বৃহস্পতিবার, ২৮ ফেব্রুয়ারী, ২০১৩

One rat brain 'talks' to another

Scientists have connected the brains of lab rats, allowing one to communicate directly to another via cables.

The wired brain implants allowed sensory and motor signals to be sent from one rat to another, creating the first ever brain-to-brain interface.

The scientists then tested whether the rat receiving the signal could correctly interpret the information.

As the ultimate test of their system, the team even linked the brains of rats that were thousands of miles apart.

Details of the work are outlined in the journal Scientific Reports.

Professor Miguel Nicolelis and his team at Duke University Medical Center in North Carolina built on their previous work with brain-machine interfaces.

In a study published earlier this month, the researchers implanted electrodes in the part of the rat's brain that processes tactile information and attached these to infrared sensors - effectively allowing the rat to "touch" infrared light.

In their latest study, the scientists wanted to test whether the systems they had developed could be used to establish a new artificial communication channel between animals.

"Until recently we used to record this brain activity and send it to a computer... and the [computer] tells us what the animal is going to do," Prof Nicolelis told the BBC's Science in Action programme.

"So we reasoned, if we can do that with a computer, could another brain do that?"

Water reward

The researchers first trained pairs of rats to solve a simple problem - pressing the correct lever when an indicator light above the lever switched on, to obtain a water sip.

The researchers then placed the rodents in separate chambers and connected their brains using arrays of microelectrodes - each roughly one hundredth the diameter of a human hair - inserted into the area of the cortex that processes motor information.

Continue reading the main story

One rat was designated as the "encoder". Once this rat pressed the correct lever, its brain activity was delivered as electrical stimulation into the brain of the second rat - designated the "decoder".

The decoder rat had the same types of levers in its chamber, but it did not receive any visual cue indicating which lever it should press to obtain a reward.

In order to receive the reward, the decoder rat would have to rely on the cue transmitted from the encoder via the brain-to-brain interface.

The team members then conducted trials to determine how well the decoder animal could decipher the brain input from the encoder rat to choose the correct lever. The decoder rat ultimately achieved a maximum success rate of about 70%.

Although the information was transmitted in real time, the learning process was not instantaneous.

"[It] takes about 45 days of training an hour a day," said Prof Nicolelis.

"There is a moment in time when... it clicks. Suddenly the [decoder] animal realises: 'Oops! The solution is in my head. It's coming to me' and he gets it right."

There was also a feedback system, denying the encoder rat an extra reward if the decoder rat did not press the correct lever.

The encoder rat's brain signals then became clearer, giving the decoder a greater chance of interpreting the message correctly, Prof Nicolelis noted.

He explained: "Basically [the second rat] is working as... a biological computer."

Long-distance link

One replication of the experiment successfully linked a rat at Duke with one at the University of Natal in Brazil. Nicolelis foresees eventually extending the system to larger numbers of animals. "We are already building the setup... You could actually have millions of brains tackling the same problem and sharing a solution."

And he also thinks the idea could be extended to humans.

"We will have a way to exchange information across millions of people without using keyboards or voice recognition devices or the type of interfaces that we normally use today," he said.

"I truly believe that in a few decades? we will know what it is to communicate in that way."

But Prof Nicolelis is clear that this depends on the development of non-invasive techniques to share information between human brains.

Prof Christopher James, an expert in neural engineering at the University of Warwick, who uses non-invasive techniques in his own research, explains that it is currently not possible to put information into a brain using just the surface of the scalp.

"If you want to get information into the brain, then putting electrodes right at the brain sites is the way to do it. However, it's clearly very invasive," said Prof James.

He added that the invasive nature of the research raised ethical questions: "It's very, very interesting isn't it? Because in humans you'd obviously get informed consent in doing this."

Prof James explained: "It's an exciting paper which basically shows that it is possible to take information out of the brain, and it is possible to take information and pump it into the brain.

"What this shows is that the technology is here. And the sort of things we should be talking about is: Why are we doing this, and what do we hope to get out of it?"

The BBC World Service programme Science in Action will be broadcast at 1932 GMT on 28 February; a schedule of repeat broadcasts can be found here. Or you can listen anytime here or download the podcast here.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-21604005#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa

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মঙ্গলবার, ২৬ ফেব্রুয়ারী, ২০১৩

?Angry Birds Toons?, Rovio?s New Cartoon Series Is Coming To A Browser Near You March 16

angry birdsThey're cute. They're bouncy. And they're angry. Introducing "Angry Birds Toons". Seriously. Rovio has long teased the existence of Angry Birds cartoon series but held most of the details secret. Well, all will be revealed come March 16th, when the first episode premieres.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/j3hZOYqtKq0/

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সোমবার, ২৫ ফেব্রুয়ারী, ২০১৩

$30 for Family 4-Pack to Peter Pan and Wendy by Creative Cauldron at ArtSpace in Falls Church ($54 value)

$30 for Family 4-Pack to Peter Pan and Wendy by Creative Cauldron at ArtSpace in Falls Church ($54 value)

The Details

Second to the right and then straight on till morning!

Rediscover J.M. Barrie's classic novel in this delightful adaptation brought to life with the magical large puppets of Margie Jervis and the original music of acclaimed composer Matt Conner.

When boy extraordinaire Peter Pan flies into the nursery of the Darling home, Wendy is captivated by his promise of adventure in Neverland. With the help of some of Peter's fairy dust Wendy and her brothers are on their way to the magical land that brings them face to face with mermaids, Indians and the notorious Captain Hook and his pirate crew.? With exciting adventures and fun like this, it's no wonder Peter refuses to grow up! Presented by Creative Cauldron's Learning Theater, an ensemble of student and professional performers.

Show times options include:

  • Friday March 1 at 7:30 pm
  • Saturday March 2 at 2pm
  • Saturday March 2 at 7:30 pm
  • Sunday March 3 at 2 pm
  • Friday March 8 at 7:30 pm
  • Saturday March 9 at 2:00 pm
  • Saturday March 9 at 7:30 pm
  • Sunday March 10 at 2pm
  • Friday March 15 at 7:30 pm
  • Saturday March 16 at 2:00 pm
  • Saturday March 16 at 7:30 pm
  • Sunday March 17 at 2:00 pm

Information & Restrictions

Great for all ages!

Voucher is valid for shows on March 1st through March 17th (Fridays at 7:30pm, Saturdays at 2:00pm and 7:30pm, and Sunday at 2:00pm); must choose show time at checkout.

Select show upon purchase from CertifiKid; valid only for time and date on your voucher. PLEASE be careful when selecting the performance to make sure the one you want is not sold out. ? PLEASE check your voucher after purchase.

Additional tickets can be purchased online via brownpapertickets.com or by calling Creative Cauldron at (571) 239 - 5288. Tickets are $15 for Adults and $12 for Student/Seniors(62+).

Based on availability - ACT FAST!

Seating is first come first serve.

Expires March 18, 2013.

Bring printed voucher to Peter Pan performance on date of show.

Cannot be combined with any other offers or discounts.

This deal is redeemable for admission to a specific ticketed event and venue. It has no value once the event date and time has passed and CANNOT BE REFUNDED after the day of purchase.

This offer is only available for purchase through Certifikid (www.certifikid.com). If you experience any issues or difficulties with registering or purchasing, please email info@certifikid.com and we will get back to you shortly.

Source: http://www.certifikid.com/deal/5399/30-for-family-4-pack-to-peter-pan-and-wendy-by-cr

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Republican Senator McCain says Hagel "not qualified" as defense secretary (reuters)

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Iterations: Inception, Courtesy of Public Relations | TechCrunch

Editor?s Note: Semil Shah is a contributor to TechCrunch. You can follow him on Twitter at @semil.

?FOR every reporter employed in America, around six people work in public relations: a few too many, some might think.? So began The Economist?s obituary for Daniel Edelman in January 2013, a sharp eulogy commemorating the life of a public relations giant. For decades, Edelman, in addition to founding and running the firm that bears his name today, successfully convinced legions of companies and brands to work with him to win the ?air game? of public relations.

In Edelman?s mid-20th Century America, the ratio of PR professionals to reporters was nowhere what it is today. And, in our insular world of technology startups (and some startups aren?t ?tech startups,? just so we?re clear about the facts), there are a staggering number of smart people who work in tech PR relative to the number of full-time tech reporters. I don?t have the statistics to support this claim, but having been a long-time contributor to this site, I just feel it, and I?d bet you do as well.

The first question, then, is ?Why?? ? Why is this world of tech startups able to support so much PR activity?

Before we answer this question, we must not conflate advertising or marketing with PR. In grossly simplified terms, marketing creates a platform for sales. Advertising is a costly technique to bring potential clients and customers to one?s marketing platform in order to make a sale. But, the work of public relations, or ?PR,? is the dark art that?s impossible to measure, the craft of indirectly encouraging or persuading the crowd to seemingly engage in organic chatter about something, to somehow become a natural part of an ongoing conversation that, over time, incepts the audience to become, somewhat unknowingly, evangelists for a certain point of view. It?s Don Draper with a splash of Dominick Cobb.

Why, then, does PR still exert power in a world we were are constantly told it?s *all* about engineering, product, and design?

Let me count the ways. The current pace at which new companies form or launch makes it difficult for the crowd to sort these signals properly, and makes it difficult for tech reporters (hence, Techmeme) and investors (hence, AngelList) to keep tabs on ones that (may) matter. This pace creates enough noise to sometimes positively impact efforts around fundraising, recruiting, or partnerships. Engaging in PR, then, merits serious consideration. However, early-stage tech startups aren?t often keen to hire non-technical folks with PR-like experience to join their teams full-time, so engaging with an agency on a retainer-basis ? while not cheap ? becomes a viable option. To boot, many of the best VC firms funding these startups also invest in their own PR because it?s critical to their business in today?s climate, so why shouldn?t portfolio companies do the same?

It?s easy to stop here and proclaim it?s all about ?product, product, and product,? and to blame the PR firms and professionals, but that would be a lazy and misguided conclusion. For many startups, PR definitely has a seat at the table. PR firms aren?t to blame.?The fact is, there is real economic demand directly from entrepreneurs and investors for their expertise, so we must then ask, ?Why is there demand to begin with??

There?s demand for PR because there are too many ?tech startups.??There?s demand for PR because everyone is starting something, entrepreneurship is mainstream and ?cool,? and consumer attention spans are under constant attack. There?s demand for PR because acqui-hired startups and their acquirers want save face or sell a story. Even in cases where startups don?t engage with PR firms, agencies, or consultants, many actively coordinate pre-launch games to manufacture ?buzz? and hits on social media to get the word out cheaply and loudly.

PR, when it hits, scales. Thoughtful content-marketing paired social media scales.?The monthly line item for PR, while pricey, can be slashed in a pinch and is easier to cut than having to let go of a full-time employee. Effective PR can send the right whispers in the ears of potential investors and recruits, all of which help create real economic value for all shareholders in the event of a financing or acquisition.

The list goes on and on. Generally speaking, for early-stage tech startups in the Valley, considering PR is a complicated decision because it initially seems to buck conventional wisdom, which commands that all companies to focus primarily on product and recruiting. Yet, on the other hand, most engineering- and product-focused teams in the early-stages (meaning, up to Series B) aren?t often in the mindset to hire someone who has this type of nontechnical experience. Most of the PR talent, as a result, stays at the agencies, probably because those folks want to be in control of their workflow rather than shoulder the uncertainty that comes with being a nontechnical employee at an early-stage tech startup in 2013.

We must all be cognizant of the fact that tech PR professionals are in demand and very good at what they do. Many of them work for the companies you read about in the tech blogs or help the folks you see on stage at conferences, and many of them engage with the investment firms that fund them in the first place. As they are flush with deep relationships, a steady flow of a new business, and recurring accounts, we cannot fully understand how deep their collective influence runs because its effects are cumulative and impossible to quantify.

But, I can tell you this?for startups that have begun to enter the phases around Series A into the growth phase, PR oftentimes pays dividends over and above the monthly retainer fees. Coordinated PR has the potency to incept investors and spur them to debate the merits of and mull over a specific investment opportunity. Well-crafted PR can impact M&A. Orchestrated PR around a company?s technical brand helps attract candidates. And, PR can, over time, create a soft but constant drumbeat that spreads as the crowd continues to chatter. Behind most stories we read, there likely is a Don Draper shaping the narrative, so we must all try to channel Dominick Cobb and examine the totem we see spinning before our eyes.

Photo Credit: Leonardo DiCaprio as Dominick Cobb in Christopher Nolan?s ?Inception.?

Source: http://techcrunch.com/2013/02/24/iterations-inception-by-public-relations/

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রবিবার, ২৪ ফেব্রুয়ারী, ২০১৩

OPTiM outs wireless smartphone-to-smartphone screen sharing and remote control app for Android

OPTiM outs wireless smartphonetosmartphone screen sharing and remote control app for Android

One of the more notable features of BlackBerry 10 is built-in screensharing, but here in Barcelona at MWC 2013, OPTiM has just one-upped Waterloo with a new app for Android. It not only lets users share screens, but it also allows them to remotely control devices over WiFi. Called Optia for Android, it works with handsets running Android 2.3 and up, and has a built-in chat function for facilitating communication while screensharing. Naturally, the app's a boon to IT pros who manage devices from afar, but it should also prove useful for helping you teach mom and dad how to use the fancy new smartphones you got them for Christmas. The app's currently free from Google Play, though only for a limited time. Head on past the break for a video of Optia in action, and you can grab the app at the source link below.

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Source: Google Play Store

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/gLWq9QuGTa8/

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REWIND: The New Music Industry's Week In Review - hypebot

  • Upward Spiral Podcast #19: On Streaming Music Royalties, Unique Fan Experiences & More
  • Hypebot Music Industry News Pins
  • Billboard Adds YouTube Plays To Chart
  • Interviewing Pitchfork Pt. 1: The Evolution Of Pitchfork TV
  • Rhapsody Signs With Harry Fox To Support International Expansion
  • Interview With Chris Milk: Directing Beck's 'Sound And Vision' In 360 Degrees
  • International Entertainment Buyers Assoc. Elects 2013 Board
  • Tumblr Announces Curated #Music Tag In Likely Bid For Music-Related Native Ads
  • Music Ticketing News: Limited Run, Eventbrite x Facebook, TapCanvas, Ticketmaster

SF Music Hack Day & MusicTech Summit 2013

  • A Storify Recap Of Music Hack Day San Francisco
  • Winners of Music Hack Day SF 2013
  • SF MusicTech 2013 Effectively Mixed Techies, Business People & Artists
  • The Dead Kennedy's East Bay Ray Holds Court At SF MusicTech 2013

Apps & Mobile

  • Visualizing The Viral Spread Of Tracks On Turntable.fm
  • Die For Metal App Continues Tale Of Black Metal Man
  • InTune Ear Training App Available From Wittenberg University
  • Improve Your Smartphone Audio For Cheap With SonicMax Pro
  • Apps For Turning Tweets Into Music
  • ShowScoop Launches Live Show Rating App

?

Source: http://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2013/02/rewind-the-new-music-industrys-week-in-review-3.html

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Dozens of stars rehearse day before Oscar ceremony

Actor John Travolta attends rehearsals for the 85th Academy Awards in Los Angeles, Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013. The Academy Awards are scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013. (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP)

Actor John Travolta attends rehearsals for the 85th Academy Awards in Los Angeles, Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013. The Academy Awards are scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013. (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP)

In this Feb. 22, 2013, photo, actor Hugh Jackman appears during rehearsals for the 85th Academy Awards in Los Angeles. The Academy Awards are scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013. (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP)

Actors Chris Pine, left, and Zoe Saldana watch rehearsals for the 85th Academy Awards in Los Angeles, Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013. The Academy Awards will be held Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013. (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP)

Actress Kerry Washington, left, laughs while talking to Hawk Koch, president of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, during rehearsals for the 85th Academy Awards in Los Angeles, Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013. The Academy Awards are scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013. (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP)

Actor Richard Gere, left, attends rehearsals for the 85th Academy Awards in Los Angeles, Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013. The Academy Awards are scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013. (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP)

(AP) ? Some dressed down in jeans and hoodies. Others looked camera-ready in suits or chic dresses and spiky stilettos.

But no matter how they looked, all of the stars who rehearsed Saturday for the 85th Academy Awards seemed excited about being a part of the big show.

They paraded through the Dolby Theatre in 15-minute increments: Meryl Streep. Ben Affleck. Reese Witherspoon. Richard Gere. Jennifer Aniston. John Travolta. Nicole Kidman. Jack Nicholson. And dozens more.

Each practiced their lines in front of an audience of show workers and awarded prop Oscars to rehearsal actors. They also scanned the theater from the stage, searching for their show-night seats.

"Oh, wow. That's a very dramatic picture of me," best-actress nominee Jessica Chastain said after spotting her seat-saving placard. "I'm looking at everyone's headshots. It's kind of incredible."

Affleck confessed his excitement from the stage as he looked out at all the famous faces expected Sunday.

"This is like the most memorable aspect of the Oscars," the "Argo" director said. "You see all these place cards (at rehearsal), then you come back and they're all here!"

Affleck also chatted backstage with the college film students who won a contest to serve as trophy carriers during the ceremony.

"I love that," he said. "It's super cool."

Travolta spent time with the students, too.

"I was there when that idea was born and I said it was the best idea they could possibly come up with," he told the aspiring filmmakers backstage. "And here you are!"

Travolta plans to bring his 13-year-old daughter, Ella Bleu, to the ceremony.

Kidman made rehearsals a family affair. Husband Keith Urban and their eldest daughter, Sunday, watched from the audience as Kidman ran through her lines.

She looked impeccable in a wine-colored dress and tall metallic shoes, but other stars were decidedly more casual. Kristen Stewart arrived in jeans, sneakers and a backward ball cap. (She also limped on an injured right foot.) Renee Zellweger also opted for comfort in jeans and running shoes.

The cast of "Chicago," including Gere, Zellweger, Queen Latifah and Catherine Zeta-Jones, injected their rehearsal with silliness. Latifah purposely over-enunciated her lines, and when a pair of rehearsal actors claimed an Oscar onstage and gave an acceptance speech, Zeta-Jones started to play them off with an imaginary violin.

"Get outta here!" Gere said with a smile.

Octavia Spencer, who won the supporting actress Oscar last year for her performance in "The Help," also had a little fun.

"I'm going to do a soft-shoe," she said, shuffling off stage.

Streep and Jane Fonda were each wowed by the set design. Fonda snapped a photo with her iPhone, and Streep marveled at how far the walk to the microphone was.

"All the way to here?!" she asked. "Oh my God."

Halle Berry literally stumbled during her first rehearsal, her pointy heel catching on part of the stage. She insisted on trying again.

"Woo hoo," she said. "Made it."

___

AP Entertainment Writer Sandy Cohen is on Twitter: www.twitter.com/APSandy .

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/4e67281c3f754d0696fbfdee0f3f1469/Article_2013-02-23-Oscar%20Countdown-Stars%20in%20Sneakers/id-f2d5953dac0a4902b573d91ac4c3c22c

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Honda bringing 50 jobs to Marysville under new division

Honda is bringing up to 50 new jobs to Marysville.

A Honda reorganization will bring up to 50 new jobs to Marysville.

The automaker Friday announced the creation of Honda North America Services LLC, a company that will take on the shared services aspects of the business starting April 1. The move brings support functions spread across North America, including legal services, corporate audit and risk management, under one roof. The positions will be moving from American Honda Motor Co.?s Torrance, Calif. offices.

Tetsuo Iwamura, president of Honda North America Inc., in a press release said the changes improve the speed of decision-making and overall efficiency.

The new operation will be led by Hidenobu Iwata who also is president of Honda of America Manufacturing Inc., the Marysville-based manufacturing arm of the automaker.

Honda employs more than 13,500 in Ohio predominately in its manufacturing operations in Marysville, East Liberty, Anna and Russells Point as well as engineering and research and development functions.

Dan Eaton covers retail, restaurants, manufacturing, automotive and the advertising/PR industry for Business First.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/vertical_13/~3/oov8zbLXEx4/honda-bringing-50-jobs-to-marysville.html

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শুক্রবার, ২২ ফেব্রুয়ারী, ২০১৩

A misleading chart on ?welfare? spending (Washington Post)

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Sprint Force LTE handset leaks, due March 1st from ZTE

Sprint Force LTE handset leaks, due March 1st from ZTE

Sometimes tips come out of the blue: while one of our editors was out and about earlier today, someone sent him the Sprint product page above. Turns out it's for a 4-inch Sprint-branded Android phone, the Force, which looks like a version of ZTE's rumored Force that will conveniently work with the carrier's sparkling new LTE installations. Specs are middling, with Android 4.0, an unnamed 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 4-inch Gorilla Glass adorned display, 5-megapixel rear camera, 1-megapixel front camera, 1GB of RAM, 4GB of ROM and a 1,730mAh battery. Still, that'll give you quick connection speeds for $50 when it launches March 1st -- presumably on a 2-year contract -- joining its more upmarket 4G ZTE stablemate, the 4.5-inch Flash, at Sprint.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/02/21/sprint-force-lte-handset-leaks-due-march-1st-from-zte/

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বৃহস্পতিবার, ২১ ফেব্রুয়ারী, ২০১৩

LOOK: Wedding Dress Reveals Bride's True Emotions

A bride is often a bundle of emotions on her Big Day. Two Canadian designers have created a wedding gown that incorporates those intense emotions into the fabric of her dress.

Earlier this month, Wynnie Chung, a student at Simon Fraser University, and Emily Ip, a SFU grad, designed a dress called Wo.Defy that measures the wearer's breathing, heart rate and movement. These measurements activate LED lights and pulsating fabric flowers built into the dress, resulting in a gown that moves and glows depending on the wearer's emotional state (watch the video above for more details).

Chung and Ip were inspired by 20th century Chinese suffragettes called the Self-Combing sisters who rejected traditional roles for women, they told the Vancouver Sun. The dress can express emotions like apprehension that might typically be suppressed at a wedding.

?Through our dress we detect raw physiological data, and we expose it, so there is nothing to hide. You show your true self, in a sense,? Ip told the Vancouver Sun. ?We asked why is marriage and family our final destination??

Turns out wedding dresses can be pretty high-tech. Carrie Underwood wore a wedding gown-like dress at the Grammys earlier this month that used LED technology to project images onto the fabric. And in 2010, British researchers designed an environmentally-friendly dress that dissolves in water after being worn.

Check out the top 2013 wedding dress trends in the slideshow below.

  • Illusion Necklines

    One of the hottest trends on the Fall 2013 runways was the illusion neckline. This silhouette has the feel of a strapless gown, but provides a bit more coverage for the bride (it will also help your dress stay in place while you dance the night away!) Here, a gown from Vera Wang.

  • Illusion Necklines

    A Reem Acra gown, Fall 2013.

  • Illusion Necklines

    An Amsale gown, Fall 2013.

  • Illusion Necklines

    A tea-length gown from Amsale, Fall 2013.

  • Illusion Necklines

    A Christos gown, Fall 2013.

  • Illusion Neckline

    A gown from Monique Lhuillier, Fall 2013.

  • Illusion Necklines

    A Watters gown, Fall 2013.

  • Sleeves

    In a post-Kate Middleton world, it's unlikely that sleeves -- especially in the Fall -- will be disappearing from the bridal runways any time soon. This season, many couture designers showed long sleeves in their collections. Some gowns took inspiration directly from Duchess Kate -- as is clearly shown in this look from Christos -- while others gowns took the trend to new places.

  • Sleeves

    A loose-sleeved Claire Pettibone gown, Fall 2013.

  • Sleeves

    A new take on sleeves at Christos, Fall 2013.

  • Sleeves

    Long sleeves at Monique Lhuillier, Fall 2013.

  • Sleeves

    An Oscar de la Renta gown, Fall 2013.

  • Lace Overlays

    Thanks to Kate Middleton and her stunning Alexander McQueen wedding gown, lace made a <em>huge</em> comeback in 2011 -- and the Fall 2013 collections prove that the lace trend isn't slowing down any time soon. This season, designers featured lace as a layer on top of other fabrics, lending volume and dimension to the gowns. Here, a Claire Pettibone frock.

  • Lace Overlays

    A lacey Romona Keveza gown, Fall 2013.

  • Lace Overlays

    A lace gown by Romona Keveza, Fall 2013.

  • Lace Overlays

    A Vera Wang gown, Fall 2013.

  • Lace Overlays

    An Oscar de la Renta gown, Fall 2013.

  • Lace Overlays

    A sexy Monique Lhuillier sleeved gown, Fall 2013.

  • Hints Of Color

    While seasons past have featured <a href="http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/307572/oscar-de-la-renta-spring-2013-collection/@center/272535/wedding-dresses">deep reds and flowered gowns</a>, designers took a more subtle approach to color in their Fall 2013 collections. Claire Pettibone incorporated blush pink, olive green and baby blue into many of her gowns, as seen here.

  • Hints Of Color

    A cafe-colored Reem Acra gown, Fall 2013.

  • Hints Of Color

    Embellishments on a Claire Pettibone gown, Fall 2013.

  • Hints Of Color

    A blush Watters gown, Fall 2013.

  • Hints Of Color

    A blush gown from Ines DiSanto, Fall 2013.

  • All-Over Sequins

    Sequins always add a sassy, sexy touch to a bridal gown. But this season, designers really brought the bling with top-to-bottom sequins. Here, a Watters gown, Fall 2013.

  • All-Over Sequins

    A sequined Reem Acra gown, Fall 2013.

  • All-Over Sequins

    An Ines DiSanto gown, Fall 2013.

  • Bold Headpieces

    The traditional veil, while beautiful and classic, was sorely upstaged by bolder, bigger headpieces this season (perhaps thanks to newlywed Anne Hathaway and her '<a href="http://nymag.com/thecut/2012/10/anne-hathaways-wedding-dress-pink-valentino.html">bridal bandana</a>'). Here, a look from Reem Acra, Fall 2013.

  • Bold Headpieces

    A flowered headpiece at Claire Pettibone, Fall 2013.

  • Bold Headpieces

    A flowered headpiece at Watters, Fall 2013.

  • Bold Headpieces

    Another dramatic veil from Reem Acra, Fall 2012.

Keep in touch! Check out HuffPost Weddings on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/20/wedding-dress_n_2726844.html?utm_hp_ref=style&ir=Style

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RolePlayGateway?

Image

Welcome to Saved
This is the official OOC thread.

To see a more detailed and fleshed version of the Summary provided below, as well as information pertaining to creating a character, please visit this link:
saved-futuristic-t80247.html
To see the IC thread and participate in RPing, visit this link:
saved-t80313.html

You are a remnant of humanity who has been Saved by an advanced, space-faring civilization so that you can retake Earth from an alien menace descending from something known as the Great Enemy. You, along with thousands of other humans, survive in a small area called the Community. From here, you stage expeditions out into the wild of Earth to fend off alien creatures, retake land, and investigate the mysteries that followed these aliens from wherever they came from. You are, for lack of a better term, an Explorator.

Now then, this being an OOC thread, everyone can feel free to post and re-post their characters in here, as well as bring up any questions, suggestions, or issues relating to the RP. Talk it up with everyone else involved. Anything, just as long as it's reasonably related to the RP
Also, feel free to PM me at any time, and I will respond ASAP.

As for posting in the IC thread, I will also lay down some rules.

-Don't post multiple times in a row. Make sure most everyone else gets a chance to post again before you do.
-You can edit your posts if you want, as long as it won't affect something someone else has written after you too badly, and if you do edit your posts, make sure it's obvious to someone who may have read your original post. Signify with something like this: Post Edited
-If too many people are to join, I'd like the amount of posts you make per day to be limited to three. For now, we're all good. As long as there isn't clutter and everyone has their chances to react to the happenings, no limit.
-Don't Godmod. That's pretty standard. Basically, it means not to take control of someone else's character in your own post.
-Lastly, make your posts a decent length.

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/RolePlayGateway

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2013 NCAA Tournament Bracketology Update: Arizona State needs to win and they are in

A mandate from the panel of bracketologists - ASU will get in the tournament if they can win some games down the stretch.

The Sun Devils are off to a good start this week, defeating the Washington State Cougars and earning their 20th win of the season last night in Tempe. With four games to go in the regular season, ASU has positioned themselves nicely for a run at the NCAA Tournament.

None of this will matter if Arizona State cannot beat Washington on Saturday night. We've been saying that the Sun Devils need to win 24 games to make it to March Madness, and that allows for one regular season loss and at least one win in the Pac-12 Tournament. Truly an attainable goal, but UW must fall.

First up: ESPN's Joe Lunardi. He has projected the Sun Devils as a First Four entrant, facing off against Villanova for the right to call themselves an 11 seed in the South bracket. The winner would play Notre Dame.

Palm, CBS Sports' bracketology guru, has kept the Sun Devils out of the bracket. ASU is now the 'first team out' for Palm.

Finally, Chris Dobbertean of SB Nation has Arizona State in the First Four as well, playing Virginia to determine the 12th seed in the South. The winner would play Oklahoma State. Very consistent opinions on the Sun Devils have formed as a team that is firmly on the bubble, and ASU needs to win big and often down the stretch to make the NCAA Tournament.

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Source: http://www.houseofsparky.com/2013/2/21/4013354/2013-ncaa-tournament-bracketology-march-madness

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Oil price rises ahead of US housing data

(AP) ? The price of oil rose Wednesday ahead of the release of U.S. housing starts for January.

Benchmark crude for April delivery was up 30 cents to $97.40 per barrel at late afternoon Bangkok time in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The March contract expires Wednesday. It rose 80 cents to finish at $96.66 per barrel on the Nymex on Tuesday.

Later in the day, the U.S. Commerce Department will release housing starts for the month of January, a key gauge of the real estate industry and economy. In December, builders broke ground on houses and apartments at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 954,000. That was 12.1 percent higher than November's annual rate.

A report on Tuesday showed that confidence among homebuilders slipped, as builders remain concerned about the sturdiness of the U.S. economy and the risk of rising unemployment.

In Germany, a survey of investor confidence was upbeat on Tuesday, but traders are concerned about the possible outcome of a weekend parliamentary election in Italy. Traders are worried that a change in leadership could derail efforts to end Europe's financial crisis.

Analysts at Credit Agricole CIB in Hong Kong wrote in a market commentary that the polls "may yet dampen confidence so we would caution about becoming too excited."

Brent crude, used to price many international varieties of oil, was up 7 cents to $117.59 per barrel on the ICE Futures exchange in London.

In other energy futures trading on the Nymex:

? Heating oil rose 0.9 cent to $3.191 per gallon.

? Wholesale gasoline was nearly unchanged at $3.316 per gallon.

? Natural gas added 1.7 cents to $3.289 per 1,000 cubic feet.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2013-02-20-Oil%20Prices/id-f1c37c1bc80549de81607b0eaea6d7f1

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Postal Service plans all-weather clothing line: Smart move or desperation?

Well, we can?t say we saw this one coming.

The US Postal Service, known more for its stalwart reputation ? and financial woes ? than its vanguard fashion sense, announced Tuesday it is launching a fashion line as part of an effort to generate revenue and build brand reputation. The surprise move has retail analysts impressed ? and doubtful.

The announcement certainly hasn?t left Gucci and Prada shaking in their stiletto-shearling boots. But considering the focus of the aptly-named ?Rain Heat & Snow? line ? all-weather apparel ? the venture starts to make sense. After all, who knows more about dressing for the elements than the Postal Service?s hale and hearty letter carriers, for whom ?neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night? thwarts achievement of their solemnly sworn duty. (No word yet on whether the apparel will be pit bull-resistant.)

RECOMMENDED: Crunch time at Postal Service: Five questions about post office closings.

Fortunately, the Postal Service is sparing us the baby blue button downs and navy pant-shorts. It is working with Ohio-based apparel company Wahconah Group Inc. to create a line of innovative ?functional fashion? that should hit stores in 2014.

?This agreement will put the Postal Service on the cutting edge of functional fashion,? corporate licensing manager Steven Mills said in a statement Tuesday.

?We?re talking all-weather, all-seasonal attire,? says USPS spokesman Roy Betts. ?A man?s jacket which could be wired for you to click in your iPod and listen to music, control the volume, and make selections, all from the sleeve of your jacket.?

Want your top political issues explained? Get customized DC Decoder updates.

In other words, the kind of hip athletic/tech/all-season apparel that might appeal to say, a computer-programmer-tech-enthusiast who enjoys listening to Linkin Park on his iPod while snowboarding with his buddies ? in a Postal Service-emblazoned jacket, of course.

Besides jackets, the line will include headgear, footwear, and clothing that incorporates smart technology, says Mr. Betts.

?It?s incorporating technology that originated in the military ... and is now available commercially,? he says. ?Being able to put wiring in fabric and other material that will allow you to monitor, respond, listen and connect to your devices.?

(Interestingly, this isn?t the first time the Postal Service introduced a retail line. It rolled out a line of T-shirts, mugs, and neckties in the 1980s, sold in post offices, until Congress complained that it was competing with private businesses.)

This time, perhaps recognizing its place in the natural order of things, the Postal Service is staying out of the actual designing of the clothing. Wahconah Group will design, manufacture, and place clothing in retail locations, including department and specialty stores, while the Postal Service will simply license its name, and hopefully, collect royalty fees.

The move, says Betts, is as much about re-envisioning the Postal Service?s brand as bringing in revenue

?It?s brand reputation with revenue generation,? he says. ?The Postal Service is facing challenges and we are looking to be more innovative and responsive to the marketplace.?

In recent years the Postal Service has faced more than rough weather and choleric canines. The beleaguered agency reported losses nearing $16 billion last year and is scrambling to close a $20 billion budget gap in 2013. As part of that plan the Postal Service recently announced it will end Saturday mail delivery this summer, a move that will cut 22,000 jobs and save $2 billion.

The Rain Heat & Snow clothing line looks to be part of the agency?s effort to plug its yawning budget gap ? and revamp its listing reputation ? but retail analysts are divided on the venture?s potential for success.

?The Postal Service is not going to be successful with this whatsoever,? says Hitha Prabhakar, an author and retail analyst. ?The USPS is not a sexy brand ? and has been losing its brand gravitas for so long, I don?t know who would want to wear a US Postal Service shirt or pair of shorts.?

Retail expert Doug Fleener sees the clothing line as a relatively risk-free move for the Postal Service that dovetails with its image.

?What I thought was smart, what I like about it is it?s all-weather gear,? says Mr. Fleener, president and managing partner of Dynamic Experiences Group, a retail and customer experience consulting firm in Lexington, Mass. ?If I think about battling the elements, there?s probably no other company or organization that stands out more than the post office. To some degree, that?s kind of smart of them.?

?The Postal Service gets so much criticism, their hands are tied and they don?t have a lot of options,? adds Fleener. ?I give them credit ? they found a way to drive risk-free revenue.?

Both Ms. Prabhakar and Fleener say the move is a form of brand extension not uncommon in the market for struggling labels.

?I think whenever you have a struggling brand ? whether it?s the USPS or a designer that was once really luminary and has since lost its luster ? I think brands [reinvent themselves] by starting alternate clothing lines,? says Prabhakar. ?It?s brand extension in the form of clothes.?

As such, says Fleener, the Postal Service is ?following the lead of a lot of brands out there that do licensing deals.?

Will the Postal Service?s latest venture reap rewards?

In fact, licensing has revived some companies, like Sharper Image, which went out of business and came back due to licensing deals, says Fleener.

Still, he doesn?t expect the agency?s new clothing line will rake in huge profits.

?It?s not going to generate a lot of revenue,? he says, ?It will give them some nice publicity around an area of strength for the Postal Service.?

His advice for the agency as it tests the fickle waters of fashion? Stick to what it does best.

?Don?t try to overextend,? he says. ?I?m not sure I want to wear Postal Service swim trunks.?

RECOMMENDED: Crunch time at Postal Service: Five questions about post office closings.

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Source: http://news.yahoo.com/postal-plans-weather-clothing-line-smart-move-desperation-200715891.html

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Digital Storm Bolt Is Thinnest Gaming PC In The World | Ubergizmo

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Digital Storm Bolt Is Thinnest Gaming PC In The WorldI would like to think that Digital Storm?s claim that their Bolt is the thinnest gaming PC in the world is limited to those mass produced models, and not hand-crafted ones. Heck, even a custom made gaming PC chassis would be tricky if it were to measure 3.6 inches wide, so I guess that the Bolt does have its fair share of success to that claim.

In fact, Digital Storm has announced that they will be offering a Titan Edition of its award winning Bolt, and thanks to the inclusion of the spanking new NVIDIA GTX Titan (which is the world?s fastest graphics card), it will make use of similar technology that powers Oak Ridge National Laboratory?s Titan, which has been deemed to be the world?s fastest supercomputer.

How can something so slim remain cool operationally? This was made possible by the Bolt?s unique ventilation system, making the Bolt one of the only systems in its class that is capable of handling the powerful GTX Titan. There are vents located near each critical component, not to mention large top and rear vents that do their bit to eliminate any stagnant air remaining within the system, while there is also a dedicated air channel that was created by a slotted side vent to cool the power supply.

Having said that, the Digital Storm Bolt Titan Edition is not going to come cheap ? at $2,499 a pop.

Related articles:
Apple Newest Target Of Hackers
Apple MacBook Air Equipped with Retina Display [Rumor]
WSJ "Confirms" Google's Retail Store Plans
Microsoft Outlook Arrives To Hotmail?s Demise

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Source: http://www.ubergizmo.com/2013/02/digital-storm-bolt-is-thinnest-gaming-pc-in-the-world/

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Florida man accused of fraud after name change in 'act of love'

About

What's there to know about me? I'm from Albuquerque, New Mexico, itching to move to New York, New York. I'm in school for theater so I can be an actor-director-producer (and yes, I have adopted the hyphen system for describing myself (and others). I guess I should mention my age. I'm 21. And my name is Dach, in case any of you were wondering. Or Dachary. Or Dach Attack. Or Bright Eyes. Whatever you want to call me, I'll probably answer to. Oh, you know, I always wondered why people would question my sexuality, it's because I never put it in my description before: I'm gay. Like a rainbow. Or a unicorn. Or Christopher Sieber. Also, because this has become sort of important in my work, you should know that I go by he/him pronouns. Although, the occasional "gurl" isn't neccesarily a bad thing. Oh, back to single, btw

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Who am I anyway?
Point me toward tomorrow.

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Wenger erupts before Arsenal-Bayern showdown

By ROB HARRIS

AP Sports Writer

Associated Press Sports

updated 12:33 p.m. ET Feb. 18, 2013

LONDON (AP) -In a season of brilliance from Bayern Munich and considerable anguish for Arsenal, Champions League success has taken on differing levels of importance as they prepare to meet Tuesday in the last 16.

The sight of Arsene Wenger turning angrily on reporters Monday gave an indication of the importance of the two-matches to his Arsenal side.

Europe is Arsenal's last route to ending a trophy drought stretching back to 2005 after second-tier club Blackburn ended its FA Cup hopes on Saturday.

Questions on Monday about that humiliation were met with tetchy responses from Wenger, who then reacted with anger to a report claiming he was in talks about a new contract, just as calls from some fans for the manager's exit gather pace.

"I deserve a bit more credit than wrong information that has only one intention - to harm," Wenger said.

Turning to one reporter, Wenger asked: "Why do you look at me?"

The Frenchman, who has been at Arsenal since 1996, then complained about the persistent questions about this season's struggles and mounting criticism of his management.

"We live in a democracy of experts and opinions ... there are a lot of experts who are not necessarily always right," Wenger said.

What is indisputable is Arsenal's Premier League position: fifth, 21 points behind leader Manchester United and four points behind the fourth spot to qualify for the Champions League for the 16th straight season.

Winning the competition could be Arsenal's only way of remaining among Europe's elite next season - like London rival Chelsea last year when the Blues beat Bayern in the final to qualify for this year's competition.

"Arsenal belong among Europe's best teams," Bayern defender Daniel van Buyten said. "They have huge potential going forward, very strong individuals and a very good team."

But unlike the four-time European champions, Arsenal can't afford to let-up domestically and shift focus to the Champions League.

Bayern has spent the past weeks bolstering its domestic dominance, moving 15 points clear in the Bundesliga while also remaining in contention for the German Cup.

"Our team is more homogenous this season than at any time since I joined Bayern," said Van Buyten, who has been at the club since 2006. "We already had some very good phases, for example a couple of years ago when we nearly got the treble, but now we've improved by a few more percentage points."

No team has scored against Bayern in 2013, while the seven goals conceded and 57 scored in the Bundesliga are unparalleled at this stage in the season.

Winning the Champions League would be the perfect sendoff for coach Jupp Heynckes before Pep Guardiola takes charge in the offseason, especially given the frustration over last season's loss in the final to Chelsea.

Arsenal's players, though, are recalling how Chelsea unexpectedly produced London's first European Cup by eliminating Barcelona and then beating Bayern.

"Chelsea weren't having a good season and they got a bit lucky in some games, but showed great character," Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere said. "We need to do that now and come together as a team ... we have beaten big European teams here before so we need to do that again."

And Heynckes is not underestimating Arsenal despite the weekend setback.

"Arsenal found their rhythm again in the last weeks," he said. "They play very well going forward ... I warn against underestimating this team. They're back up and running again. That makes it very dangerous for us."

---

Ciaran Fahey in Berlin contributed to this report.

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


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Will Donovan be welcomed back?

PST: U.S. fans are interested in how one of the country?s best set of feet ever can fizz up an attack that looks mighty flat.

Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/50845592/ns/sports-soccer/

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Tibetans stage mass-rally in Dharamsala against Chinese atrocities

  • Beijing News.Net - Monday 18th February, 2013

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    Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan, Liu Jian has asserted that no one should be worried or annoyed by Pakistan's handing over Gwadar Port to China. Talking to Nawa-i-Waqt at a function, the dignitary ...

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    China is willing to develop relations with the Vatican if it severs its diplomatic ties with Taiwan and refrains from interfering in China's internal affairs, a foreign ministry spokesman said ...

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  • Titanic II to be built in China

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    A Chinese shipyard will build an 885-foot-long ship to be named Titanic II -- a replica of the liner that sank in 1912, a spokesman said. The project, which will take the state-owned CSC Jinling ...

  • Source: http://www.beijingnews.net/index.php/sid/212653806/scat/9366300fc9319e9b

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    Singer Mindy McCready dies in apparent suicide

    FILE - In this Nov. 14, 2008 file photo, Country singer Mindy McCready performs, in Nashville, Tenn. McCready, who hit the top of the country charts before personal problems sidetracked her career, died Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013. She was 37. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)

    FILE - In this Nov. 14, 2008 file photo, Country singer Mindy McCready performs, in Nashville, Tenn. McCready, who hit the top of the country charts before personal problems sidetracked her career, died Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013. She was 37. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)

    FILE - In this undated file photo, country singer Mindy McCready performs in Nashville, Tenn. McCready, who hit the top of the country charts before personal problems sidetracked her career, died Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013. She was 37. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)

    Yellow crime-scene tape blocks off the home of Mindy McCready in Heber Springs, Ark., on Monday, Feb. 18, 2013, the day after the country singer was found dead there Sunday in an apparent suicide. She was 37. (AP Photo/Jeannie Nuss)

    FILE - In this Aug. 22, 2006 file photo, Country singer Mindy McCready answers questions outside the courtroom in Franklin, Tenn. McCready, who hit the top of the country charts before personal problems sidetracked her career died Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013. She was 37. (AP Photo/John Russell, File)

    Yellow crime-scene tape blocks off the home of Mindy McCready in Heber Springs, Ark., on Monday, Feb. 18, 2013. The country singer was found dead there Sunday in an apparent suicide. She was 37. (AP Photo/Jeannie Nuss)

    (AP) ? Perhaps there was one heartbreak too many for Mindy McCready.

    The former country star apparently took her own life on Sunday at her home in Heber Springs, Ark. Authorities say McCready died of a suspected self-inflicted gunshot to the head and an autopsy is planned. She was 37, and left behind two young sons.

    McCready had attempted suicide at least three times since 2005, as she struggled to cope amid a series of tumultuous public events that marked much of her adult life.

    Speaking to The Associated Press in 2010, McCready smiled wryly while talking about the string of issues she'd dealt with over the last half-decade.

    "It is a giant whirlwind of chaos all the time," she said of her life. "I call my life a beautiful mess and organized chaos. It's just always been like that. My entire life things have been attracted to me and vice versa that turn into chaotic nightmares or I create the chaos myself. I think that's really the life of a celebrity, of a big, huge, giant personality."

    This time it seems the whirlwind overwhelmed McCready.

    Her death comes a month after that of David Wilson, her longtime boyfriend and the father of her youngest son. He is believed to have shot himself on the same porch of the home they shared in Heber Springs, a small vacation community about 65 miles north of Little Rock. His death also was investigated as a suicide.

    It was the most difficult moment in a life full of them. McCready issued a statement last month lamenting his death. And she called him her soul mate and a caregiver to her sons in an interview with NBC's "Today" show.

    "I just keep telling myself that the more suffering that I go through, the greater character I'll have," she said, according to a transcript of the interview.

    Like so many times before, McCready showed a little toughness in the midst of a personal storm, again endearing herself to her fans. But as usual, the brave face for the camera hid a much more complicated internal struggle that surfaced publicly time and again over the last 10 years.

    This time, along with her remembrances of finding Wilson as he lay dying, she also answered questions about whether they'd argued earlier that evening about an affair and if she'd shot him.

    "Oh, my God," the "Today" transcript reads. "No. Oh, my God. No. He was my life. We were each other's life."

    It's unclear what circumstances led to McCready taking her own life, but it appears she was struggling again with twin issues that have persisted for years: substance abuse and the custody of her children.

    She checked into court-ordered rehab and gave her children up to foster care earlier this month after her father asked a judge to intervene, saying she'd stopped taking care of herself and her sons, and that she was abusing alcohol and prescription drugs.

    It's unclear why McCready was out of rehab.

    Billy McKnight, McCready's ex-boyfriend and the father of her oldest son, said the children remain in foster care. Arkansas Department of Human Services spokeswoman Amy Webb could not confirm their whereabouts, citing agency rules.

    McCready's relationship with McKnight was one of the more difficult periods of her life. McKnight was arrested in 2005 on charges of attempted murder after authorities say he beat and choked her. And the two continued to struggle over their son with McKnight recently filing for custody in light of McCready's latest sting in rehab.

    McCready made headlines in April 2008 when she claimed a longtime relationship with baseball great Roger Clemens. Published reports at the time said she met the pitcher at a Florida karaoke bar when she was 15 and he was 28 and married. Clemens has denied the relationship.

    On Monday, Clemens handed a written statement to reporters at the Houston Astros spring training facility in Kissimmee, Fla., where he is serving as a special instructor for the team.

    "Yes, that is sad news. I had heard over time that she was trying to get peace and direction in her life. The few times that I had met her and her manager/agent they were extremely nice."

    McCready also was engaged to actor Dean Cain in 1997, but their relationship fell apart as well.

    Her troubles weren't just romantic. Over time she was arrested for fraudulently obtaining prescription drugs, probation violation, misdemeanor assault of her mother Gayle Inge and other problems.

    In 2010, after a stint on Dr. Drew Pinsky's "Celebrity Rehab 3" where she was treated for "love addiction," she told The Associated Press she may have finally found love and the strength to get her life back on track.

    Pinsky, who had no comment Sunday, called McCready an "angel" in the season finale and expressed hope she would continue to seek treatment in a later interview. McCready suffered a seizure in one of the show's scarier moments. Tests showed she had suffered brain damage, something she attributed to her abuse at the hands of McKnight.

    McCready is the fifth celebrity to pass away since appearing on Pinsky's show and the third from Season 3. Alice in Chains bassist Mike Starr and "Real World" participant Joey Kovar both died of overdoses.

    She entered her relationship with Wilson, a producer and musician who was 34 when he died last month, a short time later. She'd just met Wilson and talked openly about their relationship in the 2010 interview. Wilson declined to speak on the record.

    With a publicist, reporters, cameras, makeup artists and musicians swirling around her during a press day for her last album, "I'm Still Here," McCready fended off questions about a sex tape and said she and Wilson started out as friends.

    "And I've never had a relationship like that before where we started completely as friends," she said. "It turned into friends really caring about each other and then it turned into love and I've never had that happen before."

    Things didn't remain calm for long, though. Unhappy with custody arrangements, McCready took her older son from her mother, the boy's legal guardian, in late 2011. She fled to Arkansas without permission over what she called child abuse fears. Authorities eventually found McCready hiding in a home without permission and took the boy into custody.

    She and Wilson had their son in April 2012, and she regained custody of Zander in December. But Wilson's death appears to have led to another dark period.

    "I met Mindy at 23 coming off of a big record, and from knowing her as personal as I did back then, sometimes being famous can hurt you," McKnight said in a phone interview Monday from Tampa, Fla. "I think she was too young. I think that she was having some personal issues in her life and her family anyways, and when she got famous ... she started mixing booze and pills and the negativity, it took the best of her."

    ___

    Music Writer Chris Talbott reported from Nashville, Tenn. Sports Writer Noah Trister, in Kissimmee, Fla., contributed to this report.

    ___

    Follow AP Music Writer Chris Talbott: http://twitter.com/Chris_Talbott.

    Associated Press

    Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2013-02-18-Obit-McCready/id-b23622e159594d39b4b1e11c1a7e2e93

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