Novo Nordisk raises year view after Q3 beats fcasts

COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - Denmark's Novo Nordisk lifted third-quarter core profit by 40 percent and above expectations on the back of strong sales of diabetes drug Victoza and modern insulins.

The world's biggest insulin producer raised its 2012 sales growth forecast in local currencies to 10 to 12 percent from 9 to 12 percent and said it expected operating profit growth of 16 to 18 percent versus 15 percent previously.

"Continued strong sales of our modern insulins and Victoza have led to a robust financial performance in the first nine months of 2012," Chief Executive Lars Sorensen said.

Releasing forecasts for 2013, Novo Nordisk said it saw operating profits and sales growth in high single digits, measured in local currencies.

"The expectations to 2013 sales could have been a little higher," said Sydbank analyst Soren Lontoft.

"The earnings forecast looks fine considering the high costs for the launch of Tresiba in the new year," Lontoft said.

Earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) rose to 7.86 billion Danish crowns ($1.37 billion) from 5.61 billion in the third quarter last year, beating an average 7.23 billion forecast in a Reuters poll of analysts.

Sales of Victoza, one of Novo's biggest growth drivers, jumped 62 percent in the quarter while sales of modern insulins grew 23 percent.

Sales grew 20 percent year-on-year to 19.85 billion crowns, roughly in line with analysts' average 19.92 billion estimate.

Novo Nordisk said a new share buy back programme would be launched shortly.

(Reporting by Mette Fraende; Editing by David Cowell)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/novo-nordisk-raises-view-q3-beats-fcasts-071935802--finance.html

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Hurricane Sandy Shelter information | WGNT.com ? Hampton Roads ...

Posted on: 4:14 pm, October 27, 2012, by Steve Baron, updated on: 08:30pm, October 27, 2012

Newport News:?

Warwick High School, located at 51 Copeland Lane, will open as shelter at 8:00 a.m. Sunday, October 28^th.? Residents should bring the following:

• any medications or special needs equipment as well as caregivers;
• air mattresses, blankets, and pillows;
• special items for babies and toddlers, the elderly and handicapped;
• reading materials and games;
• toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, etc.);
• clothing;
• water (at least one gallon per person per day);
• non-perishable food; special diet foods, including foods for seniors and infants;
• first aid kit; and
• battery operated radio, flashlight and extra batteries.

There is limited capacity for pets (dogs and cats only) at the shelter. Residents who bring pets need to bring a kennel, cage or crate, pet food, and water, and be prepared to care for your pet. Animals will be housed at the shelter, but separately from people.

Norfolk:?

The city of Norfolk will open the following four shelters tonight Saturday October 27, 2012 at 6:30 p.m:

Bayview Recreation Center (Pet-Friendly Shelter)
8613 Willow Terrace

Campostella Elementary School
1106 Campostella Road

Norview High School
6501 Chesapeake Blvd

Granby High School
7101 Granby Street

Bayview Recreation Center will accommodate household pets such as a dog, cat, bird, rabbit, rodent or turtle. Household pets do not include: reptiles (except turtles), fish, insects/arachnids and farm animals. Owners are required to remain at the shelter with their animals at all times. Bring all necessary food and medications. All pets must be on a leash or in a carrier.

Residents are advised to bring bedding materials, toiletries, medicine, food and any other items they deem necessary to ride out the storm.

Virginia Beach:

The City of Virginia Beach will open an emergency shelter at 10 a.m. Sunday to accommodate residents during Hurricane Sandy at Birdneck Elementary School, 957 S. Birdneck Road.?

Portsmouth:?

An emergency shelter will open Sunday morning at Lakeview Elementary School at 8 a.m.? The address is 1300 Horne Avenue.?

Mathews County:?

A shelter will open at 8 am Sunday at Thomas Hunter Middle School.

Source: http://wgnt.com/2012/10/27/hurricane-sandy-update-shelter-information/

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Jessica Ridgeway Killer Confessed to Crime, Prosecutors Say

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Hybrid of Sandy, winter storm threatens East Coast

This NOAA satellite image taken Wednesday, October 24, 2012 at 1:45 PM EDT shows Hurricane Sandy across the central Caribbean moving northward toward Jamaica and Cuba. Tropical Storm Tony is seen along the tail end of a cold front across the central Atlantic. (AP PHOTO/WEATHER UNDERGROUND)

This NOAA satellite image taken Wednesday, October 24, 2012 at 1:45 PM EDT shows Hurricane Sandy across the central Caribbean moving northward toward Jamaica and Cuba. Tropical Storm Tony is seen along the tail end of a cold front across the central Atlantic. (AP PHOTO/WEATHER UNDERGROUND)

Waves, brought by Hurricane Sandy, crash on a house in the Caribbean Terrace neighborhood in eastern Kingston, Jamaica, Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2012. Hurricane Sandy pounded Jamaica with heavy rain as it headed for landfall near the country's most populous city on a track that would carry it across the Caribbean island to Cuba, and a possible threat to Florida. (AP Photo/Collin Reid)

Map shows parh of Hurricane Sandy

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Much of the U.S. East Coast has a good chance of getting blasted by gale-force winds, flooding, heavy rain and maybe even snow early next week by an unusual hybrid of hurricane and winter storm, federal and private forecasters say.

Though still projecting several days ahead of Halloween week, the computer models are spooking meteorologists. Government scientists said Wednesday the storm has a 70 percent chance of smacking the Northeast and mid-Atlantic.

Hurricane Sandy in the Caribbean, an early winter storm in the West, and a blast of arctic air from the North are predicted to collide, sloshing and parking over the country's most populous coastal corridor starting Sunday. The worst of it should peak early Tuesday, but it will stretch into midweek, forecasters say.

"It'll be a rough couple days from Hatteras up to Cape Cod," said forecaster Jim Cisco of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration prediction center in College Park, Md. "We don't have many modern precedents for what the models are suggesting."

It is likely to hit during a full moon when tides are near their highest, increasing coastal flooding potential, NOAA forecasts warn. And with some trees still leafy and the potential for snow, power outages could last to Election Day, some meteorologists fear. They say it has all the earmarks of a billion-dollar storm.

Some have compared it to the so-called Perfect Storm that struck off the coast of New England in 1991, but Cisco said that one didn't hit as populated an area and is not comparable to what the East Coast may be facing. Nor is it like last year's Halloween storm, which was merely an early snowstorm in the Northeast.

This has much more mess potential because it is a combination of different storm types that could produce a real whopper of weather problems, meteorologists say.

"The Perfect Storm only did $200 million of damage and I'm thinking a billion," said Jeff Masters, meteorology director of the private service Weather Underground. "Yeah, it will be worse."

But this is several days in advance, when weather forecasts are far less accurate. The National Hurricane Center only predicts five days in advance, and on Wednesday their forecasts had what's left of Sandy off the North Carolina coast on Monday. But the hurricane center's chief hurricane specialist, James Franklin, said the threat keeps increasing for "a major impact in the Northeast, New York area. In fact it would be such a big storm that it would affect all of the Northeast."

The forecasts keep getting gloomier and more convincing with every day, several experts said.

Cisco said the chance of the storm smacking the East jumped from 60 percent to 70 percent on Wednesday. Masters was somewhat skeptical on Tuesday, giving the storm scenario just a 40 percent likelihood, but on Wednesday he also upped that to 70 percent. The remaining computer models that previously hadn't shown the merger and mega-storm formation now predict a similar scenario.

The biggest question mark is snow, and that depends on where the remnants of Sandy turn inland. The computer model that has been leading the pack in predicting the hybrid storm has it hitting around Delaware. But another model has the storm hitting closer to Maine. If it hits Delaware, the chances of snow increase in that region. If it hits farther north, chances for snow in the mid-Atlantic and even up to New York are lessened, Masters said.

NOAA's Cisco said he could see the equivalent of several inches of snow or rain in the mid-Atlantic, depending on where the storm ends up. In the mountains, snow may be measured in feet instead of inches.

___

Associated Press writer Tony Winton contributed to this report from Miami.

___

Online:

NOAA's Hydrometeorological Prediction Center: http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/index.shtml

National Hurricane Center: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/

___

Seth Borenstein can be followed at http://twitter.com/borenbears

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/b2f0ca3a594644ee9e50a8ec4ce2d6de/Article_2012-10-25-Super%20Storm/id-0466ca014bcb4db1864ed807de1567a6

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Great Ideas And Suggestions On Commercial Real Estate | Eric - First

You can sometimes become overwhelmed when thinking and dealing with commercial real estate, yet you don?t have to be discouraged for too much longer. This article will give you some great advice to make your commercial property dealings proceed more smoothly.

Get yourself set up online before you buy any property. Start by having a website designed, and create a LinkedIn profile. Get your site seen by investing in search engine optimization services. The idea is for people to learn about you by just entering your name into a search field.

Retain an attorney who is experienced in commercial real estate law before you purchase your first property. It is best to always be protected by a trustworthy, knowledgeable legal professional who can help you to resolve any issues that may arise.

TIP! Know that the size of a property is important when you?re looking for a spot for a business that?s permanent. If you don?t invest in commercial property that allows for growth, your business is going to be hunting for a new home again within a few short years.

Properties, like people, have finite life spans. It?s important to be aware of this. Don?t make the mistake of overlooking the fact that you will need to put a substantial amount of money into the property to keep it well-maintained. Consider the fact that a property could need a brand new, expensive roof fitted, or a modern electrical system installed. All buildings eventually need maintenance to maintain the quality of your investment. Be prepared for when these necessities come up.

Pro Forma

This makes it easier to determine if the terms are consistent with the property?s rent roll and pro forma financial disclosures. If you don?t read over these terms, you may find something that?s not the rent roll and it could change your pro forma.

TIP! Keep your center of attention on one investment property at a time. Regardless of whether your real estate investment is a office, apartment complex, or undeveloped commercial land, it is important to concentrate your efforts on only one investment.

You can find different kinds of brokers. For example, full-service brokers represent both the landlord and tenants. There are also tenant brokers that work exclusively for the tenants. You reap better benefits if you hire an experienced tenant broker because the broker will ensure that you receive the best deal possible.

Look around at the general environment around the building. The one who?ll have to clean up any environmental waste on your property is you. Is your property located in an area known for floods? Make sure you think it over! Talk to an environmental assessment agency to learn more about the area where the property is located.

Thoroughly tour every potential property. Think about asking a contractor to assist you in evaluating each of the properties, since they will likely see things that you may miss. After touring, feel free to begin negotiations or even make your preliminary proposal. Make sure you evaluate any counteroffers well enough before you make any purchasing decisions.

TIP! Make sure you consider any possible environmental problems. One major problem is when your property has hazardous waste material issues.

The neighborhood where the property is located is very important. You want to try to purchase commercial property in a neighborhood that is affluent so that you know your clientele are a little bit more well off and can spend more. Or, if you are offering a service particularly attractive to the less wealthy, you should purchase in a less well-to-do area.

Before negotiating a lease with a commercial tenant, work on narrowing down the list of things that would constitute default. Doing so makes it less likely that a tenant can default on the lease. This type of situation is considered very undesirable.

Square Footage

TIP! When choosing brokers with whom to work, find out the amount of experience they have dealing with commercial properties. Make sure they are specializing in the desired area that you?re selling or buying in.

One thing you should be clear about when purchasing or selling property is the amount of square footage that exists. Commercial real estate may be measured by its usable square footage, which is where business would occur. Other measurements could involve uninhabitable spaces and walls. Therefore, it is very important to know both types of square footage.

Write down your goals before you start to search out the perfect commercial property. Do you plan on having your own business on the property or do you plan on leasing it? Have some clear goals before you look for commercial property, it will save you time and a lot of work.

Prior to selling commercial property, have it inspected first by a professional. If they do find anything amiss, get it fixed immediately.

TIP! If you are renting or leasing, be sure to know about pest control arrangements. This is especially important when an area is known to have pest and rodent problems.

Keep your focus on the largest issues when writing your letters of intent. Keep it simple and save the smaller issues for later in the negations. The negotiations will go much better and be less stressful if you keep the small stuff out of the way and can focus on the larger issues first.

You have to purchase a real estate appraisal yourself before you can qualify for a commercial loan. You?re not going to be allowed to use this later by the bank. Protect yourself from this problem and get the appraisal done on your own dime.

Commercial properties can be difficult to find, regardless of how experienced you are. The advice in this article should help make the process of buying commercial property proceed more smoothly.

TIP! Keep watch for sellers who are looking to get rid of their properties quickly. You want to make sure you find the ones that are highly motivated, especially any who are very eager to make money by selling below market value.

Source: http://www.maynaseric.com/great-ideas-and-suggestions-on-commercial-real-estate-2

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Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children Establishes Distinguished Chair in Spine

Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children (TSRHC) in Dallas proudly announces the establishment of the Leuna C. Sullivan, Don L. Hicks and The Gordon Sondland and Katherine J. Durant Foundation Distinguished Chair in Spine. A permanent endowment of $2 million will be used for spine research, fellowships and training at the discretion and in support of the work of the distinguished chair.

?We have been continually impressed and moved by the dedication of the nurses, doctors, and researchers who specialize in the field of scoliosis at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children,? said Gordon Sondland. ?Their commitment to helping families aligns beautifully with our mission and it is our great pleasure to support them in developing cutting-edge advancements in treatment and providing the very best care.?

The endowed chair, held by Daniel J. Sucato, M.D., M.S. Chief of Staff at TSRHC and the director of the Sarah M. and Charles E. Seay/Martha and Pat Beard Center for Excellence in Spine Research, strengthens the hospitals? clinical leadership and benefits not only the patients but also the hospital?s medical staff, residents and fellows. Scoliosis is the hospital?s highest referring diagnosis, and leadership in the area of spinal deformity is paramount to the hospitals? mission.

?We are privileged to have friends and supporters of this caliber who contribute to the work we do at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children,? said J. C. Montgomery, Jr., Chairman and CEO of the TSRHC Foundation. ?Gifts such as these have helped support our mission of delivering the highest quality of patient care. The hospital is one of the premier orthopaedic facilities in the world and this level of generous support will allow us to continue our advancements.?

About the Gordon Sondland and Katherine J. Durant Foundation

The Gordon Sondland and Katherine J. Durant Foundation was founded in 1999 in Portland, Ore. by Gordon Sondland, CEO of Provenance Hotels and Director and managing member of the Aspen Companies, a diversified private equity firm, and Katherine Durant, Managing Partner of Atlas Investments, a diversified real estate development and holding company specializing in retail and industrial properties. The Foundation's mission of "Helping Families & Boosting Communities" is carried out through contributions, challenge grants, and long term pledges of support to a wide range of charitable organizations including the Portland Art Museum, Oregon Museum of Science & Industry, Oregon Health Sciences University, New Avenues for Youth, Oregon Ballet Theatre, Elevate Oregon, Fisher House and the Portland Parks Foundation. The Gordon Sondland and Katherine J. Durant Foundation can be found online at http://www.sondlanddurant.org.

About Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children

Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children is one of the nation's leading pediatric centers for the treatment of orthopaedic conditions, certain related neurological disorders and learning disorders, such as dyslexia. Admission is open to Texas children from birth up to 18 years of age. Patients receive treatment regardless of the family?s ability to pay. For more information, to volunteer or to make a donation, please call (214) 559-5000 or (800) 421-1121 or visit http://www.tsrhc.org.

About Masterlink Interactive

Masterlink Interactive is an award winning Dallas web design and interactive marketing company providing web design and development, e-commerce programming and design, search engine optimization (SEO) and search engine marketing services (SEM), hosting, server co-location, video streaming and video conferencing.

Since 1995, Masterlink has been providing top ranking web design and interactive marketing services in the Dallas, Texas area to those wanting a custom web site design and increased online presence.

Source: http://www.proskore.com/pressrelease.cfm?PRID=97679

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FTP: Eli: I don't think it took rocket scientist either

Getty Images

Vikings punter Chris Kluwe isn?t gay.? But if he were, we suspect he?d gladly announce it.

He?d do it because, in his mind, people are people and they should be who they are, and the rest of us should accept it.? But there would be a collateral benefit, in Kluwe?s opinion.

?The first gay athlete to come out will have endorsement deals the likes of which you?ve never seen,? Kluwe told Bob Costas on Tuesday?s Costas Tonight on NBC Sports Network.? ?Think about Gatorade, think about Nike, think about those huge companies that want to stamp their brand, their logo on this generation?s Jackie Robinson.? You?re telling me that?s not the biggest marketing opportunity in 50 years?? I mean, it?s huge.?

Kluwe, who recently debated a chair on the topic of same-sex marriage, thinks the NFL is much closer to being ready to accept a gay player than it was when he arrived.? ?When I first got in the league, you could definitely tell the older guys, the seven- and eight-year vets, they?d grown up in the ?80s and ?90s and that influenced their way of thinking and the way they acted towards each other,? Kluwe told Costas.? ?Now that I?m one of the seven- and eight-year vets, I look at the rookies coming in and it fills me with hope that these guys, they just, they don?t really care about what other people do with their lives because it doesn?t affect them.? They realize that other people should be free to live their own lives, you know, should be free to get married to who they want because at the end of the day, they?re allowed to get married to whoever they want.? So you know, I?m hopeful for the future and hopefully we can dispel this stereotype of the NFL being this macho, close-minded culture.?

When it happens, it will be a big deal for the player?s team ? for a little while.

?I think it?s something that will receive media attention for probably a good week and a half, two weeks, but it will die down because people will realize it doesn?t matter what your sexuality is when you?re out on the field on Sunday,? Kluwe said.? ?It matters can you play football?? Can you help us win football games?? And at the end of the day, it doesn?t matter what you?re sexuality is.? So hopefully we?ll be able to do our part to create a more welcoming culture so that someone feels comfortable in coming out and one day people will be able to be who they are.?

It?s a simple yet eloquent vision.? People will be able to be who they are.? Every sports team, company, and institution should aspire to that standard.

Source: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/10/24/eli-manning-i-dont-think-it-took-a-rocket-scientist-either/related/

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14 eco groups ask Pa. to change drill/water policy

PITTSBURGH (AP) ? Fourteen environmental groups have asked Pennsylvania Republican Gov. Tom Corbett to reverse a recent change in how official notifications of possible water pollution related to Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling are handled. But state officials say the public still gets the information it needs.

The 14 groups claim the new policy would delay warning the public about pollution related to oil and gas drilling from a procedure known as hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, which involves blasting chemical-laden water deep into the ground.

Under the new policy, which went into effect Sept. 14, top Department of Environmental Protection administrators in Harrisburg now decide whether residential water users should receive official determination letters, formal notices telling property owners that the agency has found that drilling either did or didn't affect water. In the past, experts in field offices made that decision.

The Delaware Riverkeeper Network, a nonprofit organization that works throughout the Delaware River watershed, is among the environmental groups critical of the policy change related to drilling in the Marcellus Shale, which lies under parts of Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio and West Virginia.

"The DEP geologists and water quality specialists who are uniquely qualified to make water contamination decisions cannot help but be chilled by the knowledge that their superiors will be second-guessing their scientific determinations," the network's leader, Maya van Rossum, said in a statement.

But the DEP said homeowners whose water may have been affected by drilling still get test results immediately.

"We provide homeowners with sample results as we get them and are in continuous communication throughout our investigations. We respond to every complaint we receive and, when warranted, conduct a full investigation," DEP spokesman Kevin Sunday said in an email.

Sunday said it makes sense for senior management to be involved with the separate issue of sending determination letters.

"We stand firmly behind our decision to apprise senior management of what these determination letters contain," he wrote in the email. "It is unreasonable to assert that DEP management should not be aware of these matters, and it would be bad management for them not to be."

The complaints over the issue came from the state Sierra Club chapter, Earthjustice, Clean Water Action, the Pennsylvania Forest Coalition and other groups.

Fracking has made it possible to tap into deep reserves of oil and gas but also has raised concerns about pollution. Large volumes of water, along with sand and hazardous chemicals, are injected deep underground to break rock apart and free the oil and gas.

The energy industry and many federal and state officials say the practice is safe when done properly, but environmental groups and some scientists say there hasn't been enough research about possible pollution.

The Pennsylvania policy change was first reported by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/14-eco-groups-ask-pa-change-drill-water-140629794--finance.html

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Crusty foods may worsen heart problems associated with diabetes

ScienceDaily (Oct. 22, 2012) ? A University of Illinois study suggests avoiding cooking methods that produce the kind of crusty bits you'd find on a grilled hamburger, especially if you have diabetes and know you're at increased risk for cardiovascular disease because of your diagnosis.

"We see evidence that cooking methods that create a crust -- think the edge of a brownie or the crispy borders of meats prepared at very high temperatures -- produce advanced glycation end products (AGEs). And AGEs are associated with plaque formation, the kind we see in cardiovascular disease," said Karen Chapman-Novakofski, a U of I professor of nutrition.

For years nutrition experts have advised people with diabetes to bake, broil, or grill their food instead of frying it, she said.

"That's still true, but if you have diabetes, you should know that AGEs -- byproducts of food preparation methods that feature very high, intense, dry heat -- tend to end up on other tissues in the body, causing long-term damage," she added.

If you're fighting this vascular buildup anyway, Chapman-Novakofski thinks that consuming products containing AGEs could worsen the cardiovascular complications of diabetes.

In the U of I study, the scientists compared the 10-day food intake of 65 study participants in two ethnic groups: Mexicans (who have higher rates of diabetes and a greater risk of complications from the disease) and non-Hispanic whites.

"We found that people with higher rates of cardiovascular complications ate more of these glycated products. For each unit increase in AGEs intake, a study participant was 3.7 times more likely to have moderate to high risk for cardiovascular disease," said Claudia Luevano-Contreras, first author of the study.

The study showed that non-Hispanic whites had a higher intake of AGEs, and they consumed more saturated fats. However, the association between AGEs and cardiovascular disease was stronger than for saturated fats and heart disease, she said.

Eating less saturated fat and more fruits, vegetables, and fiber are important for people with diabetes, but this study shows that food preparation may be important too, she added.

"AGEs are higher in any kind of meat, but especially in ground meat," she said. "If you put hamburgers or brats on the grill, you'll likely have a higher AGEs content than if you chose a whole cut of meat, say round steak or chicken," said Chapman-Novakofski.

Boiling or stewing meat would reduce your AGEs intake further. And scrambling an egg with cooking spray instead of frying it leads to a significant reduction in AGEs, she added.

The scientists said more research is needed before definite recommendations can be made. They are planning another study in which they'll examine past AGEs intake of diabetes patients.

"These findings are preliminary, but they give us ample reason to further explore the association between AGEs and cardiovascular risk among people with diabetes," Chapman-Novakofski noted.

The study is available online in the International Journal of Food Science and Nutrition. Co-authors are Claudia Luevano-Contreras of the University of Illinois and Eugenia Garay-Sevilla and Monica Preciado-Puga of the University of Guanajuato, Mexico. Partial funding was provided by the National Council for Science and Technology of Mexico (CONACYT).

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences. The original article was written by Phyllis Picklesimer.

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

---

Journal Reference:

1. Claudia Luevano-Contreras, MA. Eugenia Garay-Sevilla, Monica Preciado-Puga, Karen Marie Chapman-Novakofski. The relationship between dietary advanced glycation end products and indicators of diabetes severity in Mexicans and non-Hispanic whites: a pilot study. International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, 2012; 120710073547001 DOI: 10.3109/09637486.2012.704905

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

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

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/most_popular/~3/jaQTubMj4cU/121022162653.htm

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Tighter Than A Tick (talking-points-memo)

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Cheat Sheet: Tonight's Foreign Policy Debate

President Obama and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, in the third presidential debate, face off exclusively on foreign policy tonight at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Fla.

The debate will be the candidates' last opportunity to address each other directly on a slew of foreign policy questions. For Obama, the debate is an opportunity to defend his policy in the Middle East. And for Romney, it is an opportunity to convince voters that he has the foreign policy chops to be commander in chief.

Tune in to ABC News.com tonight at 8 p.m. ET for anchored coverage of the final presidential debate, held at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Fla.

Here's what you need to know about the big foreign policy questions of the day:

Libya: the Benghazi attack

Perhaps more than any other foreign policy issue, the death of U.S. Ambassador to Libya Christopher Stephens has dominated headlines and has penetrated the consciousness of American voters, who are otherwise preoccupied with their own economic security.

Most recent reports indicate that an amateur anti-Islamic video was not what provoked the attacks, as the administration said originally. But recent reports also indicate that intelligence officials do not believe the attack was pre-planned.

The issue may also be Romney's clearest opportunity to challenge Obama's foreign policy record.

Romney has suggested that the Obama administration, for political reasons, misled the country about what triggered the attacks in Libya. Republicans have also roundly criticized Obama for saying to comedian Jon Stewart that Stevens' death and the deaths of other Americans at the embassy were not "optimal.

Iran: nuclear weapons

Obama and Romney largely agree that Iran must be prevented from obtaining nuclear weapons.

The Obama administration said that it has imposed strenuous sanctions on Iran, including strictly enforcing sanctions that have been in place for decades.

But Romney said in a recent foreign policy speech at the Virginia Military Institute that Obama's foreign policy had "emboldened" Iran.

Meanwhile, a report in The New York Times over the weekend suggested that Iran had agreed to one-on-one talks with the U.S. about its nuclear plans.

Iranian officials have denied that they have agreed to any talks. Romney is likely to be questioned about his position on one-on-one talks with Iran. When asked about whether he would be open to one-on-one talks with Iran over the weekend, Romney declined to answer.

Israel

Both Obama and Romney will emphasize the importance of the U.S.'s relationship with Israel, and the U.S. commitment to preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

Romney has staunchly criticized Obama for allowing his relationship with Israeli President Bibi Netanyahu to deteriorate over the course of his presidency.

Romney and Netanyahu are old friends, a friendship dating back to their days at Boston Consulting Group, when they were both business consultants.

Obama's relationship with Netanyahu has been rocked by several public strains in the past four years, including disagreements about Israel's expansion of settlements in the Gaza Strip. Most recently, Obama was criticized by Republicans for not meeting with Netanyahu when both leaders attended the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September, however the two did speak by phone. And in his speech at the U.N. General Assembly, Obama reiterated his commitment to a "secure Jewish state of Israel and an independent prosperous Palestine."

Iraq and Afghanistan: ending the wars

Ending the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq are central to Obama's foreign policy re-election message. Obama, who ran on a platform of ending the Iraq war and refocusing U.S. efforts on al Qaeda in Afghanistan, announced that the last troops pulled out of Iraq at the beginning of 2012. And the last surge troops left Afghanistan in September, and the U.S. and NATO allies plan to drawdown troops in the country by 2014.

Romney will acknowledge the ending of the war in Iraq, the drawdown in Afghanistan and perhaps Obama's greatest foreign policy achievement, the killing of Osama bin Laden early in the debate as he has done in other foreign policy speeches.

Romney and Obama agree on the 2014 date to withdraw troops from Afghanistan. However, Romney has said that his drawdown will be guided by "conditions on the ground" and "the best advice of our military commanders."

Both candidates may also be asked to weigh in on the surge of so-called "green on blue" violence in Afghanistan, where Afghan soldiers turn their weapons on the American and NATO troops who train them. Those attacks have accounted for more than 15 percent of coalition casualties so far in 2012, which is more than double the rate of casualties in 2011.

Syria: humanitarian crisis

The uprising against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has continued for 19 months without much evidence that a cease-fire is near in that conflict, which has killed more than 30,000 civilians.

The Obama administration has provided nonmilitary aid to the Syrian rebels and has supported international actors in pursuing a cease-fire but has been slow to provide arms and weapons to the rebels. Romney has been sharply critical of Obama's handling of the humanitarian crisis in Syria. He has pledged to increase sanctions against Assad's regime and arm rebel forces.

Both candidates may be asked to outline their criteria for intervening in a humanitarian crisis like the one in Syria.

Currently, a United Nations and Arab League peace envoy is reportedly working to negotiate a cease-fire between Assad and rebel forces. Two other Middle Eastern countries that are central to the conflict in Syria are Turkey, which has supported the rebels and is an ally of the United States, and Iran, which is widely considered to be Syria's closest ally in the region.

China: currency manipulation and outsourcing

When Obama and Romney memorably locked horns over China in the second presidential debate last week, it was over two issues: outsourcing of jobs and currency manipulation.

The president accused Romney of investing in companies that outsourced jobs to China and Romney, insisting that he would label China as a currency manipulator "on day one" of his presidency.

Currency manipulation is the practice of undervaluing the Chinese yuan on the global market so that products sold from China are cheaper than U.S.-made products.

Both candidates say that a top priority of their administrations would be to encourage companies to create jobs in the U.S. and not in low-wage countries such as China.

In the past, Obama has said that he would "close loopholes" that give companies incentives to hire workers oversees. And on the issue of currency manipulation, the Obama administration has steered away from officially labeling China a currency manipulator, despite calls from Republicans and from within his own party to do so.

Expect both candidates to be pressed for more details on what they would do to address the loss of jobs in the United States to cheap labor in China and how the U.S. economy can compete with China's in the future.

Defense spending: a strong military and automatic cuts

At the end of 2012, the Department of Defense may face mandatory, across the board $500 billion budget cuts, also known as "sequestration," if Congress fails to agree on a long-term deficit reduction plan.

The cuts would come on top of the $100 billion in savings that former Defense Secretary Bob Gates announced in 2010 that the department would find over five years in response to increased fiscal belt tightening and the need to reduce waste.

Both Obama and Romney oppose the $500 billion cut to the defense budget and agree that the cuts would be detrimental to the country's national security.

Romney has argued in past debates that if Obama is re-elected, those "arbitrary" cuts would go into effect. And he has said that as president, he would boost military spending to 4 percent of GDP in an effort to strengthen national security.

Obama's policy has been to pursue "nation-building here at home" by using the savings from drawing down the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to reduce the deficit and to invest in domestic infrastructure projects.

Also Read

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/cheat-sheet-tonights-foreign-policy-debate-183252980.html

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adrianpasdara: Sex education, grooming and the nature of liberty ...

Over the years when My Black Cat scouted around the Internet looking for Intertwinglements she came across all sorts of rubbish, unproven ?facts,? and conspiracy theories regarding paedophilia.

In addition she came across some information that seemed to be either plausible or credible. For example, she discovered that Harriet Harman and Patricia Hewitt were respectively Legal Officer and General Secretary to the National Council for Civil Liberties (NCCL, now Liberty) at the time when there was an affiliation with the pro-paedophilia groups P.I.E and P.A.L.

The following is from Wiki :

LIBERTY (pressure group)

1975?1989
From 1974-83 the NCCL was headed by Patricia Hewitt, who was later to become prominent in the Labour Party, serving as Health Secretary. A number of other future high profile Labour politicians worked at the organisation at this time, such as Harriet Harman who worked as the legal officer and her husband Jack Dromey.[11][12]

Paedophilia
In 1976, the NCCL stated to a parliamentary committee that ?Childhood sexual experiences, willingly engaged in, with an adult result in no identifiable damage? The real need is a change in the attitude which assumes that all cases of paedophilia result in lasting damage?. Organisations such as Paedophile Information Exchange (P.I.E.), a pro-paedophile activist group, and Paedophile Action for Liberation became affiliated to the pressure group. The NCCL stated they supported ?any organisation that seeks to campaign for anything it wants within the law? and that the ?NCCL has no policy on [the Paedophile Information Exchange?s] aims ? other than the evidence that children are harmed if, after a mutual relationship with an adult, they are exposed to the attentions of the police, press and court.? Groups such as P.I.E. were later excluded from the organisation.

Shami Chakrabarti, now the present director of Liberty, criticised the actions of Jimmy Savile on the Andrew Marr show today.

Harriet Harman is also adopting a high profile role.

Patricia Hewitt is saying nothing.

It would be in the public interest to hear the views that these three women held regarding paedophilia immediately before Jimmy Savile?s alleged paedophilia reached the headlines.

It would also be in the public interest to know the views held by Harriet Harman and Patricia Hewitt at the time that P.I.E and P.A.T were affiliated to NCCL (now Liberty).

Richard Murphy gives an account of a debate in his University in the 1970s and his views on why??.

NO ONE TALKED ABOUT JIMMY SAVILE

Here is some more information that My Black Cat collected involving attitudes to paedophilia in Germany in the 1970s.

HOW THE LEFT TOOK THINGS TOO FAR

?Germany?s left has its own tales of abuse. One of the goals of the German 1968 movement was the sexual liberation of children. For some, this meant overcoming all sexual inhibitions, creating a climate in which even pedophilia was considered progressive.?

The above link is probably credible.

But is what comes next credible also? Is it plausible?

A few years ago while hunting Intertwinglements, My Black Cat came across a leaflet that was said to originate from the German Government aimed at parents and schools advising them regarding sex education of their children. Apparently it went much further that even the most liberal sex education in the UK.

Unfortunately, black cats are not multilingual and neither is The Witch Doctor so we couldn?t read what it said. Anyway, we can?t find the document now but it was there to be seen some years ago. There is a reference to it in another blog. The question is:

Follow the link below. Is the post it leads to conspiratorial, plausible or credible?

This is the question The Witch Doctor has to ask herself every time My Black Cat dumps rats on the floor of The Spell Pantry.

Sometimes she is not sure of the answer.

LEGALISED CHILD ABUSE IN GERMANY : SEX AND THE PRE-SCHOOL CHILD

Jimmy Savile may be have been highly intelligent kind of sociopath. Perhaps he even intellectualised child sexual abuse. Who knows? Perhaps his beliefs and actions during his lifetime, will permit us all to question what we regard as paedophilia and form views about it that are moral, sensible, and above all our own, and not dependent on the Creep that might result from the influence of past, present or future pressure groups.

Perhaps we also need to question when sex education becomes grooming.

Perhaps these questions will lead us beyond the UK, beyond the Island of Jersey, and further afield into Europe.

The Witch Doctor ? Link to a random page

a red apple ????????

The Witch Doctor ? Link to a random page

_________________________________________________

LINK TO UK MISSING KIDS WEBSITE

LINK TO MISSING PERSONS WEBSITE

_________________________________________________

? Mpz@sapo.pt | Agency: Dreamstime.com
? Ijansempoi | Dreamstime.com

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Source: http://witchdoctor.wordpress.com/2012/10/21/sex-education-grooming-and-the-nature-of-liberty/

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Source: http://adrianpasdara.blogspot.com/2012/10/sex-education-grooming-and-nature-of.html

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Saturday?s Political Ledes (TIME)

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

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ask_me_anything: inspired by the traffic laws post

For those of you who drive in areas that have red/yellow/green stoplights (I don't know if this is a universal thing or not), what do you do during the yellow light phase? Assume this is during normal driving conditions, not on icy roads or anything like that.

Poll #1873526 yellow lights
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 44

What do you do when you see a yellow light?

Bonus: If you answered 'slow to a stop', where do you live? If you answered 'speed like hell to get through it', where do you live?

Source: http://ask-me-anything.livejournal.com/36943026.html

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Video: Obama apologizes to Matthews for debate performance

Pittsburgh hopes Cincy's confines remain friendly

The Steelers travel to Cincinnati to take on the Bengals on Sunday night in Paul Brown Stadium, where they have been 11-2 since it opened in 2000. That's a good thing, because Pittsburgh is in desperate need of a road win.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036697/vp/49482871#49482871

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Zito deals zeroes, keeps SF alive

Giants starter shuts Cards down 5-0, keeps S.F. alive for NLCS Game 6

Elsa / AP

Giants starting pitcher Barry Zito pitched 7 2/3?shutout innings.

Associated Press Sports

updated 11:12 p.m. ET Oct. 19, 2012

ST. LOUIS - The San Francisco Giants stayed alive in the National League Championship Series with a 5-0 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday, cutting the series deficit to 3-2 thanks mostly to a commanding pitching performance by Barry Zito.

Zito used his precise placement and canny pitch selection to hold the Cardinals scoreless for 7 2-3 innings, putting the series back on an almost even keel as it returns to San Francisco for the last two games.

Zito looked like the same guy who won the 2002 AL Cy Young award with the Oakland Athletics. He retired 11 batters in a row in one stretch while finishing with six strikeouts.

It was Zito's first postseason win since 2006, shortly before he left the A's and signed a $126 million, seven-year contract with San Francisco.

"A lot of people were saying stuff about A's days," Zito said. "And for me, the most important thing is doing everything for San Francisco right now."

Zito was left off the postseason roster when the Giants won the 2010 World Series because he had pitched so ineffectively. He started Game 4 of the division series against the Cincinnati Reds earlier in this year's playoffs and lasted only 2 2-3 innings.

"I couldn't be happier for him," manager Bruce Bochy said. "He had it all going. He put on quite a show."

The Giants scored four runs in the fourth inning when the defending champion Cardinals might have literally thrown away a chance to clinch a second straight World Series trip.

On a forceout, pitcher Lance Lynn spun around and threw to second base in the hope of turning a double play, but his low throw deflected off the bag and into shallow right field, allowing one run to score on the play.

With two outs and a full count, Brandon Crawford singled up the middle with the bases loaded. Lynn narrowly missed stopping the ball with his foot, and two more runs scored.

Zito, who has just 30 career hits and nine RBIs, made it 10 runs batted in when he laid down a perfect bunt for a fourth run of the inning, all stemming from Lynn's throwing error.

"I don't mind him being aggressive if he's got the play," manager Mike Matheny said. "(Shortstop Pete) Kozma was in the right place, he just made a low throw.

"And to do it over again, I'm sure he'd like to take the easy out at first base."

The Giants have won Zito's past 13 starts and are averaging more than six runs a game during the streak, although the lefty didn't need much help in this one.

The Cardinals are seeking consecutive pennants for the first time since 1967-68, and trying to advance to the World Series for the second year in a row as a wild-card entry. One more win would set up a rematch of the 2006 World Series against the Detroit Tigers, which the Cardinals took in five games.

Lynn, an 18-game winner his first year in the rotation, failed to make it out of the fourth for the second time in the series.

Lynn struck out five of the first 10 batters, sailing through the first three innings with no balls hit out of the infield, only to let himself down in the fourth.

The Cardinals best chance came in the second inning when Yadier Molina and David Freese - both swinging on the first pitch - opened the inning with a single and double, getting runners on second and third with no outs. However Lynn, a career .056 hitter, hit into a bases-loaded double play to end the threat.

Pablo Sandoval made it 5-0 in the eighth with a homer just inside the foul pole in right field; his second homer in as many nights.

Game 6 is on Sunday, with Ryan Vogelsong pitching for the Giants against Chris Carpenter.

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

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Zito deals zeroes, keeps SF alive

Despite never throwing a pitch that topped 86 mph, San Francisco's Barry Zito shut down the Cardinals for 7 2/3 innings Friday night, keeping the Giants alive in the National League Championship Series, 5-0.

Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/49484213/ns/sports-baseball/

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Love in the hunt at his own tournament

ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. (AP) ? Davis Love III might have found the perfect tonic for any Ryder Cup hangover ? playing golf, and playing well on a Sea Island course he knows better than anyone.

In his third straight tournament since his U.S. team lost a big lead on the final day at Medinah, Love hit a 6-iron to 3 feet on the 17th hole that put him in the final group going into the weekend at the McGladrey Classic, where he is becoming more than just a tournament host.

Love was one shot behind Arjun Atwal, who is running out of time to keep his PGA Tour card. Atwal made an adjustment in his putting stroke earlier in the week and watched it pay off in a big way at Sea Island for a 63, his best score of the year.

Atwal, whose two-year exemption from winning in Greensboro, N.C., expires this year, is No. 175 on the money list and has only two tournaments left to finish in the top 125. He opened with three straight birdies and took the outright lead with a wedge into 5 feet on the fifth hole, his 14th of the round.

"I'm in a desperate situation," Atwal said. "I got no choice ? either win or finish in the top two. So I've just got to grind it out."

Atwal was at 10-under 130, though this tournament has a distinct Ryder Cup feel going into the final two days.

It starts with Love, the American captain, who moved to Sea Island when he was 14. What helped more than his course knowledge was switching to a belly putter that doesn't quite reach his belly, and not even his shirt "unless it's untucked." Brian Bateman, who is much shorter than Love, once used it as a belly putter and Love figures the fact that it's a heavy club and has a different look could only help him.

"I've been messing around with this putter for well over a year, I just haven't had the nerve to put it in play," Love said. "But I had two pro-ams this week so I said, 'This is the best time ? my home greens, two pro-ams on my home course.' So I tried it out and the first day I used it, I made eight birdies. So it worked."

Love was tied with Jim Furyk, who hasn't played since his bogey-bogey finish in the Ryder Cup and is making his final PGA Tour appearance of the year. Furyk was plodding along Sea Island, a few birdies on his card, when he rolled in an 18-foot birdie putt on the 14th, converted a two-putt birdie from 100 feet away just off the green, and made a third straight birdie on the 16th from about 12 feet. He wound up with a 65.

"I felt a little rusty on the way in," Furyk said. "I have a lot of confidence in my ball striking right now, but when you don't play a lot, sometimes it's the course management, making the good decisions. And so far that's all kind of coming back to me slowly and I've kind of gained momentum as the last two rounds have gone on."

David Toms was tied with them until he made bogey on the final hole for a 67, though he was still only two shots out of the lead. Bud Cauley, who shared the first-round lead, wasn't as crisp with his irons and had to settle for a 70. He also was two behind, still in great shape as he pursues his first PGA Tour win. Gavin Coles joined them at 132 after six birdies in a round of 65.

Despite all the familiarity at the top of the leaderboard, the McGladrey Classic remained wide open.

The cut was at 1-under 209, meaning all 88 players were within nine shots of the lead.

There has been very little wind along the South Carolina coast, and while the weather has been mild and dry, enough rain has fallen in the early morning hours that the greens remained soft. Love hit one 7-iron that plugged in its pitch mark.

Such ideal conditions allowed just about everyone to stay in the game.

Chad Campbell, who hit all 18 greens in regulation, was among those at 7-under 133, while Vijay Singh (68) and Jason Day (67) were four shots behind.

Atwal struggled with a bad back early in the year when he opened the season by missing the cut in seven straight tournaments, one of them while playing in the same group with Tiger Woods at the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. His chronic left knee is acting up now and he expects to have tests on it at the end of the year.

All he cares about now is getting a card for next year, a position with which he is familiar.

Two years ago, Atwal had to go through Monday qualifying for the Wyndham Championship in Greensboro, and then he shot a 61 on his way to his lone PGA Tour victory. He recalls one year on the Nationwide Tour when he won late in the season to finish in the top 25 and earn back his tour card.

More than injuries, he felt he spent too much time getting technical with his swing after changing coaches, and it took him until June before he stopping thinking and starting playing. He started making cuts, but he didn't make up much ground.

Love doesn't have to worry about his card, as a lifetime member with his 20 wins. The trick for the 48-year-old Love is to finish, which has been a problem this year amid all his Ryder Cup captaincy duties. But this would be a good place for that to change, on his home course and playing before hundreds of fans at a tournament that doesn't attract a big crowd. Love put on a show by making simple birdies on both par 5s and stuffing that 6-iron into tap-in range on the 17th.

Love isn't the least bit surprised. He was eager to get back to golf after the Ryder Cup and found he was throwing away too many shots in Las Vegas and California. Even on Friday, he twice made bogey with a wedge in his hand.

But he's only one shot back going into the weekend, and he has reason to hope that instead of giving out the trophy this year, he can take it.

"I'm hitting the ball real well," he said. "I wouldn't say I've gotten everything out of the day. But it's my home course, and I know my way around it. So hopefully, I can keep it going."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/love-hunt-own-tournament-230526747--spt.html

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Puerto Rico enthralled by cheeky newscaster puppet

In this Oct. 17, 2012, a TV show called ?La Comay? (roughly translated to "The Godmother"), is seen on a TV set in San Juan, Puerto Rico. This five-foot tall puppet with outlandish red lips, a shrill voice and a penchant for salacious details rules Puerto Rico?s gossip circuit, with legions tuning into her show every afternoon ready for the latest bombshell. And La Comay dishes it out with ominous music playing in the background, talking about everyone from Mexican crooner Luis Miguel to Puerto Rico?s own Miss Universe beauty queen Zuleyka Rivera. (AP Photo/Ricardo Arduengo)

In this Oct. 17, 2012, a TV show called ?La Comay? (roughly translated to "The Godmother"), is seen on a TV set in San Juan, Puerto Rico. This five-foot tall puppet with outlandish red lips, a shrill voice and a penchant for salacious details rules Puerto Rico?s gossip circuit, with legions tuning into her show every afternoon ready for the latest bombshell. And La Comay dishes it out with ominous music playing in the background, talking about everyone from Mexican crooner Luis Miguel to Puerto Rico?s own Miss Universe beauty queen Zuleyka Rivera. (AP Photo/Ricardo Arduengo)

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) ? No one is safe from the crosshairs of La Comay.

This five-foot-tall character with a foam head painted with outrageous red lips, a shrill voice and a penchant for salacious details rules Puerto Rico's gossip circuit, with legions tuning into her show every afternoon ready for the latest bombshell. La Comay dishes it out with ominous music playing in the background, talking about everyone from Mexican crooner Luis Miguel to Puerto Rico's own Miss Universe beauty queen Zuleyka Rivera.

With her trademark "Ayayayayayay!" shriek punctuated by the kind of wailing sirens reserved for nuclear meltdowns, La Comay delivers what has consistently been one the most popular shows in Puerto Rico for a decade.

"Ladies and gentlemen, listen to this," La Comay says in one show while going after a well-known local journalist. "Apparently and allegedly, the reporter and crew member apparently and allegedly were drunk."

With a wicked drawl, she asks, "Have I mentioned the name?" A drag queen then appears in a clip repeating one of La Comay's catchphrases, which translates roughly as: "Throw it out there, Comay! Throw it out there!"

The program has been derided for being over-the-top sensationalist and for broadcasting derogatory comments against women and gays, but "Super Xclusivo" remains the main news source for thousands in the U.S. territory and hundreds of Puerto Ricans in Florida and New York. The island comes to a stop every afternoon to watch La Comay not only talk small-town gossip but also expose government and business corruption scandals.

"It's an addiction," said Iris Laboy, a longtime follower in San Juan. "It is the TV show with the most impact in Puerto Rico."

That isn't lost on government officials including the island's governor, its justice secretary and the Senate president, all of whom have granted La Comay live interviews while sometimes shunning other media. Gubernatorial candidate Rafael Bernabe raised eyebrows when he recently rejected an invitation to appear on the program, becoming one of the first campaigning politicians to skip the La Comay's hot seat in recent history.

Alvin Cuoto, spokesman for Bernabe's People's Working Party, said not appearing on the gossip show was a question of principles.

"It's a very hard decision because we recognize the rating the program has, especially among the working class," Cuoto said. "But, without a doubt, we know that for another Puerto Rico to become a reality, we have to maintain our principles."

La Comay is played by comedian Antulio "Kobbo" Santarrosa, who repeatedly ignored requests to be interviewed through his spokeswoman. Every day, Santarrosa slips on stockings, high heels, a dress and skin-colored plastic gloves with red nails painted on them. The final touch is the foam head, which features long, frizzy brownish blonde hair, a black mole on its left cheek and a large mouth through which Santarrosa peers.

"Ladies and gentlemen of Puerto Rico!" La Comay yells daily before running through the latest dish. The hour-long show focuses mostly on celebrities, high-profile crimes and the occasional bloopers of public officials and local journalists.

La Comay never reveals her sources, and she relies heavily on the phrase "apparently and allegedly" to back up stories. Beside her red-and-silver throne awaits Cuban comedian Hector Travieso, who serves as the ever-attentive sidekick.

Puerto Ricans praise her confrontational style, taking glee in interviews such as that of the president of a state electric company workers union whose power was cut off because he hadn't paid his bills.

"To be honest, I hadn't addressed the situation," the president said sheepishly to a "Super Xclusivo" reporter, to the guffaws of La Comay.

She's also ribbed celebrities for bad table manners, at one point calling out radio host Epi Colon for licking his fingers in public after a big meal "like a suckling pig making noise."

"Before everyone at the table, this well-known announcer was eating a pig hoof, this he grabbed with his hands," she reveals with a seriousness more befitting the sharing of a national secret, before breaking down in guffaws. "Then he went on sucking his fingers without washing his hands. He sucked his fingers, one by one, one by one."

Fans of La Comay say she has enough power to make or break someone, giving the show relevance on an island rife with corruption. She reflects Puerto Ricans' natural curiosity in their neighbors' affairs and has demonstrated the importance of demanding explanations from people in power regardless of their social position, according to one fan who identified himself as "Jorge" in a public online discussion about La Comay.

Santarrosa "is teaching our masses to be irreverent when it comes to questioning and confronting our social and government leaders," wrote the fan, who didn't respond to requests for an interview.

Thousands are entranced by La Comay's antics, as the Rev. Juan Matias of the First Baptist Church of Carolina can attest.

He recently visited a hospital to pray with an ailing 85-year-old woman, but her TV was already tuned to La Comay when he arrived shortly before 6 p.m.

"I notice she's not paying attention to me. She's focused," he recalled with a laugh. "I had to wait practically the entire hour so she could watch the show."

Matias said he occasionally watches La Comay so he can relate to his congregation, and while he's not a fan, he praised the show for keeping certain cases in the public eye, including that of 8-year-old Lorenzo Gonzalez, who was killed in an upscale neighborhood in March 2010. Authorities have named his mother as a suspect, but no one has been arrested.

"If it wasn't for the pressure that has been generated specifically through this show, that case in this moment would be (dead)," Matias said.

In a move to ensure that no one forgets about Lorenzo's death, La Comay has a picture of the boy next to a candle on a table in every show.

San Juan resident Victor Ayuso, 43, said such touches endear La Comay to him while he also appreciates the boisterous side.

"It gives you the news with a bit of gossip," he said.

Yet La Comay also relishes replaying lurid videos such as one showing the hanging of the late Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. In one special segment, she announced the new breast augmentation surgery of a popular local model who allowed Travieso to play on-air with her breasts.

It's a lineup that sickens Manuel Ocasio, a 54-year-old Puerto Rican who lives in Miami.

"What I don't like about the show is that they simply take advantage of other people's misfortunes to make light of them," he said. "There is no need to publicize people's personal problems."

Despite the love-hate relationship, La Comay is renowned for snagging highly sought-after interviews and breaking news that other media scramble to follow.

"She has achieved the credibility that escapes so many in the so-called formal news business," Sandra D. Rodriguez wrote in a recent column for the newspaper El Vocero. "We have to ask ourselves, what does La Comay have that the press corps has failed to do?"

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/4e67281c3f754d0696fbfdee0f3f1469/Article_2012-10-19-Puerto%20Rico-Newscaster%20Puppet/id-6f52acbfea814e86baf130f70b56bd0d

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The Engadget Mobile Podcast, live at 5pm ET!

It's been too long since our last podcast, and our breadbaskets doth overflow with mobile news. The fall season is always a crazy one as companies unleash a flood of new phones before the holidays, so naturally we're keeping ourselves pretty busy. Join us live as we work to make sense of it all, won't you?

October 19, 2012 5:00 PM EDT

Continue reading The Engadget Mobile Podcast, live at 5pm ET!

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The Engadget Mobile Podcast, live at 5pm ET! originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Oct 2012 15:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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