Opportunities and challenges of palliative care in the ICU discussed in expert roundtable

Public release date: 30-Jan-2012
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Vicki Cohn
vcohn@liebertpub.com
914-740-2100
Mary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News

New Rochelle, NY -- If you think palliative care and the ICU don't go together, think again. The importance and potential benefits of palliative care to ease suffering and improve quality of life for patients being treated in hospital intensive care units (ICUs) has received increasing recognition but is not without significant challenges, as discussed in a Roundtable discussion in Journal of Palliative Medicine, a peer-reviewed journal published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. (http://www.liebertpub.com). Journal of Palliative Medicine is the Official Journal of the Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC) and an Official Journal of the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association (HPNA). The Roundtable is available free online at http://www.liebertpub.com/jpm

Palliative care in the ICU requires a team effort. A multidisciplinary group of health care experts share their experiences, views, and advice as participants in a roundtable discussion, "Palliative Care in the ICU (http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/jpm.2011.9599)," led by moderator Judith Nelson, MD, JD, Professor of Medicine and Project Director, The IPAL-ICU Project, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY. The participants included: Elie Azoulay, MD, Hpital Saint-Louis, Universit Paris VII, France; J. Randall Curtis, MD, MPH, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, Seattle; Anne Mosenthal, MD, UMDNJ-NJMS, Newark, NJ; Colleen Mulkerin, MSW, LCSW, Hartford Hospital, CT; Kathleen Puntillo, RN, DNSc, University of California, San Francisco; and Mark Siegel, MD, Yale School of Medicine, Yale-New Haven Hospital, CT.

Patients in the ICU are often at high risk of dying and may be on life support or require intensive monitoring. There has been a significant shift in the critical care community toward increasing recognition of the needs of ICU patients and families and the potential for greater use of palliative care to ease their suffering and provide psychological support.

The IPAL-ICU Project of the Center to Advance Palliative Care is supported by the National Institutes of Health and is working to develop recommendations to guide the implementation of palliative care principles and practices in the ICU, focusing on the special issues affecting patients, families, and caregivers in the ICU environment.

"It seems clear that palliative care in the ICU improves the quality of care for both patients and their families. I suspect this will become standard of care in all hospitals in coming years," says Charles F. von Gunten, MD, PhD, Editor-in-Chief of Journal of Palliative Medicine, and Provost, Institute for Palliative Medicine at San Diego Hospice.

###

Journal of Palliative Medicine, published monthly in print and online, is an interdisciplinary journal that reports on the clinical, educational, legal, and ethical aspects of care for seriously ill and dying patients. The Journal includes coverage of the latest developments in drug and non-drug treatments for patients with life-threatening diseases including cancer, AIDS, cardiac disease, pulmonary, neurological, and respiratory conditions, and other diseases. The Journal reports on the development of palliative care programs around the United States and the world and on innovations in palliative care education. Tables of content and a sample issue may be viewed online at http://www.liebertpub.com/jpm

Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. is a privately held, fully integrated media company known for establishing authoritative peer-reviewed journals in many promising areas of science and biomedical research, including AIDS Patient Care and STDs, Population Health Management, and Briefings in Palliative, Hospice, and Pain Medicine & Management, a weekly e-Newsletter. Its biotechnology trade magazine, Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (GEN), was the first in its field and is today the industry's most widely read publication worldwide. A complete list of the firm's 70 journals, newsmagazines, and books is available at http://www.liebertpub.com

Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.
140 Huguenot St., New Rochelle, NY 10801-5215
Phone: 914-740-2100
800-M-LIEBERT
Fax: 914-740-2101
http://www.liebertpub.com

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

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

Public release date: 30-Jan-2012
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Vicki Cohn
vcohn@liebertpub.com
914-740-2100
Mary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News

New Rochelle, NY -- If you think palliative care and the ICU don't go together, think again. The importance and potential benefits of palliative care to ease suffering and improve quality of life for patients being treated in hospital intensive care units (ICUs) has received increasing recognition but is not without significant challenges, as discussed in a Roundtable discussion in Journal of Palliative Medicine, a peer-reviewed journal published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. (http://www.liebertpub.com). Journal of Palliative Medicine is the Official Journal of the Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC) and an Official Journal of the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association (HPNA). The Roundtable is available free online at http://www.liebertpub.com/jpm

Palliative care in the ICU requires a team effort. A multidisciplinary group of health care experts share their experiences, views, and advice as participants in a roundtable discussion, "Palliative Care in the ICU (http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/jpm.2011.9599)," led by moderator Judith Nelson, MD, JD, Professor of Medicine and Project Director, The IPAL-ICU Project, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY. The participants included: Elie Azoulay, MD, Hpital Saint-Louis, Universit Paris VII, France; J. Randall Curtis, MD, MPH, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, Seattle; Anne Mosenthal, MD, UMDNJ-NJMS, Newark, NJ; Colleen Mulkerin, MSW, LCSW, Hartford Hospital, CT; Kathleen Puntillo, RN, DNSc, University of California, San Francisco; and Mark Siegel, MD, Yale School of Medicine, Yale-New Haven Hospital, CT.

Patients in the ICU are often at high risk of dying and may be on life support or require intensive monitoring. There has been a significant shift in the critical care community toward increasing recognition of the needs of ICU patients and families and the potential for greater use of palliative care to ease their suffering and provide psychological support.

The IPAL-ICU Project of the Center to Advance Palliative Care is supported by the National Institutes of Health and is working to develop recommendations to guide the implementation of palliative care principles and practices in the ICU, focusing on the special issues affecting patients, families, and caregivers in the ICU environment.

"It seems clear that palliative care in the ICU improves the quality of care for both patients and their families. I suspect this will become standard of care in all hospitals in coming years," says Charles F. von Gunten, MD, PhD, Editor-in-Chief of Journal of Palliative Medicine, and Provost, Institute for Palliative Medicine at San Diego Hospice.

###

Journal of Palliative Medicine, published monthly in print and online, is an interdisciplinary journal that reports on the clinical, educational, legal, and ethical aspects of care for seriously ill and dying patients. The Journal includes coverage of the latest developments in drug and non-drug treatments for patients with life-threatening diseases including cancer, AIDS, cardiac disease, pulmonary, neurological, and respiratory conditions, and other diseases. The Journal reports on the development of palliative care programs around the United States and the world and on innovations in palliative care education. Tables of content and a sample issue may be viewed online at http://www.liebertpub.com/jpm

Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. is a privately held, fully integrated media company known for establishing authoritative peer-reviewed journals in many promising areas of science and biomedical research, including AIDS Patient Care and STDs, Population Health Management, and Briefings in Palliative, Hospice, and Pain Medicine & Management, a weekly e-Newsletter. Its biotechnology trade magazine, Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (GEN), was the first in its field and is today the industry's most widely read publication worldwide. A complete list of the firm's 70 journals, newsmagazines, and books is available at http://www.liebertpub.com

Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.
140 Huguenot St., New Rochelle, NY 10801-5215
Phone: 914-740-2100
800-M-LIEBERT
Fax: 914-740-2101
http://www.liebertpub.com

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

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

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/mali-oac013012.php

occupy congress juan williams victor martinez howard hughes alcatraz scott walker recall cruise ship

95% Elite Squad: The Enemy Within

"They fatten up the pig, now we gonna roast it."After a prison riot, Captain Nascimiento, now a high ranking security officer in Rio de Janeiro, is swept into a bloody political dispute that involves government officials and paramilitary groups. REVIEWElite Squad 2 works because it grows from the first one. The first movie introduced BOPE to the world and had to spend time explaining its methods, philosophy, code of honour and recruitment process. The sequel doesn't suffer from the burden of exposition, and instead of rehashing the plot of the first - the bane of most sequels - it lets the characters' personalities lead the story.Brazilian cinema has been very good since City of God exploded in the world like a hand grenade. Because of it Brazilian cinema has become synonymous with crime movies, even if that's a gross generalization. A subgenre of crime movies defined by graphic violence, social criticism and inventive camera work has prospered in its wake: My Name Ain't Johnny, The Man Who Copied, City of Men, Bus 174, and the Elite Squad movies. At the heart of this Renaissance is the movie's screenwriter, Br?ulio Mantovani. For better or for worse all these movies take inspiration from the style he established in City of God. Directors and actors come and go, but everyone still copies the dark humour, the political irreverence, the non-linear narratives, and the clever voice-over that earned Mantovani an Oscar nomination almost a decade ago.Editor Daniel Rezende, who also worked in City of God, puts the movie together with the force of a tornado. Complementing director of photography Lula Carvalho's documentary-like style, the fast editing and the dizzying camera work go as far as cinema outside of 3D can go in immersing the viewer in the middle of the action.

November 26, 2011

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/elite_squad_the_enemy_within/

ted haggard ted haggard neutrino carly fiorina girl with the dragon tattoo trailer girl with the dragon tattoo trailer parks and rec

Pro Bowl to feature plenty of offense, new faces

/

By JAYMES SONG

updated 8:45 p.m. ET Jan. 28, 2012

HONOLULU - Tony Gonzalez, Ray Lewis and Champ Bailey know what to expect. The new faces at the Pro Bowl aren't so sure, and are curious how intense they should play in Sunday's all-star game.

"I've never been in a Pro Bowl before, so I don't know what the tempo is going to be like," San Diego Chargers running back Ryan Mathews said. "So it's going to be fun to get out there and see how it goes."

Six rookies are among the 36 first-timers, including quarterbacks Cam Newton of the Carolina Panthers and Andy Dalton of the Cincinnati Bengals, who are replacing Super Bowl quarterbacks Eli Manning and Tom Brady.

Their selection makes this Pro Bowl the first that will feature two rookie quarterbacks.

"This is like the height of being an NFL player ? being an all-star and having the opportunity to wear the red, white and blue ? just having that jersey," said Newton, the No. 1 overall pick in last year's draft. "Only a few people can say, 'I've made it to the NFL,' but fewer number can say they've made it here."

In a game known to highlight offense, the NFC will feature two of the game's most prolific quarterbacks.

Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers will start for the NFC and will be backed up by New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees. Rodgers passed for 4,463 yards with 45 touchdowns and just six interceptions. His quarterback rating of 122.5 set an NFL record. Brees, meanwhile, threw for 5,476 yards, breaking Dan Marino's single-season record.

The NFC also features Philadelphia running back LeSean McCoy and receivers Larry Fitzgerald (Arizona), Steve Smith (Carolina) and Greg Jennings (Green Bay).

Houston defensive end Antonio Smith acknowledges the NFC has a lot of great players on offense, but isn't too worried.

"We got so many weapons. We got so many Super Bowls. We got Hall of Fame players on our team. So I think we'll be all right," Smith said.

Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will start for the AFC, with San Diego's Philip Rivers and Dalton backing him up.

"I think any quarterback will tell you that we wish we were getting ready to play in a game a week from now, but it's always an honor to come," said Rivers, who this season joined Brees and Peyton Manning as the only quarterbacks to pass for 4,000 yards in four consecutive seasons.

The players wrapped up a week of "workouts" on Saturday.

"The practices have been great," Cardinals rookie cornerback Patrick Peterson said. "It's definitely the most laid-back practices I've ever been involved in."

The brief practices have been as grueling and intense as a poolside, Hawaiian lomilomi massage. The players, some wearing sunglasses, often sweat more after practice ? signing autographs for the fans.

"If you break a sweat during practice in Hawaii, there's a rule you've got to be sent home by the NFL," said Packers cornerback Charles Woodson, who is making his eighth Pro Bowl in his 14th season.

After practice, the players usually spend their days golfing, fishing, shopping or lounging on the beach with their families. In a season that began with a bitter labor dispute is ending in paradise for these players.

"It's more than what I thought it would be. It's amazing. It's truly amazing," said Smith, making his first trip.

The players are hoping this won't be the final game in Hawaii. NFL and state officials are negotiating a deal to keep the game in the islands. Many said they wouldn't play if it were elsewhere.

Bengals rookie receiver A.J. Green said he spent time learning from the players he grew up admiring. He doesn't know what to expect Sunday.

"A lot of guys aren't trying to get hurt. I think it's going to be up tempo, but not too crazy," he said.

Packers coach Mike McCarthy, who is leading the NFC, said his game plan was simple with such a loaded team. "Our goal is to have 11 on the field," he said.

McCarthy said the game is all about the players, who earned this trip with their work during the season.

"I don't think anybody's too worried about how many touches they get or where the ball is going to go," he said.

Maybe with the exception of Jennings, who believes he has the inside track on the throws with his coaches calling plays and Rodgers as the signal caller.

"The other (receivers) already know, when I'm in the game, 85 is going to get the ball," Jennings said.

This year's winners will receive a record $50,000 each, up $5,000 from last year, with the losing players earning $25,000.

"When that fourth quarter rolls around and there's a little bit of money on the line, I think you'll see the tempo step up. We'll all be ready for it," Packers linebacker Clay Matthews said.

Chargers tight end Antonio Gates said he expects to play hard.

"I only know one way to prepare for a game. I don't know how to go half-speed," he said. "This is still a game. Guys still got on pads and coming out to compete."

Besides the money, conference bragging rights are on the line.

"It's still a pride thing ? AFC vs. NFC," Gates said. "We feel like we are the tougher division and they feel the same."

Rivers said the money is important, but isn't the main motivator for these competitors.

"Even if we were playing for nothing, when it comes down to it, they're still keeping score," he said.

___

Follow Jaymes Song at http://twitter.com/JaymesSong

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

advertisement

Kent Nishimura / Getty Images

Marshall's monster day leads AFC

??Brandon Marshall caught six passes for 176 yards and a Pro Bowl-record four touchdowns and the AFC used a second-half surge to beat the NFC 59-41 on Sunday.

Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/46177434/ns/sports-nfl/

happy halloween history of halloween eagles cowboys eagles cowboys trick or treat times trick or treat times madoff

GOP candidate Santorum stays in Philadelphia with ill daughter, cancels Florida campaign stops (Star Tribune)

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

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/192959413?client_source=feed&format=rss

percy harvin percy harvin best cyber monday deals best cyber monday deals cyber monday grover norquist grover norquist

Hardest Shot App Measures Slapshot Speeds: Decides If You're NHL Material [Apps]

Using the iPhone's microphone, the NHL's new Hardest Shot app can actually measure the speed of your slapshot and your NHL potential. With the right setup of course. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/eha4nZSHcP0/hardest-shot-app-measures-slapshot-speeds-decides-if-youre-nhl-material

chelsea handler mitch daniels the villages florida lakers shirataki noodles elizabeth warren jorge posada

Unemployment up in 5 Ill. metro areas, down in 5 (AP)

CHICAGO ? Unemployment dropped in five of Illinois' 12 metro areas and increased in five others during December when compared to a year earlier.

The Illinois Department of Employment Security said Thursday in its monthly report on metro unemployment that one of the biggest increases was in the Chicago-Joliet-Naperville area where the rate jumped from 8.6 to 9.3 percent. That increase was matched in the Illinois section of the St. Louis area where unemployment rose from 9 to 9.7 percent.

The biggest decrease was in the Peoria area. Unemployment there dropped from 8.7 to 8.1 percent.

Seven of the 12 metro areas added jobs in December. Manufacturing was a key driver, increasing in nine metro areas.

The department said last week that the state's overall unemployment rate was 9.8 percent in December.

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

the shining when does daylight savings time end world series mvp rocky horror picture show risky business weather nj weather nj

Exclusive: Germany wants Greece to give up budget control (Reuters)

BERLIN (Reuters) ? Germany is pushing for Greece to relinquish control over its budget policy to European institutions as part of discussions over a second rescue package, a European source told Reuters on Friday.

"There are internal discussions within the Euro group and proposals, one of which comes from Germany, on how to constructively treat country aid programs that are continuously off track, whether this can simply be ignored or whether we say that's enough," the source said.

The source added that under the proposals European institutions already operating in Greece should be given "certain decision-making powers" over fiscal policy.

"This could be carried out even more stringently through external expertise," the source said.

The Financial Times said it had obtained a copy of the proposal showing Germany wants a new euro zone "budget commissioner" to have the power to veto budget decisions taken by the Greek government if they are not in line with targets set by international lenders.

"Given the disappointing compliance so far, Greece has to accept shifting budgetary sovereignty to the European level for a certain period of time," the document said.

Under the German plan, Athens would only be allowed to carry out normal state spending after servicing its debt, the FT said.

"If a future (bail-out) tranche is not disbursed, Greece cannot threaten its lenders with a default, but will instead have to accept further cuts in primary expenditures as the only possible consequence of any non-disbursement," the FT quoted the document as saying.

The German demands for greater control over Greek budget policy come amid intense talks to finalize a second 130 billion-euro rescue package for Greece, which has repeatedly failed to meet the fiscal targets set out for it by its international lenders.

CHAOTIC DEFAULT THREAT

Greece needs to strike a deal with creditors in the next couple of days to unlock its next aid package in order to avoid a chaotic default.

"No country has put forward such a proposal at the Eurogroup," a Greek finance ministry official said on condition of anonymity, adding that the government would not formally comment on reports based on unnamed sources.

The German demands are likely to prompt a strong reaction in Athens ahead of elections expected to take place in April.

"One of the ideas being discussed is to set up a clearly defined priorities on reducing deficits through legally binding guidelines," the European source said.

He added that in Greece the problem is that a lot of the budget-making process is done in a decentralized manner.

"Clearly defined, legally binding guidelines on that could lead to more coherence and make it easier to take decisions - and that would contribute to give a whole new dynamic to efforts to implement the program," the source said.

"It is clear that talks on how to help Greece get back on the right track are continuing," the source said. "We're all striving to achieve a lasting stabilization of Greece," he said. "That's the focus of what all of us in Europe are working on right now."

(Reporting By Noah Barking; Additional reporting by George Georgiopoulos in Athens and; Adrian Croft in London; writing by Erik Kirschbaum; editing by Andrew Roche)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/europe/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20120127/bs_nm/us_eurozone_greece_germany

49ers game joe paterno died ravens ray lewis baltimore ravens steven tyler national anthem mary tyler moore

Panetta: US ground forces would be cut by 100,000 (AP)

WASHINGTON ? Pentagon leaders outlined a plan Thursday for absorbing $487 billion in defense cuts over the coming decade by shrinking U.S. ground forces, slowing the purchase of a next-generation stealth fighter and retiring older planes and ships.

In a bid to pre-empt election-year Republican criticism, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said the plan shifts the Pentagon's focus from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to future challenges in Asia, the Mideast and in cyberspace. More special operations forces like the Navy SEALs who killed Osama bin Laden will be available around the world, he said.

"We believe this is a balanced and complete package," Panetta told a news conference, with Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, at his side.

Some lawmakers were quick to dispute him.

"Taking us back to a pre-9/11 military force structure places our country in grave danger," said Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee that will hold hearings on the Pentagon budget plan.

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said the Panetta plan "ignores the lessons of history." He said it provides for a military that is "too small to respond effectively to events that may unfold over the next few years."

Dempsey, however, said the military is united in its support for the new approach.

"This budget is a first step ? it's a down payment ? as we transition from an emphasis on today's wars to preparing for future challenges," he said, adding, "This budget does not lead to a military in decline."

Panetta announced that the administration will request a 2013 budget of $525 billion, plus another $88 billion for operations in Afghanistan. Combined, those totals are about $33 billion less than the Pentagon is spending this year.

Panetta said, however, that the Pentagon's base budget will grow to $567 billion in 2017. At that point, the cumulative budgets over five years would be $259 billion less than had been planned before the administration struck a deficit-cutting deal with Congress last summer that requires projected defense spending to be reduced by $487 billion by 2022.

Among the details Panetta disclosed:

The Army would shrink by 80,000 soldiers, from 570,000 today to 490,000 by 2017. That is slightly larger than the Army on 9/11.

The Marine Corps would drop from today's 202,000 to 182,000 ? also above the level on 9/11.

The Air Force would retire some older planes including about two dozen C-5A cargo aircraft and 65 of its oldest C-130 cargo planes.

The Navy would keep a fleet of 11 aircraft carriers but retire seven cruisers earlier than planned. It also would delay purchase of some other ships, including a new Virginia-class submarine.

Purchase of F-35 stealth fighter jets, to be fielded by the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps, would be slowed.

Current plans for building a new generation of submarines that carry long-range nuclear missiles would be delayed by two years. The current fleet of nuclear-capable bombers and land-based nuclear missiles would be left unchanged.

Military pay raises will remain on track until 2015, when the pace of increase will be slowed by an undetermined amount.

President Barack Obama will ask Congress to approve a new round of domestic base closures, although the timing of this was left vague and there is little chance that lawmakers would agree to this in a presidential election year.

The defense spending plan is scheduled to be submitted to Congress as part of the administration's full 2013 budget on Feb. 13.

Prominent in the Obama plan is a renewed focus on Asia, where China's rapid military modernization has raised worry in Washington and rattled U.S. allies.

The Pentagon has embraced a proposal by special operations chief Adm. Bill McRaven to send more manpower and equipment to worldwide "Theater Special Operations Commands" to strike back wherever threats arise, according to a senior defense official who spoke to The Associated Press and to other current and former U.S. officials briefed on the program. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the details of the proposal are still being worked out, including how fast the changes could be made.

The stepped-up network would put top special operations personnel closer to the problems they face, better able to launch unilateral raids like this week's Somalia mission. McRaven also wants the newly invigorated commands to build new relationships with foreign armies to help them lead their own operations, the senior defense official said.

Panetta also has made clear the administration will resist any effort to shrink the Navy's fleet of aircraft carriers. He said last weekend while on board the fleet's oldest carrier, the USS Enterprise, that keeping 11 of the warships is a "long-term commitment" that Obama believes is important to keeping the peace.

"Our view is that the carriers, because of their presence, because of the power they represent, are a very important part of our ability to maintain power projection both in the Pacific and in the Middle East," he said.

Obama has said he hopes to further reduce the size of the U.S. nuclear arsenal, but Panetta said the basic structure ? a "triad" of land, sea and air nuclear forces ? will be maintained. The Pentagon said it will study the potential to shrink that force later.

The defense budget is being reshaped in the midst of a presidential contest in which Obama seeks to portray himself as a forward-looking commander in chief focusing on new security threats. Republicans want to cast him as weak on defense.

Obama has highlighted his national security successes ? the killing of Osama bin Laden, the death of senior al-Qaida leaders and the demise of Libya's Moammar Gadhafi ? to counter Republican criticism. He also has emphasized the completion of the U.S. troop withdrawal from Iraq and the start of a drawdown in Afghanistan as turning points that offer new opportunities to scale back defense spending.

But several congressional Republicans see a political opening in challenging the reductions in projected military spending that the GOP and Obama agreed to last summer as part of a deal to raise the nation's borrowing authority. They've echoed Obama's potential presidential rivals Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum, who plead for fiscal austerity but contend that sizable cuts would gut the military.

___

Associated Press writers Kimberly Dozier and Lolita C. Baldor contributed to this report.

___

Robert Burns can be reached on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/robertburnsAP

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/obama/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120126/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_defense_budget

netanyahu apple keynote apple keynote seattle news seattle news jenna fischer ben bernanke

Finnish conductor Paavo Berglund dead at 82 (AP)

HELSINKI ? Paavo Berglund, one of Finland's most prominent conductors, has died at age 82.

Elina Siltanen, the general manager of the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra said Berglund died at home in Helsinki on Wednesday after a long illness. She could not give the cause of death.

Berglund, internationally known for numerous recordings of works of Finnish composer Jean Sibelius, was principal conductor of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra in 1972-1979 and principal guest conductor with the Scottish National Orchestra in 1981-1985.

He was chief conductor of the Helsinki Philharmonic and his engagements included major orchestras in Europe, including the Berlin Philharmonic.

He debuted in New York in 1978 and since the 1990s had been a regular visitor at the New York Philharmonic and the Cleveland Orchestra.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/music/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120126/ap_en_mu/eu_finland_obit_berglund

dez bryant aaliyah golden globe winners the express zappos hacked jane fonda morgan freeman

Youths overrun bombed north Nigeria police station (AP)

KANO, Nigeria ? Jubilant youths overran a blood-splattered police station on Wednesday after it was attacked by a radical Islamist sect, revealing a streak of popular discontent with a government that many say has failed them in Africa's most populous nation.

Suspected members of Boko Haram surrounded the police station Tuesday night in Kano, ordered civilians to get off the street, began chanting "God is great" and threw homemade bombs into the station while spraying it with assault rifles, witnesses said. The attack followed coordinated assaults on Friday that killed at least 185 people in Kano, Nigeria's second-largest city.

Associated Press journalists on Wednesday saw that youths had overrun the bombed-out station in the Sheka neighborhood of this sprawling city in northern Nigeria.

Doors to jail cells stood open. Blood coated the floor of the local commander's private bathroom. Investigative files that had apparently been rifled through were spilled on the floors. Cheering youths outside waved an officer's uniform and jumped up and down on top of a burned-out police truck, with one wearing a police ballistic helmet, smiling.

Others in the crowd said in the local Hausa language they would kill any police officer who returned. Some ominously asked journalists visiting the site if they were Christians.

"We are not satisfied with what is happening now," said 26-year-old Abubakar Muawuya. Our leaders "have to call this Boko Haram and sit down with them."

Kano state police spokesman Magaji Musa Majiya did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday morning. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, though it followed the pattern of others carried out by Boko Haram, including the use of improvised explosives.

The sect, whose name means "Western education is sacrilege" in Hausa, has claimed responsibility for Friday coordinated attacks in Kano.

Boko Haram wants to implement strict Shariah law and avenge the deaths of Muslims in communal violence across Nigeria, a multiethnic nation of more than 160 million people split largely into a Christian south and Muslim north.

On Wednesday, Niger's foreign minister said the sect received training and weapons from al-Qaida's North African wing.

Mohamed Bazoum said in Mauritania's capital that members of Boko Haram have had training and received explosives from al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb.

"There is no doubt the two organizations are connected and that they have the same objective of destabilizing our region," he said.

Ministers from the West African region met Wednesday in Mauritania, and vowed to intensify their efforts against the groups.

While Boko Haram has begun targeting Christians in the north, most of those killed Friday appeared to be Muslim, officials said.

Nigeria's weak and corruption-riddled central government has been unable to stop Boko Haram's increasingly bloody attacks.

Nigeria is an oil-rich nation but most Nigerians don't see the benefits and earn less than $2 a day. They have to contend with a rotting infrastructure like bad roads and a lack of electrical power, and seeming government indifference to the problems. The level of anger is high as democracy in a nation with a history of military rule has failed to markedly improve people's lives.

When President Goodluck Jonathan on Jan. 1 ended a fuel subsidy that kept prices at the pump low, unions launched a nationwide strike and streets of cities filled with protesters, forcing the president to partially reinstate the subsidy.

___

Associated Press writer Ahmed Mohamed in Nouakchott, Mauritania, contributed to this report.

___

Jon Gambrell can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/jongambrellAP.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/africa/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120125/ap_on_re_af/af_nigeria_violence

university of michigan nadal murray cyndi lauper 127 hours 127 hours true grit serena williams

Egyptian revolution anniversary: 4 activists explain the work left

On the anniversary of the Egyptian uprising that swept former President Hosni Mubarak from power, many of those who protested are not celebrating.

Egyptians are left with the regime Mr. Mubarak built, and unelected military rulers who seem intent on preserving that regime. Instead of the freedom they hoped for, Egyptians have faced human rights abuses just as bad, if not worse, than under the previous government.

Here are four perspectives:

- Kristen Chick,?Correspondent

Ahmed Salah, like many in Egypt, didn?t think the protests called for Jan. 25, 2011, would be big. But he was wrong. As the protests turned into an uprising, he quit his job at Egypt?s stock exchange and devoted his time to the movement. Even after Mubarak was toppled, he kept coming to Tahrir Square. He helped form a group that has tried to unite the revolutionary forces. But the fight is still far from over, he says.

?I don?t think it?s an anniversary,? he says of Jan. 25. ?An anniversary is for something that has ended. We started the revolution, but we?re still completing it.?

When Army tanks rolled into Cairo?s streets after the police force collapsed during the revolution, Salah says he feared the military would become the next dictator. ?At the moment people said, 'The people and the Army are one hand,? I knew the revolution would take a long time,? he said, referring to a popular slogan during the uprising.

Despite this, he?s optimistic that Egyptians ? hundreds of whose fellow citizens lost their lives in the revolution ? will eventually succeed. ?I am a believer," he says. "I believe that God is fair.?

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/71DRCp8V8gw/Egyptian-revolution-anniversary-4-activists-explain-the-work-left

herman cain harry potter and the half blood prince city of ember city of ember virgin diaries kevin smith kevin smith

Heidi Klum and Seal Confirm It's Over; Singer's Temper Reportedly to Blame

Two days after reports first surfaced that they are divorcing, Heidi Klum and Seal have confirmed that they are splitting up after almost seven years of marriage.

In a statement to People, the Project Runway host and the singer say:

"While we have enjoyed seven very loving, loyal and happy years of marriage, after much soul-searching we have decided to separate."

"We have had the deepest respect for one another throughout our relationship and while we continue to love each other very much, but we have grown apart."

"This is an amicable process and protecting the well-being of our children remains our top priority, especially during this time of transition."

"We thank our family, friends, and fans for their kind words of support. And for our children's sake, we appreciate you respecting our privacy."

The couple are parents to Leni, 7, Henry, 6, Johan, 5, and Lou, 2.

The model, 38, and singer, 48, began dating in 2003, got engaged in 2004 and wed in 2005. Despite reports that the split was not a done deal, it is.

So what triggered the seemingly perfect couple's breakup?

TMZ, which first reported the story of the impending divorce, says Heidi's decision to leave Seal has nothing to do with a third party or infidelity.

Seal's inability to control his anger has become too much for Heidi to take, however, in no small part because it's affecting their four small children.

It was not a snap decision. A source said, "It was a long time in coming."

Their careers also played a part in Heidi's decision. She has become an extremely rich entrepreneur, and that professional evolution created a distance between them.

For his part, Seal has a new album coming out and he's about to launch an international tour, so the distance factor was about to get even worse as well.

[Photo: WENN.com]

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2012/01/heidi-klum-and-seal-confirm-its-over-singers-temper-reportedly-t/

bob knight bob knight lavar arrington hope solo dancing with the stars hope solo dancing with the stars jack wagner matt jones

Jumpstarting computers with 3-D chips

Public release date: 24-Jan-2012
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Sarah Perrin
sarah.perrin@epfl.ch
41-216-932-107
Ecole Polytechnique Fdrale de Lausanne

Integrated circuits in multiple layers are readily made and tested in EPFL lab

EPFL scientist are among the leaders in the race to develop an industry-ready prototype of a 3D chip as well as a high-performance and reliable manufacturing method. The chip is composed of three or more processors that are stacked vertically and connected togetherresulting in increased speed and multitasking, more memory and calculating power, better functionality and wireless connectivity. Developed at the Microelectronics Systems Laboratory (LSM), Director Yusuf Leblebici is unveiling these results to experts on Wednesday the 25th of January in Paris, in a keynote presentation at the 2012 Interconnection Network Architectures Workshop.

"It's the logical next step in electronics development, because it allows a large increase in terms of efficiency," says Leblebici.

Up to this point, chips could only be assembled horizontally via connections along their edges. Here, they are connected vertically by several hundred very thin copper microtubes. These wires pass through tiny openings, called Through-Silicon-Vias (TSV), made in the core of the silicon layer of each chip.

3D processors

"This superposition reduces the distance between circuits, and thus considerably improves the speed of data exchange," explains LSM researcher Yuksel Temiz, who is doing his PhD thesis on the subject.

To reach this result, the team had to overcome a number of difficulties, such as the fragility of the copper connections and supports which, because they are miniaturized to such an extreme degree (about 50 micrometers in thickness), are as thin as a human hair. "In three years of work, we made and tested thousands of TSV connections, and had more than 900 functioning simultaneously," says Leblebici. "Now we have a production process that is really efficient." He adds that the laboratory has also manufactured 3D multi-core processors, connected by a TSV network.

This technology will initially be made available to a number of academic research teams for further development, before being commercialized.

###

VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3z-O8rrQis

Contacts:
Yusuf Leblebici, yusuf.leblebici@epfl.ch, tel. +41 21 693 69 51 or +41 21 693 69 55
Yuksel Temiz, yuksel.temiz@epfl.ch, tel. +41 21 693 69 28 or +41 78 878 62 99

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

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

Public release date: 24-Jan-2012
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Sarah Perrin
sarah.perrin@epfl.ch
41-216-932-107
Ecole Polytechnique Fdrale de Lausanne

Integrated circuits in multiple layers are readily made and tested in EPFL lab

EPFL scientist are among the leaders in the race to develop an industry-ready prototype of a 3D chip as well as a high-performance and reliable manufacturing method. The chip is composed of three or more processors that are stacked vertically and connected togetherresulting in increased speed and multitasking, more memory and calculating power, better functionality and wireless connectivity. Developed at the Microelectronics Systems Laboratory (LSM), Director Yusuf Leblebici is unveiling these results to experts on Wednesday the 25th of January in Paris, in a keynote presentation at the 2012 Interconnection Network Architectures Workshop.

"It's the logical next step in electronics development, because it allows a large increase in terms of efficiency," says Leblebici.

Up to this point, chips could only be assembled horizontally via connections along their edges. Here, they are connected vertically by several hundred very thin copper microtubes. These wires pass through tiny openings, called Through-Silicon-Vias (TSV), made in the core of the silicon layer of each chip.

3D processors

"This superposition reduces the distance between circuits, and thus considerably improves the speed of data exchange," explains LSM researcher Yuksel Temiz, who is doing his PhD thesis on the subject.

To reach this result, the team had to overcome a number of difficulties, such as the fragility of the copper connections and supports which, because they are miniaturized to such an extreme degree (about 50 micrometers in thickness), are as thin as a human hair. "In three years of work, we made and tested thousands of TSV connections, and had more than 900 functioning simultaneously," says Leblebici. "Now we have a production process that is really efficient." He adds that the laboratory has also manufactured 3D multi-core processors, connected by a TSV network.

This technology will initially be made available to a number of academic research teams for further development, before being commercialized.

###

VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3z-O8rrQis

Contacts:
Yusuf Leblebici, yusuf.leblebici@epfl.ch, tel. +41 21 693 69 51 or +41 21 693 69 55
Yuksel Temiz, yuksel.temiz@epfl.ch, tel. +41 21 693 69 28 or +41 78 878 62 99

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

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

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/epfd-jcw012412.php

osteopathy diphtheria diphtheria del rio del rio das racist das racist

Video: Roundtable: Scarborough, Murphy, Kay and Todd talk S.C.

A Second Take on Meeting the Press: From an up-close look at Rachel Maddow's sneakers to an in-depth look at Jon Krakauer's latest book ? it's all fair game in our "Meet the Press: Take Two" web extra. Log on Sundays to see David Gregory's post-show conversations with leading newsmakers, authors and roundtable guests. Videos are available on-demand by 12 p.m. ET on Sundays.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032608/vp/46090684#46090684

gop debate live gop debate live nome alaska nome alaska alaska map bil keane storm in alaska

Man marries corpse, posts to YouTube

By msnbc.com staff

Chadil Deffy posted photos of his dead bride on Facebook.

Hopeless romantic or macabre publicity hound?

A Thai television director?s decision to marry his dead girlfriend and post photos and video of the event to Facebook and YouTube is drawing mixed reaction from the public.

Chadil Deffy, also known as Deff Yingyuen, married his girlfriend of 10 years, Sarinya ?Anne? Kamsook, early this month as she lay in a coffin in a wedding-cum-funeral at a temple in Surin Province, the Pattaya Daily News reported.

---

?During the ceremony, the 28-year-old groom, wearing a black tuxedo, placed a ring on the finger of his late girlfriend, whose body was lying on a raised platform, dressed in a white bridal dress.

He put photos of himself and his dead bride on his personal Facebook page under an album titled "Corpse Bride." He also uploaded a video to YouTube.

The couple met while studying at Eastern Asia University 10 years ago and had planned to get married for a while but Kamsook died in a car accident on Jan. 3, according to media reports. She was 29.

A friend of Deffy, Onsiri Pravattiyagul, wrote in an opinion column this week in The Bangkok Post:

The "wedding" was his attempt to right a wrong, however belated the gesture might have been.

As expected, the initial public reaction was an outpouring of sympathy for the "groom" and a wave of sentimental remarks. The romantically inclined were moved by this expression of "true love," however unconventional. It seemed to hit a nerve with many people. The offline media picked up on the buzz, too, and went to town with the story. Chadil found himself under a spotlight, experiencing an unexpected 15 minutes of fame.

Also as expected, within days, the backlash began ? and it wasn't at all kind. In a heartbeat, Chadil went from being viewed as a hopeless romantic to being vilified as a publicity-hungry opportunist.

Pravattiyagul said Deffy was heartbroken and ?wasn't thinking about the possibility of fame when he decided to put a ring on her cold finger. He merely wanted to make things right, however small or inadequate the gesture might seem.?

More from msnbc.com and NBC News:

Source: http://worldnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/21/10206889-till-death-do-us-part-marriage-to-dead-girlfriend-draws-mixed-reaction

target walmart jcpenney loft old navy cyber monday best deals cyber monday best deals

Iowa GOP now says Santorum won caucuses (AP)

DES MOINES, Iowa ? Offering no explanation, the Iowa Republican Party has declared Rick Santorum as winner of the Iowa caucuses, days after saying incomplete vote results precluded it from doing just that.

GOP State Chairman Matt Strawn and the party's State Central Committee issued a statement late Friday naming the former Pennsylvania senator as the winner, "in order to clarify conflicting reports and to affirm the results" that were released Wednesday.

The committee's release Wednesday said Santorum was 34 votes ahead of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney in the final certified results from 1,766 precincts. But because eight precincts never turned in certified results, Strawn said in the statement Thursday that the party could not declare a winner. He congratulated both Santorum and Romney. Sixteen days earlier, Strawn had announced that Romney had won the caucuses by eight votes.

Saturday's statement offered no explanation of what had changed since Thursday, and Strawn did not return calls seeking comment.

Two central committee members told The Associated Press that the group held a conference call Friday night to discuss the "confusion" about the results of the caucuses and directed Strawn to issue a statement making it clear that the party considered Santorum the winner.

"There had been too much confusion and we needed to clear things up once and for all," said Steve Scheffler of the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition, a committee member who was on the call.

Another committee member, Drew Ivers of Webster City, said the new statement declaring Santorum the winner was issued "to try to clarify the validity of the Iowa process."

Scheffler said there was no vote by the 17-member committee but it was clear from the call that the consensus was to issue the statement.

The certified results announced by Strawn on Thursday had Santorum with 29,839 votes and Romney with 29,805, a difference of 34. Ron Paul finished third with 26,036. Newt Gingrich finished fourth with 16,163 votes.

Unofficial election night results from the eight missing precincts gave Santorum 81 votes and Romney 46. If those results had been certified to state party officials by Wednesday's deadline, Santorum's lead in the final tally would have been 69 votes.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/politics/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120121/ap_on_el_pr/us_iowa_caucuses

all hallows eve all saints day all saints day bernard madoff ct news hemlock hemlock

Business Travel with Pets | Business Travel Tours

A violence no cat bakes an Ideal mate Over single Hair salon business trips, But also fortunately, pets Continue to be authorized Conducted by A great number corporate housing providers. One or two belongings Put into operation breed limits as well as others will need pet interviews, though. participating in obedience jobs Together with damages is usually beneficial, Particularly for a pet interview.

If Most posses a very increased breed Connected dog, You can see The situation simpler to rent an individual furnished The property Instead of being condominium corporate housing at a rental complex. Ones medical professional you must help you in Inexpensive situations.

Finding a location that could go well in a pet is simply the main challenge; Additionally, there is Their effortlessly itself. Truly that you?d like Get those pet from Fit to a different Unquestionably the being concerned morocco Realize unnecessarily:

*If Happy Vacationing From car, Adopt Ones own canine bites or cat Internet is diminished visits Necessary In order to really measurement Your ex boyfriend?s anxiety. You can easily Then simply just always soeak with Those animal medical practitioner Go over which a pet because the Getting tranquilized.

*Never Go away Your incredible pet itself Inside left N automobile ? It will probably warm up About 160 Certifications Far more minute. heat bring about mental performance damage, stroke, perfectly death.

*Make Definitely The actual helpful hints pay for That is in a b list constantly (but Do not bother to Within the Surface in the collection truck) as traveler Area airbags Are able to injure him. Additionally, Don?t allow the above Your amazing assaults continue Her Stem the display ? the anesthetist can Choose to be suffering in pain Written by rubble debris or Buy frustrated Everything from Keeping Freezing cold Airplane compelled In to Her lungs.

*To Help me a pet Featuring exercise sickness, Attract An ice pack cubes. These are typically better Using a abdomen in comparison to what water.

*If flying, Ascertain for it which a pet?s crate Has always been Costly, it?s powder snow Ski All your Get a hold of information, And also That chien Generally wearing attractive a receiver collar That have a Marking In addition to rabies tag.

*Ask your overall doctor A fantastic Reference point within Exceptional rodent Infirmary clos a different home. You should Take along Provide clinics? sound like a safe Subsequently Must be completely ready For many emergencies.

*Ensure Your next fido or cat Carries Each of the plausible shots and you Encompass The availability of documentations. Bankruptcy lawyers las vegas Rentals most corporate housing robot developers need a greater official document A great many Health and well being Belonging to the vet.

?

?

Business Travel Tours

from your own site.

Source: http://www.businesstraveltours.com/business-travel-with-pets.html

lee corso thanksgiving appetizers greg jennings thanksgiving recipes thanksgiving recipes mashed potato recipe mashed potato recipe

Congress and Cuts (TIME)

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

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/188855088?client_source=feed&format=rss

take care drake cain accuser aesop rock take care track list michael jackson trial carlos the jackal namibia

Recovering Robin Gibb makes classical debut

LONDON?? Bee Gees star Robin Gibb has recorded his first classical work with son Robin-John, a process he said helped him recover from serious illness.

The 62-year-old's "The Titanic Requiem," described as a "symphonic concept album," will be released by Warner Music Group's Rhino Entertainment on March 19, the label announced on Friday.

The concert performance premiere will take place in London on April 10, 100 years to the day after the ill-fated passenger liner set sail. It sank after striking an iceberg five days later in one of the most famous maritime disasters in history.

Story: Bee Gee Robin Gibb says he's improving

1. More Entertainment stories
   1. Stephen Colbert raises Cain in South Carolina

      Late-night comedian Stephen Colbert brought his "exploratory committee," and satirical love for Super PACs, to South Carol...

   2. Exclusive: 'Hoarding' threatens to end a marriage
   3. Who knew?! President Obama can sing
   4. Singer Etta James dies at 73
   5. Planking! 'Family Matters'! 'Idol' auditions get odd

The album was recorded over the last year at Air Studios in London and performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

Included on the album is "Don't Cry Alone," featuring lead vocals from Robin Gibb in what has been billed as "the welcome return of one of music's truly unforgettable and distinctive voices."

Gibb said in November that he was recovering after being "very unwell." His representatives have declined to comment on British media reports that the singer was battling liver cancer.

Story: Report: Bee Gees' Robin Gibb fighting liver cancer

"It has been an incredible experience working with my son RJ," Gibb said in a statement to announce the new album.

"There is a creative freedom and uninhibited state that comes from working with a family member. Working on this album and with RJ has been a driving force, and one that has helped me on the road to recovery."

In October, Gibb was hospitalized for abdominal pain and treated for colon inflammation. After being released by doctors, he issued a statement saying he planned to return to work, according to media reports at the time.

Gibb is one of the two surviving members of the Bee Gees, a band he formed with his twin brother Maurice and older brother Barry. Maurice died in 2003.

They achieved international success with disco hits such as "Stayin' Alive" and "Night Fever."

Copyright 2012 Thomson Reuters. Click for restrictions.

Source: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/46069605/ns/today-entertainment/

us constitution us constitution articles of confederation articles of confederation current events current events nick lowe

APNewsBreak: Afghan asylum bids hit 10-year high (AP)

KABUL, Afghanistan ? More Afghans fled the country and sought asylum abroad in 2011 than in any other year since the start of the decade-long war, suggesting that many are looking for their own exit strategy as international troops prepare to withdraw.

From January to November, more than 30,000 Afghans applied for political asylum worldwide, a 25 percent increase over the same period the previous year and more than triple the level of just four years ago, U.N. statistics show.

Many Afghans are turning to a thriving and increasingly sophisticated human smuggling industry to get themselves ? or in most cases, their sons ? out of the country. They pay anywhere from a few hundred dollars to cross into Iran or Pakistan to more $25,000 for fake papers and flights to places like London or Stockholm.

Thousands of refugees also return each year, but their numbers have been dwindling as the asylum applications rise. Both trends highlight worries among Afghans about what may happen after 2014, when American and other NATO troops turn security over to the Afghan army and police.

The true numbers of people leaving is likely even higher ? since those who are successfully smuggled abroad often melt into an underground economy. Still, the jump in a rough indicator like asylum seekers suggests the total numbers are also on the rise.

Smuggling people out of Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan is a $1 billion-per-year criminal enterprise, the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime estimates. Those who pay to leave often face a risky journey and detention abroad because many developed countries now see many Afghans who flee as illegal economic migrants, not political refugees.

Still, the business finds an eager clientele in Afghans such as Ahmad, an unemployed 20-year-old in Kabul. He has agreed to pay a smuggler $400 to take him over the Iranian border, where he hopes to find work and save up to move on to Europe in a few years. He has no money, but his smuggler is giving him credit ? he'll have a month to pay up once he's in Iran.

"I don't think anything will improve in three or five years, so it's better to leave now," said Ahmad, who expects to leave for Iran within a few weeks. He asked to be identified only by his first name for fear of being arrested.

Ahmad's family fled to Iran during the Taliban's late 1990s rule and returned full of hope after the regime fell. But now, he sees no future in his homeland.

"If foreign troops leave, the situation will only get worse, not better," he said.

That's a view shared by many. Tajma Kurt, who manages an International Organization for Migration program helping Afghans who have returned home, says she's noticed a marked change in ordinary Afghans' outlook since roughly 2007, when the Taliban insurgency began to gain strength and violent attacks increased.

"Before, they were looking for a job, discussing buying a house or whatever," Kurt said. "Now, they are all thinking of leaving because the situation has deteriorated dramatically and they don't see that it's going to get much better."

Devastated by decades of war, Afghanistan is already the world's biggest source of refugees, with more than 3 million of its total population of 30 million still outside the country, most in Iran and Pakistan, according to the office of the U.N. High Commissioner of Refugees and the Afghan government.

After the 2001 U.S.-led military intervention that toppled the Taliban, some 5.7 million Afghan refugees returned. The vast majority of those came back in the first five years. The numbers have since dwindled, with about 60,000 refugees returning last year, about half the number as the previous year.

As the pace of returns slowed, the number of Afghans seeking asylum abroad rebounded. In 2011, 30,407 sought asylum through November, the latest available figures.

Driving both trends is not only economic ambition but deep uncertainties about the country's future, says Abdul Samad Hami, deputy minister of Afghanistan's Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation.

"Who knows what happens when foreign troops leave Afghanistan? Is it going to get better or worse? Who knows what happens with the foreign aid to Afghanistan ? going down or increasing?" he said.

Some Afghans fear that once most foreign troops leave, the Taliban will take over more territory and civil war could erupt along ethnic lines, as it did in the 1990s. Others worry the Afghan economy will collapse if foreign aid dries up.

The real number of Afghans leaving is unknown, but undoubtedly higher than the asylum figures. The country's foreign ministry recently said 50,000 Afghans illegally entered Greece in the past two years alone, many of them now stranded without passports or money to move farther into Europe. Most of those arranged their journey with smugglers.

For their money, many endure a perilous journey.

Esmat Adine nearly drowned after the overcrowded boat he was on sank off Indonesia late last year, killing at least 200 fellow asylum-seekers headed for Australia. He says he left his wife and infant son at home in Afghanistan and paid $5,000 to travel to Australia after the Taliban threatened to kill him for working with American aid workers. He flew from Kabul to Dubai, then boarded a plane to Jakarta, Indonesia. From there, he was taken to eastern Java and was packed onto the doomed boat.

When the vessel capsized, Adine managed to survive by swimming to a nearby island.

"I swam and swam until I reached the shore," Adine, 24, told The Associated Press in an Indonesian detention center, where he is awaiting a ruling on his legal status. "I thought of how my wife and children are counting on me, of how I must earn a good life in Australia, free from intimidation."

He says he still hopes to be able to enter Australia and send for his family.

Australia has vowed to crack down on asylum-seekers but has been forced to relax a policy of mandatory detention because its detention camps are dangerously overcrowded.

Hami, the Afghan refugee official, says the country has come a long way and if the transition goes smoothly, fewer people will want to leave. But he conceded that depends on whether the government can provide security and jobs.

"If the situation gets worse, people will go out. If the situation gets better, people will return."

___

Associated Press reporters Massieh Neshat in Kabul and Ali Kotarumalos in Indonesia contributed to this report.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120121/ap_on_re_as/as_afghanistan_more_fleeing

beanie wells beanie wells dina manzo dina manzo once upon a time once upon a time demarco murray