 400 interviews, while searching for the missing piece to solve what many officials compared to an extraordinary puzzle.

One month after a fire triggered a massive blast killing 15 people, officials on Thursday had to declare the cause of the blaze as "undetermined."

Investigators narrowed the number of possible causes to three: a problem with one of the plant's electrical systems, a battery-powered golf cart, and a criminal act. They ruled out a wide number of others, from a rail car on site loaded with fertilizer to someone smoking.

But they could not say with certainty what caused a fire on April 17 inside the seed and fertilizer building at West Fertilizer Co., in West, a tiny Texas town previously known for its Czech bakeries and heritage. Kelly Kistner, the Texas assistant state fire marshal, said the fire caused stored ammonium nitrate to change states, while also causing debris in the wooden building to begin to fall.

The blast was actually two explosions: a small one that occurred about 20 minutes after the fire was reported, followed by a larger one a split second later, Kistner said. About 20 to 34 tons of ammonium nitrate stored in the plant exploded. Another 28 to 30 tons stored on site, along with a rail car carrying 100 tons of ammonium nitrate, did not explode, officials said.

The power of the blast was equivalent to 15,000 to 20,000 pounds of TNT.

Among the dead were 10 first responders and two people who had joined into fight the fire. The blast registered as a small earthquake and left a crater 93 feet wide and 10 feet deep. It destroyed an apartment building, homes and parts of schools nearby.

"I don't recall a (similar) tragedy of recent times in Texas ? certainly one of the worst in American history with first responders," said Chris Connealy, the state fire marshal, at a press conference in the parking lot of nearby West High School, which was severely damaged.

The golf cart was parked in the room where investigators believe the blast began, officials said. The golf cart's batteries hold a charge and when they fail, they can ignite the materials around them, officials said. They found two pieces of the cart: a brake pad and the axle.

As part of their site investigation, officials tried to reconstruct part of one building on the plant site with debris and as much of the power systems as they could. They were able to rule out a higher-voltage electrical system used at the plant.

Officials have ruled out the possibility that the blast was an act of terror, but not that it was a crime. They refused Thursday to take questions on the arrest of Bryce Reed, a West paramedic who responded to the blast but was arrested weeks later with what authorities said were materials for a pipe bomb. The Texas Rangers, a state investigative agency, and the local county sheriff's office opened their own criminal investigation after his arrest.

Reed's attorney has denied that his client had any role in the blast, and the McLennan County Sheriff's Office said last week that there was no evidence linking Reed to the explosion. He pleaded not guilty this week to the possession charge.

Ammonium nitrate is a chemical used as a fertilizer that also can be used as a cheap alternative to dynamite. It was the chemical used in the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing.

Dozens of investigators from the ATF and State Fire Marshal's Office could be seen combing through debris at the site during their investigation. At one point, they collected anything possibly of use on several blue tarps nicknamed "boneyards."

ATF committed the equivalent of two national response teams to the investigation and spent more than $1 million, according to spokeswoman Franceska Perot.

Daniel Keeney, a spokesman for Adair Grain Co., which owned and operated West Fertilizer, has said the company is cooperating with authorities.

Rachel Moreno, a spokeswoman for the Texas State Fire Marshal's Office, said the death toll had officially reached 15 with the determination by a local justice of the peace that an elderly man who died after being evacuated from the nursing home had been an explosion-related death. The nursing home's medical director previously had said the man died of his pre-existing ailments.

Officials on Thursday notified local and state officials as well as family members of victims and residents in West, where crews have started to clear destroyed homes and federal aid has started to flow to help with the rebuilding effort.

"It may help a little bit," West Mayor Tommy Muska said of Thursday's announcement. "But you know, the closure's going to come when we move forward, when we get people back in their houses, and we get people away from their mothers' and their kids' houses and back in their own homes. That's going to be closure."

____

Associated Press writers Christopher Sherman in McAllen, Texas, and Jim Vertuno in Austin, Texas, contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/authorities-crime-not-ruled-texas-blast-220932316.html

school shootings Jenni Rivera Adam Lanza Facebook the hobbit mick jagger Newton Shooting Newtown Shooting

Blog Curry | Valuable Personal Finance Tips That Will Benefit You

Sorry, Readability was unable to parse this page for content.

Source: http://blogcurry.com/2013/05/valuable-personal-finance-tips-that-will-benefit-you.html

lone ranger aaron brooks dave matthews band solar flares 2012 whitney houston will toyota recall northern lights

Ousted 'Voice' singers have no regrets

TV

Brittany Frederick TODAY contributor

6 hours ago

Team Usher?s Vedo and Team Shakira?s Garrett Gardner were handed their walking papers at the end of Tuesday night?s "The Voice" -- and neither of them were particularly surprised by their dismissals.

"I mentally prepared myself," Vedo told TODAY.com after the results were announced. "I was ready."

The R&B singer?s version of Michael Jackson?s "Rock With You" wasn?t enough to get him into the top 10, but he still earned plenty of fans, as evidenced by how several audience members chanted his name after live episode ended. "I heard it," Vedo said of the show of support. "It was definitely a boost of confidence. I was like 'Okay, somebody likes me.'"

As far as what he?ll do from this point forward, "The next move is just to hit the ground running," he said.

?It's been a wonderful experience. I wouldn't change it for the world,? Vedo added. ?Every single thing that happened, I wouldn't change it because it made me a better person. Even from all the people saying they love (me) to all the people saying 'Vedo sucks,' I love all of it. You want that. You want a balance of good and bad. When nobody's talking about you, that's when you've got a problem.?

Garrett Gardner told us on Monday that he knew performing the Backstreet Boys? ?I Want It That Way? was a huge risk, but even after finding out that it didn?t pay off, the second-chance artist had no regrets.

?I think we could've picked a different song but I don't regret the risk that we took,? he said. ?That might have been what sent me home, but at the same time it?s not something I'm going to brood on. Sometimes the risk can equal the benefit and it didn't last night. You just have to look back on it and say ?Was this worth it?? and for me, I think it was.?

What will he do next? ?I have a lot of original material that I want to release. I have like 30 songs I?m ready to record,? he continued. ?I have a lot of ideas, to go on tour and play some benefit shows for various causes, and give back to all the people that've been supporting me - show them that I really care and appreciate all the support.?

Garrett called his "Voice" journey "totally a confirmation above and beyond. No matter what happens, you have to keep on pushing to that next goal. And just because you don't make it the first time, that doesn't mean anything. You can always get back up and always succeed."

Source: http://www.today.com/entertainment/after-ousters-voices-vedo-garrett-gardner-have-no-regrets-1C9928676

matt barkley russell westbrook NFL Draft Grades 2013 living social pnc Pain and Gain Eddie Lacy

Centamin Q1 earnings jump 71 pct, operations on track

May 15 (Reuters) - Post positions for the 138th running of the Preakness Stakes, to be run at Pimlico on Saturday (Post Position, Horse, Jockey, Trainer, Odds) 1. Orb, Joel Rosario, Shug McGaughey, even 2. Goldencents, Kevin Krigger, Doug O'Neill, 8-1 3. Titletown Five, Julien Leparoux, D. Wayne Lukas, 30-1 4. Departing, Brian Hernandez, Al Stall, 6-1 5. Mylute, Rosie Napravnik, Tom Amoss, 5-1 6. Oxbow, Gary Stevens, D. Wayne Lukas, 15-1 7. Will Take Charge, Mike Smith, D. Wayne Lukas, 12-1 8. Govenor Charlie, Martin Garcia, Bob Baffert, 12-1 9. ...

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/centamin-q1-earnings-jump-71-pct-operations-track-065649316.html

naacp glen campbell jerusalem artichoke bud shootout aretha franklin new orleans weather new orleans weather

Boehner: Someone's going to jail over IRS scandal

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner raised the possibility of jail time on Wednesday for law violations in the growing scandal involving the Internal Revenue Service's targeting of conservative groups for extra tax scrutiny.

"My question isn't about who is going to have to resign, my question is who is going to jail over this scandal," Boehner, the top Republican in Congress, told reporters.

The Justice Department on Tuesday began a criminal investigation, while a number of congressional Republicans called for the resignation of the acting IRS commissioner, Steven Miller.

Boehner said "there are laws in place to prevent this type of abuse," referring to the IRS giving extra scrutiny to requests for tax-exempt status by Tea Party movement groups and other conservative groups.

"Someone made a conscious decision to harass and hold up these requests," Boehner said.

"We need to know who they are, whether they violated the law. Clearly, someone violated the law," Boehner said.

(Reporting by Thomas Ferraro; Editing by Vicki Allen)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/house-speaker-suggests-jail-time-violations-irs-scandal-145332765.html

academy awards 2012 nominations independent spirit awards 2012 jan brewer independent spirit awards 2012 oscar predictions jim jones tony stewart

Google Maps redesigned with improved search and tablet UI (video)

An errant leak this morning gave us a pretty good idea that Google Maps was getting revamped in time for I/O, so this announcement comes as no surprise. Mountain View just pulled back the curtain on the next major release of Maps for desktops while offering up an advance look at the Android and iOS versions. The mobile preview takes a more personalized approach to navigation, with a rating system and offers from merchants like Starbucks. The company also announced the Experience feature for tablets, which takes a look indoors and offers up info on things like shopping, dining and hotels.

Google also showed off the redesigned desktop version, too. New features include "immersive imagery," and the map itself is now the user interface -- with Street View and Google Earth integration. After entering search terms, icons will appear, indicating each type of result rather than the pins of previous versions. Clicking on one will pull up reviews from friends, Street View and a "see inside" option with 360-degree viewing. The views come thanks, in part, to user-submitted photo spheres. In terms of personalization options, the map will analyze the places that you travel, highlight routes and offer suggestions based on spots that you and your friends enjoy. Maps also gathers images for a specific location and displays those snapshots via a carousel down below. A retooled directions experience now offers the option of toggling between driving and transit routes alongside a schedule viewer for factoring in transfers and walking. To sign up for a chance at the desktop preview, hit the coverage link below.

Gallery: Google I/O 2013: Maps redesign

Gallery: Google Maps preview

Filed under: Internet, Software, Google

Comments

Source: Google Maps Blog

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/05/15/google-maps-redesign/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget

Stevie J mothers day 2012 osama bin laden death spinal muscular atrophy brooklyn nets may day protests tony nominations 2012

US, Russia and Iran to wrestle in New York ? Artesia News

Saba Khubezhyty, second from right, of Russia shakes hands with USA?s Jordan Burroughs of Lincoln, Neb., right, after their 74 kilogram class weigh-in during a news conference at U.N. headquarters, Tuesday, May 14, 2013, announcing the ?Rumble on the Rails? wrestling exhibition between the teams from Iran, Russia and the United States. The exhibition, to be held at New York?s Grand Central Terminal on Wednesday, is designed to highlight the sport?s international appeal and popularity. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)

UNITED NATIONS (AP) ? In Iran, Olympic wrestling champion Jordan Burroughs felt like Justin Bieber, LeBron James and Tom Brady all rolled into one.

Not so much in his home country, though the New Jersey native was greeted by more than a dozen television cameras Tuesday when the American team arrived at the United Nations for a news conference with the Iranian and Russian squads.

Wrestling?s leaders hope sports fans do a double-take when they see those three countries in the same sentence ? to prove a point about the sport?s universality. The International Olympic Committee has recommended that wrestling be dropped starting with the 2020 Games, a decision that has a lot of people talking about the sport.

?It was like a double-edged sword. It?s bittersweet,? Burroughs said. ?We?re fighting for our lives, but in retrospect, we?re getting more attention than we?ve ever received. Walking in here and seeing all these cameras, you?re like, ?What the heck?s going on?? It?s not a lot of times we get this much press.?

The United States will face fellow wrestling powers Iran and then Russia in exhibitions Wednesday at Manhattan?s Grand Central Terminal. It?s not the first time a wrestling meet has sprung up at a famed New York City locale ? this is the fourth straight year such an event has been held to raise money for wrestling nonprofit Beat the Streets, with the last two in Times Square.

And it?s not the first time the Iranians have competed in the U.S., though they hadn?t been back since the world championships in this same city a decade ago. But February?s unexpected IOC decision changed everything, and the organizers? goal is for ?The Rumble on the Rails? to be much more than just another charitable event or international exhibition.

They hope the IOC is watching and notices the symbolism.

?I think they are. They have to. Three superpowers in the world are telling them to put it back in,? said Kyle Dake, who will be competing in his first major senior-level international event after becoming the first wrestler to win NCAA titles in four weight classes.

Wrestling is now one of eight sports seeking to fill one spot in the 2020 Olympics. The IOC board will meet May 29 in Russia to recommend a short list, with the final decision in September.

Wednesday?s meet is one of many events around the world this month to promote the sport. The Iranians will also wrestle the Americans in Los Angeles on Sunday.

All these efforts to publicize the sport are among the lessons of the IOC?s decision. Wrestling leaders are rethinking everything from their governance structure to their rules.

There?s a sense the sport will emerge stronger from these tribulations ? if it emerges as an ongoing part of the Olympics.

?It?s a weird feeling,? said U.S. freestyle coach Zeke Jones. ?Wrestling?s not going away. It?s what humans do; it?s innate in mankind. But you have this feeling of, ?Man, we?re getting better right now when we might not be in the Olympic Games.??

Staying in the Olympics is a matter of national pride in Iran and Russia. Rasoul Khadem, Iran?s technical manager, explained it this way through a translator: ?Where I come from, wrestling is not just a sport; it is a part of culture and history.?

Days after the IOC announcement, Burroughs and the U.S. team competed at the World Cup in Tehran. The Iranian fans kept asking for his T-shirts. Burroughs and other teammates shook hands with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in a gesture of goodwill.

Burroughs said he saw the movie ?Argo,? about the 1979 hostage crisis, about a week later and was glad he didn?t watch it before the trip because ?I would?ve been freaking out.? Now he feels he has a more nuanced view of the country.

Whether Iranians? opinions of the U.S. have been affected by wrestling?s show of unity is unclear. Iran?s state media did not report much on the arrival of the American wrestlers, which may stem from the official anger over the sanctions that have hit Iran?s critical oil exports and blacklisted the country from international financial networks. The attention was much greater in 1998 when U.S. wrestlers competed in Iran for the first time since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, which cut ties between the countries.

Dake, the former Cornell star, hears from friends: ?Are you really wrestling Iran? That is amazing. That has bigger implications than just wrestling. That has huge political implications.?

But to wrestling veterans like Jones, a 1992 Olympic silver medalist, the Iranians are just friendly rivals. He?s visited their homes, dined with their families.

?U.S. and Iran have this tension publicly. Really, I sit down and have dinner with them all the time,? Jones said. ?Kind of sounds odd, right??

Khadzhimurad Magomedov, one of the Russian coaches and a 1996 Olympic gold medalist, also finds that events like this week?s feel like reunions.

?We are eager to show here how friendly the wrestlers are to each other,? he said through a translator.

Russia?s contingent includes 2009 world silver medalist Rasul Dzhukaev at 163 pounds. Iran is led by two-time world champion Mehdi Taghavi Kermani at 145? pounds and Olympic bronze medalists Ehsan Lashgari at 185 pounds and Komeil Ghasemi at 264? pounds.

Burroughs, the reigning Olympic gold medalist at 163 pounds, promises some big throws and high-flying takedowns for the fans who bought tickets to Wednesday?s event. Rich Bender, USA Wrestling?s executive director, expects some serious passion from the wrestlers considering the stage and the stakes. The Iran match will be on NBC Sports Network, with the Russia match on Universal Sports.

?It?s their canvas,? he said. ?It?s their opportunity to articulate to people the good in wrestling.?

This entry was posted on May 14, 2013, 2:20 pm and is filed under Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

Source: http://www.artesianews.com/2013/05/14/ap-news/sports-ap-news/us-russia-and-iran-to-wrestle-in-new-york/

Dedication 4 labor day college football scores khan academy Espn College Football Eddie Murphy died Suzanne Barr