3 dead, several injured in wake of winter storms lashing US

An enormous storm system that dumped snow and sleet on the nation's midsection and unleashed damaging tornadoes around the Deep South began punching its way toward the Northeast on Wednesday, slowing holiday travel.

Post-Christmas travelers braced for flight delays and a raft of weather warnings for drivers, a day after rare winter twisters damaged buildings in Louisiana and Alabama. Snow and ice covered roads in southern Illinois and southern Indiana early Wednesday.

Officials urged residents to stay home if they can. State police reported numerous slide-off accidents in the Evansville, Ind., area and white-out conditions on Interstate 64 in Indiana with wind gusts around 30 mph.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/weather/2012/12/26/winter-storms-tornado-threats-for-christmas-in-us/#ixzz2GAgMWDJn

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Amazon launches new kids content service on Kindles

Amazon is launching a new kids' entertainment service, just in time for that long holiday drive to grandma's house.

The new Kindle FreeTime Unlimited monthly service lets children aged 3 to 8 watch, read and play all the Cinderella and Thomas the Tank Engine videos, books and apps they can for a flat price starting at $2.99 per child for Amazon Prime members. Available starting today on the 7-inch display Kindle Fire and Kindle Fire HD models - and coming next week to the 8.9-inch Kindle Fire HD - the all-you-can-consume plan costs $4.99 per child or $9.99 per family for non-Prime members (Prime members get a $6.99 monthly family rate).

"It's a lot of work for parents and the rate of error is pretty high when you are going out to get this content," says Peter Larsen, Amazon Kindle Fire vice president.

The new FreeTime Unlimited service builds on the FreeTime parental control feature built into Kindles. Parents can set profiles for their children and limit viewing times and they get their own user interface for the device. "They feel like it's their tablet," Larsen says.

FreeTime Unlimited will arrive on the devices as a free software update. Customers can sign up within the Free Time app. For more information go to the FreeTime Unlimited page on Amazon's site. Source: http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/personal/2012/12/05/new-amazon-kids-service/1747421/

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5 Simple Steps to Ship a Car

The number of people dealing cars on the internet is constantly increasing on the each year. With this, the need for quality car shipping services has continued to climb. If you have recently bought or sold a car online and the it is important for you to know how to ship a car. Follow the five easy steps below to ensure that the vehicle arrives safe and on time fast delivery. 

Step 1: Having a car shipped is identifying a date for the vehicle to be shipped. Based on how far the car needs to travel, this can take up to a week or longer. In addition, if there is bad weather or any other unforeseen incident occurs, this can also increase the time for shipping. Another concern to keep in mind is the season. 

Step 2: Get the best quote once you have simplified down your list of companies that you trust, find out which one can offer you the lowest auto shipping rates. This will be based on a number of factors including: open or closed carrier, travel distance, time of year, size of car, etc. Also, be sure to check what type of insurance the service provides. 

For more steps, please visit: How to Ship a Car in 5 Simple Steps

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Apple pushes back shipping date for iPhone 5

Apple has already pushed back shipping estimates for iPhone 5 pre-orders, just hours after the phone was added to Apple's online store.

The iPhone page on Apple's online store promises a release date of Sept. 21 in retail stores, but the pre-order page for the phone says all three models - the 16GB, the 32GB and the 64GB - will be shipped in two weeks if ordered online today.

Apple had previously announced the iPhone 5 would be available online and in retail stores on Sept. 21, and customers could pre-order the phone online starting on Sept. 14. When the iPhone 5 page went live yesterday in the online store, the page noted that iPhones pre-ordered online would ship by Sept. 21.

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Selecting the Best Car Shipping Estimator

The internet is the best resource for your needed information with regards to auto transport and the car shipping rate estimator. When choosing the right company to engage in transporting vehicles, whether the customer be individuals or corporations, it is important to consider some problems that will help in identifying the company offering car shipment services is the right one for the job or not. The main consideration of course will always be the nature of the job as well as the importance of the vehicle to be transported and the capability of the auto transport company to do the job will be the focus of the search for the perfect car shipping entity.

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Tips to Book Flight with Low Cost

When it comes to air prices, the common concept is the more chairs are available, the less expensive passes will be, so arranging well forward usually provides better value than arranging last instant.

However, if vast quantities of passes stay unsold as the flight techniques, there may be a chair purchase, so it’s value deciding upon up to commercial airline e-newsletters to get signals. These sometimes only last for several days but if you can act easily and are versatile on your journey schedules, the benefits can be considerable.

The great thing is that you are not planning to travel to San Francisco at the most costly time. Optimum conditions are mid-July to the end of Aug and mid- Dec to Jan 1. The most affordable times for traveling to the Western Shore of the US are Sept to Nov, mid-January to before the Easter time vacations and after the Easter time vacations until mid-June.

However, within these times there are also more costly several weeks. For example, costs to the US improve after Oct 21 (around the university half-term holidays), which means that if you do not have school-age kids it’s best to prevent this the other day, when routes are hectic, leading to much higher costs.

Other guidelines for discovering a less expensive stand up consist of visiting mid-week, as many air carriers cost a complement of around £20 each way for visiting between Saturday and Weekend on US tracks. The long-haul routes professional reveals out that Wednesday is the day when the aircraft have more chairs available and admission costs are usually at their smallest.

That said, if you can also strategy your remain to protect a Few days evening, you may also spend less. Company tourists will often pay more to be away from house for as brief an occasion as possible so air carriers usually implement their most huge discounts to profits which period a weekend (a strategy which tourists can use to their advantage).

Any point to consider is that there are no immediate planned routes from Birmingham to San Francisco, so you will either need to modify aircraft in Gatwick with a commercial airline such as English Air passage or Virgin mobile, or modify aircraft in the Declares (perhaps in Newark or Chicago). The second option indicates you will have to gather your luggage and clear migrants’ law after the first journey, so you need to keep sufficient time for your relationship. Visiting via Gatwick (or on the other hand via London with Air France) on one admission indicates your luggage is examined all the way through.

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How to identify perfect engagement ring?

Engagement rings exceed that of just another simple piece of jewelry. It is considerably more than just a shiny piece of precious metal set with shimmering little rare stones. The moment that the woman you so deeply adore says yes to your proposal, that ring becomes eternally etched into the history of your glorious union. This same ring is a symbol of the promise that the two of you have shared with one another. It also represents the eternity of commitment, love, happiness, and togetherness you wish to share as one.

Anyone in the market for an engagement ring will soon find out there's a lot more to making the purchase than picking a ring and paying money. The engagement ring is meant to be an once-in-a-lifetime purchase, and inasmuch, picking just the right one is important. There are things to consider beyond the size of the stone, too. The engagement ring setting is one of the biggest of those other things. The various brands available through www.novori.com carry extraordinary engagement rings that will not only paint a picture of paradise to the eyes of your soul mate, but to anyone who catches even a slight glimpse of the sensational sparkling symbol on her left ring finger.

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Federer jumps to second round in Dubai Tennis Championships

Roger Federer survived a second set scare against in-form world number 40 Michael Llodra before booking his place in the second round of the Dubai Tennis Championships.

Federer blazed through the first set but was then pushed to the limit by Llodra, a finalist in Marseille last week, as he sought to level the match. Federer saved a set point before winning 6-0 7-6 (8-6).

The Swiss told, "It's always great to start off a tournament by winning the first set 6-0. After that I really had to make sure I controlled Michael as much as I could because he is a very dangerous player."

Federer's travails were nothing compared to those of third seed Andy Murray, who looked rusty in his first match since his Australian Open semi-final defeat as he beat German qualifier Michael Berrer 6-3 4-6 6-4.

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WikiLeaks publishes millions of emails stolen from US think tank

Notorious whistleblowing website WikiLeaks has published five million emails from a geopolitical analysis company that Reuters likened to a “shadow CIA.”

The emails, stolen in late December from the U.S.-based company, could reveal private information on Stratfor readers and subscribers, the details of sensitive sources, and even throw light on the intelligence-gathering community, Reuters reported.

According to a WikiLeaks statement accompanying the posting of the documents, they reveal the inner workings of the intelligence publisher, which works with companies such as Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, and various government agencies.

"The emails show Stratfor’s web of informers, pay-off structure, payment-laundering techniques and psychological methods," the website reads. It cites a Dec. 6, 2011, email from CEO George Friedman to Stratfor analyst Reva Bhalla, on how to exploit an Israeli intelligence informant providing information on the medical condition of Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2012/02/27/wikileaks-publishes-millions-emails-stolen-from-us-think-tank/

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Nelson Mandela admitted to hospital with abdominal ailment

South African anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela was admitted to the hospital Saturday following an abdominal ailment, the government said.

"Madiba has had a longstanding abdominal complaint and doctors feel it needs proper specialist medical attention," President Jacob Zuma said in a statement.

"We wish him a speedy recovery and assure him of the love and good wishes of all South Africans and people throughout the world."

A government official assured the public that Mandela's hospital stay was not an emergency and did not involve surgery.

"People need not panic. This was planned. Mandela has had abdominal pains for sometime," said Keith Khoza, a spokesman for the ruling African National Congress.

Mandela - affectionately known by his clan name Madiba -- last appeared in public in the closing ceremonies of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Despite his rare appearances, Mandela, 93, retains his popularity and is considered the founding father and hero of South Africa's democracy.

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Madonna gives shout-out to dad in Michigan as she preps for 'a Midwestern girl's dream'

The Material Mom took to the podium at a Thursday news conference to talk about her halftime show for Sunday's Super Bowl XLVI and said that she's freaking out a bit about performing for such a large audience, with the broadcast expected to draw more than 100 million viewers in the U.S.

"I am so excited to be here and kind of nervous. This is a Midwestern girl's dream," she said.

"So if I speak fast or run out of breath, you'll know why. I have to say over 25 years of performing that I've done, I have never worked so hard or been so scrupulous or detail-oriented or freaked out as much as I have. I want to make the most amazing show for the Super Bowl."

The former suburban Detroiter talked up her Midwestern roots a great deal and said she will dedicate the performance to her father, Silvio Anthony Ciccone, who is a winemaker in Suttons Bay.

"Because I was raised in the Midwest, and he is the personification of Midwestern values," she said. "He gave me the work ethic that I have. If I'm a hard-working girl, that never stops. It's because of him. Of all the things that I've ever done in my life, this would be the thing he's most excited about."

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Djokovic Has That Unbeatable Feeling

Novak Djokovic has that unbeatable feeling. And well he should.

The Serb outlasted Rafael Nadal to defend his Australian Open title in the longest ever Grand Slam final and become the fifth man to win three straight majors in the Open Era. Djokovic now has the French Open — the one major to elude him — in his sights. He won't even rule out the ultimate: the Grand Slam.

"One player (Rod Laver) has done it, so it is possible," he said at the post-victory photo shoot in Melbourne Park on Monday. "Obviously the times are different and tennis nowadays is much more competitive and much more physical. And that makes that challenge more difficult to achieve. But everything is possible."

"The facts are that I'm at the peak of my career," Djokovic said. "I feel physically and mentally at the peak, I feel strong, I feel motivated, I feel eager to win more trophies."

Djokovic completed a 5-hour, 53-minute 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7 (5), 7-5 victory over Nadal at 1:37 a.m. — ending an epic match with a forehand winner that finally finished off the Spaniard.

Tournament director Craig Tiley, celebrating a record attendance of 686,006 over two weeks, described the final as "the greatest match of all time."

Reference: http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory/djokovic-unbeatable-feeling-15469610

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Underworld: Awakening takes big bite of box office

Audiences haven't tired of Kate Beckinsale as a butt-kicking heroine — the fourth installment of Sony Pictures' "Underworld" series debuted to healthy ticket sales over the weekend.

The vampire action-thriller "Underworld: Awakening" opened to $25.4 million, according to an estimate from the studio's Screen Gems label. Meanwhile, George Lucas' "Red Tails" — about the Tuskegee Airmen — exceeded industry expectations, selling $19.1-million worth of tickets.

"Underworld: Awakening" cost Sony and Lakeshore Entertainment about $70 million to produce. The film is the first in the vampire series to be offered in 3-D, and 59% of those who saw the movie this weekend opted to buy the pricier ticket to see it in that format. Audiences liked the film, assigning it an average grade of A-, according to marketing firm CinemaScore.

"Awakening" had a better opening than the third entry in the series, "Underworld: Rise of the Lycans," which started with $20.8 million in 2009. It still debuted with slightly less than the franchise's second installment, "Underworld: Evolution," which opened to $26.9 million in 2006. That film ultimately grossed more than any other picture in the series, totaling $62.3 million in sales by the end of its run.

The movie appealed largely to an African American audience this weekend, and 66% of the crowd was older than 25. Those who saw the film loved it, giving it an average grade of A. Like the new "Underworld" film, "Red Tails" has received overwhelmingly negative reviews.

The movie played to an older demographic, with 82% of the crowd over 25. It appealed to a broad audience across the country: The No. 1 theater in the U.S. was in Oklahoma City, and other top markets included cities as diverse as Boca Raton, Fla., and Chino Hills.

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Rescue effort suspended after cruise ship shifts

The cruise ship grounded off Tuscany shifted again on its rocky perch, forcing the suspension Friday of search and rescue operations for the 21 people still missing.

It was not clear if the movements registered overnight by onboard sensors were just vibrations as the Costa Concordia settles on the rocks off the Tuscan island of Giglio or if the massive ocean liner is slipping off the reef.

The ship's movements are being carefully monitored since any significant shift could be dangerous for divers trying to locate those missing after the Concordia ran aground Jan. 13. An additional fear is that any significant movement could damage tanks holding a half-million gallons of fuel oil.

"The ship is not in safe enough conditions for rescue operations to continue," said Coast Guard spokesman Cmdr. Cosimo Nicastro. The $450 million Costa Concordia was carrying more than 4,200 passengers and crew when it slammed into well-marked rocks off the island of Giglio.

Late Thursday, Costa-owner Carnival Corp. announced it was conducting a comprehensive audit of all 10 of its cruise lines to review safety and emergency response procedures in the wake of the Costa disaster.

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Florida Panthers win Vacouver Canucks by 2-1 - NHL

Marcel Goc scored the tiebreaking goal at 10:52 of the second period and the Florida Panthers beat the Vancouver Canucks 2-1 Monday in Sunrise, Fla.

Dale Weise scored for Vancouver in the first period and Roberto Luongo stopped 20 shots. The Western Conference-leading Canucks lost for the fourth time in 12 games.

Vancouver outshot Florida 26-22, but was outshot 14-2 in the second period and seemingly played with less emotion than usual.

"We know in here when it's not good enough, and tonight it wasn't close to good enough," Canucks forward Henrik Sedin told The Vancouver Sun. "It's going to be back tomorrow."

Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand has been suspended for five games by league officials because of a second-period hit on Canucks defenseman Sami Salo on Saturday.

Marchand, 23, received a major penalty and a game misconduct on the play. He will forfeit $150,000 in pay. Salo has concussion symptoms and didn't play Monday.

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How Designer Evening Dresses stands popular among all dresses?

In the past few years the attention of women has tending headed for designer evening dresses. Earlier these dresses only meant for rich and high class women. Now a days, women from middle class also start consider having a collection of these dresses. The reasons that it is fast becoming popular as evening wear is shown below.

First-rate Quality dresses

It is enhanced in provisions of quality as contrasted to the schedule evening dresses. To start with, the cloth used for designing designer dresses is of greater quality. In addition, the shiny flecks, beads and other trimmings used for designer dresses are genuine in nature.

Better-quality Stitching dresses

The famous designers who make designer dresses are specialist in as long as the most excellent stitch to these dresses. These designers are capable and skilled and use the preeminent of their familiarity to sew these dresses in the most appropriate way.

Extensive Life dresses

Since better quality clothes and improved stitching, the costume can provide for longer than the normal costume. Designer dresses uphold their appearance and worth for long and grant the unsurpassed price for money.

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