Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Severe declines in Everglades mammals linked to invasive pythons, researchers find

ScienceDaily (Jan. 31, 2012) ? Collaborative research, led by Michael Dorcas of Davidson College and John "J.D." Willson of Virginia Tech's College of Natural Resources and Environment, has linked precipitous declines in formerly common mammals in Everglades National Park to the presence of invasive Burmese pythons.

The study, published on Jan 30, 2012, in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, is the first to document the ecological impacts of this invasive species and strongly supports that animal communities in the 1.5-million-acre park have been markedly altered by the introduction of pythons within 11 years of their establishment as an invasive species. Mid-sized mammals are the most dramatically affected.

"Our research adds to the increasing evidence that predators, whether native or exotic, exert major influence on the structure of animal communities," said Willson. "The effects of declining mammal populations on the overall Everglades ecosystem, which extends well beyond the national park boundaries, are likely profound, but are probably complex and difficult to predict."

Willson is a post-doctoral researcher in the Wildlife Ecotoxicology and Physiological Ecology Program in the Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation at Virginia Tech and is a co-author of the book "Invasive Pythons in the United States."

"Dr. Willson's recent work on pythons provides significant insights into the important roles that reptiles can play in community structure and ecosystem processes," said Associate Professor Bill Hopkins, who directs the ecotoxicology program. "Understanding how introduced predators like pythons influence community structure will ultimately prove critical to conserving important ecological systems like the Everglades."

The most severe declines, including a nearly complete disappearance of raccoons, rabbits, and opossums, have occurred in the remote southernmost regions of the park, where pythons have been established the longest. In this area, populations of raccoons dropped 99.3 percent, opossums 98.9 percent, and bobcats 87.5 percent. Marsh and cottontail rabbits, as well as foxes, were not seen at all.

"Pythons are wreaking havoc on one of America's most beautiful, treasured, and naturally bountiful ecosystems," said U.S. Geological Survey Director Marcia McNutt. "Right now, the only hope to halt further python invasion into new areas is swift, decisive, and deliberate human action."

The researchers collected their information via repeated systematic nighttime road surveys within Everglades National Park, counting both live and road-killed animals. Researchers traveled a total of nearly 39,000 miles from 2003 to 2011 and compared their findings with similar surveys conducted along the same roadways in 1996 and 1997 before pythons were recognized as established in the park.

The study's authors noted that the timing and geographic patterns of the documented mammal declines are consistent with the timing and geographic spread of pythons.

The authors also conducted surveys in ecologically similar areas north of the park where pythons have not yet been discovered. In those areas, mammal abundances were similar to those in the park before pythons proliferated. At sites where pythons have only recently been documented, however, mammal populations were reduced, though not to the dramatic extent observed within the park where pythons are well established.

"The magnitude of these declines underscores the apparent incredible density of pythons in Everglades National Park and justifies the argument for more intensive investigation into their ecological effects, as well as the development of effective control methods," said lead author Michael Dorcas, a professor in the Department of Biology at Davidson College in North Carolina, who co-authored "Invasive Pythons in the United States" with Willson. "Such severe declines in easily seen mammals bode poorly for the many species of conservation concern that are more difficult to sample but that may also be vulnerable to python predation."

The mammals that have declined most significantly have been regularly found in the stomachs of Burmese pythons removed from Everglades National Park and elsewhere in Florida. The authors noted that raccoons and opossums often forage for food near the water's edge, a habitat frequented by pythons in search of prey.

The authors suggested that one reason for such dramatic declines in such a short time is that these prey species are "naive" since such large snakes have not existed in the eastern United States for millions of years. Burmese pythons over 16 feet long have been found in the Everglades. In addition, some of the declining species could be both victims of being eaten by pythons and of having to compete with pythons for food.

"It took 30 years for the brown tree snake to be implicated in the nearly complete disappearance of mammals and birds on Guam; it has apparently taken only 11 years since pythons were recognized as being established in the Everglades for researchers to implicate pythons in the same kind of severe mammal declines," said Robert Reed, a U.S. Geological Survey scientist and a co-author of the paper. "It is possible that other mammal species, including at-risk ones, have declined as well because of python predation, but at this time, the status of those species is unknown."

The scientists noted that in their native range in Asia, pythons have been documented to consume leopards. Consequently, even large animals, including top predators, are susceptible to python predation. For example, pythons in the Everglades have been documented consuming alligators and full-grown deer. Likewise, the authors state that birds, including highly secretive birds such as rails, make up about a fourth of the diet of Everglades pythons, and declines in these species could be occurring without managers realizing it.

The authors found little support for alternative explanations for the mammal declines, such as disease or changes in habitat structure or water management regimes.

"This severe decline in mammals is of significant concern to the overall health of the park's large and complex ecosystem," said Everglades National Park Superintendent Dan Kimball. "We will continue to enhance our efforts to control and manage the non-native python and to better understand the impacts on the park."

"No incidents involving visitor safety and pythons have occurred in the park," Kimball continued. "Encounters with pythons are very rare; that said, visitors should be vigilant and report all python sightings to park rangers."

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service published a rule in the Federal Register on Jan. 23, 2012, that will ban the importation and interstate transportation of four non-native constrictor snakes (Burmese python, yellow anaconda, and northern and southern African pythons) that threaten the Everglades and other sensitive ecosystems. These snakes are being listed as injurious species under the Lacey Act. In addition, the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service will continue to consider listing as injurious five other species of nonnative snakes (reticulated python, boa constrictor, DeSchauensee's anaconda, green anaconda, and Beni anaconda).

The authors of the research paper, "Severe mammal declines coincide with proliferation of invasive Burmese pythons in Everglades National Park," are Michael E. Dorcas, Davidson College; John D. Willson, Virginia Tech; Robert N. Reed, U.S. Geological Survey; Ray W. Snow, National Park Service; Michael R. Rochford, University of Florida; Melissa A. Miller, Auburn University; Walter E. Meshaka Jr., State Museum of Pennsylvania; Paul T. Andreadis, Denison University; Frank J. Mazzotti, University of Florida; Christina M. Romagosa, Auburn University; and Kristen M. Hart, U.S. Geological Survey.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Virginia Tech.

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


Journal Reference:

  1. M. E. Dorcas, J. D. Willson, R. N. Reed, R. W. Snow, M. R. Rochford, M. A. Miller, W. E. Meshaka, P. T. Andreadis, F. J. Mazzotti, C. M. Romagosa, K. M. Hart. Severe mammal declines coincide with proliferation of invasive Burmese pythons in Everglades National Park. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2012; DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1115226109

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

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/03d57L8UvGw/120131135205.htm

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Iran vows to stop "some" oil sales as inspectors visit (Reuters)

TEHRAN (Reuters) ? Iran sent conflicting signals in a dispute with the West over its nuclear ambitions, vowing to stop oil exports soon to "some" countries but postponing a parliamentary debate on a proposed halt to crude sales to the European Union.

The Islamic Republic declared itself optimistic about a visit by U.N. nuclear experts that began Sunday but also warned the inspectors to be "professional" or see Tehran reducing cooperation with the world body on atomic matters.

Lawmakers have raised the possibility of turning the tables on the EU which will implement its own embargo on Iranian oil by July as it tightens sanctions on Tehran over the nuclear program.

But India, the world's fourth-largest oil consumer, said it would not take steps to cut petroleum imports from Iran despite U.S. and European sanctions against Tehran.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspection delegation will try to advance efforts to resolve a row about the nuclear work which Iran says is purely civilian but the West suspects is aimed at seeking a nuclear weapon.

Tension with the West rose this month when Washington and the EU imposed the toughest sanctions yet in a drive to force Tehran to provide more information on its nuclear program. The measures take direct aim at the ability of OPEC's second biggest Oil exporter to sell its crude.

In a remark suggesting Iran would fight sanctions with sanctions, Iran's oil minister said the Islamic state would soon stop exporting crude to "some" countries.

Rostam Qasemi did not identify the countries but was speaking less than a week after the EU's 27 member states agreed to stop importing crude from Iran from July 1.

"Soon we will cut exporting oil to some countries," the state news agency IRNA quoted Qasemi as saying.

India, a major customer for Iranian crude, made clear it would not join the wider international efforts to put pressure on Tehran by cutting oil purchases.

"It is not possible for India to take any decision to reduce the imports from Iran drastically, because among the countries which can provide the requirement of the emerging economies, Iran is an important country amongst them," Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee told reporters on a visit to the Unites States.

The United States wants buyers in Asia, Iran's biggest oil market, to cut imports to put further pressure on Tehran.

DISCUSSION POSTPONED

Iranian lawmakers had been due to debate a bill Sunday that could have cut off oil supplies to the EU in days, in a move calculated to hit ailing European economies before the EU-wide ban on took effect.

But Iranian MPs postponed discussing the measure.

"No such draft bill has yet been drawn up and nothing has been submitted to the parliament. What exists is a notion by the deputies which is being seriously pursued to bring it to a conclusive end," Emad Hosseini, spokesman for parliament's Energy Committee, told Mehr news agency.

Iranian officials say sanctions have had no impact on the country. "Iranian oil has its own market, even if we cut our exports to Europe," Oil Minister Qasemi said.

Another lawmaker said the bill would oblige the government to cut Iran's oil supplies to the EU for five to 15 years, the semi-official Fars news agency reported.

By turning the sanctions back on the EU, lawmakers hope to deny the bloc a six-month window it had planned to give those of its members most dependent on Iranian oil - including some of the most economically fragile in southern Europe - to adapt.

NUCLEAR WATCHDOG

Before departing from Vienna, IAEA Deputy Director General Herman Nackaerts said he hoped Iran would tackle the watchdog's concerns "regarding the possible military dimensions of Iran's nuclear program."

Mehr quoted Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi as saying during a trip to Ethiopia: "We are very optimistic about the outcome of the IAEA delegation's visit to Iran ... Their questions will be answered during this visit."

"We have nothing to hide and Iran has no clandestine (nuclear) activities."

Striking a sterner tone, Iran's parliament speaker, Ali Larijani, warned the IAEA team to carry out a "logical, professional and technical" job or suffer the consequences.

"This visit is a test for the IAEA. The route for further cooperation will be open if the team carries out its duties professionally," said Larijani, state media reported.

"Otherwise, if the IAEA turns into a tool (for major powers to pressure Iran), then Iran will have no choice but to consider a new framework in its ties with the agency."

Iran's parliament has approved bills in the past to oblige the government to review its level of cooperation with the IAEA. However, Iran's top officials have always underlined the importance of preserving ties with the watchdog body.

The head of the state-run National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) said late Saturday that the export embargo would hit European refiners, such as Italy's Eni, that are owed oil from Iran as part of long-standing buy-back contracts under which they take payment for past oilfield projects in crude.

The EU accounted for 25 percent of Iranian crude oil sales in the third quarter of 2011. However, analysts say the global oil market will not be overly disrupted if parliament votes for the bill that would turn off the oil tap for Europe.

Potentially more disruptive to the world oil market and global security is the risk of Iran's standoff with the West escalating into military conflict.

Iran has repeatedly said it could close the vital Strait of Hormuz shipping lane if sanctions succeed in preventing it from exporting crude, a move Washington said it would not tolerate.

(Additional reporting by Hashem Kalantari, Robin Pomeroy and Hossein Jaseb in Tehran, Svetlana Kovalyova in Milan and Fredrik Dahl in Vienna; Writing by Parisa Hafezi and Robin Pomeroy; Editing by William Maclean and David Stamp)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/europe/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20120129/wl_nm/us_iran

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Monday, January 30, 2012

[OOC] The World

Forum rules
This forum is for OOC discussion about existing roleplays.

Please post all "Players Wanted" threads in the Roleplayers Wanted forum!

This topic is an Out Of Character part of the roleplay, ?Age of the Colossus?. Anything posted here will also show up there.

Topic Tags:

Forum for completely Out of Character (OOC) discussion, based around whatever is happening In Character (IC). Discuss plans, storylines, and events; Recruit for your roleplaying game, or find a GM for your playergroup.


  1. Human - A1
  2. Dwarves - A2
  3. Tranquilites - A3
  4. Tieflings - A4
  5. Cambions - A5
  6. Trolls- A6
  7. Centaur - A7
  8. Dragokin - A8
  9. Fey - A9
  10. Elves - B1
  11. Gnolls - B2

[The words here are just filler, or stuffing used to supplement descriptions and explanations until a later date. Until then, they will be as you see and used by me as a visual aid to show the outcome of the design scheme. Once I find time I will edit this, so check back regularly for updates.

The words here are just filler, or stuffing used to supplement descriptions and explanations until a later date. Until then, they will be as you see and used by me as a visual aid to show the outcome of the design scheme. Once I find time I will edit this, so check back regularly for updates.

The words here are just filler, or stuffing used to supplement descriptions and explanations until a later date. Until then, they will be as you see and used by me as a visual aid to show the outcome of the design scheme. Once I find time I will edit this, so check back regularly for updates.]

A1


Humans



Humans are the most numerous, yet also the most contentious of all the intelligent races. Humans are widespread, can be found in most regions and, in general, are fierce and disagreeable, which can sometimes lead certain other races to view them with contempt. They are renowned for their diversity and ambition, and although they lack specialization, they can excel in many areas.

While hardly the only dominant race, humans are one of them. In spite of this strength, or perhaps because of it, humanity is an eternally fractured and divided race, broken up into over a dozen ethnic offshoots. It is believed that this is in part because humanity, unlike most other races, did not emerge as a whole but rather in several places at once, thereby resulting in its diversity.

Kingdom of Nexus


-Resides in the middle of Wralandir
-Small forest bordering the bay
-Rest of the land is fields and plains
-Mountainous borders
-Majorly human
-Lands belong to the royal family and is ruled by them
-Center of commerce and trade
-Greatest diversity

Elysium


-On island in the middle of the kingdom.
-Protected by waters
-Wealthy city
-Closed borders
-Island Fortress

A2


Dwarves



Strong, hardy, and dependable; whether or not dwarven claims that they were carved from the world?s stone is true, they certainly share qualities considered similar to the stone they live with. Female dwarves are slightly shorter and less heavy than the males. They tend to grow long light brown or red hair, growing white or gray with age. Growing thick facial hair sometimes is used to display social status among them.

Like all dwarves, they are a long-lived race, who reach physical maturity later than humans. At the age of fifty, they are considered adults, however they remain vigorous well past 150 years. Most dwarves live to see their bicentennial and a few live to be over 400. Dwarves are tough, for instance, their stomachs are resistant to virtually all poisons. They also have dense bodies and are difficult to push around as a result, as well as having the capacity to bear heavy loads with ease.

Many dwarves who limit themselves simply to hammers or picks, but others accumulate a wide variety of weaponry. Typically they equip themselves in heavy armor fashioned from mithral. When it comes to magic, they are more open to magic, as they rely on it to a significant degree in the defense of their homelands. The same can be said for their clerics, who have even fashioned a few prayers of their own.

Their society is divided into clans built along family ties and political allegiances. These clans are usually led by hereditary rulers, often monarchs of a sort and descendants from the founder of the clan. Most dwarven clans focus on one or two kinds of crafting, such as blacksmithing, jewelry, engineering, or masonry. Dwarves value their traditions and look for inspiration from ancestral heroes.

Cold Rock Mountains


-Cold
-Mountainous
-Frozen wasteland
-Littered with ruins of giant structures
-Known as dwarven lands, ruled by The Council
-Land was once ruled by Frost Giants

Khaz Modan


-Underground
-Council resides there
-Grand City
-Connected to other cities through tunnels known as the Deep Halls

A3


Tranquilites



Tranquilites are the human descendants who hail from the province of Almac. According to legend, they have descended from the bloodline of their god. It is said that their thought of making a superior race with his own blood, by mating with other races. For this reason, Tranquilites are named after their creator, the god of tranquility.

They are pure spell weavers and are advanced in all the Arcane arts. While lacking in physical skill, they make up for it in their ability to resist and cast spells that overwhelm most people. They are united in culture and language, and are known for their monkish lifestyle and nomadic ways. Their origins can be traced to the First Era of Wralandir's history. Despite what most think, because a Tranquilite can be any race, color, or creed; they are indeed born, it is not a way of life. However, one can be converted, and take up their ways.

Tranquilites are highly intelligent, willful, and have an outgoing personality. It is said that Tranquilites are weaned on magic, for it seems to infuse their very being. Intermingling with Divine blood has given Tranquilites an affinity for magic, though hardiness is also part of their heritage. Tranquilite culture operates under monastic system, and their society is agrarian and hierarchical.

Passionate, eccentric, poetic, flamboyant, intelligent, and willful, and are excellent cooks, the Tranquilites feel an inborn, instinctive bond with the mercurial forces of magic and the supernatural. Many great sorcerers have come out of their home province of Almac, and in addition to their quick and perceptive grasp of spellcraft, enchantment, and alchemy, even the humblest and least prominent Tranquilite can boast a high resistance to destructive and dominating magical energies within their universe.

The Silent Lands of Almac Plateau


-There's wooded mountains in the north and theres more of a cityscape around the bay area.
-Always eerily quiet

Sha'tar


-Monastery
-Mountain City
-Built into the side of cliff
-Secluded
-Hidden

A4


Tiefling



Known for their cunning and personal allure, which makes them excellent deceivers as well as inspiring leaders when prejudices are laid aside. Tiefling are descent from fiends ? demons, devils, evil deities, and others who have bred with humans. Although their evil ancestors are many generations removed, the taint lingers. Tiefling are not predisposed to evil alignments and vary in alignment nearly as widely as full humans, though tiefling are certainly devious.

Tiefling tend to have an unsettling air about them, and most people are uncomfortable around them. Although tiefling tend to have better reflexes than their human kin. But, in many other ways tiefling are similar to humans physically. Tiefling are, on average, just as tall as humans; weigh just a little bit heavier; skin hue can extend into reddish hues; hair can be dark blue, red, or purple. Most however, retain physical characteristics derived from their ancestor, with the most common such features being horns, non-prehensile tails, and pointed teeth.

The appearance of any one tiefling often depends on the exact ancestry. Diabolic or demonic tiefling might, besides the common horns and tails, possess a forked tongue, leathery or scaly skin, the smell of brimstone, or unusually warm flesh. Some accounts even hold these tiefling to cast neither shadows nor reflections. Some diabolic tiefling also sport goat-like legs or hooves. Some might have furred skin or feline eyes.

Few tiefling are raised with the love a normal human child might expect to receive and this shapes most of the race into bitter individuals who expect eventual rejection from all whom they meet. While some might follow this path towards evil, others reject it wholeheartedly and seek to make a good impact on the world around them, sometimes becoming the most heroic characters of all.

Because tiefling are generally distrusted throughout the world due to their fiendish heritage many are distrusting and self-reliant. However, members of the other races will find that once they demonstrate friendship and trust towards a tiefling they will be quickly reciprocated in full. Once that bond is forged, it is rarely broken.

The Gray Empire of the Ashlands


-Lands destroyed from volcano eruptions
-Recovering, ruins still around from old days
-Known as the gray empire because of the gray skies and soot covered lands
-Ruled by female empress

Veritas


[The words here are just filler, or stuffing used to supplement descriptions and explanations until a later date. Until then, they will be as you see and used by me as a visual aid to show the outcome of the design scheme. Once I find time I will edit this, so check back regularly for updates.

The words here are just filler, or stuffing used to supplement descriptions and explanations until a later date. Until then, they will be as you see and used by me as a visual aid to show the outcome of the design scheme. Once I find time I will edit this, so check back regularly for updates.

The words here are just filler, or stuffing used to supplement descriptions and explanations until a later date. Until then, they will be as you see and used by me as a visual aid to show the outcome of the design scheme. Once I find time I will edit this, so check back regularly for updates.]

A5


Cambions



Cambions are considered to be the result of breeding a devil with mortal females. The offspring of a mortal male and a succubus is a different creature known as an alu-fiend. In general, a cambion is described as any humanoid creature that is half-fiend.

Scholars have differed over the years as to the exact meaning of the term "cambion". Past scholars used the term to denote "the union of a planetouched woman and a tanar'ri". They also further delineated this terminology to create "noble cambions": Marquis and Baron cambions are similarly sired by a demon lord father and a female humanoid half-fiend. In more recent times, the terminology and usage of this term has shifted to mean the union of a mortal female and a devil.

The mothers of true cambions always die in childbirth, serving to strand the newborn on the Material Plane where it will be orphaned, or in the Abyss where it will be abused by the demons who look down upon such children. Never accepted by either societies, cambions invariably grow up bitter and twisted but, due to their powers, they often become exceptional assassins. Many though, have been made the ambassadors to the worshipers of various demonic powers.

Loners by nature, they like to get lost in the crowds of large cities, especially in places where people don't ask questions. Good-aligned cambions are rare, but sometimes, if their mother was good or neutral-aligned, they take on her non-evil nature and are subsequently doomed to a life of loneliness as not even their demonic patrons will accept them.

Cambions excel in luring mortals to the Abyss, the only demons better at it are succubi. They then warn demons of the mortals' approach and let them do what they do best so the souls can be turned into larvae or manes.

Cambions are very ambitious and always put as much effort as they can into whatever they try to do, maybe either to prove themselves to a parent or to themselves, but regardless, they make great leaders, information brokers, etc. and are often catalysts for major events.

Cambions breed true with each other, but they often prefer to seek out humanoid mates to create tiefling children.

The Infernal Kingdom of Brimstone Abyss


-Land eternally broken, cracked, shattered
-1 Large Volcano (dormant), many smaller ones
-Lava pits and streams
-Surrounded by water and small islands
-High Temperatures
-Only those that can stand the high temperatures dwell there
-Separated from land long ago by a powerful mage
-Ruled by demon tyrant

Eden



-Located at the summit of a dormant volcano

A6


Trolls



Trolls (aka trollkind) are on average, seven feet in height and two hundred pounds in weight. There are exceptions to this who tend to be somewhat larger than their kindred. As with other races, there are also scattered trolls who far exceed the normal size range.

Trolls are often tall, lanky, and muscular. They have both elven and orcish characteristics with their fierce fangs and long ears. Their long arms, strong legs and quick reflexes make them adept hunters. Trolls have only two fingers and a thumb on their hands, and they have only two toes on each foot. Trolls do not wear standard shoes or boots, they are simply more comfortable barefoot.

Although enough physical damage will kill them, trolls can regenerate lost limbs and heal grievous physical injuries at an accelerated rate, giving them a large advantage in battle. Trolls are so well known for their regenerative abilities that alchemical mixtures, which induce regeneration in other races, are referred to as "troll's blood potions," despite not actually containing any troll blood. Militant tribes of trolls are efficient killers and have a strong lust for blood. Some may still cling to their heritage of cannibalism and voodoo.

Trolls are very isolated beings. Many trolls have no loyalty except amongst their own tribes. Most trolls, excluding a few tribes, don't speak any of the common languages. Trolls are territorial and hostile toward trolls of other tribes. They are highly tribally spiritual. The center of a tribe's spirit is the tribe's priest or superior hunter.

Other than tribes such as the Bloodtusk, most trolls will attack outsiders on sight, even trolls of other tribes. Uncivilized and aggressive trolls live all across Wralandir.

The Lush Jungles of Stranglethorn Island


-Tropical jungle
-Troll lands
-Land is divided amongst tribes
-Tribes constant war
-Recently one tribe has gained control over most of land
-3 Tribes
-Peace Time because of treaty discussion between all tribes, talk of uniting

Vol'jin



-Largest village
-Ancient and spiritual history
-Neutral grounds

A7



A centaur has the upper body of a humanoid, and the lower body of a large horse, on average they are 7 feet tall and weigh about 2100 pounds. Centaurs generally live in tribal hunter-gatherer societies. They have good relations with elves, being as they are both creatures of the forest. They generally despise humans and dwarves but aren't actively hostile to them. Centaurs warriors are usually equipped with composite longbows and longswords.

In the early years of civilization, a plague affected the numerous centaurs, causing their left hind leg to be three inches shorter than the others, and as a result, they could not easily escape from predators such as dragons. As a result, today, only three tribes of centaurs remain in the desert, each containing around one dozen families.

The centaurs of the Burning Sands are not as friendly towards other creatures as their counterparts elsewhere. They use falcons as scouts to warn them of nearby creatures, and are likely to attack on sight, with their bows. They are still respectful of their surroundings, and will protect the desert and its wildlife. They are known to enjoy pears and peaches in particular.

Centaurs are aggressive and stand-offish with other races, but within their tribal units they are very gentle, free-spirited and celebratory. They often have loud celebrations, friendly tournaments and lavish feasts to mark successful hunting, marriages, or births. Centaurs love food and alcohol, and will often accept gifts of these to permit outsiders entrance to their lands.

Centaur bodies are much like those of a large horse, but where a horse would have a head and neck a centaur has the torso of a muscular humanoid. Their lower halves vary in color as widely as horses do, with hair of chestnut, palomino, black, and in centaur communities near particularly magic-infused regions, even gleaming white like a celestial charger or unicorn is possible. The skin on their torso is usually light tan, but pale and other human colors exist, though rare. Centaurs wear their head-hair long, and it typically ranges from red to dark brown. Centaur head-hair is not necessarily the same color as their body hair, and in fact this is rarely the case. Their eyes are usually vibrant green or blue and their ears are pointed, much like eladrin or elves.

Centaurs live for several centuries, with their most venerable members up to 400 years old. They also mature slower than humans do, reaching adulthood at around 30 years old. The average lifespan is about 300 years, but centaurs only start to show visible signs of aging in the last fifth of their lives.

Centaurs are brash and love combat and battle. They originally lived in large tribal villages, claiming large amounts of territory as their own and aggressively defending it against trespassers. However, the love of battle drove many centaurs to explore Wralandir seeking new challenges and selling their services as soldiers or mercenaries to those who will pay them. These days, communities of centaurs are found sporadically all over the world, typically forming villages in the Burning Sands.

The Vastness of the Burning Sands


-Desert
-Hot
-Treacherous
-Bandits and Raiders
-Sand Worms
-Centaur majority, but do not own the lands
-Used to be a forest, burned down by dragons

Khan's Treasure



-Centaur City
-Governed by warrior king

A8



Standing on average between 6'2" and 6'8", dragonborn are impressively tall with a heavy weight to match, commonly possessing a mass between 220 and 320 lbs. Dragonborn feet are ended with three strong talon-like claws with a fourth claw in the back as are their hands, with the replacement of the rear claw with one thumb on each hand. A dragonborn's head features a blunt snout, a strong brow, and reptilian frills on the cheeks and ears. On the back of the head a crest of hornlike scales form what resembles a mess of ropy hair. Dragonborn eyes are usually red or gold in hue.

Dragonborn resemble in many ways what their name suggests: humanoid dragons. Dragonborn exhibit many draconic features, including a scaly hide and the capacity to use a breath weapon. The scales a dragonborn wears are scarlet, gold, rust, ocher, bronze, or brown in hue and though they in fact bear little correlation to a dragonborn's breath weapon and the scale colors of true dragons. The scales are typically in their greatest concentration around forearms, lower legs, feet, shoulders, and thighs, with a very fine leathery covering over the rest of the body. With the proper training, dragonborn can learn to unlock more of their draconic potential, even to the point of sprouting wings with which to fly, like a dragon.

Young dragonborn, who hatch from eggs like their draconic relatives, grow at an impressively rapid rate, much faster than most other races, reaching the equivalent maturity of a human child of 10 by age 3. However, this rate of maturation slows dramatically within a few short years and dragonborn are not considered physically mature for another twelve years. Once they do reach adulthood, dragonborn can expect a lifespan identical to that of humans. Not all dragonborn develop a breath weapon but those that do usually obtain it during these years of growth.

Like dragons, dragonborn are often mistaken for reptiles but are in fact warm-blooded draconic creatures. In fact, the internal body temperature of the dragonborn is warmer than that of most similar races, being so hot as to seem feverish to the human touch. While this might seem disadvantageous the lack of hair and large mouth allow the dragonborn to displace body heat at an effective rate, meaning dragonborn are comfortable in cold climates while remaining no more vulnerable to heat than humans.

Dragonborn have a number of abilities that set them apart. Dragonborn are both stronger and more charismatic than the typical humanoid, traits inherited from their draconic relatives. Dragonborn also are quite durable and when injured have an inner strength that can push them to accomplish even more than when they are at their best. Dragonborn also heal more easily than other humanoids. However, most potent of all is a dragonborn's breath weapon, which, like that of a dragon, varies in nature, being acidic, cold, electrical, fiery, or poisonous. However, unlike with dragons, the breath weapon of a dragonborn does not vary depending on a dragonborn's skin color.

Some dragonborn have additional abilities. For instance, while most dragonborn have vision comparable with humans a number have enhanced vision more similar to that of an elf or eladrin. Other dragonborn can modify their dragon breath, acquiring two or more other damage types. Others learn even to mix one or more elements together to create a composite breath weapon. Some dragonborn learn to use the ability dragonborn zeal, which gives gravely injured dragonborn the resolve to get back on their feet and keep fighting for a little longer.

Dragonborn have a well-known dedication to honor and how deeply rooted this trait is remains debatable. However, all dragonborn tend to view all living things, even hated dragons, as deserving of courtesy and respect. To dragonborn, honor is more than a word and is often considered more important than life itself. Cowardice is not simply undesirable amongst dragonborn, it is considered outright repulsive.

Dragonborn society, because of its martial origins, is extremely rigid in its organization, with hierarchical castes and strict laws. The nation is divided into large clans, each organized more like a military organization than a government. However, while their laws may be unforgiving the nation is also highly meritocratic and leaders are those that have proved their ability for command.

Clans, which play an enormous role in the life of dragonborn, are led by wizened, aged clanmasters chosen for their ability to lead who are looked to for guidance by their lieges. Dragonborn do not forget the past and ties to clan and family determine much about how one dragonborn is viewed by others. All clans have reputations, for good and ill, that often last generations and a dragonborn's actions are expected to bring favor and good will to his or her clan, improving this reputation. For this reason dragonborns typically go by their clan names rather than their family names, hoping to bring honor and glory to their clan.

The Honorable Nation of Wyrmrot Marsh


[The words here are just filler, or stuffing used to supplement descriptions and explanations until a later date. Until then, they will be as you see and used by me as a visual aid to show the outcome of the design scheme. Once I find time I will edit this, so check back regularly for updates.

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The words here are just filler, or stuffing used to supplement descriptions and explanations until a later date. Until then, they will be as you see and used by me as a visual aid to show the outcome of the design scheme. Once I find time I will edit this, so check back regularly for updates.]

Capital Name

[Capital Image]


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A9


Fey



There are many legends about fey in the Wralandire, especially in the forested areas and the like. Faeries, in good and friendly lands, with warm lush forests and babbling brooks, are said to be short friendly folk, with a twinkle in their eye, pronouncing wealth and good luck on those deserving, who often happen to be the mortals who find them. In other places, blasted lands and choking swamps, fey are seen to be mad redcaps, devouring infants, corrupting youth, and bringing bad luck to any whom they happen to take interest.

As with any legend, there is a taste of truth within. Many fairies are tiny, and many of the legends about fey are quite true. Many fey, pixies for example, can only be seen by those whom they choose to reveal themselves, though powerful wizards can often make them out. Elves and fey are united by common belief, by their connection to natural purity, and for the fey, this is enough to create a connection of appearance. As for whether fairies desire weal and woe, both are the case. Fey are creatures connected closely to nature, and just as rain from clouds save farmers and trouble travelers also, so fey help some and injure others. Fey are a people of many different alignments and interests, like humans are.

The more humanoid looking Fey are powerful beings who have become so infused with the power that take on aspects of the seasons and other natural phenomena. Like most Fey, they are almost always free-spirited and noble individuals. These Fey look almost identical to elves, but are differentiated in a few small ways, such as their eyes, which are opaque orbs of solid color or their varying skin color. They also have a few notable abilities that differentiate them. For instance, many have a bodily resistance to the effects of both extreme cold and extreme heat. But, there are many other different types of Fey, such as:

  • Dryad: The dryad is a tree-spirit with the form of a beautiful female humanoid.
  • Grig: The grig is a tiny creature with the lower body of a cricket and the upper body of a miniature humanoid. They are mischievous and lighthearted, and can play a tune on their fiddles that causes other creatures to dance uncontrollably.
  • Nixie: The nixie is a water-spirit with green skin and webbed appendages. It can charm other creatures to become its friend. Nixies are guardians of freshwater pools and streams and are most commonly spotted alone. They love music and make instruments from reeds on the banks of streams. Occasionally a nixie will lure a human into the water, but they are usually more interested in company rather than drowning a visitor.
  • Nymph: The nymph is a creature of unearthly beauty, with the form of a female humanoid. Her form is so beautiful that any creature looking at her can become permanently blind.
  • Pixie: The pixie is a small, winged creature with a knack for pranks and mischief. Pixies are always invisible (unless they choose not to be), and carry special arrows that either make victims fall asleep, or cause them to forget everything they know. They are commonly found in groups of 3 to 5, but sometimes can be spotted alone. Pixies are particularly known for knotting hair, leading people astray, and pinching skin black and blue.
  • Satyr: The Satyr is a hedonistic creature that frolics in the wild places of the world. It has the legs of a goat and horns on its head but otherwise looks human. It can play magical tunes on its pan pipes that cause varying effects as decided by the satyr.

Shimmermist Isle

[Region Image]

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The words here are just filler, or stuffing used to supplement descriptions and explanations until a later date. Until then, they will be as you see and used by me as a visual aid to show the outcome of the design scheme. Once I find time I will edit this, so check back regularly for updates.

The words here are just filler, or stuffing used to supplement descriptions and explanations until a later date. Until then, they will be as you see and used by me as a visual aid to show the outcome of the design scheme. Once I find time I will edit this, so check back regularly for updates.]

Capital Name

[Capital Image]


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B1


Elves



As a people, wood elves are largely seen as a calm and steady-headed people. Arousing strong emotions in wood elves is not something that is easily done. Their villages are united under a gerontocratic hierarchy composed of village councils composed of the most distinguished families' eldest members. Despite their feelings on making an impact on their surroundings, the race has no particular aversion to meat-eating and are passionate hunters. When wood elves are not hunting they are enjoying themselves at ease within the highest branches of their forest homes.

They dress in simple clothes, of earth tones that blend into their natural surroundings. Wood elves love to wear leather armor, even when they are not under immediate threat. This helps deal with the harsh, naturalistic lifestyle they are accustomed to. Wood elves are roughly identical to other elves in height and build, with males larger than females. Often they are stronger than other elves, but are frequently less cerebral, meaning they don't put a great value on education. Because of this they are mistaken for savages or tribalistic, but they just prefer the simple life of living amongst nature. But, they even attribute the same ethics in combat.

To a wood elf, the wizard's spells are little different from the mason's castle wall - a means of controlling the natural world, which is contrary to the common ethic of living in harmony with nature rather than trying to dominate it. As such, wood elven adventurers are more likely to become rogues or priests. In keeping with their naturalistic inclination, wood elves are among some of the world's finest carpenters and stoneworkers, masters in the crafting of bows and arrows as well as in leather tanning. Wood elves have even developed any number of specialized arrows, including those that fly further than usual. So carefully guarded are wood elven crafting secrets that even other races have difficulty emulating wood elven designs.

The Eternal Forest of Aelden

[Region Image]

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Treefall

[Capital Image]

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The words here are just filler, or stuffing used to supplement descriptions and explanations until a later date. Until then, they will be as you see and used by me as a visual aid to show the outcome of the design scheme. Once I find time I will edit this, so check back regularly for updates.

The words here are just filler, or stuffing used to supplement descriptions and explanations until a later date. Until then, they will be as you see and used by me as a visual aid to show the outcome of the design scheme. Once I find time I will edit this, so check back regularly for updates.]

B2


Gnolls



Gnolls are a humanoid race that most closely resemble hyenas that dwell in the southeastern parts of Wralandir and are known for their savage culture and warlike ways.

Gnolls are extremely tall, the average member of the race standing on average between 7' and 7'6", though gnolls are relatively lean for their height, weighing in usually between 280 to 320 lbs and the race cuts an impressive visage. In part because of their height and lean musculature gnolls are very quick compared with many other races such as humans. Gnoll skin is a greenish-gray, and their furry hide is light or dark brown marked sometimes with spots or stripes. Many gnolls also have a dirty yellow to reddish-gray crest-like mane that stands on end when a gnoll is angry.

It is believed by some that gnolls have traces of demonic blood, which may be evidenced by unusual features found amongst some of the gnoll bloodlines. These may include talons, gleaming red eyes, or black fur with fiery orange spots.

Female gnolls are indistinguishable from males by size, in spite of a reputation for being shorter. In fact, so similar are male and female gnolls in appearance that they are often mistaken for one another and the only reliable way to tell the difference other than through a close physical examination is if a female is pregnant or openly nursing.

Gnolls have very short lifespans when compared with other sapient humanoids, living only 30 or so years on average and maturing to adulthood at a remarkable speed. Gnolls do not, however, age particularly dramatically except at the end of their lifespans, at which point the decline is sharp and deadly, quickly ending in death.

Moreso than many other humanoid races, primal instinct remains a strong party of the gnoll psyche. Gnolls are natural predators and savor the thrills of the hunt. Almost all gnolls prefer the wilderness to the civilized enclaves favored by humans, dwarves, or other similar races and those that do take to cities usually think of them as just another kind of landscape.

Many other races find the gnoll psyche feral and aggressive, male and female equally, and the behavioral tendencies of the race can certainly give this impression. Gnolls start fighting amongst one another at a very early age and as soon as they can walk many crawl into places away from the eyes of adults where they engage in vicious, often lethal battles. A gnoll is more likely to demand answers than it is to actually ask a question. Gnolls, however, do not see this as an act of hostility, but rather a basic demonstration of strength.

Though gnolls are not necessarily evil the craving of the hunt and primal bloodlust that inhabit the gnoll mind make many of the race lean towards chaotic evil by reflex. Gnolls who succumb to this tendency often become nomadic savages, wreaking havoc wherever they can, giving gnolls their fearsome reputation as slaving brigands throughout the world. Fortunately such creatures are rarely united and although gnolls as a whole have a strong affinity for family and blood ties, this friendliness does not often extend to gnolls who belong to a different pack and the race commonly makes war on itself.

In spite of the savage nature of the gnolls there are some aspects to their culture that are not inherently repulsive. Gnolls place a very strong value on family for instance, respecting blood ties perhaps more than any other aspect of a relationship. Though gnolls within a pack commonly fight amongst one another for dominance, these battles are quickly forgotten after their resolution and in most situations gnolls of the same bloodline are loyal friends and allies to one another. These bloodlines are almost always traced maternally, through the female line.

This loyalty to family is particularly obvious during combat, either with rival gnoll packs or other races. Gnolls who fight side by side regularly throw away personal glory in order to help their brethren. Perhaps most surprisingly, when a gnoll is separated from clan and family their instinctive need for such blood ties may lead them to form a surrogate "pack" from those whom they choose to befriend. To these unlikely allies the gnoll is as loyal and faithful as they would their own brothers or sisters, embracing the outsiders as if they were family.

Another common trait of gnolls, that of scavenging, is taken to new levels by gnolls who live in the wild as most do. While all gnolls have an innate tendency for collecting souvenirs and trophies, nomadic packs, particularly the savage ones who have little contact with other races except during wartime, often find little other ways to acquire technology, having crafted few tools of their own. The result of this is that most gnolls rely on the other races as their source of wealth and technology. This extends to arms and weaponry, giving gnoll armor a unique aesthetic where each suit is typically made kitbashed together from scavenged pieces of armor found either on victims or abandoned.

Gnolls of all kinds find an affinity for hyenas, who many see as their brethren and whom they keep as pets or for hunting.

The Treacherous Wilds of the Blighted Woods

[Region Image]

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None

[Capital Image]


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Amazon Kindle Fire?s Apple-like blitz scorches Samsung (Appolicious)

Amazon?s Kindle Fire fourth quarter sales threw Samsung Galaxy into a pyre, as Android-based tabs made their moves against the dominant Apple iPad.

Strategy Analytics reported that that 27 million units of tabs shipped in the fourth quarter. Apple and its iPad owned 58 percent of the market.

But Google Android-based tabs increased their share to 39 percent of the global tablet market, up 10 percentage points from the same quarter a year earlier. Shipments of Android tabs tripled to 10.5 million, as Amazon, Samsung, Asus and others busted a move, said Neil Mawston, SA?s executive director.

?Android is so far proving relatively popular with tablet manufacturers despite nagging concerns about fragmentation of Android?s operating system, user-interface and app store ecosystem,? he said.

Mobile app analysts Flurry?s Peter Farago said, ?Overall, Android tablets are growing aggressively as a category.?

But the big surprise was the success of e-tailer and upstart device-maker Amazon and its Kindle Fire against established device giant Samsung. The Fire scorched Samsung?s breakfast, lunch and dinner, according to Flurry.

Farago added: ?Amazon?s launch of Kindle Fire had more in common with an Apple-style launch than it did with aligning with the Android system. To date, the Android world has focused on marketing the operating system and the ?power? of the devices, with quality of content and the consumer experience subordinated in priority. With Google managing the Android Market, which lacks content control and a seamless commerce experience, inertia pushes those developers who choose to build for the platform toward advertising models.?

He said following the holiday season?s boom in Kindle Fire sales, significant downloads driven from the Amazon App Store ?resulted in a massive surge in session usage that just edges out the Galaxy Tab.?Unrounded, Kindle Fire represents 35.7 percent of sessions and Galaxy Tab represents 35.6 percent.?Remarkably, and from a standing start, the Kindle Fire overtook the Galaxy Tab in just a few short months.?

Can Amazon Kindle Fire?s scorched Earth path close the huge gap to take on ?Apple?s iPad? Let?s revisit this a year from now.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/applecomputer/*http%3A//us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/external/appolicious_rss/rss_appolicious_tc/http___www_androidapps_com_articles10900_amazon_kindle_fires_apple_like_blitz_scorches_samsung/44345708/SIG=136tul6ls/*http%3A//www.androidapps.com/tech/articles/10900-amazon-kindle-fires-apple-like-blitz-scorches-samsung

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Sunday, January 29, 2012

Iran says oil could reach $120 to $150 per barrel (AP)

TEHRAN, Iran ? The head of Iran's state oil company said Sunday that the price of crude will reach $120 to $150 per barrel, as officials in Tehran prepare to discuss a ban on crude sales to European Union countries in retaliation for an EU embargo.

Head of the National Iranian Oil Company Ahmad Qalehbani also said that Tehran would expand its capacity to refine crude domestically, instead of selling it on international markets.

The EU announced an embargo on Iranian oil last week to pressure Tehran on its controversial nuclear program.

The embargo is set to go into effect in the summer, but Iran says that it may cut the flow of crude to Europe early.

Iran says the EU accounts for only 18 percent of its output and that it can find new customers. It says the embargo will hurt the West more than Iran, in part by causing a spike in prices.

"It seems we will witness prices from $120 to $150 in the future," Qalehbani was quoted as saying by IRNA. He did not give a time frame for the prediction, nor any other details.

The price of benchmark U.S. crude on Friday was around $99.56 per barrel.

Qalehbani also said that Iran could find other customers for its crude in the short term, while in the longer term expanding its refining capacity to turn the crude into other petroleum products.

"The sale of some 18 percent of Iranian oil, to a market other than the EU, is quite possible. But our long term idea is to increase refining capacities to produce valuable products," he said.

Qalehbani's statement came as Iranian oil officials prepare to debate a ban on crude sales to European Union countries.

Many Iranian lawmakers and officials have called for an immediate ban on oil exports to the European bloc before the EU's ban fully goes into effect in July. They say this will hurt Europe before it can find alternative suppliers.

It also coincided with a visit by a U.N. nuclear team expected to focus on Iran's alleged attempt to develop nuclear weapons.

The United States and its allies argue that Iran is trying to develop nuclear weapons technology, while Tehran says the program is for purely peaceful purposes.

With some 3.5 million barrels of crude production, Iran is the second largest OPEC producer.

Some 80 percent of the country's foreign revenue comes from exporting around 2.2 million barrels of oil per day.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/europe/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120129/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_iran_oil

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Campaigns embrace Twitter as key tool (Star Tribune)

Share With Friends: Share on FacebookTweet ThisPost to Google-BuzzSend on GmailPost to Linked-InSubscribe to This Feed | Rss To Twitter | Politics - Top Stories News, RSS and RSS Feed via Feedzilla.

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Saturday, January 28, 2012

Costa offers $14,460 per person for ruined cruise (AP)

ROME ? Costa Crociere SpA is offering uninjured passengers euro11,000 ($14,460) apiece to compensate them for lost baggage and psychological trauma after its cruise ship ran aground and capsized off Tuscany when the captain deviated from his route.

Costa, a unit of the world's biggest cruise operator, the Miami-based Carnival Corp., also said it would reimburse passengers the full costs of their cruise, travel expenses and any medical expenses sustained after the grounding.

The agreement was announced Friday after negotiations between Costa representatives and Italian consumer groups who say they represent 3,206 cruise ship passengers from 61 countries who suffered no physical harm when the Costa Concordia hit a reef on Jan. 13.

The deal does not apply to the hundreds of crew on the ship, the roughly 100 cases of people injured or the families who lost loved ones.

Passengers are free to pursue legal action on their own if they aren't satisfied with the deal.

Some consumer groups have already signed on as injured parties in the criminal case against the Concordia's captain, Francesco Schettino, who is accused of manslaughter, causing a shipwreck and abandoning the ship before all passengers were evacuated. He is under house arrest.

In addition, Codacons, one of Italy's best known consumer groups, has engaged two U.S. law firms to launch a class-action lawsuit against Costa and Carnival in Miami, claiming that it expects to get anywhere from euro125,000 ($164,000) to euro1 million ($1.3 million) per passenger.

But Roberto Corbella, who represented Costa in the negotiations, said the deal offered Friday provides passengers with quick, "generous," and certain restitution that consumer groups estimate could amount to some euro14,000 per passenger including the reimbursements.

"The big advantage that they have is an immediate response, no legal expenses, and they can put this whole thing behind them," he told The Associated Press.

Angry passenger Herbert Greszuk, a 62-year-old German who left behind everything he had with him, including his tuxedo, camera, jewelry, and even his dentures, told the AP before the compensation was announced that it was an issue of accountability.

"Something like this must not be allowed to happen again. So many people died; it's simply inexcusable," he said.

The Concordia gashed its hull on reefs off the island of Giglio after Schettino made an unauthorized deviation from its approved route to bring it closer to Giglio. Some 4,200 passengers and crew were hastily evacuated after the Concordia ran aground and capsized a few kilometers away near the port of Giglio.

Sixteen bodies have been recovered and another 16 remain unaccounted for and presumed dead. Search efforts for them resumed Friday as salvage crews prepared to begin extracting some 500,000 tons of heavy fuel oil before it leaks.

Italy's civil protection office on Friday released a list of some of the other possibly toxic substances aboard the cruise liner amid concerns of possible environmental pollution. They include 50 liters of insecticide and 41 cubic meters of lubricants, among other things.

But so far, even though there has been some film detected in the waters around the ship, tests on the waters indicate nothing outside the norm, according to Tuscany's regional environment agency.

"Toxic tests have all resulted negative," the agency said. "For now, there are no significant signs of sea water pollution."

The crystal clear seas around Giglio are a haven for scuba divers and form part of a marine sanctuary for dolphins, porpoises and whales.

Passengers have said the evacuation was chaotic, with crew members unprepared to deal with an emergency and constantly downplaying the seriousness of the situation. Coast guard data shows the captain only sounded the evacuation alarm an hour after the initial collision, well after the Concordia had listed to the point that many lifeboats couldn't be lowered.

Schettino has admitted he had taken the ship on "touristic navigation" near Giglio but has said the rocks he hit weren't charted on his nautical maps.

Codacons has called for a criminal investigation into the not-infrequent practice of "tourist navigation" ? steering huge cruise ships close to shore in a publicity stunt to give passengers a view of the sites.

The chief executive of Costa, Pier Luigi Foschi, told an Italian parliamentary committee this week that "tourist navigation" wasn't illegal, and was a "cruise product" increasingly sought out by passengers and offered by cruise lines to try to stay competitive.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/topstories/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120127/ap_on_bi_ge/eu_italy_cruise_aground

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Friday, January 27, 2012

European stocks drop on UK economic data (AP)

PARIS ? European stock markets fell Wednesday as investors weighed worsening signs of recession in Europe's third largest economy and heightened fears that negotiations on avoiding a Greek debt default had hit an impasse.

Stock indices in Germany, France, Italy and elsewhere were each down around 1 percent at midday, even as Asian shares rallied overnight as Apple Inc.'s stellar earnings report sent technology shares sharply higher.

France's CAC-40 index was down 1 percent at 3,290 and Germany's DAX was 0.7 percent at 6,375, while Britain's FTSE 100 index was down 0.6 percent at 5,715.

Stocks were falling as key Greek bondholders met for a closed-door meeting in Paris to discuss how ? and whether ? to continue talks central to Europe's debt crisis.

The steering committee of the Institute of International Finance represents banks and other investment funds that hold a large part of Greece's debt and are being asked to swap their exisitng bonds with new ones of a reduced value, longer maturity and lower interest rate.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is expected to chart her course for the way out of Europe's crisis at a keynote speech at an economic forum in Davos, Switzerland later Wednesday. In an interview with major European newspapers published Wednesday, the chancellor warned that the crisis was not over, despite European leaders efforts over more than two years.

Adding to market gloom was a report that Britain's economy shrank by 0.2 percent in the last quarter of 2011, a worse-than-expected result that raises recession fears.

A closely watched index of German business optimism provided some relief. The monthly Ifo index rose for the third month in a row, but analysts remained largely skeptical.

The report "suggests that the economy is holding up relatively well, but activity is nowhere near strong enough to provide a meaningful boost to the eurozone's periphery," said Jennifer McKeown, senior European economist at Capital Economics.

After a session of slight losses Tuesday, Wall Street appeared headed for a higher opening. Dow Jones Industrial Futures rose 0.1 percent to 12,644 while S&P 500 futures added 0.2 percent to 1,314.40.

Asian stocks posted solid gains. The Nikkei 225 index in Tokyo rose 1.1 percent to close at 8,883.69. South Korea's Kospi gained 0.1 percent to 1,952.23 and Australia's S&P/ASX 200 added 1.1 percent to 4,271.30. Markets in Hong Kong, mainland China and Taiwan remained closed for Chinese New Year.

Japan's powerhouse export sector got a lift from a moderation in the yen's strength even as the country reported its first annual trade deficit since 1980. A strong yen, which hit multiple historic highs last year against the dollar, shrinks the value of overseas earnings when repatriated and makes Japanese products less competitive.

Honda Motor Corp. surged 3.8 percent. Mitsubishi Motor Corp. jumped 4.4 percent and Sony Corp. added 4.8 percent. Tire-maker Bridgestone Corp. added 4.2 percent.

Technology stocks were elevated after Apple Inc. reported earnings that sailed past analyst estimates. Apple said late Tuesday said it sold 37 million iPhones in the last three months of 2011, vastly exceeding estimates and propelling the company to record quarterly results.

That stellar performance reverberated throughout the global tech industry. South Korea's LG Electronics Inc., which ranks No. 2 globally in flat screen televisions, jumped 4.1 percent. Hynix Semiconductor Inc., the world's second-largest memory chip maker, added 1.9 percent.

In Australia, shares in Lynas Corp. Ltd. soared 5.1 percent after the company said it had secured the funding necessary to complete construction and start-up at its rare earths processing plant in Malaysia.

Stan Shamu of IG Markets in Melbourne said the gains in Asia suggested that investors were paying less attention to Greece, which is struggling to reach a deal with creditors to prevent a chaotic default on its massive debts. A default could trigger a financial crisis in Europe and likely beyond.

Greece is trying to get its creditors to swap Greek government bonds for new ones that have half the face value. Greece faces an important bond repayment deadline in March.

"To a large extent, traders are thinking that people are going to lose money either way in this deal, so it's now about how we can move on," Shamu said. Markets "are thinking more long-term. Encouraging data out of the U.S. has been good for sentiment. We also have China, which has been managing its economy very well."

Benchmark oil for March delivery rose 8 cents to $99.03 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract fell 63 cents to end at $98.95 per barrel on the Nymex on Tuesday.

In currency trading, the euro rose to $1.3031 from $1.3021 late Tuesday in New York. The dollar rose to 77.98 yen from 77.73 yen.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/europe/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120125/ap_on_bi_ge/world_markets

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Thursday, January 26, 2012

How far can Tyler go with icky 'Idol' comments?

Michael Becker / Fox

By Craig Berman

Steven Tyler's had a number of memorable moments already this season as a judge?on "American Idol," mostly related to the ridiculous hats he's been wearing at auditions.

But the one that was most notable was when 15-year-old Shannon Magrane showed up for the Savannah tryouts. Her parents and sisters were brought into the room, and her dad asked Tyler how it was going. "Hot, humid and?happening -- just like your daughter," Tyler replied.

And the show stopped.

Granted, it did so because of editing and creative sound effects, but also because it was easy to see the thoughts going through Mr. Magrane's head --?and those thoughts were that his daughter would never be allowed near Tyler again without armed guards. It also was the first moment of the season that got an ?ewwww? reaction from the audience, or at least those viewers with daughters of their own.

Magrane shouldn't have been surprised by Tyler's response, and viewers shouldn?t have been either. One of the reasons for hiring Tyler as an "Idol" judge was his status as a rock icon, and Tyler plays the part well. The Aerosmith frontman has the swagger that causes women of all ages to swoon before him on the "Idol" stage, adulation he strongly encourages.

The crowd usually meets him more than halfway. ?For example Jennifer Dilley didn't show up to her San Diego audition in a bikini because she sings best without a shirt on, and Erica Nowak didn?t call him ?my future ex-husband? and make a grab for his rear end because it would help her vocals.? Plenty of dreamers of both genders use whatever tools they have to give themselves a tiny edge.

But when Tyler hits on teens it leads to some uncomfortable but logical questions: What's the line that he can't cross? And how close is he to reaching it? When does he cease being the wacky comic relief and become the creepy old guy leering at girls young enough to be his granddaughters?

The show encourages such behavior --?as long as it remains chaste. Judge Jennifer Lopez is always getting songs dedicated to her by awestruck male contestants, and who can forget the Kara DioGuardi-Casey James ?cougar? storyline of a couple of years ago?

And to be clear, there?s no sense that anything untoward is happening, or that Tyler is doing anything more than playing a role. He?s engaged to be married to 38-year-old Erin Brady, and there haven?t been rumors of him doing anything more than exchanging risqu? puns with anyone on ?Idol.?

But there?s something a little?... well, off-putting about watching Tyler leer at attractive young women as they audition. He is, after all, 63 years old. He has a grandson who was born in December 2004. It won?t be long until the little guy?s eligible to try out for the show as well.

As a rock star, what he?s doing is entirely within character. (After all, Mick Jagger is older than he is and still going strong.) But as a reality show judge? That's the big question.

Should there be a line drawn for Steven Tyler? If so, what's OK and what's not? Tell us what you think on our Facebook page.

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Source: http://theclicker.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/24/10228318-how-far-can-steven-tyler-go-with-icky-comments-on-idol

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