The Note's Must-Reads for Thursday December 27, 2012

The Note's Must-Reads are a round-up of today's political headlines and stories from ABC News and the top U.S. newspapers. Posted Monday through Friday right here at www.abcnews.com

Compiled by ABC News' Carrie Halperin Jayce Henderson and Jordan Mazza

FISCAL CLIFF

ABC News' Sarah Parnass, John Parkinson, and Reena Ninan: "At Edge of 'Cliff,' White House Lashes Out at 'Congressional Stupidity'" With only days to come up with a deal to avoid the fiscal cliff, the White House said "congressional stupidity" was damaging the economy but that an agreement could be reached if Republican leaders don't get in the way. LINK

The Hill's Jonathan Easley and Peter Schroeder: " Obama, lawmakers return to 'cliff' with little room left to maneuver" With time running out, President Obama and members of the Senate will return to Washington on Thursday in search of a scaled-back agreement to lessen the economic pain of the "fiscal cliff." Lawmakers are under pressure to pass some kind of legislation that reverses or delays the tax increases and spending cuts slated for January, but they find themselves without a clear path forward after the breakdown in negotiations between Obama and Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio). LINK

The Los Angeles Times' Lisa Mascaro: " Mitch McConnell lies low as 'fiscal cliff' nears" This time of year, Republican leader Mitch McConnell's office suite, steps away from the Senate floor, often crackles with a fire in the hearth. On Wednesday, it sat shuttered and almost empty. The cold stillness captured the state of affairs as senators and President Obama prepared to return to work Thursday facing an imminent deadline to avoid across-the-board tax increases and large spending cuts scheduled to take effect Tuesday. LINK

The Washington Times' Stephen Dinan: " Liberals press own red lines in 'fiscal cliff' talks" Republicans said Wednesday that it's now Democratic leaders' turn to feel the heat of trying to work out a budget deal. After House conservatives sank his plan last week, Speaker John A. Boehner, Ohio Republican, and his top lieutenants said it's now up to President Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Nevada Democrat, to take the next step and try to write a deal that can get through the Senate. LINK

The New York Times' Jonathan Weisman and Jennifer Steinhauer: " Senators to Return With 5 Days Left and No Clear Fiscal Path" With just five days left to make a deal, President Obama and members of the Senate were set to return to Washington on Thursday with no clear path out of their fiscal morass even as the Treasury Department warned that the government will soon be unable to pay its bills unless Congress acts. LINK

The Washington Post's Lori Montgomery Paul Kane: " On 'fiscal cliff,' Obama and senators returning to Washington for one last attempt at deal" With historic tax increases set to hit virtually every American in five days, President Obama and members of the Senate are headed back to Washington on Thursday to take one last shot at a deal to protect taxpayers and the gathering economic recovery. If anything, hope for success appeared to have dimmed over the Christmas holiday. The Republican-controlled House last week abdicated responsibility for resolving the crisis, leaving all eyes on the Senate. But senior aides in both parties said Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) have not met or even spoken since leaving town for the weekend. LINK

Politico's Manu Raju and Jake Sherman: " Fiscal cliff deal increasingly unlikely" Nearly all the major players in the fiscal cliff negotiations are starting to agree on one thing: A deal is virtually impossible before the New Year. Unlike the bank bailout in 2008, the tax deal in 2010 and the debt ceiling in 2011, the Senate almost certainly won't swoop in and help sidestep a potential economic calamity, senior officials in both parties predicted on Wednesday. LINK

DEBT CEILING

The Wall Street Journal's Damian Paletta and Janet Hook: " Debt Ceiling Nears as Budget Talks Stymied" The Treasury Department said Wednesday the government would hit its legal borrowing limit by Monday, setting in motion emergency measures to keep the government operating for several more weeks and serving as a reminder that the nation's budget wrangling could continue well into 2013. LINK

PRESIDENT H.W. BUSH

USA Today's Doug Stanglin: " Elder Bush in intensive care with 'stubborn' fever" Former president George H.W. Bush, who was hospitalized in Houston last month with a bronchitis-like cough, has been in intensive care since Sunday because of a "stubborn" fever that has worsened in recent days, his spokesman said Wednesday evening. LINK

ABC NEWS VIDEOS

"President Obama and First Lady Sit Down for Joint Interview" LINK

BOOKMARKS The Note: LINK The Must-Reads Online: LINK Top Line Webcast (12noon EST M-F): LINK ABC News Politics: LINK The Political Punch (Jake Tapper): LINK George's Bottom Line (George Stephanopoulos): LINK Follow ABC News on Twitter: LINK ABC News Mobile: LINK ABC News app on your iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad: LINK

Also Read

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/notes-must-reads-thursday-december-27-2012-081549403--abc-news-politics.html

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A MotherHood Experience: Welcome Baby M!

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Welcome Baby M!

Saturday, December 22nd at 2:52AM we gave a warm (early) welcome to our newest addition to the family, Baby M! She came to us right before Christmas, a tiny gift weighing 5 lbs 8oz. The sweetest bundle of joy, I fell instantly in love with her.?

My mother was there for the birth along with my hubby for support. I needed it as her birth was quite painful but quite fast - she really wanted to come out and meet everyone!?

We ended up getting the OK to go home on the 23rd provided we come back on Christmas Eve for a follow-up and tests etc. So, the morning of the 24th I gathered up Baby M and took her to the hospital. We waited an hour after the tests for results and then it happened.?

Baby M had to be admitted to the NICU for Jaundice as her bilirubin levels were quite high. They had hoped it would only take six hours under the bili-lights and another test so she could be home for Christmas morning but this wasn't the case.?

Our Baby M stayed the night Christmas Eve at the NICU and Christmas day was spent on pins and needles waiting for phone calls - good or bad. During the gift opening at home with the older two kids we got both bad and good news. Her jaundice was clear but another problem arose - she couldn't hold any formula down which was causing a concern to the nurses and doctor.?

With her blood test clear the hospital called me to get some insight about my previous?preemie? our son, who had?re-flux??Re-flux?did not allow him to properly digest food and we had to sleep him elevated and burp frequently with feedings to avoid him spitting up his meal. Around?6 pm?that evening the hospital called with good news, our Baby M was ready to come home, she was diagnosed with?re-flux?and changing her sleep position is what helped.?

My mom was again right there to help bring me back to the hospital but this time to bring our Baby M home! I went from being in a?somber?mood to being overjoyed within a matter of seconds from that fateful phone call. There is no feeling worse than helplessness when it comes to your children and loved ones being sick.?

My one and only Christmas wish this year was to have my three babies under one roof for Christmas. I got my Christmas wish.

It has been an emotional roller coaster the past five days and the ride is just beginning with this little one as we embark on a new journey as a new family of five. Every day is a new blessing with this baby.

Welcome to the family Baby M, Welcome Home!?



Disclosure: Personal post by AME. All comments, opinions and images are those of the author and are copyrighted.?

?

Source: http://www.amotherhoodexperience.com/2012/12/welcome-baby-m.html

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Video: Caroline Kennedy talks secret JFK recordings (cbsnews)

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No Comments - Online Video Streaming - hauret - tryveply's posterous

Millions of users have started to internet. People make use of internet for various purposes. Majority of individuals are found using internet for video streaming. Anything you wish can be watched in the form of video. There are many popular video streaming sites which contains videos of different categories. Whether you are student, or a housewife or a business man, you will find videos that suit your needs. Movie clips and music clips are watched by huge numbers of people through video streaming. Next to videos and music, funny clips are largely watched by internet users.

Nowadays people don?t bother even if they don?t have TV or satellite connection. Any missed out television programs can be watched through video streaming. So, why do people have to worry about having satellite connection? Whether it is a serial, comedy show, cookery show sport, kids? show or anything else, you can watch it through online video streaming. The only thing you have to do is to sign up with the right video streaming website.

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UN envoy worried after talks with Syria's Assad

BEIRUT (AP) ? The international envoy to Syria said after talks with the country's leader Monday that the situation was "worrying" and gave no indication of progress toward a negotiated solution for the civil war.

Lakhdar Brahimi's mission came as activists reported intense fighting in the central province of Hama, where anti-government gunmen entered the predominantly Alawite town of Maan. Assad's regime is dominated by members of his minority Alawite sect, an off-shoot of Shiite Islam, while most of the rebels are Sunni Muslims.

Brahimi said he and President Bashar Assad exchanged views on the crisis and discussed possible steps forward, which he did not disclose. He spoke briefly to reporters after meeting the Syrian leader at the presidential palace in Damascus.

"The situation in Syria is still worrying and we hope that all the parties will go toward the solution that the Syrian people are hoping for and look forward to," Brahimi said.

Syria's state news agency quoted Assad as saying his government supports "any effort in the interest of the Syrian people which preserves the homeland's sovereignty and independence."

Brahimi has apparently made little progress toward brokering an end to the conflict since starting his job in September, primarily because both sides adamantly refuse to talk to each other.

The government describes the rebels as foreign-backed terrorists set on destroying the country. The opposition says that forces under Assad's command have killed too many people for him to be part of any solution.

Activists say more than 40,000 people have been killed since the Syrian uprising began in March 2011.

Brahimi's two-day visit was to end later Monday. It is his third to Damascus as an envoy of the United Nations and the Arab League.

The security situation in Damascus and elsewhere in the country has declined since Brahimi's previous visits. Instead of flying in to the Damascus International Airport as he did on earlier visits, Brahimi drove to Damascus over land from the Lebanese capital Beirut because of fighting near the Damascus airport.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights quoted activists in the central city of Homs as saying that six rebels died in two neighborhoods Sunday night after inhaling white smoke that came out of shells fired on the area.

"We demand that an international team be sent to the area to investigate the type" of the shells used, said Observatory chief Rami Abdul-Rahman.

Amateur videos released by activists showed men in hospital beds suffering breathing problems as doctors placed oxygen masks on their faces. Some of them coughed strongly as they tried to breath.

"At first, the smell was strong. Then little by little, it got weaker," a man who was identified as a rebel in the area said in the video. "The smell was like hydrochloric acid, and people started choking and I wasn't able to breath." He added.

"My eyes hurt and burned, my head started hurting, I wasn't able to breathe. I just want to breathe clean air," said the man who closed his eyes and said he was having difficulty seeing because of the attack.

The videos appeared genuine and corresponded to other AP reporting on the events depicted.

In nearby Hama province, where rebels launched an offensive against army checkpoints and posts last week, opposition gunmen entered Maan and raised the opposition flag over the main police station, Hama activist Mousab Alhamadee said via Skype.

The Observatory said the rebels included members of Jabhat al-Nusra, which has been branded a terrorist organization by the U.S. and is affiliated with al-Qaida.

The Observatory and Alhamadee said the rebels shot down a Syrian government MiG warplane that was attacking rebel positions in and around Maan. The Observatory said at least 20 soldiers and 11 rebels were killed in Monday's fighting.

The Observatory also said Syrian army helicopters bombed the town of Talbiseh in central Homs province, killing at least 14 people, five of them under age 18. The Local Coordination Committees said the attacks targeted a makeshift hospital and a bakery.

Reports by anti-regime activists about a government airstrike Sunday in the rebel-held central town of Halfaya that killed scores of people also cast pall over Brahimi's visit.

Some activists said the strike had targeted a bakery. Amateur videos posted online showed the bodies of many dead and wounded scattered in a street. The videos appeared to be genuine and corresponded with other AP reporting.

The Observatory said it had collected the names of 40 men and three women killed in Halfaya. The group also reported seeing photos of the dead bodies of 15 more unknown men.

On Sunday, it reported 60 dead.

Abdul-Rahman, the group's head, said he could not confirm that the attack was an airstrike or that it had targeted a bakery.

Syria's state news service blamed the attack on "an armed terrorist group" ? its shorthand for the rebels ? accusing them of filming the aftermath to "frame the Syrian army."

In the videos, armed rebels are clearly among those tending to the dead and wounded.

____

Associated Press writer Bassem Mroue contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/un-envoy-worried-talks-syrias-assad-105353492.html

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Bombing at political rally kills 9 in Pakistan

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) ? A suicide bomber in Pakistan killed nine people including a provincial government official at a political rally held Saturday by a party that has opposed the Taliban, officials said.

The rally in Peshawar, the capital of northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, was held by the Awami National Party, whose members have been repeatedly targeted by the Taliban.

Among the dead was Bashir Bilour, the second most senior member of the provincial Cabinet, said Ghulam Ahmed Bilour, the politician's brother and federal railways minister.

Over 20 others were wounded by the blast, said local police officer Sabir Khan.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned the bombing in a statement, reiterating the United Nations' support for Pakistani efforts "to combat the scourge of terrorism."

Bilour was leaving the rally after delivering the keynote speech when the attack occurred, said Nazir Khan, a local Awami National Party leader.

"There was smoke and dust all around, and dead and wounded people were lying on the ground," he said.

The suicide bomber was on foot, said another police officer, Imtiaz Khan.

Mian Iftikhar Hussain, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa information minister and a member of the Awami National Party, said both he and Bilour had repeatedly received threats from militants. He condemned the attack and said the government needed to intensify its battle against the Taliban.

"Terrorism has engulfed our whole society," said Hussain. "They are targeting our bases, our mosques, our bazars, public meetings and our security checkpoints."

Ten Taliban militants attacked the military area of an international airport in Peshawar with rockets and car bombs a week ago, killing four people and wounding over 40 others. Five of the militants were killed during the attack, and five others died the next day in a gunbattle with security forces.

Also Saturday, police said a mob in southern Pakistan stormed a police station to seize a mentally unstable Muslim man accused of burning a copy of Islam's holy book. The crowd beat him to death, and then set fire to his body.

The case is likely to raise further concerns about the country's harsh blasphemy laws, which can result in a death sentence or life in prison to anyone found guilty. An accusation or investigation alone can lead to deaths, as people take the law into their own hands and kill those accused of violating it. Police stations and even courts have been attacked by mobs.

Police arrested the man on Friday after being informed by residents that he had burned a Quran inside a mosque where he had been staying for a night, said local police official Biharud Deen.

An angry mob of more than 200 people then broke into the police station in the southern town of Dadu and took the accused man, who they say was under questioning. Deen said police tried their best to save the man's life but were unable to stop the furious crowd.

Police have arrested 30 people for suspected involvement in the attack, said Deen. The head of the local police station and seven officers had been suspended, he said.

Past attempts by governments in predominantly Muslim Pakistan to review these laws have met with violent opposition from hardline Islamist parties.

In southwestern Pakistan, gunmen late Friday killed 11 Pakistanis and Afghans who were trying to cross into neighboring Iran to travel on to Europe as illegal immigrants, said local government official Zubair Ahmed. The shooting took place in Sunsar town in Baluchistan province, he said.

It was not immediately clear who was behind the attack, but hundreds of Pakistanis and Afghans are captured by Iranian border guards every year for illegally trying to travel to Europe to find better jobs.

___

Associated Press writers Abdul Sattar in Quetta, Pakistan, and Adil Jawad in Karachi, Pakistan, contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/bombing-political-rally-kills-9-pakistan-155554817.html

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Amber Rose and Wiz Khalifa to Teach Son About Pot

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Richard Adams, early figure in gay marriage, dies (Providence Journal)

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BT ordered to repay overcharged comms providers

LONDON (Reuters) - BT Group PLC must repay its corporate customers after overcharging for ethernet services, the British market regulator Ofcom said on Friday.

The British telecoms operator faces a total 94.823 million pounds ($154.19 million) refund to communications providers BSkyB, Talk Talk, Virgin Media, Verizon UK and Cable & Wireless.

Ofcom received the first complaint that charges levied by BT for high-speed data services were "not cost orientated" in 2010, and continued receiving related claims before issuing its final determination on the dispute on December 20 2012.

BT, which said in November its second quarter revenues had been hit by a triple whammy of recession, regulation and rain, can appeal the decision over the next two months.

($1 = 0.6150 British pounds)

(Reporting By Isla Binnie; editing by Sarah Young)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/bt-ordered-repay-overcharged-comms-providers-093547050--sector.html

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'The Great Gatsby' Trailer: Booze, Parties, And Anachronistic Music

When you read "The Great Gatsby" in high school did you imagine Kanye and Jay-Z playing in the background? Probably not. But for his new 3-D adaptation, that's exactly what Baz Luhrmann is going for. The highly stylized take on F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic novel of melancholy in the 20s got a wildly splashy new [...]

Source: http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2012/12/20/great-gatsby-trailer-2/

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Who says you can't go home for the holidays? - The Travel Insure ...

Submitted by Joe Cortez

The title says it all - this year, I won't be heading to my home of California for the holidays. It's a rather common occurance, I'm embarrased to admit. And after everything that we've seen this year, I'm very regretful that I won't get to spend this quality time with my family. I suppose that's part of the agreement that I made to live this life that I wanted: can't stay for long; just turn around, and I'm gone again.

Not that I hold any regrets.?I've gotten to see a lot more of the United States this year than I ever anticipated. Nor does this damper my spirit to hold to my New Years Travel Resolutions (which I'll share next week). But I do wish I could spend more time taking pictures with my mom. Or sitting beside the barbecue?telling stories with my dad. Or discovering new dungeons on Skyrim with my brother. Though my cousin and I are close to finishing our multiplayer of Portal 2...

This post is not directly about travel. There are no miles or points to be had for this one. Not even a story on how I kept sane in the midst of a trip delay. But it is about how I keep in touch with those who are close to me while I'm on the road. Because no matter where you go, you'll always have an anchor?holding you home?- be it Austin, Boston, or Bulgaria.

I'll not be home for the holidays this year. But regardless of the fact that I'm 2,000 miles and one left turn away, I plan on bridging the gap using technology to see those who I care about the most this season. Using the three W's:

1. Webcams and Wirless
   No, I won't be home to see my family this year. But I will be "seeing" them when we use Skype and Facetime to connect with each other. Thanks to the blistering-fast internet that I have at home,?and all of my various connecting apparatuses, I'll be able to wish Grandma a Merry Christmas face-to-face, and even open a couple of gifts on the webcam. I'll be able to show dad the Tri-Tip I plan on grilling for dinner. And everyone will get to watch the cat play fetch with his favorite toy. Its not the same as being there with them, but it's as close as I can get.
2. Well wishes to everyone
   I've always argued that the written word is much more real than anything scribed in an e-mail or text message. So for those who I can't see as regualrly - like my friends in Richmond, Chicago, Hollywood, and everywhere in between, holiday cards are getting sent out with my well wishes for everyone. And the occasional gift - because?what are?the holidays without a little festivity?
3. Warm outlooks for 2013
   So I can't be everywhere with everyone. But at least I can start the planning for an awesome year of travel ahead. Already this year I've got a travel plan of star?touring in Temecula,?racing?in Rockingham, wine tours in Niagara and Napa, and a bunch of side trips inbetween. And in the time off I have coming up in the next couple of weeks, I plan on sitting down and making it all come together.?If nothing else, I can start dreaming. That's part of the holiday magic, right?

Keeping in touch while you're on the road can be difficult. But every once in a while, technology can bridge that gap and keep you focused, regardless of where you wander. How do you keep in touch with your loved ones on the road? I'd like to hear your tips on keeping in touch!

And no matter what you celebrate or how you do so...have a fun, joyous, and safe holiday season.

About the Author: Joe Cortez is the marketing specialist for Travel Insurance Services. In his spare time, he has a deep affinity for travel, points collecting & multiplying,?and creating joy for his family and friends in the holidays.?He can be reached via e-mail at joe.cortez@usiaffinity.com.

Source: http://blog.travelinsure.com/2012/12/who-says-you-cant-go-home-for-the-holidays.html

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Knowing How You Hear May Help Interpret a Hearing Test

Posted by Andrea Avery on 12/21/12 ? Categorized as Health and Fitness

Understanding how the ear works may be helpful so that you can understand the results of your hearing test. The intricacies of the ear are amazing as is the process that takes place in order for an individual to finally get a message. There are three main steps that the sound goes through in order to give a message to the hearer.

You could get very philosophical when it comes to sound. The old question of whether a tree made a noise when it fell in the woods if no one was there to hear it is an example. Most people would agree that the tree did make a sound. The sound produced by the tree falling would produce a vibration. The rate at which the vibration would take place is called a frequency. The amplitude of that tree falling is how loud the sound was when it fell. It would have done this whether or not someone was there listening.

In order for someone to hear, a sound must first of all take place. Once a sound takes place it goes into the ear and causes the eardrum to vibrate.

From that initial step, the vibrations of the eardrum cause the middle ear bones to vibrate. At this point the sound gets louder and travels to the inner ear.

It is in the inner ear and onward that the most exciting intricacies of the ear take place. The Labyrinth of the inner ear has fluid in it. In that fluid area is the Cochlea. The cochlea is filled with tiny hairs called cilia. These hairs move as sound causes the fluid in the inner ear to move. The movement of the cilia causes a nerve impulse to the auditory nerve, which is where the final step in hearing takes place.

It is a very involved process. So you can see why there are a few reasons why a hearing test might be failed. The problem could be with the anatomy of the ear. There could be parts missing or malformations. You could have also damaged the ear. An individual could have too much fluid in the ear, or someone could be lacking in cilia that would also cause problems. Another scenario includes a problem with the auditory nerve. It could be missing, weakened, or paralyzed.

Having a hearing test is very important if you do not believe you hear as well as you should. After you have a full test, an audiologist should be able to explain to some degree what is going on with your ears. Further testing may also be necessary. Hopefully, knowing in advance how the ear works will help you to understand what is going on in your own ears.

Learn how well your hearing is. Find out more about Fresno, CA hearing test at: http://www.miracle-ear-fresno-visalia.com.

Source: http://www.articlesrx.com/knowing-how-you-hear-may-help-interpret-a-hearing-test/9932

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Customizing the "Leave Community" screen community bubbles

Hi,

I am using Zen Foundations as my theme for confluence 4.3. We have had good luck with Community Bubbles and all the functionality seems to be working perfectly. I have ran into a few screens though that the formatting seems to be a bit funny.

For example on the Leave a community window things seem to be all over and a little jumbled. I was wondering if there is anyway that I can customize this window or just have a simple lightbox popup to confirm their decision to leave.

Not sure and havent tested without zen to see what the UI for this looks like.

Any ideas or thoughts will be appreciated.

Thanks,

Aaron

Source: https://answers.atlassian.com/questions/117233/customizing-the-leave-community-screen-community-bubbles

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California Poet Laureate Launches Poem for Newtown, Conn. Unity Poetry Wall pro...

California Poet Laureate Launches Poem for Newtown, Conn.

ucrtoday.ucr.edu

As Americans grapple with the horrific deaths of 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., California Poet Laureate Juan Felipe Herrera has created a nationwide unity poem project to help express what the country is feeling.

Source: http://www.facebook.com/poets.org/posts/574436945915350

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Today on New Scientist: 18 December 2012

Violent polar storms help control the world's weather

Without the mini-hurricanes which form over the Arctic, the world could face massive weather disruption

Ancient city of Troy rebranded itself after war

Changing styles of pottery 3200 years ago show the Trojans were quick to align themselves with the region's new political power

Court ruling will clarify end-of-life decisions

Canada's supreme court will soon rule on whether doctors can stop treatment for "unconscious" patients, but determining awareness remains a thorny issue

Colourful claw of tiny ocean predator

See a prizewinning photo of the claw of a Phronima: a tiny marine predator whose size belies its ferocity

Gaming chair mimics a full-motion simulator

If you can't afford a full-motion flight or car simulator, here's a cheap way of creating some of the same effects

How an ancient Egyptian code unmasked a cannibal star

Has a papyrus from the time of the pharaohs exposed the ghoulish habits of the baleful Demon Star? Stephen Battersby investigates

Best videos of 2012: Bonobo genius makes stone tools

Watch a creative bonobo fashion tools to retrieve hidden food, at number 9 in our countdown of the year's best videos

Is the obesity epidemic caused by too much sugar?

In Fat Chance, endocrinologist Robert Lustig argues that insidious changes to our eating habits have caused disruptions to our endocrine systems

'The idea we live in a simulation isn't science fiction'

If the universe is just a Matrix-like simulation, how could we ever know? Physicist Silas Beane thinks he has the answer

Fungal frog killer hops into crayfish

Crayfish are vulnerable to the same chytrid fungus already killing frogs all over the world. The discovery provides a clue to how the disease spreads

Source: http://feeds.newscientist.com/c/749/f/10897/s/26ba5f30/l/0L0Snewscientist0N0Cblogs0Cshortsharpscience0C20A120C120Ctoday0Eon0Enew0Escientist0E180Edece0E10Bhtml0Dcmpid0FRSS0QNSNS0Q20A120EGLOBAL0Qonline0Enews/story01.htm

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Iraq's President Suffers a Stroke

In the aftermath of Friday's Newtown school shooting, we've heard tales mostly horrifying and occasionally heroic, from surviving witnesses and mourning citizens alike, but this one lies somewhere in between, all the more unshakeable. One six-year-old Sandy Hook student played dead in her first-grade classroom, her family pastor said late Sunday, with the kind of quick thinking that ended up saving her life but now leaves her with the unshakeable memories of watching all her classmates being shot and killed. ...

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/iraqs-president-suffers-stroke-114715755.html

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Twist launches HTML5 app to help Android users let others know when they?ll be late for an appointment

Twist, the mobile app that helps keep others notified of your arrival, has launched its Android app. Previously only available for the iPhone, this new version now lets more people better manage their schedules. The app is mostly similar to its iPhone counterpart, except that it was built in HTML5 and a number of cosmetic differences.

If you?ve ever been stuck in traffic or late for any reason to a meeting or event, having some way to notify the other party would have been extremely helpful. Twist says that it recognizes this problem ? tardiness, it says, is a problem for millions of people. This is exacerbated by the fact that in the United States, 24% of all vehicle crashes involve the use of a cell phone, 25% of Americans admit to sending text messages just to notify someone that they?re running late.

As TNW?s Brad McCarty said earlier when the iPhone app was released:

Twist is a little bit like?Glympse, in that it allows you to tell someone where you are. But instead of just showing them a location on a map, Twist will figure out exactly how long it?s going to take for them to get to the intended destination, whether that be via car, on foot, on bike or what have you.

The company says that there are over 100 million Android units shipped each quarter. This is an incredible opportunity for the app to grow and help eliminate lateness not only in the professional space, but in the personal one too. Based on a 2012 Harris Interactive Poll, being late has costly repercussions. Besides the social consequences, it is estimated that it costs businesses more than $90 billion per year in lost productivity.

This could explain the market demand for the Android version. Mike Belshe, co-founder of Twist, says that as soon as the iPhone app was released, a huge swell of demand came from Android users who wanted to see a version for their devices. Now, five months later, that time has arrrived.

We developed Twist so that both parties involved don?t have to have the app installed, but the experience is enhanced when all users are utilizing the application.

With the release of the Android version, users will find that there are four tweaks to the app: the company has addressed the tap integration with the Android OS, received destinations are automatically added to the app?s recent history, battery life has been improved, and participants can be added with one touch in the People tab.

Twist has raised $6 million in Series A funding from Bridgescale Partners, Eric Hahn, Jeff Skoll, and from the two company co-founders, Bill Lee and Mike Belshe.

??Twist for Android

Photo credit:?Sean Gallup/Getty Images

Disclosure: This article contains an affiliate link. While we only ever write about products we think deserve to be on the pages of our site, The Next Web may earn a small commission if you click through and buy the product in question. For more information, please see our Terms of Service.

Source: http://thenextweb.com/apps/2012/12/18/twist-launches-android-app-built-in-html5/

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Web business brings structure to cash donations ... - The Olympian

ROLF BOONE | Staff writer ? Published December 16, 2012 Modified December 16, 2012

Software developer Jay Bolton had developed a Web-based recurring payment system, but he and business partner Roderick Campbell were unsure of how to apply it to the real world. That was until Campbell struck on the idea of applying it to nonprofits, creating an Internet startup focused on fundraising for those organizations.

The result is CommitChange, which went ?live? Dec. 5 and is now seeking a wider audience and outside investors.

Bolton, Campbell, in charge of business and marketing, and the two co-founders of MerchantOS, an Olympia-based company that developed one of the first Web-based point-of-sale software systems for retailers, are the founders behind CommitChange. Their Web designer is James Franzen.

CommitChange is more than a website PayPal ?donate? button or the one-time funds generated by sites such as Kickstarter, Campbell said, offering instead a deeper experience for the donor interested in a local nonprofit.

?Donors don?t always see the tangible impact of their dollars,? he said.

Using the recurring payment system, donors can contribute as little as $10 a month to the nonprofit of their choice, such as Garden Raised Bounty (GRuB), Harlequin Productions, SafePlace and the Washington Center for the Performing Arts.

CommitChange is working with 30 to 35 nonprofits, mostly in Thurston County, with room to grow to 50, Campbell said.

SafePlace executive director Mary Pontarolo praised the site, saying it gives potential donors the time to make thoughtful, planned donations on a regular basis. In return, Safe Place also can set up a corresponding ?thank you? system to make its donor relationships grow, she said. It?s also more exposure for SafePlace in the community.

?I see it growing exponentially,? she said about local giving to SafePlace.

CommitChange offers detailed profiles of the nonprofits, including videos and statistics, plus donors can build their own profiles, either public or private, that tracks their donations and achievements.

Donor amounts are not disclosed, he said.

One key aspect of the business is that it can track a donors overall ?network impact? ? aided by its integration with Facebook ? showing the number of donors recruited by one person and the total amount of money raised. CommitChange, meanwhile, makes its money by charging the nonprofits a transaction and service fee, Campbell said. ?The cost to be in our database is zero,? Bolton added.

Up next for the startup is to raise $200,000 to $300,000 by the end of the first quarter, hopefully with the assistance of an angel investor ? those high-net-worth individuals who are looking to invest.

?We want to work with people who really get what we?re doing socially,? Campbell said.

CommitChange

Co-founders: Roderick Campbell, Jay Bolton and the two founders of MerchantOS, Justin Laing and Ivan Stanojevic.

Location: 711 Capitol Way, Olympia.

Years in business: CommitChange went live Dec. 5.

Website: commitchange.com

Service: Online fundraising site for nonprofits, beginning with several in Thurston County.

Did you know? Both Campbell and Bolton are recent graduates of The Evergreen State College. Bolton, after first studying at St. John?s College in New Mexico, transferred to Evergreen to study computer science, while Campbell studied sociology. Campbell also brings a worldwide view to CommitChange, having spent time in as many as 30 countries growing up. His parents believed in the value of travel, so they would live in one place to earn money, then move to their next destination. One of his favorite places is Lhasa, Tibet, Campbell said. Although he has traveled around the world, he considers Casper, Wyo., to be home.

Rolf Boone: 360-754-5403 rboone@theolympian.com theolympian.com/bizblog @rolf_boone

Source: http://www.theolympian.com/2012/12/16/2355201/web-business-brings-structure.html

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Criminal probe adds to Texas cancer agency woes

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- Texas put up $3 billion in taxpayer money and promised cancer breakthroughs. But a criminal investigation, widespread rebuke from scientists and the resignations of embattled state officials came faster than medical discoveries.

The Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas launched in 2009, flaunting the second-biggest trough of cancer research dollars in the country. Nobel laureates eagerly took jobs with the agency and celebrity Lance Armstrong lent visible and then-coveted support. It was an unprecedented state-run battle against a worldwide killer.

Three years later, it's become unhinged by suggestions of politics and personal profit and is on the ropes.

"People expected that we get some good results. Not that we make people rich in private companies doing cancer research," said Cathy Bonner, a cancer survivor who was a close aide to former Texas Gov. Ann Richards, and who helped brainstorm the idea for CPRIT. "I can't imagine anything lower than misuse of research money that's meant to save people's lives."

Embroiled by two lucrative grants approved despite scant review ? or none at all, in one case ? CPRIT is ending a year of turmoil saying the beleaguered agency is cooperating with separate prosecutor investigations. One is by a public corruption unit that convicted former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay on money laundering charges, and is beginning this probe trying to recover key internal emails CPRIT says it cannot retrieve.

The investigations opened last week after CPRIT revealed its latest and most serious blunder: Giving a private biomedical startup, Dallas-based Peloton Therapeutics, an $11 million award in 2010 without ever scrutinizing the merits of the company's proposal. The discovery came on the heels of the agency funding a $20 million project roundly condemned for not first undergoing an independent scientific review.

On Friday, the federal National Cancer Institute ? which confers CPRIT the prominent status of being an approved funding entity ? confirmed it was evaluating "recent events" at the state agency.

Amid the escalating troubles, an agency that doled out more than $800 million in three years has practically ground to a halt.

CPRIT's peer-review boards that evaluate research proposals are empty ? virtually all members quit in protest, including the chief science officer and the head of the science review council, both Nobel prize winners. They didn't leave quietly: Dr. Phillip Sharp, professor at the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, said agency leaders "dishonored" the integrity of the independent review process and suggested "suspicions of favoritism" were at hand.

On the other end of treating cancer ? putting drug discoveries on the market and in the hands of patients ? Chief Commercialization Officer Jerry Cobbs resigned in November after the irregularities behind Peloton's funding were uncovered. The agency has said Peloton was unaware its proposal bypassed review, and the company has declined comment.

Executive Director Bill Gimson then completed an extraordinary purging of the agency's leadership last week, saying he would step down from the $300,000-a-year job he held since CPRIT formed. His Dec. 10 resignation letter is dated the same day the Texas attorney general's office informed Gimson it was launching a wide inquiry into the agency's operations.

Months of upheaval has become even too much for one public relations superpower. Hill & Knowlton Strategies severed its consulting deal with CPRIT last week, telling the agency in a letter that "the ongoing issues and challenges that have confronted the organization over recent months have greatly exceeded the scope of work outlined in the original contract."

Cancer-fighting groups worry Texas lawmakers will be next to abandon CPRIT.

"The internal dynamics are concerning, and we need to know exactly what's going on," said James Gray, a government relations director for the American Cancer Society. "But the mission and work of CPRIT is vital in saving lives today, and also in the future."

CPRIT was created with a built-in expiration date. Texas voters approved a constitutional amendment in 2007 to launch a $3 billion cancer-fighting effort, but gave the state only a decade to do it. Apart from funding research in university laboratories and infusing private biotech startups with cash ? including Peloton ? the agency also provides money for hundreds of thousands of preventive screenings, such as for breast cancer, across Texas.

Gov. Rick Perry and other elected leaders are now talking tough about transparency and getting to the bottom of the Peloton grant. The state's key budget-writing committee added a review of the agency to a hearing agenda for Thursday, though there appears to be little appetite among lawmakers to cut off CPRIT.

Prosecutors launched their investigations last week without alleging any criminal misconduct. But their broad scope will include trying to recover internal agency emails surrounding the Peloton grant that Gimson has said are no longer available.

"We've been down that road many times," said Gregg Cox, director of the Travis County district attorney's public integrity unit.

CPRIT is among fewer than two dozen funding entities in the nation approved by the National Cancer Institute. Aleea Farrakh Khan, an NCI spokeswoman, said the institute has not directly contacted CPRIT during its evaluation and no decisions have been made.

___

Follow Paul J. Weber on Twitter: www.twitter.com/pauljweber

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/criminal-probe-adds-texas-cancer-180547697.html

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'Hobbit' Producer on Peter Jackson: 'He's an Independent Filmmaker ...

Philippa Boyens, a longtime producer and co-writer on Peter Jackson?s films, has insight into what makes The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey director tick.

During The Hollywood Reporter?s producer roundtable, she shared some of her thoughts on the Oscar-winning filmmaker.

VIDEO: What Would Guillermo del Toro?s 'Hobbit' Have Looked Like?

?He sees himself as an independent filmmaker. He?s an independent filmmaker and he has that sensibility, except he owns the visual effects company and a postproduction company,? Boyens said.

Boyens?also spoke about the financial incentives The Hobbit production received from the New Zealand government for shooting there.

?He brought a lot of money to New Zealand,? she said. ?That money would not have come into the the country -- the taxes that were paid on that money through the 3,000 people that were employed on that film alone. The exposure it gives, the tourism.?

Boyens noted that in New Zealand, people tend to cut down to size those who let success go to their heads. However, it?s not quite the same in Hollywood. She recalls that before coming to work in the U.S., Jackson?s partner, Fran Walsh, advised her not to be too humble in the States.

PHOTOS: THR's Producer Roundtable: 6 Power Players on Saying No to Tarantino, Studio Politics and del Toro's Vision for 'Hobbit'

?You don?t get credit in America for trying to ... be humble. It?s [seen as] bullshit. It?s a waste of everyone?s time,? Boyens recalled Walsh telling her.

Boyens joined a roundtable discussion with producers Eric Fellner (Les Miserables), Bruce Cohen (Silver Linings Playbook), Grant Heslov (Argo), JoAnne Sellar (The Master) and Stacey Sher (Django Unchained). The conversation was moderated by?THR?news director?Matthew?Belloni?and executive features editor Stephen Galloway.

Source: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hobbit-producer-peter-jackson-hes-401906

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Tesla Model S Already A Future Classic? Auto Library Thinks So

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Put a group of auto enthusiasts in a room, ply them with suitable amounts of alcohol, and soon conversation will turn to 'future classics'.

The term refers to a modern car which gains the kind of respect and appeal of a classic vehicle in its lifetime, guaranteeing it a similar status many years in the future.

And according to some, the Tesla Model S electric sedan already makes the grade.

The Sacramento Bee reports that Detroit's National Automotive History Collection has already decreed the Model S a "collectible vehicle of the future".

Of all the models released in 2012, it's the Model S which is most likely to be desired by future car collectors--that's the suggestion of Friends of the NAHC, which supports the automotive archive at the Detroit Public Library.

Members vote annually on the North American-built vehicle most likely to reach classic status--and Palo Alto-based Tesla's sedan is the first non-Detroit vehicle to be declared a collectible.

The honor is the latest in an increasing roster of achievements for the electric luxury sedan, including our own Best Car To Buy 2013 title.

The Model S joins other big American names such as the 2010 Chevy Camaro, 2008 Dodge Challenger and 2005 Ford Mustang on the list--as well as last year's winner, the 2011 Chevrolet Volt.

Given the car's significance, current-day appeal and it's assured future classic status, we'd go as far as saying the Model S is a modern classic--a significant vehicle which already defines its time, and praised highly by auto enthusiasts.

Can you think of any other green vehicles which might become classics? Let us know in the comment section below.

+++++++++++

Follow GreenCarReports on Facebook and Twitter.

Source: http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1081068_tesla-model-s-already-a-future-classic-auto-library-thinks-so

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Less partner abuse, substance abuse and post-partum depression among married women, study finds

Dec. 13, 2012 ? There's new evidence about the benefits of marriage.

Women who are married suffer less partner abuse, substance abuse or post-partum depression around the time of pregnancy than women who are cohabitating or do not have a partner, a new study has found.

Unmarried women who lived with their partners for less than two years were more likely to experience at least one of the three problems. However, these problems became less frequent the longer the couple lived together.

The problems were most common among women who were separated or divorced, especially if the couple parted less than 12 months before their child was born.

Dr. Marcelo Urquia, an epidemiologist at the Centre for Research on Inner City Health at St. Michael's Hospital, said that as more children are being born to unmarried parents, he wanted to delve deeper into the risks and benefits of not just single vs. cohabitating parents but the various kinds of relationships.

The results of his study were published today in the American Journal of Public Health.

"What is new in this study is that for the first time we looked at the duration of unmarried cohabitation and found the shorter the cohabitation, the more likely women were to suffer intimate-partner violence, substance abuse or post-partum depression around the time of conception, pregnancy and delivery," Dr. Urquia said. "We did not see that pattern among married women, who experienced less psychosocial problems regardless of the length of time they lived together with their spouses."

Dr. Urquia said knowing the differences between married and cohabitating partners was important as the number of children born outside marriages rises. Thirty per cent of children in Canada are born to unmarried couples, up from 9 per cent in 1971. In several European countries, births out of wedlock outnumber those to married couples.

Dr. Urquia found about one in 10 married women (10.6 per cent) suffered partner or substance abuse or post-partum depression in his study of data from the 2006-07 Canadian Maternity Experiences Survey, a nationwide sample of 6,421 childbearing women compiled by the Public Health Agency of Canada.

He found 20 per cent of women who were cohabitating but not married suffered from at least one of those three psycho-social conditions. The figure rose to 35 per cent for single women who had never married and to 67 per cent for those who separated or divorced in the year before birth.

Dr. Urquia said it was unclear whether problems such as partner or substance abuse were the cause or result of separations.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by St. Michael's Hospital, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

---

Journal Reference:

1. Marcelo L. Urquia, Patricia J. O?Campo, Joel G. Ray. Marital Status, Duration of Cohabitation, and Psychosocial Well-Being Among Childbearing Women: A Canadian Nationwide Survey. American Journal of Public Health, 2012; DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2012.301116

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/living_well/~3/kbcfeEzVxfY/121213172348.htm

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"Hell on Wheels" gets another season and a new showrunner

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - AMC's western drama "Hell on Wheels" will be back for a third season, and it will roll onto the air with a new showrunner, the network said Wednesday.

John Wirth, whose credits include "V," "Falling Skies" and "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles," is stepping in as executive producer and showunner for the series, replacing departed showrunner John Shiban, who left the show in November. Shiban's exit held up the third-season renewal of the series, which was initially announced slightly before his departure.

"We look forward to unveiling the next riveting chapter in the complex lives of the denizens of ?Hell on Wheels,'" Jeremy Gold, "Hell on Wheels" executive producer and head of creative affairs for Endemol Studios, which produces the show, said. "We are delighted that John Wirth will be joining us on this remarkable journey. John is a proven showrunner with a terrific voice and a deep passion for our show."

The 10-episode third season of "Hell on Wheels" will premiere in the third quarter of 2013.

"Hell on Wheels," which centers around the construction of the first transcontinental railroad, averaged 2.4 million total viewers with its second season, which wrapped in October.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/hell-wheels-gets-another-season-showrunner-202448881.html

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Lazard to issue special dividend, move up payout

NEW YORK (AP) -- Lazard will pay a special dividend this month and accelerate payment of its next regular quarterly dividend, moves that could protect shareholders from potentially having to pay higher taxes on dividend income starting in January.

The investment bank announced its plans after markets closed on Tuesday, saying the actions "reflect Lazard's ongoing commitment to return capital to stockholders through dividends and share repurchases."

New York's Lazard Ltd. said its board authorized a special dividend of 20 cents per share on its Class A common stock, payable on Dec. 27 to shareholders of record as of Dec. 21.

That payment is in addition to Lazard's next quarterly dividend of 20 cents per share, which would ordinarily be paid in February. But the board authorized moving up the payment and record dates for that payout to Dec. 27 and Dec. 21, respectively.

Shares of Lazard fell 7 cents to $30.71 in midday trading.

With dividend taxes set to rise starting next month, Lazard joins a growing number of companies moving up regular payouts or issuing special end-of year dividends.

Since 2003 investors have paid a maximum 15 percent on dividend income. That historically low rate will expire in January unless Congress and President Barack Obama reach a compromise on taxes and government spending, and the rate could increase as part of any deal that's reached. As it stands, dividends will be taxed as ordinary income in 2013, the same as wages, so rates will go up depending on which income bracket a taxpayer is in. For the highest earners, the dividend rate would jump to 43.4 percent.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/lazard-issue-special-dividend-move-182659573.html

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Get Stoked for Van Haandel's Latest - Food & Drink - Broadsheet ...

I

n recent times, we have seen the nascence of a more stylised and curated approach to casual dining in Melbourne. A growing desire for a balance between the informality of a cafe and the polish of a restaurant has spawned a legion of venues that continue to blur the lines. Restaurateurs all over the city are scrambling to keep pace with the fast changing landscape that has seen old institutions reinvent themselves to satiate a new breed of customer.

Restaurateur Frank van Haandel is doing just this. Following the success of the 2010 renovation upstairs at his iconic restaurant in St Kilda, Stokehouse, it was only a matter of time before he shifted his focus below deck. The decision to gut and rebuild the tired sea-level dining room completes the package, unveiling a beach shack with a whole new attitude, renamed Stokehouse Cafe.

In a nostalgic nod to St Kilda?s rich history, the new 240-seater is reminiscent of the beach?s heyday and is set to open its doors on Monday December 17, just in time for summer.

Stokehouse has survived the countless changes to Melbourne?s drinking and eating habits. Starting out life as an open teahouse pavilion in 1916, it was then taken over by a German family in the 1960s and renamed Stokehouse. Brothers Frank and John van Haandel set their sights on this unique stretch of sand in 1989, taking the reins and opening a pizza restaurant downstairs before injecting a fine dining counterpart upstairs.

?In recent years the downstairs eatery lost its way so we are just bringing back the good stuff from the old days,? says Stokehouse manager and Frank van Haandel?s right hand man, Anthony Musarra. ?This marks a return to relaxed but cool dining, which has been missing for a while.?

Yes, a return to informality but not a complete departure from fine dining as Stokehouse is a testament to the fact there is room for both; a single staircase being the only divider. ?We are fortunate to have two levels as the present day is about creating spaces with multiple offerings and experiences,? Musarra says.

As a hybrid dining site, what Stokehouse is attempting to offer is a multilayered experience with the intended result of a broadened appeal. Part of this idea is to adopt various personas over the course of the day, luring us in at breakfast and enticing us to settle in and stay the entire day before dancing well into the night. The incentive, according to Musarra, is to draw in larger crowds and appeal to the masses.

After seven years as head chef at the 1-2 chef hat restaurant upstairs Nick Mahlook will descend the stairwell as head chef of Stokehouse Cafe, unveiling lunch and dinner seven days and breakfast on weekends. ?It?s unheard of as a chef to be in the same place for so long,? he boasts. ?But it?s so nice here.?

His recent stint overseas has flavoured the new menu, which is an amalgam of Spanish, Mexican, Italian, Greek and Argentinean fare with a focus on quality of produce and simplicity.

Some of Stokehouse?s many new toys include the Spanish Josper charcoal oven, open flame spit and coal pit grill, which will reel out charcoal roasted chicken, daily spit roasts and a chilli dog to boot. ?You have to think of ?cafe? as a loose term. The word ?cafe ?changes your perception of things, but the food does not compromise on quality,? he assures. ?You just don?t have to use a knife and fork if you don?t want to.?

In an effort to reconnect us with the old St Kilda foreshore and retain the classic elements of the retro beach shack it once was, an expansive bar made of rough-cut natural timber is positioned front and centre, right on the beach. And in keeping with the nostalgic undercurrent, iconic imagery of the glory days at St Kilda Beach will line the walls, paying tribute to the late photographer, Rennie Ellis.

?This new direction is about making something of its place again without turning our back on the environment,? Musarra explains. ?People identify with what downstairs used to be, what the St Kilda foreshore used to be, we?re just returning to it.?

Stokehouse Cafe
30 Jacka Boulevard, St Kilda

stokehousecafe.com.au

Source: http://www.broadsheet.com.au/melbourne/food-and-drink/article/get-stoked-van-haandels-latest

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