Warrior King Statue Discovered in Ancient Mediterranean City

A newly discovered statue of a curly-haired man gripping a spear and a sheath of wheat once guarded the upper citadel of an ancient kingdom's capital.

The enormous sculpture, which is intact from about the waist up, stands almost 5 feet (1.5 meters) tall, suggesting that its full height with legs would have been between 11 and 13 feet (3.5 to 4 m). Alongside the statue, archaeologists found another carving, a semicircular column base bearing the images of a sphinx and a winged bull.

The pieces date back to about 1000 B.C. to 738 B.C. and belong to the Neo-Hittite Kingdom of Patina in what is now southeastern Turkey. They were found at what would have been a gate to the upper citadel of the capital, Kunulua. An international team of archaeologists on the Tayinat Archaeological Project are excavating the ruins.

The Neo-Hittites were a group of civilizations that arose along the eastern Mediterranean after the collapse of the Hittite Empire around 1000 B.C. When the statues were carved, the area was emerging from the Bronze Age and entering into the Iron Age.

The male sculpture boasts a beard and inlaid eyes made of white and black stone. He wears a crescent-shaped pectoral shield on his chest and lion-head bracelets on his arms. On his back, a long inscription records the accomplishments of Suppiluliuma, the name of a king of Patina already known to have banded together with Syrian forces in 858 B.C. to face an invasion by Neo-Assyrians. [Top 10 Battles for the Control of Iraq]

The column base stands about 3 feet (1 m) tall, with a diameter of 35 inches (90 centimeters). The column likely stood against a wall, as only the front is decorated with carvings of a winged bull flanked by a sphinx.

The presence of such statues was common in Neo-Hittite royal cities, the researchers said. The newly discovered carvings would have guarded a passageway of gates to the heart of the city.

"The two pieces appear to have been ritually buried in the paved stone surface of the central passageway," Tayinat Project director Tim Harrison, a professor of archaeology at the University of Toronto, said in a statement.

The passageway and gates seems to have been destroyed in 738 B.C., when Assyrian forces conquered the Neo-Hittite city. The area then appears to have been paved over and turned into a courtyard. Archaeologists have also uncovered smashed Neo-Hittite slabs and pillars as well as two carved life-size lions.

Follow Stephanie Pappas on Twitter @sipappas?or LiveScience @livescience. We're also on Facebook?& Google+.?

Copyright 2012 LiveScience, a TechMediaNetwork company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/warrior-king-statue-discovered-ancient-mediterranean-city-200757876.html

leprosy tampa bay buccaneers birdman whip it gabby giffords gabby giffords geithner

Facebook, Google, Amazon and eBay form new lobby group

Tineka Smith Published 26 July 2012

Some of the biggest tech companies have come together to create a pro tech lobbying group in order to combat political and regulatory online issues.

The group, dubbed The Internet Association, will focus on advancing public policy solutions in an effort to support a free and open internet.

According to a statement by the collaborative group the Internet Association seeks to represent "the interests of America's leading Internet companies and their global community of users."

The Internet Association is expected to formally launch by September 2012.

The creation of the lobby group comes in the wake big internet companies increasing their spending on federal lobbying.

Reuters reports that Google spent $3.9m this year on online privacy and immigration legislation followed by Facebook with $960,000, Amazon with $690,000 and Ebay with $400,600.

The Internet Association has appointed former Deputy staff director to the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee, Michael Beckerman, as President and CEO. He says it is important for the internet to be represented in Washington.

"The internet is the greatest engine for economic growth and prosperity the world has ever known," says Beckerman. "The Internet must have a voice in Washington."

The Internet Association seeks to ensure leaders are educated on the impact the internet and internet companies can have on freedom and economic growth.

"No one can predict what innovations will happen next," says Beckerman. "But we do know that the Internet's decentralized and open model is what has enabled its unprecedented growth and innovation. We must guard against misguided attempts to handcuff this incredible source of job creation, freedom and creativity."

Please follow this author on Twitter @Tineka_S or comment below.

Source: http://bi.cbronline.com/news/facebook-google-amazon-and-ebay-form-new-lobby-group-260712

ricky gervais napoleon dynamite michelle williams the descendants the descendants homeland homeland

Security guard resume individuals people who can either be fitted by ...

The actual responsibilities and duties of security guard resume may vary based on the specifications and instructions of the employing heads. Tough is how we can best describe the duty that they are doing. They are necessary to be generally active and sound the alarm when they are in their articles. It really is their obligation to check the particular vehicles and folks that will end up in and from their property. It is their responsibility of assisting other people in the case opf urgent situation. They have to develop a correct report regarding the things that they have seen and also observed. The safety guard job application are also the ones who are in charge from the camcorders.

Guards can also be observed in public gas stops such as home gardens, hospitals, colleges, colleges, finance institutions, concert halls, shopping malls and many more. Protection is what these people basically ensure and they also manage the crowds within their aspects of responsibility.

Due to the importance of the characters played by the security guard resume, hiring 1 actually requires rule process.

When employers look for guards that will look into their businesses and companies, they generally require security guard continue.

In case you are open to becoming one, there are actually several points that you need to bear in mind if you are creating your security guard job application. These guidelines will help you in convincing your future employer you are really worth the positioning.

Ensure that your security guard job application will include all the necessary information about you actually, which include your whole name, present contact information, current and also long term address.

Emphasize the past encounters that you had using the said job, because this is among the strongest points being searched into be employers in a security guard continue.
Highlight the knowledge you have as related to dealing with various equipment pieces such as these used in stereo communication, products on data running and hidden cameras for this will be saving lots of time of an employer with regards to workout sessions.

You may also indicate in your security guard resume when you have previously tried doing work in a variety of settings. This will be an additional point for you should you have already handled various situations with your work, especially when you know how in order to efficiently respond to various situations.

A security guard is an individual, who offers security to a business business or to people. They usually work in conjunction with some other security guards in order to provide a high level associated with security to some large organization. They function in different changes, that are rotated on the periodical foundation by the safety supervisor or office manager who they are accountable to. In some cases, guards possess armed weapons in order to prevent miscreants and criminals from disrupting security. They need to become adept at managing various procedures for example emergency passing drills, display CCTV digital cameras, frisk people with a metal detector, etc . A safety guards resume has to portray the particular individuals work experience and relevant skills necessary for the work.

You must also condition information regarding the licenses that you have to provide evidence that there is no need legal backgrounds and include also the previous training plans that you have attended.

When you are completed with making your own security guard resume, the next thing that you need to perform is to prepare yourself for the interview. Provide a best hit and you may surely land on the work.

Source: http://blog.1stfind.com/?p=309159&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=security-guard-resume-individuals-people-who-can-either-be-fitted-by-a-govt-or-private-business-workplace-organization-agency-and-even-people

deplorable mls draft khloe kardashian mark davis marine urination video hostess cadillac ats

Animal trapping in spotlight in Idaho - Sun, 29 Jul 2012 PST

July 29, 2012 in Idaho

Associated Press

'); $("#content-tool-box-"+tool_name).jqm({trigger:this,overlay:20}); } }); });

?

Amendment

Trapping is part of a proposed amendment to add the right to hunt, fish and trap into Idaho?s constitution. The measure is on the ballots in?November.

TWIN FALLS, Idaho ? The photo caused an uproar in the online community: a wolf, its leg caught in a trap, standing in a ring of bloody snow, as Nez Perce National Forest employee Josh Bransford posed with a grin in the?foreground.

Critics contended posing for the photo before killing the wolf was inhumane. Defenders said the blood came from other injuries, not the trap, which was set correctly and?legally.

In the last several months, coverage of the controversy is the most press the practice has received in Idaho. But trapping is about to hit the spotlight again, as part of a proposed amendment to add the right to hunt, fish and trap into Idaho?s?constitution.

The measure is on the ballots this November, but animal rights activists are unhappy about including trapping in the?amendment.

Idahoans Against Trapping chairman Greg Moore said his group feels trapping is an unnecessarily cruel and prolonged way of killing?animals.

?Due to the inclusion of trapping in the amendment, if it passes, then torturing wild animals to death will have been declared legal in Idaho forever,? Moore said. And if it?s protected in the constitution, potential changes to trapping-related laws may have to go through the courts, not the?Legislature.

Moore also said the constitution should be for fundamental human rights, like freedom of speech and?religion.

?Trapping does not fall into that category,? Moore?said.

Twin Falls Sen. Lee Heider, author of the Right to Hunt amendment, dismissed those concerns, saying trappers check their traps?often.

?I don?t think anybody delights in being cruel,? Heider said. ?To make an animal suffer, that?s just not something we?do.?

In Idaho, trappers are required to check traps once every 72 hours. But most check once every 24 hours, said Andy White of the Idaho Trappers?Association.

Heider also said trapping is as much a part of Idaho?s tradition as hunting and?fishing.

?The original mountain men, the original Idahoans, were much more involved in trapping, and that?s why they came out here,? Heider?said.

And the reality of trapping isn?t as inhumane as opponents say, White said. Foot hold traps aren?t designed to injure the animal, he claimed. The idea is to hold the game in place, allowing the trapper to release the animal if they decide not to?harvest.

That way, ?the animal doesn?t suffer and continue to fight the trap,? White said, adding that today?s trap designs are different than those from 50 years?ago.

Foot holds and other forms of live traps allow for valuable wildlife management, like relocating species to other areas, White?said.

Heider is confident the amendment will?pass.

?I?ve never trapped anything in my whole life,? Heider said. ?But I believe just as strongly that it should be a right that?s protected for those who?do.?

? Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Source: http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2012/jul/29/animal-trapping-in-spotlight-in-idaho/

michael oher jerry lee lewis cesar chavez winning lotto numbers lottery tickets mega lottery sag aftra

M@h*(pOet)?ica

#StorySaturday is a Guest Blog weekend experiment in which we invite people to write about science in a different, unusual format ? fiction, science fiction, lablit, personal story, fable, fairy tale, poetry, or comic strip. We hope you like it.

=========================

Welcome to the first installment of my?M@h*(pOet)?ica Blog.? I chose its title to give fair warning of the kind of . . . unusual material it will be concerned with, to wit: poetry whose mathematical elements are as important as its verbal elements, as in the following:

It?s from a series of ten equations its author, Scott Helmes, calls ?Non-additive Postulations,? which first appeared in Ernest Robson and Jet Wimp?s anthology, Against Infinity (Primary Press, 1979).? Later I will attempt to show that it makes sense.? Sort of.? For now I leave it for those courageous enough to stick with me as something to reflect upon.? Suggested topics of reflection: how is it poetry?? How is it mathematics?? Why should anyone bother with it, regardless of what it is?

Now for something of mine?since I?m too self-infatuated to let any chance for self-promotion to get past me without my taking full advantage of it. It?s ?The Best Investigations,? an offshoot of my on-going series of long divisions of ?poetry.?? I would defend its presence on the grounds that, as an example of the level of my immersion in mathematical poetry as a poet, ?it should provide a good idea of my qualifications to write about such poetry (or lack thereof). ?It also should reveal the range of matter such poetry can contain, such as symbols from music, and stolen images from canonical painters like Paul Klee and photographs from the Hubble?to the despair of some in the academy, I fear. ?(Note how I get back at them in this poem, though!)

My next specimen of the kind of poems my blog will mostly be about is another long division of mine, ?Mathemaku No. 4A, Original Version?:

I generally use this, my very first long division poem, in lectures on mathematical poetry as what I hope is an easy-to-follow introduction to it.? My friend Betsy Franco was inspired by it to make a bunch of most excellent poems like it for children, with illustrations by Steven Salerno, such as the following:

These are from Betsy?s Mathematickles (Simon & Schuster, 2003).

Then there?s this, by Karl Kempton, the arithmetic of which could not be more simple (look for the arrow near the bottom), but the full poetic complexity of could not be greater:

To finish off my little survey, here are three more I hope will indicate the variety of the poetry this blog will treat.? The first is by Charlotte Baldridge, the second by Robert Stodola (both from Against Infinity), and the third by Kaz Maslanka:

Okay, now for a little more about me?about me and mathematical poetry, that is.? In elementary school I was early tabbed ?gifted,? meaning I was academically one in a hundred.? At the time, the population of the United States was only around 150,000,000, so that meant only a million-and-a-half others were as smart (according to the tests) as I.? But I did seem quicker to pick up arithmetic than my classmates, and even got enough interested in algebra in junior high to read ahead in my textbook?until other interests intervened.? When I got to high school, Sputnik had the country?s leaders worried about our technological lead, so those considered gifted, like I, were bombarded with propaganda about the value of a career in science.? Hence, I, and most of my friends, immediately opted for careers in the arts or humanities.

Alarmingly non-conformist, I went further, turning my back on college with the intention of becoming a self-taught Famous Writer, like Bernard Shaw, Charles Dickens and William Shakespeare.? I never made it.? Eventually, paid to go to college by the GI Bill and able to go free in California, where I?d been living long enough to qualify as a Californian, I broke my vow never to go to college.? I went full-time to Valley Junior College in the San Fernando Valley for five years, even after I?d used up my GI Bill aid.

I?d always enjoyed math, and had read a few books about it for layman, one of which got me trying to overturn Georg Cantor?s different-sized infinities; it took me several years to finally concede that I couldn?t.? (At one point I even wrote Isaac Asimov about it; he wrote a postcard back saying it wasn?t an area of expertise for him, so he could not deal with whatever ?refutation? of Cantor I sent him.)? I tried to disprove the non-Euclidean geometries, too, taking a long time to allow that I could not.? I won?t say anything about my adventures with modern physics?except that I came to be a passionate advocate of the value of all the sciences in spite of what the Sputnik hysteria did to me.

Meanwhile, I remained active as a creative writer, getting just about nowhere in all genres.? My work was quite conventional except for the haiku I wrote influenced by the typographic techniques of E. E. Cummings.? I got nothing published but some conventional haiku that I also wrote.? The haiku and Cummings.? Those two things were the key to my involvement with mathematical poetry.? The haiku because it is the kind of poetry that comes closest to mathematics.? I say that because it is supposed to be maximally objective, with a minimum of words, the best of them tending to be almost as condensed and elegant as an effective equation.

As for the poetry of Cummings, its visual elements, as in the famous one from his Tulip and Chimneys (1923), portraying Buffalo Bill,

Buffalo Bill

were the first important step in the evolution of poetry of words only to concrete poetry, which was the first variety of? what I call ?plurexpressive poetry? for poetry that is significantly aesthetically expressive in more than one expressive modality (or ?plurally expressive?), in this case the expressive language of words and the expressive language of graphics.? A half century or so later we had many such mixed kinds of poetry, including mathematical poetry . . . and visiomathematical poetry, which employs three expressive modalities, some examples of which I?ve shown here.

Next up, if enough are interested, my examinations of various mathematical poems, including the ones on display here, and my attempts to answer the questions I earlier suggested as topics of reflection.? Stay tuned.

?

Source: http://rss.sciam.com/click.phdo?i=6f319e4f43eae69922cbaa49e3e70266

pineapple upside down cake free ecards flying car masters golf tournament the replacements how to hard boil eggs new nfl uniforms

Syria army launches Aleppo assault

The Syrian army launched a massive assault on rebels in Aleppo on Saturday amid growing world concern about the risks of reprisals against the civilian population of the country's second city.

Troops backed by tanks and helicopter gunships, which had been massing for the past two days, moved on southwestern districts of the commercial hub, where rebel fighters concentrated their forces when they seized much of the northern city on July 20.

Artillery pounded Salaheddin and other rebel neighbourhoods from 8 am (0500 GMT) as ground troops advanced, an AFP correspondent reported.

Trapped civilians crowded into basements, seeking refuge from the intense bombardment.

"The fiercest clashes of the uprising are taking place in several neighbourhoods of the city," the head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Rami Abdel Rahman, told AFP.

At least 10 soldiers and six rebels were killed in fierce fighting after the assault began, the Observatory said.

"The regime's forces tried to storm the headquarters of Salaheddin but thank God, the heroes of the (rebel) Free Syrian Army repulsed the attack," FSA Colonel Abdel Jabbar al-Oqaidi told AFP.

"We have now destroyed eight armoured vehicles," he said. "There are 100 tanks massed on the outskirts of the district.

"The battle will be hard because there is no balance of forces but we are determined and we have faith in God," he added.

The opposition fighters had been holding their fire in readiness for the threatened assault, the AFP correspondent said.

But their small arms and rocket-propelled grenades were little match for the heavy armour of President Bashar al-Assad's regime.

"There are thousands of people in the streets fleeing the bombardment. They're being terrorised by helicopter gunships flying at low altitude," said an activist calling himself Amer.

"There's a large number of civilians who have taken refuge in public parks."

Pro-government media had warned that the "mother of all battles" loomed in Aleppo as the government moved to reassert its authority after recapturing rebel districts of the capital earlier in the week.

"Aleppo will be the last battle waged by the Syrian army to crush the terrorists and, after that, Syria will emerge from the crisis," the Al-Watan newspaper said.

Both sides acknowledged that casualties were likely to be high as the more than 16-month uprising comes to a head.

"Rebels are stationed in narrow streets, in which fighting will be difficult," a regime security official told AFP.

Nationwide, violence killed at least 52 people on Saturday -- 22 civilians, 16 rebels and 14 soldiers, the Observatory said.

On Friday, at least 148 people were killed -- 90 civilians, 24 rebels and 34 soldiers, according to the watchdog's figures.

Russia warned that a "tragedy" was looming in Aleppo but said it was unrealistic to expect the government would stand by when rebels were occupying major cities.

"We are persuading the government that they need to make some first gestures," said Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, whose government has long had close relations with Damascus.

"But when the armed opposition are occupying cities like Aleppo, where yet another tragedy is brewing as I understand... it is not realistic to expect that they will accept this," Lavrov told a news conference.

"Our Western partners... together with some of Syria's neighbours are essentially encouraging, supporting and directing an armed struggle against the regime," he added.

Turkey, which has given refuge to defecting army officers who have formed the kernel of the FSA, warned it could "not remain an observer" as the violence raged across its southern border.

"We must do what we can together in the United Nations Security Council, and also in the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and the Arab League, to make sure that we can make some important progress in trying to avert this appalling situation," said Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

UN chief Ban Ki-moon called on Damascus not to press ahead with its attack.

"I'm seriously concerned by the escalating violence in Aleppo," Ban said. "I urge the Syrian government to halt the offensive."

British Prime Minister David Cameron said there were "very real concerns that we have that the Syrian regime is about to carry out some truly appalling acts around and in the city of Aleppo."

French foreign ministry spokesman Bernard Valero told AFP that "with the build-up of heavy weapons around Aleppo, Assad is preparing to carry out a fresh slaughter of his own people."

In late May, at least 108 people were killed near the central town of Houla, the United Nations said. On July 12, regime forces killed more than 150 people in the central village of Treimsa, the Observatory said.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/syria-rebels-brace-decisive-battle-aleppo-043606793.html

sarah palin today show dallas tornado video 1940 census instagram for android dallas news dallas fort worth dfw

Video: Reaction to GDP From Romney Campaign

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

Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/cnbc/48352366/

fred thompson red hook romney tax return the tree of life movie academy award nominees 2012 2012 oscar nominations kyle williams

Disabled Americans: Jobless rate still high 22 years after landmark law

Twenty-two years after passage of the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act, there's progress, but employment rates for the disabled remain dismally low. Advocates hope to change that.?

By Stacy Teicher Khadaroo,?Staff Writer / July 26, 2012

Activists for the disabled hold a rally to demand equal access to hotel swimming pools and spas in this recent file photo. Twenty-two years after passage of the ADA, disabled people face markedly higher rates of unemployment.

Yuri Gripas/Reuters

Enlarge

Three years ago, Emilea Hillman got fed up with her $2.50 an-hour job hanging clothes at a sheltered workshop for people with disabilities and opened her own business. Now, Em?s Coffee Co. employs six people, some of whom also have disabilities, and turns a nice profit.?

Skip to next paragraph

' + google_ads[0].line2 + '
' + google_ads[0].line3 + '

'; } else if (google_ads.length > 1) { ad_unit += ''; } } document.getElementById("ad_unit").innerHTML += ad_unit; google_adnum += google_ads.length; return; } var google_adnum = 0; google_ad_client = "pub-6743622525202572"; google_ad_output = 'js'; google_max_num_ads = '1'; google_feedback = "on"; google_ad_type = "text"; google_adtest = "on"; google_image_size = '230x105'; google_skip = '0'; // -->

Subscribe Today to the Monitor

Click Here for your FREE 30 DAYS of
The Christian Science Monitor
Weekly Digital Edition

But among the disabled, Ms. Hillman, born with a brain condition that makes it hard to learn certain tasks, and her employment history is an exception. Twenty-two years after passage of the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act, the employment rate for people with disabilities is still dismally low, and advocates want to change that.?

?The ADA ? has made a difference in the lives of people with disabilities ? but [for employment] the needle hasn?t moved,? says Helena Berger, executive vice president of the American Association of People with Disabilities in Washington.?

The recession hit disabled workers particularly hard ? with a 10.4 percent decline in employment, compared with 2.1 percent for the general workforce, according to a report this month by the US Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.

Just 32 percent of the disabled were in the labor force as of June, while 80 percent say in surveys that they want to work, the report found. ?By contrast, the labor force participation rate for people without disabilities is 77 percent.?

Ms. Berger says ?attitudinal barriers? from employers is part of the problem: too many still fear a disabled worker will be sick more often or that their insurance rates will go up, rather than seeing the skill sets the individual brings.

Sen. Tom Harkin (D) of Iowa, who chairs the health committee and was an author of the ADA in 1990, has held a series of hearings recently to highlight ways that the government and the private sector can ensure better access to training and competitive jobs.

Several efforts are already under way, according to the recent report:

• In 2010, President Obama set a goal of hiring 100,000 federal workers with disabilities by 2015.? In 2011, the Department of Labor proposed new regulations that, if adopted, would require federal contractors to proactively recruit and promote people with disabilitie
• the US Chamber of Commerce has endorsed a goal of increasing the disabled workforce from about 5 million now to 6 million in 2015.?
• The new chairman of the National Governors Association, Delaware Gov. Jack Markell (D), announced an initiative to provide state leaders with strategies to support employment opportunities for the disabled population. ?A major emphasis will be on people who have significant intellectual and developmental disabilities and may require supports like job coaches and personal attendants in order to live and work in the community,? he noted in a letter introducing the plan.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/QT-PbBAOnvE/Disabled-Americans-Jobless-rate-still-high-22-years-after-landmark-law

the glass castle jennifer hudson trial north korea threat brandon jacobs brandon jacobs brian dawkins emma roberts

Obama signs Israel security bill on eve of Romney visit

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama signed a bill on Friday to strengthen U.S.-Israeli military ties as he sought to reassure American Jewish voters of his commitment to the two countries' close alliance on the eve of a visit to Israel by his Republican rival, Mitt Romney.

Obama used a White House ceremony to announce the United States would soon provide Israel with an additional $70 million in funding for its short-range rocket shield known as "Iron Dome," a project strongly backed by the powerful U.S. pro-Israel lobby.

His focus on strengthening cooperation with Israel appeared timed to upstage Romney, who has accused the president of undermining Washington's relationship with its number one partner in the Middle East.

Romney, whose Olympics-week visit to London has been plagued by diplomatic stumbles, will travel on Saturday to Israel, a stop his aides hope will resonate with Jewish voters at home.

He is expected to hold talks on Sunday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has had a strained relationship with Obama.

As Obama signed the bill at his desk in the Oval Office, he said it underscored his administration's "unshakeable commitment" to Israel's security. Congress passed the legislation last week with broad support from Republicans and Obama's Democrats.

"I have made it a top priority for my administration to deepen cooperation with Israel across a whole spectrum of security issues," Obama said in the Oval Office.

He was flanked by U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer and Congressman Howard Berman, the bill's sponsors, and several prominent Jewish leaders, including Lee Rosenberg, chairman of AIPAC, the leading pro-Israel lobby, and Richard Stone, chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations.

Obama, criticized by some of Israel's U.S. supporters for being too tough on a close ally, wants to shore up his support among Jewish voters, who could prove critical in battleground states like Florida and Pennsylvania in the November 6 election.

OUTREACH TO ISRAEL'S SUPPORTERS

Obama received 78 percent of the Jewish vote in the 2008 election, but a nationwide Gallup poll in June showed him down to 64 percent backing versus Romney's 29 percent.

Obama angered many Israelis and their U.S. supporters last year when he insisted any negotiations on the borders of a future Palestinian state begin on the basis of lines that existed before Israel captured the West Bank and Gaza Strip in a 1967 war. His Middle East peace efforts have stalled.

Obama visited Israel as a candidate in the 2008 campaign but has not done so as president. He has insisted security ties with Israel have never been stronger, though he has pressed Netanyahu to hold off on any attack on Iran's nuclear sites to give diplomacy and sanctions more time to work.

Romney has accused Obama of being too hard on Israel and not tough enough with Iran.

The new bill calls for enhanced cooperation with Israel - the staunchest U.S. ally in the Middle East and a major beneficiary of military aid - on missile defense and intelligence, and increased access to advanced weapons.

Obama said Defense Secretary Leon Panetta would visit Israel soon to discuss further cooperation at a time of "heightened tensions in the region." Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is faces growing international pressure over his brutal crackdown against a 16-month-old uprising.

(Reporting By Matt Spetalnick; Editing by Vicki Allen)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/obama-sign-israel-security-bill-eve-romney-visit-022214805.html

day light savings time peter paul and mary edgar rice burroughs dallas clark litter marinol flight attendant

Zach Galifianakis, Jimmy Fallon Swap Roles And Places So Zach Can Interview 'Himself' On 'Late Night' (VIDEO)

"The Bachelor"

<strong>"The Bachelor," ABC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> You really think we've seen the last rose handed out? Not in a million years. ABC has already tapped their next "Bachelorette," and we know they'll have their eyes peeled for a hot rejected man from that spinoff to be the next "Bachelor."

"The Bachelorette"

<strong>"The Bachelorette," ABC</strong> <br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Likely to be renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> "Bachelor" Brad's also-ran Emily Maynard is getting her turn as the rose giver for the seventh season of "The Bachelorette" this summer. As long as there are people willing to look for love on reality TV, this show will keep on trucking.

"Body of Proof"

<strong>"Body of Proof," ABC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> "Body of Proof" has been falling below its timeslot competitor, CBS's "Unforgettable," but it still draws a decent audience and its fans are very vocal. ABC has decided it deserves a third season.

"Castle"

<strong>"Castle," ABC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> This show's ratings have definitely suffered without "Dancing With the Stars" airing beforehand, but it is a consistent performer. And now that Castle and Beckett's relationship is evolving, a fifth season of "oh yes they will" is a no-brainer.

"Charlie's Angels"

<strong>"Charlie's Angels," ABC</strong> <br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Canceled<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Not really a shock for anybody, but "Charlie's Angels" is cooked. Flimsy story, bad remake, questionable casting.

"Cougar Town"

<strong>"Cougar Town," ABC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed -- for TBS!<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> The Season 3 ratings weren't boosted much by holding this show until midseason, but ABC's wonky air schedule also didn't help ... which is why the news that TBS has picked up the show for a fourth season is huge. Cheers with your Big Carl!

"Dancing With the Stars"

<strong>"Dancing With the Stars," ABC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> "DWTS" may have lost its luster in the ratings, but if the viewers are still coming.

"Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23"

<strong>"Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23," ABC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> ABC's new bleep-worthy comedy starring Krysten Ritter, Dreama Walker and James Van Der Beek is a funny one, and definitely embraces the quirk (Beek Jeans!), so we're excited to see what they do with a second season.

"Desperate Housewives"

<strong>"Desperate Housewives," ABC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Canceled<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> After countless deaths, murders, betrayals and natural disasters on Wisteria Lane over the show's eight seasons, the ladies of "Desperate Housewives" will say goodbye forever this May.

"Extreme Makeover: Home Edition"

<strong>"Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," ABC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Canceled <br /> <strong>Why:</strong> After a whopping nine seasons, the do-gooding show came to an end in January. But worry not, it will continue to have a few specials to make viewers cry tears of joy.

"GCB"

<strong>"GCB," ABC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Canceled<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> This "Desperate Housewives"-esque dramedy premiered to less than 8 million viewers, and the phenomenal cast (Kristin Chenoweth, Annie Potts, Leslie Bibb) couldn't bring in a Texas-sized audience, so ABC canceled it.

"Grey's Anatomy"

<strong>"Grey's Anatomy," ABC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Shonda Rhimes' medical drama is a ratings juggernaut, even in its eighth season, and with most of her <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/10/greys-anatomy-ellen-pompeo_n_1506113.html?ref=tv" target="_hplink">big stars signed on for more</a>, ABC gave the go-ahead for a ninth season.

"Happy Endings"

<strong>"Happy Endings," ABC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> This show is way too "ca-yute" to bubble it, and obviously someone high up at ABC agrees. After its first season was moved around and aired all out of order, the network still gave it another chance to find its audience in Season 2 ... and it has, and hopefully will continue to in Season 3.

"Last Man Standing"

<strong>"Last Man Standing," ABC</strong><br /> <strong>Status: </strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Ratings for Tim Allen's return to sitcoms have been very strong, making it Tuesday's most-watched comedy. If you can beat "Glee" and "The Biggest Loser," a second season is a given.

"Man Up!"

<strong>"Man Up!," ABC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Canceled<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> ABC pulled the show after eight episodes.

"The Middle"

<strong>"The Middle," ABC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Now in its third season, "The Middle" is still holding onto its middle position in the ratings on Wednesday nights, and that seems just about right. It doesn't do "American Idol" or "Survivor" numbers, of course, but with over 7 million viewers, it's a strong comedy for the network that easily beats anything NBC is offering.

"Missing"

<strong>"Missing," ABC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Canceled<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Ashley Judd lead this drama about a former CIA agent whose son goes missing, kicking her back into action to find him. The series was only set to air 10 episodes, miniseries-style, with the potential for more, but a cancellation means that's all they're getting.

"Modern Family"

<strong>"Modern Family," ABC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> "Modern Family" remains ABC's biggest sitcom success story of the last decade, both in ratings and awards love. This critical darling is getting a fourth season of hijinks with the hilarious Pritchett-Dunphy clan.

"Once Upon A Time"

<strong>"Once Upon A Time," ABC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> "Once Upon a Time" has gotten praise for being one of the more family-friendly dramas on TV, and it's been pulling in close to 10 million viewers each week because of it. We're excited by the almost endless possibilities for new fairy tale-inspired stories to tackle in Season 2.

"Pan Am"

<strong>"Pan Am," ABC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Canceled<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Poor "Pan Am" just never quite took off. The series' vintage look actually worked against it, much like NBC's swiftly canceled "Playboy Club" -- guess when you're being compared to award-winning shows like "Mad Men," it makes it more than a little tough to live up to the hype.

"Private Practice"

<strong>"Private Practice," ABC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> "Private Practice" has never gotten "Grey's Anatomy"-level ratings, and things got shakier when ABC bumped it to Tuesday nights to make room for creator Shonda Rhimes' <em>other</em> new show, "Scandal," but they've given the show a sixth season order.

"Revenge"

<strong>"Revenge," ABC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> With a clever mix of drama, mystery and serious revenge-ing, this is hands down one of the most addictive new shows on TV, and we can't wait to see where they take things in Season 2.

"The River"

<strong>"The River," ABC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Canceled<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> The promise of "Paranormal Activity"-like scares each week quickly fizzled after this show premiered, along with the ratings. The first season's eight episodes came and went, and ABC has nixed any plans for more.

"Scandal"

<strong>"Scandal," ABC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Shonda Rhimes' latest show isn't about doctors at all -- and that's why we're glad it's sticking around. Kerry Washington is amazing as Olivia Pope, a Washington, D.C. fixer with a crack team of specialists helping make bad headlines vanish before they're ever written. Here's hoping for more than seven episodes in its second season.

"Shark Tank"

<strong>"Shark Tank," ABC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Now in its third season, this reality competition show is unlike any other on network TV and ABC is keeping it around for more for that very reason.

"Suburgatory"

<strong>"Suburgatory," ABC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> It's smart, quick and not too cute -- "Suburgatory" is consistently named the sitcom you should be watching, but probably aren't. The great cast makes this one a no-brainer, and the ratings have stayed pretty consistent, too. We're thrilled it's getting a second season to shine!

"Work It"

<strong>"Work It," ABC</strong> <br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Canceled <br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Let us count the ways ...

"2 Broke Girls"

<strong>"2 Broke Girls," CBS</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why: </strong>At first, people balked at the racist supporting characters, but now it seems that audiences are all over "2 Broke Girls" -- it's ratings have seen a steady increase, and it won the People's Choice Award for Favorite New Comedy.

"A Gifted Man"

<strong>"A Gifted Man," CBS</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Canceled<br /> <strong>Why: </strong>"A Gifted Man's" total viewer numbers were OK for a Friday night, but a 1.3 rating in the 18-49 demographic is especially bad for CBS. Another bad sign: star Patrick Wilson tweeted about the end: "I had a great time. Thanks to my fans. So happy it's done." And done it is.

"The Amazing Race"

<strong>"The Amazing Race," CBS</strong><br /> <strong>Status: </strong>Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Voted the best reality show on TV several times (albeit years ago), "The Amazing Race" isn't going anywhere. Ratings have dropped a bit, but are still solid.

"The Big Bang Theory"

<strong>"The Big Bang Theory," CBS</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Nothing seems to be able to make a dent in this show. With fantastic ratings (it beat "Idol"!) and a rabid following, we'll be seeing plenty more "Big Bang" before its run is over.

"Blue Bloods"

<strong>"Blue Bloods," CBS</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed <br /> <strong>Why:</strong> The anchor of Friday nights on CBS, "Blue Bloods" has performed well, pulling in around 11 million viewers an episode. The show might not have the youngest audience, but it's still enough for CBS to keep it on the schedule.

"Criminal Minds"

<strong>"Criminal Minds," CBS</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Paget Brewster might be checking out, but "Criminal Minds" is here to stay. In Season 7, the procedural is still a consistently strong ratings performer for CBS.

"CSI"

<strong>"CSI," CBS</strong> <br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Whenever the time comes, the "CSI" mothership will end with a lot of fanfare, but not this year. With new faces Ted Danson and Elisabeth Shue around, there is going to be at least one more season.<br />

"CSI: Miami"

<strong>"CSI: Miami," CBS</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Canceled<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Out of the three (!) "CSI" programs on the air, "CSI: Miami" is the one to say goodbye first. The one-time ratings giant has been affected by football overruns (just as "The Good Wife" has) and "CSI: NY" has the edge in terms of total viewers, meaning a "Miami" sunset was inevitable. <br />

"CSI: NY"

<strong>"CSI: NY," CBS</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Of the two "CSI" spinoffs, "CSI: NY" is the stronger -- pulling in more than 10 million viewers on a Friday night is no easy task -- and with "CSI: Miami" canceled, "CSI: NY's" renewal was a no-brainer.

"The Good Wife"

<strong>"The Good Wife," CBS</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> This critical darling suffered after its move from Tuesdays to Sundays thanks to sports overruns. The viewers are frustrated, but given its strong cast and Emmy love, the show is still coming back for more.

"Hawaii Five-0"

<strong>"Hawaii Five-0," CBS</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Despite the scheduling setback as Alex O'Loughlin seeks treatment, Season 2 is still doing well for CBS in a very competitive timeslot.<br />

"How To Be a Gentleman"

<strong>"How To Be A Gentleman," CBS</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Canceled<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Not even having "The Big Bang Theory" as a lead-in could save this David Hornsby project, which only lasted three episodes.

"How I Met Your Mother"

<strong>"How I Met Your Mother," CBS</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> CBS renewed "How I Met Your Mother" for two more seasons in March 2011, so fans can look forward to being strung along about the titular mother's identity for a bit longer.<br />

"The Mentalist"

<strong>"The Mentalist," CBS</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Although the show hit a season ratings low in the middle of February, its fanbase and overall ratings were enough to have it return for another season.

"Mike & Molly"

<strong>"Mike & Molly," CBS</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Thanks to an Emmy win and Oscar nomination, Melissa McCarthy is a Hollywood power player and CBS is keen to keep her around. Just look at the multiple pilots she has in the works as a behind the scenes player! "Mike & Molly" will be back for a third season.

"NCIS"

<strong>"NCIS," CBS</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> The long-running procedural has become a ratings juggernaut at a time when most shows start shedding viewers. Season 10 is now happening.

"NCIS: Los Angeles"

<strong>"NCIS: Los Angeles," CBS</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong>Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> This show has gone up in the ratings over the last couple of years, and people can't get enough of L.L. Cool J and Chris O'Donnell.

"NYC 22"

<strong>"NYC 22," CBS</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Canceled<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> This "Rookie Blue" clone from executive producer Robert DeNiro didn't really move the needle when it premiered midseason; CBS officially axed it with three episodes left to air.

"Person of Interest"

<strong>"Person of Interest," CBS</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> With ratings matching juggernauts like "Grey's Anatomy" and fans popping up everywhere, we'll be seeing another season of "Person of Interest."

"Rob"

<strong>"Rob," CBS</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Canceled<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> "Rob's" spot after ratings juggernaut "The Big Bang Theory" probably went a long way in helping it survive to see the end of its first season, but that's as far as it'll get.

"Rules of Engagement"

<strong>"Rules of Engagement," CBS</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> This show has moved around so much it's hard to remember when it's on, and with six seasons under its belt it's had quite a nice run. Despite slipping ratings and the aforementioned constant switcheroos, there's still a future for "Rules of Engagement."

"Survivor"

<strong>"Survivor," CBS</strong><br /> <strong>Status: </strong>Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Of <em>course</em> we have "Survivor" coming back for another season. Where else are we going to see petty squabbles and insane behavior on some of the most beautiful beaches in the world?

"Two and a Half Men"

<strong>"Two and a Half Men," CBS</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Despite a less-than-favorable critical response, the revamped "Two and a Half Men" keeps pulling in respectable numbers every week. Ashton Kutcher, Jon Cryer and Angus T. Jones will all return for a Season 10.

"Undercover Boss"

<strong>"Undercover Boss," CBS</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> The inherent addictiveness of this show has gone a long way in securing loyal viewers -- it has been on top of the ratings several times this season alone.

"Unforgettable"

<strong>"Unforgettable," CBS</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Likely to be renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> In its timeslot, "Unforgettable" keeps emerging on top, beating out "Parenthood" and "Body of Proof." Leading lady Poppy Montgomery has been called "the female version of 'The Mentalist,'" another top-rated show, so things are looking positive.

"90210"

<strong>"90210," The CW</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> While its ratings have plummeted since last season, the Beverly Hills crew is still doing better than "Supernatural," "Hart of Dixie," "Nikita," and "Gossip Girl" on average.

"America's Next Top Model"

<strong>"America's Next Top Model," The CW<br /> Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Tyra Banks' reality show is in the early stages of its 18th cycle with a Brit vs. U.S. installment. Cycle 19 will be the show's inaugural "college edition."

"Gossip Girl"

<strong>"Gossip Girl," The CW</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Fans will get to say goodbye to the Upper East-Siders in a sixth and reportedly shortened final season.

"H8R"

<strong>"H8R," The CW</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Canceled<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Apparently, the opposite of MTV's former series "Fanatic" proved people don't love to hate Kim Kardashian and Snooki as much as we thought. It lasted four episodes.

"Hart of Dixie"

<strong>"Hart of Dixie," The CW</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Josh Schwartz and Rachel Bilson return for a sophomore season of "Hart of Dixie," hopefully so they can make more viral videos.

"Nikita"

<strong>"Nikita," The CW</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why: </strong>We're shocked the show is coming back for another season, but its hard-core fans will certainly be happy.

"One Tree Hill"

<strong>"One Tree Hill," The CW</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Canceled<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> After nine seasons, it's time to say goodbye to "One Tree Hill." After subpar ratings, the network decided to pull the plug on its long-standing teen soap. Thankfully, the CW gave "One Tree Hill" a final 13 episodes to wrap up all of the drama.

"Remodeled"

<strong>"Remodeled," The CW</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> As good as dead<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Not only has "Remodeled" already been replaced on the CW schedule, but it debuted with one of the CW's lowest-rated premiere ever, scoring a terrible 0.3 in the coveted 18-49 demo.

"Ringer"

<strong>"Ringer," The CW</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Canceled<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Sarah Michelle Gellar's double-life proved too complicated and poorly-produced for viewers to care much about.

"The Secret Circle"

<strong>"The Secret Circle," The CW</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Canceled<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Somewhat of a surprising development given its decent ratings, but it never quite lived up to its lead-in, "The Vampire Diaries."

"Supernatural"

<strong>"Supernatural," The CW<br /> Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> This fan favorite will return for Season 8.

"The Vampire Diaries"

<strong>"The Vampire Diaries," The CW <br /> Status:</strong> Renewed <br /> <strong>Why:</strong> "Vampire Diaries" is The CW's golden child ... the vampires and witches and werewolves of Mystic Falls aren't going anywhere.

"Alcatraz"

<strong>"Alcatraz," Fox</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Canceled<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> "Alcatraz" -- and almost every other recent J.J. Abrams TV project -- proves that slapping "from J.J. Abrams" on a show does not equal ratings success. The series debuted strong, but fizzled in the ratings, leading Fox to pull the plug.

"Allen Gregory"

<strong>"Allen Gregory," Fox</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Canceled<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Jonah Hill's animated series only lasted seven episodes. The Oscar nominee should probably just stick to movies for a while ...

"American Dad"

<strong>"American Dad," Fox</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Fox gave out early renewals to "American Dad" and "The Cleveland Show," keeping its Sunday night animation block intact. <br />

"American Idol"

<strong>"American Idol," Fox</strong> <br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Likely to be renewed <br /> <strong>Why:</strong> The show's declining ratings have been widely reported this season, but it's hard to imagine TV life without "Idol."

"Bob's Burgers"

<strong>"Bob's Burgers," Fox</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Too soon to tell<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> The sophomore season of this quirky animated comedy kicks off this month (Sun., Mar. 11), so don't expect to hear about a Season 3 just yet.<br />

"Bones"

<strong>"Bones," Fox</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed <br /> <strong>Why: </strong>The show got a ratings boost thanks to its lead-in "The X Factor." With the floundering state of Fox's dramas (see ya, "House"), Fox is holding on to this one.

"Breaking In"

<strong>"Breaking In," Fox</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Canceled<br /> <strong>Why: </strong>After a last minute revival, "Breaking In" returned for a second season with Megan Mullally in tow, but it wasn't enough to revive this D.O.A. comedy.

"The Cleveland Show"

<strong>"The Cleveland Show," Fox</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Fox gave "The Cleveland Show" and "American Dad" early renewals and this spinoff will be back for a Season 4, but no word on a fifth season.<br />

"Family Guy"

<strong>"Family Guy," Fox</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why: </strong>Fox handed out early renewals to the Seth MacFarlane animated comedies.

"The Finder"

<strong>"The Finder," Fox</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Canceled<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> "The Finder" hit the benches for a bit before moving to Fridays, and the numbers never improved. Averaging less than 6 million viewers an episode (not so hot for a Fox drama), it was only a matter of time ...

"Fringe"

<strong>"Fringe," Fox <br /> Status:</strong> Renewed <br /> <strong>Why:</strong> This fan favorite has struggled in the ratings, but Fox has agreed to give it a 13-episode order for a fifth and final season to wrap up all the mysteries of both universes.

"Glee"

<strong>"Glee," Fox</strong><br /> <strong>Status: </strong>Renewed<br /> <strong>Why: </strong>The hit teen series is breaking records in music sales, but its overall viewership has slipped. After a bit of a PR debacle about graduating characters that ended with spinoff plans being squashed, "Glee" will get another season.

"Hell's Kitchen"

<strong>"Hell's Kitchen," Fox <br /> Status:</strong> Renewed <br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Last year at this time, Fox renewed the Gordon Ramsay series for two more seasons, so it's all set.

"House"

<strong>"House," Fox</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Canceled<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> After eight seasons and countless unsolvable medical cases solved, this Fox medical drama is coming to an end.

"I Hate My Teenage Daughter"

<strong>"I Hate My Teenage Daughter," Fox</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Canceled<br /> <strong>Why: </strong> As if getting panned by critics wasn't enough, "I Hate My Teenage Daughter's" shrinking ratings had the show marked for death, then Fox benched the sitcom for three months after only four episodes and then ... yep, buh-bye forever. No shock there.

"Kitchen Nightmares"

<strong>"Kitchen Nightmares," Fox <br /> Status:</strong> Renewed?<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> In early February, Fox signed on for a?16-episode fifth season of this other Gordon Ramsay series. They're in the Gordon Ramsay business, and they're not going anywhere.

"MasterChef"

<strong>"MasterChef," Fox <br /> Status:</strong> Likely to be renewed <br /> <strong>Why:</strong> No official announcement has been made regarding a third season, but there was a casting call issued during episodes throughout Season 2. And if Gordon Ramsay's track record with Fox is any indication, it's as good as renewed.

"Mobbed"

<strong>"Mobbed," Fox <br /> Status:</strong> On the bubble <br /> <strong>Why:</strong> It started with a ratings bang, but things have only gone down from there for Fox's flash mob reality show with Howie Mandel at the helm. It's not on the schedule in any regular timeslot though, so it's possible they'll continue producing a few episodes a year.

"Napoleon Dynamite"

<strong>"Napoleon Dynamite," Fox <br /> Status:</strong> On the bubble<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> After a decent debut, "Napoleon Dynamite" dropped about half of its audience to about 4 million viewers per episode. It could go either way.<br />

"New Girl"

<strong>"New Girl," Fox</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> "New Girl" was the first new Fox show to get a full Season 1 order and the show has continued to perform well in the ratings and in the 18-49 demographic. America loves that adorkable charm.

"Q'Viva: The Chosen"

<strong>"Q'Viva: The Chosen," Fox</strong> <br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Too soon to tell/Not their call<br /> <strong>Why: </strong>Shortly after the Latin American-based show -- starring J. Lo and her ex-husband Marc Anthony -- debuted on Univision, Fox picked up an English-language version that debuted in early March. Though the reality series underperformed in its Saturday night timeslot, it's not Fox's decision whether or not we'll see more "Q'Viva."

"Raising Hope"

<strong>"Raising Hope," Fox</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Thanks (or no thanks) in part to the success of "New Girl," the sophomore season of "Raising Hope" has moved around timeslots, but it has retained about a 2.1 score in the adults 18-49 demo.

"The Simpsons"

<strong>"The Simpsons," Fox</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> After a very tense contract standoff, the voice actors of "The Simpsons" and the studio agreed to new terms and the show was renewed through Season 25.

"So You Think You Can Dance"

<strong>"So You Think You Can Dance," Fox</strong><br /> <strong>Status: </strong>Too soon to tell<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Season 9 of "So You Think You Can Dance" won't debut until this summer and when it does, there will be changes: Fox has nixed the results show entirely. If the fanbase is still there, the cheaper production could save the show for another few seasons.

"Terra Nova"

<strong>"Terra Nova," Fox</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Canceled<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Fox pulled the plug on this very expensive dinosaur drama, but reports indicate producers are looking to keep the show alive on a different network.<br />

"Touch"

<strong>"Touch," Fox</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> The Kiefer Sutherland drama had a sizable audience (about 12 million viewers) for its preview and has remained somewhat steady since its premiere. Fox showed faith in the series, giving it the post-"American Idol" slot, and it paid off.

"The X Factor"

<strong>"The X Factor," Fox</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why: </strong>Fox has already renewed the singing competition for a second season and boy will there be changes: two new hosts and two new judges will join Simon Cowell and L.A. Reid at the table.

"30 Rock"

<strong>"30 Rock," NBC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong>"30 Rock" is showing its age, but the star power of Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin can't be denied -- NBC has renewed the show for a seventh and final season of 13 episodes.

"America's Got Talent"

<strong>"America's Got Talent," NBC <br /> Status:</strong> Likely to be renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> NBC's top-rated summer show is moving to New York for this upcoming season, but it's most likely not going anywhere. Unless, of course, the new judge -- shock jock Howard Stern -- really messes things up somehow.

"Are You There, Chelsea?"

<strong>"Are You There, Chelsea?," NBC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Canceled<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> With just over 3 million viewers an episode, it wasn't not exactly a strong performer, even by NBC's standards. Even Chelsea Handler and NBC's fondness for funny ladies couldn't save this show.

"Awake"

<strong>"Awake," NBC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Canceled <br /> <strong>Why:</strong> "Awake" had gotten some great promotion, but its numbers were pretty middle of the road and only went down further -- genre shows with heavy serialized elements are always tricky.

"Bent"

<strong>"Bent," NBC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Canceled <br /> <strong>Why: </strong>The Amanda Peet comedy premiered in late March and had six episodes to prove itself, but NBC didn't give it much of a chance, airing them back-to-back.

"Best Friends Forever"

<strong>"Best Friends Forever," NBC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong>Canceled<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> The female buddy sitcom starring and co-created by Jessica St. Clair and Lennon Parham was yanked from the schedule and then axed for good.

"Betty White's Off Their Rockers"

<strong>"Betty White's Off Their Rockers," NBC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Too soon to tell<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Even though Betty White isn't doing the pranking, "Off Their Rockers" could still make a comeback.

"The Biggest Loser"

<strong>"The Biggest Loser," NBC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Likely to be renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> NBC's weight loss competition show has been around for years, and despite sagging overall ratings, its 18-49 rating (a recent episode got a 2.0) is still one of NBC's highest.

"Celebrity Apprentice"

<strong>"Celebrity Apprentice," NBC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Likely to be renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Series low ratings probably won't kill this franchise. But are there any D-listers left who haven't competed for Donald Trump's approval?

"Chuck"

<strong>"Chuck," NBC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Canceled<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> The Josh Schwartz spy dramedy ended its five-season run in January.

"Community"

<strong>"Community," NBC</strong><br /> <strong>Status: </strong>Renewed<br /> <strong>Why: </strong>Beloved by (a very vocal) few, ignored by many -- that's "Community" in a nutshell. After getting benched in January, "Community" returned to NBC's schedule with a vengeance, getting it a fourth season pick-up for 13 episodes to air on Fridays. Cool, cool, cool -- you can pop, pop! that champagne now.

"Fashion Star"

<strong>"Fashion Star," NBC</strong> <br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why: </strong>The high-style reality series with Nicole Richie, Jessica Simpson, Elle Macpherson and John Varvatos has certainly been confusing, but it's still a smart business model: The winning designs each week are for sale in stores the next day, and those stores just happen to be covering a large portion of production and advertising costs.

"Fear Factor"

<strong>"Fear Factor," NBC <br /> Status:</strong> Likely to be renewed <br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Despite the donkey semen scandal that cut this season of "Fear Factor" a bit short, <a href="http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/13/fear-factor-returns-and-makes-a-ratings-splash/" target="_hplink">"Fear Factor" boosts NBC's ratings</a> ... and can a scandal really compete with that?

"The Firm"

<strong>"The Firm," NBC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> As good as dead<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> The show hasn't officially gotten the axe yet, but "The Firm" was moved to Saturdays after turning in an incredibly poor performance (less than a 1 rating in the 18-49 demo) on Thursday nights.

"Free Agents"

<strong>"Free Agents," NBC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Canceled <br /> <strong>Why:</strong> This show just didn't have much life in it. It was canceled after just four episodes, despite its awesome lead actors Hank Azaria and Kathryn Hahn.

"Grimm"

<strong>"Grimm," NBC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> The supernatural fairy tale drama has been doing well for NBC on Friday nights -- it hovers around the 5 million viewers mark, which is pretty solid by NBC standards and why the network gave the drama an early renewal.

"Harry's Law"

<strong>"Harry's Law," NBC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong>Cancelled<br /> <strong>Why: </strong> While earlier this year "Harry's Law" was one of NBC's top players, after a three-month break between January and March, the Kathy Bates drama saw mediocre ratings and failed to hold on to viewers.

"Law & Order: SVU"

<strong>"Law & Order: SVU," NBC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> The only "Law & Order" left, "SVU" has been an NBC power player for 13 years and will return for a 14th.

"The Office"

<strong>"The Office," NBC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> It's hard to imagine a long-running, fan-favorite show like "The Office" going away without a big promotional push. The numbers are still good (by NBC standards) and "The Office" will return for a Season 9.

"Parenthood"

<strong>"Parenthood," NBC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> The perpetual bubble show has done pretty consistent numbers for NBC this season, but three seasons in and no signs of growth is both a good and bad sign ... luckily for fans, NBC gave it a Season 4 all the same.

"Parks and Recreation"

<strong>"Parks and Recreation," NBC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Just like the rest of NBC's Thursday comedy block, "Parks and Recreation" has serious ratings blues. Can critical acclaim keep "Parks" around for a Season 5? The answer is yes! "Parks" will return for Season 5.

"The Playboy Club"

<strong>"The Playboy Club," NBC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Canceled<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Apparently fictional slutty bunnies and real-life homewrecker Eddie Cibrian do not a successful show make. It only lasted three episodes. "The Girls Next Door" did it better.

"Prime Suspect"

<strong>"Prime Suspect," NBC <br /> Status:</strong> Canceled <br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Maria Bello's gruff detective failed to capture the audience NBC hoped. At least we had all those hat jokes. <br />

"Smash"

<strong>"Smash," NBC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed <br /> <strong>Why: </strong> After a huge promo blitz, "Smash" debuted nicely, but started losing viewers quickly. A handful of episodes in, it stabilized, becoming NBC's #1 drama in the 18-49 demo, and NBC announced it was getting a second season.

"Up All Night"

<strong>"Up All Night," NBC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> The critical favorite of NBC's new comedy offerings, "Up All Night" debuted strongly to more than 10 million viewers, but has since dropped to less than 4 million viewers an episode. It will return for a Season 2.

"Whitney"

<strong>"Whitney," NBC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> The show is one of the better performing freshman offerings on the Peacock network -- and NBC chief Bob Greenblatt told members of the press at TCA that he is "hopeful Whitney will be a long-term player for us." Looks like Season 2 is a good start, with the show moving to Friday nights.

"The Voice"

<strong>"The Voice," NBC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> We may not even be at Season 2's live shows yet, but NBC is already up for more of "The Voice." Hopefully, Cee Lo's cat "Purrfect" will return for Season 3 as well.

"Who Do You Think You Are?"

<strong>"Who Do You Think You Are?," NBC<br /> Status:</strong> Likely to be renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> The celebrity-centric family tree series has helped NBC on Friday nights and hit its ratings high in March.

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/26/zach-galifianakis-jimmy-fallon-swap-places-video_n_1704865.html

young guns concord safe and sound botticelli x factor winner footlocker julia gillard

New stroke treatments becoming a reality

Public release date: 26-Jul-2012
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Morwenna Grills
Morwenna.Grills@manchester.ac.uk
44-161-275-2111
University of Manchester

Scientists led by the President of The University of Manchester have demonstrated a drug which can dramatically limit the amount of brain damage in stroke patients.

Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, Professor Stuart Allan and their team have spent the last 20 years investigating how to reduce damage to the brain following a stroke.

They have been testing the effectiveness of the drug Anakinra (IL-1Ra), which is already used for rheumatoid arthritis in experimental studies of stroke.

This new study builds on previous research, although the big difference is that rats with stroke risk factors such as obesity, insulin resistance and atherosclerosis were used alongside healthy rats and older ones. It means the findings have a far greater chance of being replicated in human stroke patients.

Researchers induced a stroke in the rats and the drug IL-1Ra, or a placebo for comparison, was injected under the skin. The researchers did not know which animals had been given which drug. This is a similar process to what happens in clinical trials of medicines.

The results were startling. MRI scans revealed that the rats that were given IL-1Ra up to three hours after the stroke had only about half the brain damage of the placebo group.

Professor Rothwell said: "This is the first time that we are aware of a potential new treatment for stroke being tested in animals with the same sort of diseases and risk factors that most patients have. The results are very promising and we hope to undertake further clinical studies in stroke patients soon."

IL-1Ra works by blocking the naturally occurring protein interleukin 1. Researchers at The University of Manchester have identified that it is a key cause of brain injury following a stroke.

Interleukin 1 encourages inflammation in the area of the brain affected by stroke. This sends out signals to attract white blood cells and to switch on microglia cells in the brain. Because the barrier surrounding the brain has been weakened by the stroke the white blood cells find it easier to enter the brain. But instead of helping the inflamed area they actually kill nerve cells and worsen the injury. The increasing presence of these cells also explains why the damage in the brain gets worse over time following a stroke.

IL-1Ra also reduces the amount of damage to the blood-brain barrier following a stroke so the harmful cells can't enter the brain. In the recent experiments IL-1Ra reduced the damage to the blood-brain barrier by 55% in healthy rats and 45% in rats with underlying health conditions. In all types of rats the drug reduced the amount of activated microglia cells by 40% compared to the placebo group.

The only drug treatment currently available for stroke patients is Tissue Plasminogen Activator (tPA). However, this can only be administered to patients who suffer from a blood clot (ischaemic stroke) rather than bleeding. A brain scan is required to assess which type of stroke a patient has suffered which is why it is essential to get them to hospital as quickly as possible. tPA also has to be administered within a few hours of a stroke to be effective.

Professor Stuart Allan at The University of Manchester hopes that IL-1Ra could be used for both forms of stroke, meaning it could be administered immediately.

He said: "This drug has real potential to save lives and stop hundreds of thousands of people being seriously disabled by stroke. This really could be the treatment for stroke that we've been looking for over the past two decades."

A phase 2 trial with a small number of patients has yielded encouraging results. It's hoped a much larger clinical trial will demonstrate the effectiveness of IL-1Ra in reducing brain damage in stroke patients and that eventually it will become the standard treatment.

###

Notes to Editors

Stroke is the third most common cause of death and the leading cause of adult disability in the western world. More than 100,000 people have a stroke in the UK each year. Nearly a fifth of people still die within 30 days of diagnosis. Those who survive are often seriously disabled.

The most common cause of stroke is ischaemia (blood clot causing damage) whilst 15% of strokes are due to primary haemorrhage (direct bleeding into the brain). The induced stroke used in this study was an ischaemia.

The animals were randomized for all the experiments, assessments were performed in a blinded manner and analysis was confirmed by two independent researchers.

The research from these experiments was published in the Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism on the 11 July 2012.

Professor Stuart Allan is available for interviews and images can be obtained from the press office.

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Public release date: 26-Jul-2012
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Morwenna Grills
Morwenna.Grills@manchester.ac.uk
44-161-275-2111
University of Manchester

Scientists led by the President of The University of Manchester have demonstrated a drug which can dramatically limit the amount of brain damage in stroke patients.

Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, Professor Stuart Allan and their team have spent the last 20 years investigating how to reduce damage to the brain following a stroke.

They have been testing the effectiveness of the drug Anakinra (IL-1Ra), which is already used for rheumatoid arthritis in experimental studies of stroke.

This new study builds on previous research, although the big difference is that rats with stroke risk factors such as obesity, insulin resistance and atherosclerosis were used alongside healthy rats and older ones. It means the findings have a far greater chance of being replicated in human stroke patients.

Researchers induced a stroke in the rats and the drug IL-1Ra, or a placebo for comparison, was injected under the skin. The researchers did not know which animals had been given which drug. This is a similar process to what happens in clinical trials of medicines.

The results were startling. MRI scans revealed that the rats that were given IL-1Ra up to three hours after the stroke had only about half the brain damage of the placebo group.

Professor Rothwell said: "This is the first time that we are aware of a potential new treatment for stroke being tested in animals with the same sort of diseases and risk factors that most patients have. The results are very promising and we hope to undertake further clinical studies in stroke patients soon."

IL-1Ra works by blocking the naturally occurring protein interleukin 1. Researchers at The University of Manchester have identified that it is a key cause of brain injury following a stroke.

Interleukin 1 encourages inflammation in the area of the brain affected by stroke. This sends out signals to attract white blood cells and to switch on microglia cells in the brain. Because the barrier surrounding the brain has been weakened by the stroke the white blood cells find it easier to enter the brain. But instead of helping the inflamed area they actually kill nerve cells and worsen the injury. The increasing presence of these cells also explains why the damage in the brain gets worse over time following a stroke.

IL-1Ra also reduces the amount of damage to the blood-brain barrier following a stroke so the harmful cells can't enter the brain. In the recent experiments IL-1Ra reduced the damage to the blood-brain barrier by 55% in healthy rats and 45% in rats with underlying health conditions. In all types of rats the drug reduced the amount of activated microglia cells by 40% compared to the placebo group.

The only drug treatment currently available for stroke patients is Tissue Plasminogen Activator (tPA). However, this can only be administered to patients who suffer from a blood clot (ischaemic stroke) rather than bleeding. A brain scan is required to assess which type of stroke a patient has suffered which is why it is essential to get them to hospital as quickly as possible. tPA also has to be administered within a few hours of a stroke to be effective.

Professor Stuart Allan at The University of Manchester hopes that IL-1Ra could be used for both forms of stroke, meaning it could be administered immediately.

He said: "This drug has real potential to save lives and stop hundreds of thousands of people being seriously disabled by stroke. This really could be the treatment for stroke that we've been looking for over the past two decades."

A phase 2 trial with a small number of patients has yielded encouraging results. It's hoped a much larger clinical trial will demonstrate the effectiveness of IL-1Ra in reducing brain damage in stroke patients and that eventually it will become the standard treatment.

###

Notes to Editors

Stroke is the third most common cause of death and the leading cause of adult disability in the western world. More than 100,000 people have a stroke in the UK each year. Nearly a fifth of people still die within 30 days of diagnosis. Those who survive are often seriously disabled.

The most common cause of stroke is ischaemia (blood clot causing damage) whilst 15% of strokes are due to primary haemorrhage (direct bleeding into the brain). The induced stroke used in this study was an ischaemia.

The animals were randomized for all the experiments, assessments were performed in a blinded manner and analysis was confirmed by two independent researchers.

The research from these experiments was published in the Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism on the 11 July 2012.

Professor Stuart Allan is available for interviews and images can be obtained from the press office.

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-07/uom-nst072612.php

paris jackson Katherine Jackson Olympics Opening Ceremony Time aapl Olympics 2012 Schedule US weekly Olympic Schedule