Osborne defends welfare cuts after church attacks

LONDON (Reuters) - The government on Monday defended a raft of new welfare spending cuts, a key plank of efforts to rein in spending as the economy flounders, after church leaders attacked the changes as unjust.

Chancellor George Osborne and Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith labelled opponents of their plan as "shrill", and insisted it would lead to a fairer benefits system and encourage more Britons to work.

"Of course, if you listened to the shrill voices of the Left you'd think that every change to the welfare system, and any attempt to save money, marks the beginning of the end of the world," Osborne and Duncan Smith wrote in an article published in the Telegraph newspaper.

"We are just restoring the original principles of the welfare state: that those who can work must work, and a life on benefits must not be more attractive than working," they added.

The welfare cuts, which are going into effect this month, are part of government efforts to reduce state spending to tackle a big budget deficit, a plan Osborne says is necessary to retain the confidence of international money markets and keep Britain's borrowing costs low.

However, Britain's economy has suffered two bouts of recession since the plan was introduced with the election of the Conservative-led government in 2010, and growth remains weak - the economy is expected to expand by just 0.6 percent this year.

The Baptist Union of Great Britain, the Methodist and United Reformed Churches, and the Church of Scotland on Sunday attacked the cuts as being unfair to the poor, echoing comments by Anglican leader Justin Welby last month.

The churches said they rejected Conservative attempts to frame the debate on welfare as aspirational "strivers" versus work-shy "skivers", a narrative that is gaining traction in Britain according to some opinion polls.

"A narrative that blames the poor for poverty leads to measures (welfare cuts) such as were announced today," said Methodist Church public policy adviser, Paul Morrison.

"The majority of people in poverty in the United Kingdom today are working," he added.

The new welfare measures include increasing benefit payments by just 1 percent for the next three years, well below the rate of inflation of 2.8 percent, a move Osborne and Duncan Smith said would save taxpayers 2 billion pounds a year.

Also included are a welfare benefits cap, a reduction in benefits towards paying council tax, and, controversially, a measure dubbed a "bedroom tax" by Britain's media.

The government sees the plan, in which welfare payments are reduced to households deemed to have more rooms than they require, as the abolition of a "bedroom subsidy".

Defending the move on Sunday, Conservative chairman Grant Shapps said even his children shared a bedroom, but he was later ridiculed on social media after reports emerged that the millionaire lawmaker has one room set aside as a study.

The Labour party said families would on average be 891 pounds worse off a year as the result of tax and benefit changes introduced since 2010.

"This is the week when the whole country will see whose side (Prime Minister) David Cameron and George Osborne are really on and who is paying the price for their economic failure," Labour finance spokesman Ed Balls said in a statement.

(Reporting by Mohammed Abbas; Editing by Paul Simao)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/osborne-defends-welfare-cuts-church-attacks-000518251--business.html

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BracketRacket: Shockers, Coach K and sportsmanship

Wichita State coach Gregg Marshall points as he walks off the court after Wichita State defeated Ohio State 70-66 in the West Regional final in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament, Saturday, March 30, 2013, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Wichita State coach Gregg Marshall points as he walks off the court after Wichita State defeated Ohio State 70-66 in the West Regional final in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament, Saturday, March 30, 2013, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Wichita State's Carl Hall (22) and teammates pose with the regional trophy after defeating Ohio State 70-66 in the West Regional final in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament, Saturday, March 30, 2013, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Wichita State players celebrate their 70-66 win over Ohio State in the West Regional final in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament, Saturday, March 30, 2013, in Los Angeles. Ohio State guard Aaron Craft (4) walks off at left. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski talks to reporters during a news conference, Saturday, March 30, 2013, in Indianapolis. Duke is scheduled to play Louisville in the Midwest Regional final in the NCAA college basketball tournament on Sunday. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato)

Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski directs his team during the second half of a regional semifinal against Michigan State in the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 29, 2013, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Welcome back to BracketRacket, your one-stop shopping place for all things NCAA.

It's our first edition for the regional finals, with Syracuse and Wichita State having secured the first spots in the Final Four. Stops along our tour include: the bracket-busting Shockers, Coach K's ever-present concerns about conference realignment, former Georgia Tech star John Salley's excitement at having the Final Four in Atlanta, a heartwarming tale of sportsmanship and a farewell to tournament darling Florida Gulf Coast.

___

THE SHOCKING SHOCKERS

Wichita State has gone from a ninth-seeded mid-major aiming to win an NCAA game to an unexpected arrival in the Final Four.

Just how unexpected?

According to ESPN, less than 1 percent ? 0.24 percent, to be exact ? of 8.15 million brackets submitted in ESPN's Fantasy Tournament Challenge had the Shockers reaching the national semifinals.

Head over to Yahoo! for its Tourney Pick 'Em contest, and only 32 percent of more than 3.3 million brackets had the Shockers even winning their opener against Pittsburgh, much less beating top seed Gonzaga and No. 2 seed Ohio State on the way to the West Region title.

___

WICHITA STATE 101

Since Wichita State isn't a household name, here's a quick primer to impress friends with your Missouri Valley Conference knowledge:

The school opened in 1895 as Fairmount College, then became the Municipal University of Wichita in 1926 on the way to becoming a state university in 1964. It has an enrollment of 14,893 students.

The "Shockers" mascot is short for "Wheatshockers" and recalls when students shocked wheat to earn money during the harvest season, according to the school's web site.

While the Shockers reached the Final Four in 1965 and won the College World Series in 1989, the most successful athletic program has been ? surprise! ? bowling. Wichita State has 19 national championships between its men's and women's programs since 1975.

Among the school's biggest sports names: former NFL coach Bill Parcells, a former Shockers football player; former NBA player Xavier "The X-Man" McDaniel; and former big leaguer Joe Carter, who hit the World Series-clinching home run for Toronto in 1993 against Philadelphia.

___

K, THE ACC AND THE FUTURE

AP Sports Writer Michael Marot reports from Indianapolis that Duke's Mike Krzyzewski is thinking about more than just Sunday's regional final against future Atlantic Coast Conference member Louisville.

"For all these schools that have joined, it makes (the ACC) the most powerful basketball conference, I think ever," Krzyzewski said Saturday of the latest round of conference realignment. "I hope our league is able to understand the assets that we've accumulated and what it does to the assets we already have. I think if positioned properly, it sets us apart from anybody, and we should look at where football is or whatever."

Next year, the league will add Syracuse ? which beat Marquette in a Big East matchup for the East Regional title Saturday ? along with Pittsburgh and Notre Dame. The Cardinals are scheduled to join in 2014 when Maryland bolts for the Big Ten.

Krzyzewski is already urging ACC officials to start contemplating what they need to do to avoid other leagues from poaching ACC schools. He said the best way is to rethink how the ACC does business ? down to developing its own TV network or where it holds its tournament.

"In other words, to take a real close look at our league with the new members and say: Why are we different, why are we better and how can we be the top league?" Krzyzewski said. "If we don't do that, then we're negligent, to be quite frank with you."

___

CIVIC PRIDE

John Salley says he'll feel like a proud host when the Final Four returns to Atlanta.

"I cannot wait," Salley told AP Sports Writer Charles Odum. "Ever since last year, I've been talking about this to all my friends. I get to show all the people in Atlanta what I do, my hosting technique."

Atlanta was Salley's home from 1982-86 when he played for Bobby Cremins at Georgia Tech. The 6-foot-11 Salley helped lead the Yellow Jackets to their first ACC championship in 1985, though that team fell a game short of the Final Four.

"That school is where I grew up," he said. "That city is where I became a man."

For the Final Four, the former NBA player is joining Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as celebrity hosts for the NCAA official VIP pregame hospitality event hosted by PrimeSport. For one price, fans can attend the VIP pregame events at the Georgia World Congress Center and then attend the games next door at the Georgia Dome.

The packages can include food, drinks, entertainment, tickets and even travel to Atlanta.

"It's the party of all parties," Salley said. "I put on a good show, so I've been told."

More information about the packages can be found at www.ncaa.com/hospitality .

___

DON'T LOOK AWAY

News flash: people like to watch NCAA tournament games on television, especially when upstarts and big-name programs are involved.

CBS Sports and Turner Sports reported Saturday that Friday's round of 16 games on CBS and TBS ? featuring 15-seed Florida Gulf Coast along with perennial heavyweights Duke, Kansas, Louisville and Michigan State ? earned an 8.2 household rating and 16 share. That was up 22 percent from last year and the highest for a Friday regional semifinal since 1994.

Overall, the tournament is averaging a 6.1 household rating and a 13 share for its highest ratings since 1998.

___

SPORTSMANSHIP STILL LIVES

Check out this story about how a turnover on an inbounds pass involving rival high school teams ended up making national news and sending both teams to the NCAA tournament's South Regional games at Cowboys Stadium: http://bit.ly/10pTDEl

To go with it, here's the link to the CBS News report of the story, including the big moment around the 2:05 mark: http://bit.ly/Xb2ivX

___

A FAREWELL TO DUNK CITY

In honor of Florida Gulf Coast's NCAA run, check out this compilation of moments that captured why "Dunk City" was just so much fun this March (check out the 1:25 mark against Georgetown): http://deadsp.in/ZKT5dw

___

STAT OF THE DAY

Kansas' loss to Michigan on Friday night left Louisville as the last No. 1 seed in the tournament.

This is only the third time in the 29 years since the tournament expanded to 64 teams that only one No. 1 seed reached the regional finals, according to STATS. The only other times that a single No. 1 made it to the round of eight came in 2000 with eventual champion Michigan State and 2011 with Kansas ? which fell to VCU to miss the Final Four.

___

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"I don't think we're Cinderella at all. Cinderellas usually are done by this stage. If you get to this point, you can win the whole thing. You beat a No. 1 seed and a No. 2 seed. I think Cinderella just found one glass slipper. I don't think she found four. So that's just the way it is." ? Wichita State coach Gregg Marshall after Saturday's win against Ohio State.

___

SATURDAY'S RESULTS

East Region

Syracuse 55, Marquette 39

West Region

Wichita State 70, Ohio State 66

___

SUNDAY'S SCHEDULE

South Region

At Arlington, Texas

Michigan (29-7) vs. Florida (29-7), 2:20 p.m.

Midwest Region

At Indianapolis

Louisville (32-5) vs. Duke (30-5), 4:55 p.m.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2013-03-31-BKC-BracketRacket-033113/id-2ba335f8f2394b5087727a22b8607f30

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iMore Editors' Choice: Magicka, Pok?mon TV, Llumino, and more

Every week, the editors and writers at iMore carefully select some of our favorite, most useful, most extraordinary apps, accessories, gadgets, and websites. This week's selections include a few games, a Mac app for developers, a companion app for Apple TV, a calculator, and an app for Pok?mon fans.

Kami Retro - Chris Oldroyd

This week, as it?s my final ever Pick of the Week, I have gone for a fun retro game. Kami Retro is a hugely entertaining platform game with vivid colors awesome music and fun game play.

The game combines the normal platform type running and jumping with a line drawing strategy that keeps the game interesting as well as challenging. The game reminds me a bit of Mario but it is also very different too.

If you fancy a game with 8 bit graphics mixed in with some classic platform type entertainment then Kami Reto may be right up your street. For the forty something audience among us, this game is sure to hit the spot and bring that old school gaming feel to your iPhone.

• $0.99 Download Now

Magicka - Joseph Keller

Magicka is fun fantasy-action game with a sense of humor. The game sees you take control of a Master Wizard battling against monsters out of Norse mythology. This take on the original Magicka, released for PC in 2011, keeps the spellcasting and four-player co-op of the original. Gameplay consists of casting spells of various type, such as fire, lightning, water, and ice. These spells can be combined to form more powerful spells. For instance, hitting fire once, then lightning twice, then fire once again produces a very powerful thunderbolt. You can buy a new staff or robe for your wizard using coins that you earn from completing levels. You can enter multiplayer mode with three other players through Paradox?s own multiplayer system, rather than Game Center. If you?re looking for a solid action game with a sense of humor, check Magicka for iPad out.

• $1.99 - Download Now

Deploymate for Xcode - Rene Ritchie

Allow me to hand this pick of the week over to Luc Vandal of Edovia for a moment:

Any developer serious about his work is using Deploymate.

And now a word from Jury, former developer evangelist at Apple:

At $19.99, Deploymate is an absolute steal. It would be money well spent at 5 times that price. Think about it. Is $20, $40, or even $100 worth it to you to avoid a failed launch or being at the mercy of an expedited app review? I'm pretty sure it is.

Here's why: There are multiple generations of iOS devices out there, not all of which are compatible with the latest version of iOS. Instead of accidentally using a new API when targeting an older device or OS version, and risking bugs, crashes, or rejection by Apple, Deploymate will ingest your code and spit out warning flags for anything problematic. You fix it in Xcode, run it through Deploymate again, repeat until clean, and then submit to the App Store.

There's even a free demo.

• $19.00 - Download now

Remote - Ally Kazmucha

If there is one product that Apple released that I absolutely detest, it's the stupid little silver remotes that came with Macs for the longest time and that still come standard with Apple TV. They get lost easily in couch cushions, underneath beds, and anywhere else they make their way to. I can't tell you how many times while watching the Apple TV in bed, it's gotten tangled in sheets or under blankets making it impossible to find without ripping apart the entire bed, even for a ninja.

That being said, there are numerous times that if I don't see that stupid little remote immediately, I reach for my iPhone or iPad and launch the remote app. Not only can it control one Apple TV, but all the ones we own in our home. I can change tracks on the living room TV from any room, anytime. Not to mention entering text with the physical remote is painful. The virtual Remote app makes it a breeze when searching for media and browsing YouTube or Hulu.

If you own an Apple TV, it's a must have.

• Free - Download Now

Pok?mon TV - Chris Parsons

If you happened to grow up in the 90's then you no doubt have heard of Pok?mon. Many years after their first appearance in 1996, people are still crazy over Pok?mon and that's moved through several generations now as new fans are tuned into Pok?mon. My 9-year-old son loves the cartoons and that brings me to my choice for this week. Pok?mon TV is free to download, powered by the Cartoon Network and it allows you to view full length Pok?mon episodes plus, it also contains some video content not found elsewhere. If you're a Pok?mon fan or have kids who enjoy Pok?mon, this is a simple pick.

• Free - Download Now

Llumino - Leanna Lofte

I'm a mathematician and love bright, colorful things, so it's only natural that I adore the new iPhone calculator Llumino. This gorgeous piece of software is basic calculator with style. It features 6 button effects and three color schemes that make your eyes dance when making simple calculations. You can also create your own color schemes to make this calculator fit you and your style.

Not only are the button effects and colors a lot of fun, but so are the subtle movements in the display. As you make calculations, the digits slide into place, fade out of view, and just emanate elegance and style. For example, when hitting the percent button, the decimal point stays visible as it slides two places to the left.

Llumino may not be a full-feature scientific or graphing calculator, but since most of the calculations I need to do in everyday life are basic, Llumino is the prefect replacement for Apple's built-in Calculator.

• $1.99 - Download now

Your choice?

Now that we've chosen our favorites for the week, we want to hear yours! Did you pick up a killer app, accessory, or game this week? Let us know in the comments below!

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheIphoneBlog/~3/PhYz2gRx74U/story01.htm

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'Shore's' JWoww to tend bar on 'One Life to Live'

Ben Gabbe / Getty Images Contributor

By Access Hollywood

Former ?Jersey Shore? star Jenni ?JWOWW? Farley is heading to ?One Life To Live.??

The reality star is set to play Nikki, a bartender at the nightclub Shelter, on the rebooted soap, heading to Hulu, Hulu Plus and iTunes on April 29.

VIEW THE PHOTOS: The returning stars Of "One Life To Live"

According to a release from The Online Network, which is producing the soap, Jenni?s character, ?can mix an Alabama Slammer as well as ... flirt with customers. As Shelter?s newest barmaid, club owner Blair Cramer (Kassie DePaiva) knows that it?s best to keep an eye on Nikki so things don?t get out of control.?

VIEW THE PHOTOS: "Game Of Thrones" stars at season 3 premieres across the globe

Apparently Jenni got so into character, she forgot the acting part of it while rehearsing an on-screen slap with co-star Josh Kelly, who plays Cutter Wentworth.

While learning how to do a ?pretend? slap, Josh asked Jenni to try it out and she missed the ?pretend? part, and gave him a real slap, according to TOLN.

VIEW THE PHOTOS: "Dancing With The Stars": Season 16, Week 2

Related content:

More in The Clicker:

Source: http://theclicker.today.com/_news/2013/03/29/17515005-jersey-shores-jenni-jwoww-farley-cast-on-one-life-to-live?lite

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Maria Shriver No Makeup: 57-Year-Old Sports Swimsuit, Goes Au Naturel In Hawaii (PHOTOS)

Maria Shriver looked flawless as she went makeup-free while vacationing in Hawaii with her family on March 29.

Joined by her kids Katherine and Patrick Schwarzenegger and Patrick's girlfriend Taylor Burns, Shriver was seen building a sand castle before taking a walk along the water's edge, sporting a black zip-up swimsuit and sheer cover up.

The 57-year-old appeared happier than ever following her divorce from her husband of 25 years, Arnold Schwarzenegger, after his admission he fathered a child with the family housekeeper in 2011.

Check out Maria with no makeup below:

Also on HuffPost:

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/30/maria-shriver-no-makeup-photos_n_2985046.html

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Hands-on with the Android-based Ouya Gaming Console - Bonnie ...

Nine months ago, Julie Uhrman had an idea for a gaming console. The goal behind it was twofold: To give consumers an affordable video game system, and to give developers an open platform for building games for the television.

Without any notion of whether people actually wanted such a device, she took her idea to the crowdfunding site Kickstarter and within a month she had more than 63,000 backers and $8.5 million in pledges.

Today, the first set of consoles started shipping.

Uhrman is the founder and CEO of Ouya, a $100 game system built on the Android operating system. It consists of a pint-size console that connects to your TV via HDMI. Unlike traditional consoles like the Xbox 360 and Sony PlayStation, there is no optical drive. Instead, all games and apps are made available through Ouya?s built-in store. A wireless Bluetooth game controller is also included in the package, while additional controllers are available for $50.

Though today?s shipment is limited to the backers of the Kickstarter campaign, Ouya will be available to consumers in the U.S., Canada and the U.K. starting June 4. It will be sold through various retailers, including Amazon, Target and Best Buy.

I got a chance to check out Ouya this week during the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, and the hardware is impressive.

Designed by Yves Behar, who was also the mastermind behind the Jawbone Jambox, the console is about the size of a Rubik?s cube and is wrapped in brushed aluminum. The controller features matching aluminum accents, and has two standard analog sticks, eight action buttons, a d-pad and a built-in touchpad.

Uhrman, who has worked in the video game industry for more than 10 years, said the company wanted to build something beautiful that people wouldn?t necessarily want to hide away in a media cabinet, and I?d say they were successful in that.

I was relieved to see that the cheap price didn?t equate to a cheap design. It?s a solid device, and the controllers were comfortable to hold and use. Ouya is also attractive in its simplicity.

Inside the Ouya is a Tegra3 quad-core processor, one gigabyte of RAM and 8GB of flash storage. The back of the device houses all the various ports, including the HDMI connector, USB 2.0 port and Ethernet jack. Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are also onboard.

Like the console itself, the Ouya user interface and storefront is pretty simple. From the main menu, you have four options: Play, Discover, Make and Manage. Play is where you can find all the games that you?ve downloaded, while the Discover section takes you to the games store. Manage is basically the settings menu.

The Make channel is where things get interesting, and is also what sets it apart from the competition. Ouya was built to be a console for developers just as as much it was built for gamers.

?We want to be seen as the most developer-friendly platform there is,? Uhrman said in an interview with AllThingsD.

As such, publishers can go to the Make channel and use the built-in software development kit to build and test games for Ouya. Eventually, the company wants to evolve the section so that developers can have a direct relationship with gamers, where they can, for example, post different demos of games they are working on and have people vote on which is best.

Anyone can create a game, and there?s no cost to do so. Ouya?s only requirement is that there be some free element to the game, such as a free demo. Other than that, the developers can monetize their apps in any way they want, whether it?s through in-app purchases, donations or upgrades.

The open nature of Ouya?s platform should make it an attractive option for independent developers looking to bring their games into people?s living rooms. In turn, it?s a great gateway for discovering indie games.

But the big challenge for Ouya will be attracting customers outside of the indie gamer community. Sure, the $99 price tag is appealing, but is it going to have the titles that people want?

There are about 500 games already confirmed for Ouya, but Uhrman said it?s hard to say how many they?ll actually launch with. She said on Monday there were about 40 titles in the store, and then by Wednesday, it had jumped up to 67.

During my brief time with the system and storefront, I found that most games were of the retro-style arcade type or those you?d find on smartphones or tablets. Uhrman said they are working to bring AAA title games from big studios to Ouya, but she also believes that its unique content will be a major draw.

?There?s going to be innovative, creative, exclusive content on Ouya that you won?t be able to find anywhere else, and that alone is going to be the reason to buy Ouya,? she said.

I?m not fully convinced of that just yet, but we?ll see in a couple of months if I?m wrong.

Source: http://allthingsd.com/20130328/hands-on-with-ouya-the-tiny-gaming-console-with-big-aspirations/

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Pregnant Man: Judge Refuses To Grant Thomas Beatie's Divorce

PHOENIX ? An Arizona judge on Friday refused to grant a divorce for a transgender Arizona man who gave birth to three children after beginning to change his sex from female.

Maricopa County Family Court Judge Douglas Gerlach ruled that Arizona's ban on same-sex marriages prevents Thomas Beatie's 9-year union from being recognized as valid.

Thomas Beatie was born a woman and later underwent a double-mastectomy, and began testosterone hormone therapy and psychological treatment to become a man, but he retained female reproductive organs and gave birth to three children.

Gerlach said he had no jurisdiction to approve a divorce because there's insufficient evidence that Beatie was a man when he married Nancy Beatie in Hawaii. He said the Beaties never provided records to fully explain what Thomas Beatie actually had done and not done to become a man.

"The decision here is not based on the conclusion that this case involves a same-sex marriage merely because one of the parties is a transsexual male, but instead, the decision is compelled by the fact that the parties failed to prove that (Thomas Beatie) was a transsexual male when they were issued their marriage license," he wrote in Friday's ruling.

A spokesman for Beatie, Ryan Gordon, said the judge's comments came as a shock and that Beatie plans to appeal the ruling. He said Beatie legally was married as a man and never was required to disclose that he retained female reproductive organs when applying for and being granted a new birth certificate in Hawaii as a man. He said Beatie halted testosterone treatments so that he could give birth to his children.

"It's unfortunate that the judge out here doesn't recognize marriage in another state," Gordon said.

Beatie is eager to end his marriage, but the couple's divorce plans stalled last summer when Gerlach said he was unable to find legal authority defining a man as someone who can give birth.

Gerlach's ruling didn't address whether Arizona law allows a person who was born female to marry another female after undergoing a sex change operation.

A separate ruling issued Friday by Gerlach sets guidelines on how the Beaties will co-parent their three children and grants them joint authority in making legal decisions. Thomas Beatie is required to pay nearly $240 a month to Nancy Beatie for child support, but she won't get alimony because the marriage was declared invalid.

Nancy Beatie's attorney, David Higgins, praised Gerlach for the thoroughness of the decision on the marriage, although it wasn't the one she had hoped for.

"He still sees a same-sex marriage, but he gave us all the rulings that we're asking for as far as the children," Higgins said.

The National Center for Lesbian Rights, which isn't involved in the Beatie divorce case, has said courts have declared marriages involving a transgender person invalid in a handful of cases across the country, but that those cases had different factual and legal issues than those in the Beatie case.

Thomas Beatie, known as "The Pregnant Man," was born Tracy Lehuanani Lagondino in Oahu, Hawaii. He began testosterone treatments in 1997 and underwent double mastectomy and chest reconstruction surgery in 2002. He changed his Hawaii driver's license to say he was a man and had a Hawaiian court approve his name change to Thomas.

Gerlach's ruling noted that Thomas Beatie halted the testosterone treatments and that he didn't provide documentation for any additional non-surgical efforts.

Thomas Beatie married his partner Nancy in early 2003 in Honolulu and became pregnant because Nancy was unable to have children. Thomas Beatie conceived with donated sperm and gave birth to children who are now 4, 3 and 2 years old. The couple eventually moved to Arizona.

Beatie has garnered a range of media attention, making the rounds on talk shows such as Larry King and Oprah Winfrey and winning a spot on Barbara Walters' list of "10 Most Fascinating People" in 2008, alongside President Barack Obama, conservative commentator Rush Limbaugh and swimmer Michael Phelps. He also published a book, "Labor Of Love: The Story of One Man's Extraordinary Pregnancy," the cover displaying an image of a shirtless Thomas sporting facial hair and holding a hand over his bare pregnant belly.

___

Fonseca reported from Flagstaff, Ariz. Associated Press Writer Jacques Billeaud in Phoenix contributed to this report.

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/29/pregnant-man-judge-reject_n_2979968.html

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Virtual reality, goggles and all, attempts return

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) ? It's back.

The virtual reality headset, the gizmo that was supposed to seamlessly transport wearers to three-dimensional virtual worlds, has made a remarkable return at this year's Game Developers Conference, an annual gathering of video game makers in San Francisco.

After drumming up hype over the past year and banking $2.4 million from crowdfunding, the Irvine, Calif.-based company Oculus VR captured the conference's attention this week with the Oculus Rift, its VR headset that's more like a pair of ski goggles than those bulky gaming helmets of the 1990s that usually left users with headaches.

"Developers who start working on VR games now are going to be able to do cool things," said Oculus VR founder Palmer Luckey. "This is the first time when the technology, software, community and rendering power is all really there."

While VR technology has successfully been employed in recent years for military and medical training purposes, it's been too expensive, clunky or just plain bad for most at-home gamers. Oculus VR's headset is armed with stereoscopic 3-D, low-latency head tracking and a 110-degree field of view, and the company expects it to cost just a few hundred bucks.

A line at the conference snaked around the expo floor with attendees waiting for a chance to plop the glasses on their head and play a few minutes of "Hawken," an upcoming first-person shooter that puts players inside levitating war machines.

Attendance was also at capacity for a Thursday talk called "Virtual Reality: The Holy Grail of Gaming" led by Luckey. When he asked the crowd who'd ordered development prototypes of the technology, dozens of hands shot into the air.

"There's been a lot of promise over several decades with the VR helmet idea, but I think a lot of us feel like Oculus and other devices like it are starting to get it right," said Simon Carless, executive vice president at UBM Tech Game Network, which organizes the Game Developers Conference. "We may have a competitive and interesting-to-use device, which you could strap to your head and have really immersive gaming as a result."

Sony and Microsoft are reportedly working on similar peripherals, as are other companies. Luckey contends that the innovations Nintendo made with its Wii U, Sony is planning with its upcoming PlayStation 4 and Microsoft is likely tinkering with for its successor to the Xbox 360 don't seem like enough.

"We're seeing better graphics and social networks, but those aren't things that are going to fundamentally change the kind of experiences that gamers can have," said Luckey.

A growing list of high-profile game makers have sung the device's praises, including Atari founder Nolan Bushnell, "Minecraft" mastermind Markus Peterson, id Software's John Carmack, "Gears of War" chief Cliff Bleszinski and Valve boss Gabe Newell.

Valve is planning to release a VR version of its first-person shooter "Team Fortress 2" for the Rift, but Luckey is hoping that designers in attendance at this week's conference begin creating games especially for the doodad.

"The doors are already open," noted Luckey. "People are already telling us things they want to do with the Rift that they can't do with traditional games."

Luckey said prototype versions of the technology are being distributed to developers now, and he anticipates releasing a version for consumers by next year.

___

Online:

http://www.oculusvr.com

___

Follow AP Entertainment Writer Derrik J. Lang on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/derrikjlang.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/virtual-reality-goggles-attempts-return-121110187.html

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Asia stocks modestly higher after S&P hits record

BANGKOK (AP) ? Asian stock markets were mostly higher Friday as momentum carried over from yet another record high on Wall Street.

Trading remained thin, however, as stock, bond and commodities markets were closed for Good Friday in the U.S. and Europe, along with large parts of Asia.

The Standard and Poor's 500 index closed Thursday at its highest level, driven by more encouraging data on the U.S. economic recovery. The government said the economy grew at an annual rate of 0.4 percent in the October-December quarter, slightly better than previous estimates. The revision reflected stronger business investment and export sales.

Those markets open in Asia reflected the good news out of the U.S.: South Korea's Kospi rose 0.6 percent to 2,004.89. Taiwan's TAIEX advanced 0.7 percent to 7,918.61.

Japan's Nikkei reversed early losses to rise 0.5 percent and close at 12,397.91. Gains were muted, however, as the yen leveled off against the dollar and the government released figures for February showing the country's jobless rate edging up while industrial production fell slightly.

Newly appointed central bank governor, Haruhiko Kuroda, has pledged to work with the government to end decades of growth-inhibiting deflation. His outspoken calls for action have raised hopes for results but some analysts said they may also have created unrealistic expectations for a turnaround.

"Unfortunately, the markets' expectations of the new Governor are so high that they will be almost impossible to meet, let alone beat," said analysts at Capital Economics in a market commentary.

Shares in mainland China were mostly flat amid limited trading volume, analysts said. The Shanghai Composite Index was nearly unchanged at 2,236.62 while the Shenzhen Composite Index fell 0.2 percent to 927.89.

Peng Yunliang, a Shanghai-based analyst, said shares in brokerage houses declined following the release Thursday of official policies aimed at tightening control over wealth management products.

Markets in Hong Kong, India, Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Philippines and Singapore were shut for Good Friday.

In Europe on Thursday, markets responded positively to the calm reopening of Cyprus's banks. Banks in the Mediterranean island nation were shut for nearly two weeks as the government negotiated a rescue loan from international lenders to prevent the financial system from collapsing.

However, Italy's political uncertainty will also remain in the spotlight. Following inconclusive elections around a month ago, the country is still without a government, and that's raised concerns over its future economic path.

In currencies, the euro was up slightly to $1.2824 from $1.2822 late Thursday in New York. The dollar fell to 94.09 yen from 94.13 yen.

The New York Mercantile Exchange, where benchmark oil is traded, was closed for the Good Friday holiday.

___

AP researcher Fu Ting contributed from Shanghai.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/asia-stocks-modestly-higher-p-hits-record-052945487--finance.html

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Happy B-Day, Lady Gaga! A Look at Her Craziest Outfits

Lady Gaga has only been at the forefront of the pop culture world since early 2009, when "Just Dance" and "Poker Face" took over the music charts. But it wasn't just her songs that had everyone talking -- she made a point of grabbing everyone's attention with her bizarre outfits. Even now, when she had to cancel her tour due to emergency surgery on her hip, Mother Monster had a wheelchair specially designed for her -- one made out of 24-karat gold. How very Gaga!

Source: http://www.ivillage.com/lady-gagas-10-craziest-outfits-all-time/1-a-530620?dst=iv%3AiVillage%3Alady-gagas-10-craziest-outfits-all-time-530620

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Source: http://www.gamersrealm.net/technology/monster-over-ear-headphones-nfl-monster-beats-dre-118-a-138487/

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The New Housing Boom

Wednesday, March 27th, 2013
By Mitchell Clark, B.Comm. for Profit Confidential

My cousin and his family had to walk away from their house in Arizona. There were no buyers, and they were underwater after the market crashed. The whole thing was really hard on them on all fronts, and they had to move. They?re in Colorado now, closer to family, with the ordeal behind them.

Like most things, timing is everything. In real estate, institutional investors are buying homes like crazy to rent out. The new housing boom is for rentals.

The Wall Street Journal wrote that The Blackstone Group L.P. (NYSE/BX) is buying homes at a rate of about $100 million a week, with institutional investors now making up a third of all cash buyers. Affordability for individuals is going to get squeezed.

On the stock market, homebuilder stocks continue to roar. Lennar Corporation (NYSE/LEN) reported excellent strength in its financial results.

According to the company, its fiscal first quarter of 2013 (ended February 28, 2013), produced revenue growth of 37% to $990 million. New orders grew 34% to 4,055 homes; the company?s order backlog grew 82% to 4,922 homes. Earnings for Lennar grew significantly to $57.5 million, or $0.26 per diluted share, compared to net earnings of $15.0 million, or $0.08 per diluted share.

On the stock market, institutional investors have bid the stock up 30 points since last October. (See ?Stock Market Sinkhole: ?It Didn?t Look Unstable?.?) It?s a stock market breakout for sure, but it?s based on fundamentals. Lennar?s stock chart is below:

Chart courtesy of www.StockCharts.com

Homebuilder PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE/PHM) quintupled on the stock market over the last six months. Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE/HOV) has tripled since last June.

Clearly, the run on homebuilders is a multi-faceted play by institutional investors. The buying momentum for both rental homes and on the stock market is pronounced, and I see no reason why it will end in the near term.

The rental play makes so much sense for institutional investors. If a person?s credit score was trashed after the real estate crash, continued renting for that individual is highly likely. And institutional investors like Blackstone have deep enough pockets to wait out the real estate cycle.

The re-inflation of assets in some real estate markets is happening. Investor sentiment for the stock market is holding up. Institutional investors are buying houses and buying stocks. Near-term trading action is positive.

There is more room for homebuilders to keep appreciating on the stock market. Lennar?s numbers were exceptionally good. The company?s margins are going up and it experienced a 13% increase in its average home price in backlog.

Institutional investors will likely increasingly flock to the housing market over the coming quarters. Stock market action for anything housing-related should continue to be positive.

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Source: http://www.profitconfidential.com/real-estate-market/the-new-housing-boom/

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30 years ago, Michael Jackson debuted the Moonwalk (Americablog)

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EA reveals Battlefield 4 headed to PC this fall, refuses to confirm next-gen (video)

This year's Battlefield series entry -- Battlefield 4 -- is headed to PCs this fall. The game wasn't given other platforms, but logic dictates it'll arrive on the PlayStation 4 and Microsoft's Xbox 360 successor. Apparently, since only Sony's next-gen console is a known quantity and Microsoft's staying mum, EA isn't sharing other platforms yet (but hey, it's probably PlayStation 4 and the next Xbox). The game's being built on the latest iteration of DICE's Frostbite engine, though no other details were given about the engine just yet.

Like previous Battlefield entries, EA-owned Swedish game studio DICE is at the helm, and Battlefield 4 remains planted in current times (unlike the pseudo-future of Call of Duty's latest entry, Black Ops 2). A beta for the game will go live some time this fall, and folks who bought last year's Medal of Honor: Warfighter are automatically part of said beta. We'll have more info as EA offers it up, but color us not surprised if Battlefield 4 makes a reprise appearance at Microsoft's still undated Xbox 360 successor unveiling.

Update: EA also released a 17-minute gameplay demo of the game's prologue section, played on a PC. It features a squad of four soldiers on the run from Russian spec-ops militants in the capital of Azerbaijan, Baku. You'll find it just beyond the break.

Update 2: Per a listing on EA's digital store, Battlefield 4 is headed to Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in addition to the PC. PlayStation 4 is curiously missing, as is mention of Microsoft's next-gen game console.

Filed under: Gaming, Software, HD

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/27/battlefield-4-fall-2013/

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Supreme Court justices suggest they may avoid a major ruling on California's gay marriage ban (Star Tribune)

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Punxsutawney Phil: Sued By Ohio County Over Wrong Early Spring Prediction!

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2013/03/punxsutawney-phil-sued-by-ohio-county-over-wrong-early-spring-pr/

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Egypt: Prominent blogger hands himself in

CAIRO (AP) ? A prominent Egyptian blogger has handed himself in to authorities, a day after the country's prosecutor general ordered his arrest over his alleged role in instigating violence during clashes between supporters and opponents of the country's Islamist president.

Alaa Abdel-Fattah arrived Tuesday at the Cairo office of Prosecutor General Talaat Abdullah surrounded by dozens of pro-democracy protesters chanting against the rule of Morsi's group, the Muslim Brotherhood. The Brotherhood's office in the capital was the focus of Friday street fighting that left some 200 people injured.

Abdel-Fattah is one of five well-known activists named as instigators of violence. They rose to prominence the 2011 uprising against ousted president Hosni Mubarak, and now are protesting Morsi's presidency.

Activists say the arrest heralds a campaign of intimidation against Brotherhood opponents.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2013-03-26-ML-Egypt/id-e2a0f892e4de49a093d3dc6112fa8211

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Study finds molecular 'signature' for rapidly increasing form of esophageal cancer

Study finds molecular 'signature' for rapidly increasing form of esophageal cancer

Monday, March 25, 2013

During the past 30 years, the number of patients with cancers that originate near the junction of the esophagus and stomach has increased approximately 600 percent in the United States. The first extensive probe of the DNA of these esophageal adenocarcinomas (EACs) has revealed that many share a distinctive mix-up of letters of the genetic code, and found more than 20 mutated genes that had not previously been linked to the disease. The research, led by scientists at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, the Broad Institute, and other research centers, may offer clues to why EAC rates have risen so sharply. The findings, which are being released as an advanced online publication by Nature Genetics, point to an array of abnormal genes and proteins that may be lynchpins of EAC cell growth and therefore serve as targets for new therapies, according to the study's authors.

"Adenocarcinomas of the esophagus, particularly those that arise at the gastroesophageal junction, were extremely uncommon 40 years ago and now account for approximately 15,000 new cases in the United States each year," said Adam Bass, MD, of Dana-Farber and the Broad Institute, who is co-senior author of the paper with Gad Getz, PhD, of the Broad Institute and Massachusetts General Hospital. "Unfortunately, it's also a disease with a generally poor prognosis: five years after diagnosis, only about 15 percent of patients are still alive. Bass added that despite the increased incidence of EAC, there have been few new approaches to treatment. "The goal of our study was to identify abnormalities within the genome of EAC cells to develop a foundation to better understand these tumors, diagnose them earlier, and develop better treatments," explained Bass.

EAC is thought to be associated with chronic gastroesophageal reflux, which sends stomach acid gurgling into the esophagus. This produces a condition known as Barrett's esophagus, in which cells at the lower end of the esophagus change to resemble cells in the intestine. Patients with Barrett's esophagus often go on to develop EAC.

Researchers don't know why EAC rates are increasing, but they speculate that it may be due to a rise in obesity, particularly in men: A heavier abdomen puts increased pressure on the stomach, causing acid to back up into the esophagus.

In the new study, researchers "sequenced" specific sections of DNA in cells from 149 EAC tissue samples, reading the individual letters of the genetic code within those areas. They focused on the one percent of the genome that holds the codes for making cell proteins. They also sequenced the entire genome ? all the DNA within the cell nucleus ? of cells from 15 of these EAC samples. Prior to this study, the largest sequencing study of EAC involved only a dozen tumor samples.

"We discovered a pattern of DNA changes that had not been seen before in any other cancer type," Getz remarked. The pattern involved a subtle swap in one of the four "nucleobases" that form the rungs of the DNA double helix, often designated by the letters C, T, G, and A. The investigators found that in many places where an A nucleobase was followed by another A nucleobase, the second "A" was replaced by a "C," a process known as transversion.

"We found this type of transversion throughout the genomes of the EAC cells we analyzed," Bass stated. "Overall, about one-third of all the mutations we discovered within these cells involved this type of transversion. In some tumor samples, these transversions accounted for nearly half of all mutations," Getz added.

Although A-to-C changes are not commonly observed in cancer, there is some evidence that oxidative damage can produce these changes. (Oxidative damage occurs when cells cannot neutralize the potentially harmful products of oxygen's reactions with other molecules.) "Gastric reflux can produce this type of damage, suggesting that reflux may underlie this pattern of mutations," Bass commented.

In addition to the mutational "signature" of AA becoming AC, the research team identified 26 genes that were frequently mutated in the tumor samples.

Five of these were "classic cancer genes" that had previously been implicated in EAC, Bass said, and the others were involved in a variety of cell processes.

Among the genes not previously linked to EAC were ELMO1 and DOCK2, mutations that can switch on a gene called RAC1, which can cause cancer cells to invade surrounding tissue. "The discovery of mutated ELMO1 and DOCK2 in many of these tumors may indicate that this invasive process is particularly active in EAC, promoting metastasis," Bass related. "We know that EAC tumors tend to spread at an earlier stage than many other cancers, which may help explain why survival rates for EAC patients tend to be low."

The RAC1 pathway ? the network of genes that control RAC1 activity ? is being pursued for pharmaceutical development. The discovery of ELMO1 and DOCK2 mutations in EAC samples may spur testing of new agents targeting this pathway in EAC, said Bass.

"Identifying the mutated genes within these tumors will help us understand the underlying biology of the disease," said Bass. "It also presents us with a slate of known genetic abnormalities that can someday be used to diagnose the disease at an early stage, classify tumors by the particular mutations within EAC cells, and ultimately develop treatment geared to precisely those mutations."

###

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute: http://www.dfci.harvard.edu

Thanks to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute for this article.

This press release was posted to serve as a topic for discussion. Please comment below. We try our best to only post press releases that are associated with peer reviewed scientific literature. Critical discussions of the research are appreciated. If you need help finding a link to the original article, please contact us on twitter or via e-mail.

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Source: http://www.labspaces.net/127435/Study_finds_molecular__signature__for_rapidly_increasing_form_of_esophageal_cancer

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PFT: Broncos now turn to Freeney or Abraham

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When it comes to the NFL?s willingness to accept an openly gay player, some think that the absence from the NFL of an openly gay player proves the league isn?t ready.

Under that standard, the NFL may soon be ready.? Ready or not.

Mike Freeman of CBSSports.com reports that ?a current gay player is strongly considering coming out publicly within the next few months ? and after doing so, the player would attempt to continue his career.?

Per Freeman, the player fears the reaction not from within the locker room, but from homophobic fans.? And that?s a legitimate concern; the combination of paying for a ticket and supporting a team and consuming a little alcohol (or a lot) turns normal people into loud, classless, profane jerks who will do and say anything to get under the skin of the members of the visiting team.? And sometimes the members of the home team.

We?ve been discussing the issue of gay NFL players with folks in and around the game for the past several weeks, and the consensus is that, because sexual orientation isn?t obvious, a gay football player will be inclined to remain discreet, because football players ultimately are just that ? football players.? They want to play football, and the fame/notoriety/whatever that comes from coming out will serve only to keep the focus on something other than football.

Most players don?t want to create distractions, for any reason.? Players who aren?t stars fear that, if they create distractions, the team will choose another player of relatively equal skill who doesn?t draw attention away from the team.

Team is the key.? Most football players are committed to that concept.? Drawing attention to themselves undermines the philosophy of team first.

But this doesn?t mean a player who perhaps sees his career ending won?t consider the boost that may come from coming out.? That?s why the precise language of Freeman?s report is intriguing.

?The player would attempt to continue his career? after coming out, Freeman writes.? This suggests that the player may not currently have a team, or that the player believes he may not make it onto the final 53-man roster of the team for which he currently plays.

We?re reluctant to apply cynicism to what would be a watershed moment for pro sports, but it would be naive to assume, given the team-first focus of football, that a gay player thinking about coming out of the closet hasn?t considered both how the move could hurt him and how it could help him.? For a marginal player who may be on his way out of the league, the indirect benefit of coming out could be getting another chance to play from a team that chooses to embrace diversity ? or that doesn?t want to be perceived as shunning it.

Regardless of the motivation or the timing, it will require significant courage for any current NFL player to come out.? And we hope that the decision by one gay NFL player to embrace who he is will prompt more to do the same, immediately thereafter.? That way, the distraction will be diluted and those who would begrudge people the ability to simply be who they are would have reason to quickly get past an issue that has no bearing on a person?s football ability.

Source: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/03/24/as-broncos-close-door-on-dumervil-they-open-it-for-freeney-abraham/related/

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'RetroN 5' console plays NES, SNES, Genesis, GBA and Famicom ...

Hyperkin's reveal of the "RetroN 4" console at the Midwest Gaming Classic turned out to be the unveiling of the RetroN 5, with the addition of another cartridge slot for Japanese Famicom games (which have 60 pin connectors vs. the NES's 72 pin). Now the console supports Nintendo, Famicom, SNES, Genesis (plus Mega Drive), and Game Boy Advance (with Game Boy/Color support), all over HDMI, with controller ports for NES, SNES, and Genesis controllers, as well as its own wireless Bluetooth controllers. The company plans to make the controllers remappable and usable cross-platform, but those features are still in the works.

The console upscales old games to HDMI with special image processing to make them look decent on HD screens. It also supports save states just like emulators do, with an SD card slot to store saves. Furthermore, you can speed up gameplay and remap the Bluetooth controller buttons to control these features.

Hyperkin doesn't have a firm price or release date, but is hoping to release the console around July for less than $100.

Source: http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/24/retron-5-console-plays-nes-snes-genesis-gba-and-famicom-su/

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ISA Survival Guide for Grad Students: the essential clothing, food, shelter, and networking dos and don?ts

by Megan MacKenzie on 2013-03-24 in Duck

It is time again for the International Studies Association Annual Conference. With thousands of attendees, a phone book full of panels, and a slough of receptions, dinners, meetings, and opportunities, the whole thing can be a bit overwhelming as a grad student (and for everyone else too!). You?ve likely received advice on how to present your work in 10 seconds or less- but what about the rest of the conference? Here are a couple of key tips for surviving the four days and getting the most out of the experience.
Before we get to the real essentials (food, shelter, and clothing), let?s start with networking:
In addition to all the obvious tips (always wear your name tag, ask your supervisor to invite you along to some key dinners/meetings, hang out in the common areas and just generally act like you are speed dating, but for a job and contacts rather than for a mate) here are some more unconventional tips for making an impression:

• Do get up and head down to the lobby if you have jet lag and can?t sleep at 4am. There is always the potential that you?ll be invited to join a tequila tasting/debate on the norm diffusion/poker game, or that you?ll see your academic idol passed out in the lobby- who wants to miss that for reruns of ?What Not To Wear? in the hotel room?
• Do Google image all of your academic idols. If you end up behind Ole Waever in the Starbucks lineup you don?t want to miss the chance to (quickly) introduce yourself and tell him you use his work in your thesis. Also, if Ole comes to your panel, and you don?t recognize him, and he asks a difficult question about securitization (hey, it is possible!) you don?t want to a) accuse him he doesn?t know what he?s talking about b) go into detail about what an idiot you think Ole Waever is c) ask him if he?s related to Kevin Bacon because there is something familiar about him. On that note, Don?t (ever) use the coffee lineup, receptions, or the bar as an opportunity to ask someone like Ole to explain what they mean by social security or to tell them what aspects of their theory you think they got wrong. You may be right, and you may be brilliant, but there is a fine line between making an impression and burning a bridge/looking like a total douche.
• Don?t follow the advice ?ask a question at every panel, but start by talking about your research first.? People who tell you to do this want you to fail. Yes, you should ask questions if and only if you have a strong, relevant question- let?s be honest, that won?t be at every panel. And, yes you should always introduce yourself first. But no one wants the Q&A time hijacked by someone pitching their own research- save that for the bar or receptions.

Ok, on to the other essentials:

Clothing
Choosing what to wear at a conference can actually be quite difficult as a graduate student. You want to look professional, you have no money, and you don?t want to end up looking like a little kid dressed in his/her parent?s business attire. So?

• Do remember that a full-on formal business suit isn?t necessarily the standard for men or women- especially if you are under 25. I cringe thinking about the big boxy androgynous-looking suits I wore to my first ISA. I thought I was so cool and professional but I?m sure I looked like the ?professional? clearance rack at Filene?s Basement threw up on me. Think- ?what would I wear to give a guest lecture at my university? NOT ?what did Russel Crowe wear in a Beautiful Mind or Julia Roberts in Mona Lisa Smile?? Remember, navy is not mandatory, no one carries a leather briefcase with code locks,? and everyone can tell the difference between real and fake pearls.

Food and Booze (or, how to get through the conference with less than $200)
The obvious ?do? is to attend as many receptions as possible through the conference and graze the food. What you should also know, is receptions rarely have enough food for all the attendees, so arrive early. In fact, you can hit up one or two receptions before they actually start, fill your belly (and grab some wine) before you eventually settle on the final destination (the hotel staff setting things up recognize your ?help me, I?m a broke grad student? smile and leave you to fill your plate in peace). Oh, and the Feminist Theory Gender Studies reception ALWAYS has the best food (and, my opinion is also the most welcoming reception and best place to meet great and interesting people- even if this isn?t your area). Also,

• Do sign up to participate in any pre-conference workshops that seem remotely relevant to your topic. These can be a great way for you to interact with people in intimate settings- and they provide food!
• Don?t overdo it on the booze. Yes, it may be free at some receptions (not many!) but it is tough to network and hand out your card when you are completely blotto. In fact, though most aspects of the conference can be enhanced by a glass of wine or two, I recommend grad students stay sober. You?ll be 10 steps ahead of your woozy competition and you?ll actually make it to the 8am panels. There will be plenty of time to indulge when you have a job and the last thing you want to be remembered for is blurting out ?I f@cking love feminism? to Ann Tickner or? ?I think norms are an urban myth? to Kathryn Sikkink.
• Do keep a stash of protein/granola bars, fruit, yogurts in your room and in your conference bag. This can help you avoid the $4.99 cake/cardboard muffins on offer in the halls and keep you from passing out before the receptions.

Shelter
At this stage you?ve already secured accommodation?..right?
Well in case you haven?t, Do offer to share with fellow grad students to cut down costs; however, Don?t think that stuffing four grad students into a single room will necessarily be a success. Don?t get me wrong, some of my best ISA memories involve late nights chatting it up with my ISA roomies, but unless you are discerning on this, you could end up with a snorer, an alcoholic, an insomniac, a ?What Not to Wear? addict, and limited access to the shower. Sometimes the best option is a single room at the hostel down the road from the conference.

What are your ISA survival tips?

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Source: http://www.whiteoliphaunt.com/duckofminerva/2013/03/isa-survival-guide-for-grad-students-the-essential-clothing-food-shelter-and-networking-dos-and-donts.html

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