If you're invested in the future of 3D printing, the London Science Museum was the place to be today, as the European Space Agency and its partners hosted a consortium to celebrate the launch of the AMAZE project. AMAZE, which stands for Additive Manufacturing Aiming Towards Zero Waste & Efficient ...
Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/BIq2BBlDdnM/Washington (AFP) - Washington's risky game of political brinkmanship neared crisis point Tuesday, with no deal yet nailed down to avoid a catastrophic US debt default, just 36 hours before a crucial deadline.
Despite global fears that the US government could run out of money to pay its bills on Thursday, the rift cleaving US politics and a fight for the soul of the Republican Party thwarted compromise.
Hopes a nascent deal between Republicans and Democrats in the Senate would open the way to resolve a fight over raising the US borrowing limit and reopening government proved over optimistic.
House Republican leaders, seeking to appease the conservative Tea Party faction, decided to try to pass their own bill, seeking to impose constraints on President Barack Obama's health care law.
The White House immediately struck back, rejecting the gambit as tantamount to demanding a "ransom" and renewed Obama's demand that the $16.7 trillion debt cap be raised without conditions.
The maneuvering left the way out of the deepest political crisis of the Obama era murky at best.
If no deal is reached by midnight on Wednesday, the US Treasury will find itself unable to borrow more money, and since its obligations will outweigh tax revenue, could begin to default on its obligations.
This would send economic shockwaves around the world.
Major powers like China and Japan are already alarmed at the implications if US Treasuries -- seen as the safest bedrock investment in the world -- lose their luster.
The House Republican plan is similar to a Senate escape bill in that it would fund government through January 15 while extending the debt ceiling to February 7, according to Congressman Darrell Issa.
But the House will include provisions to delay medical device tax that helps fund Obamacare and would remove health care subsidies for congressional aides and politicians.
"We're talking to our members on both sides of the aisle to try to find a way to move forward today," Republican House Speaker John Boehner said.
But the White House rejected the House move, signaling that if it comes to a vote minority Democrats would vote against, leaving Boehner with the long-shot task of uniting almost his entire caucus -- including the restive Tea Party -- behind the plan.
Democrats are likely banking on a plan with fewer conditions being passed by the Senate ahead of the debt default deadline before climbing on board a compromise.
"The President has said repeatedly that Members of Congress don’t get to demand ransom for fulfilling their basic responsibilities to pass a budget and pay the nation’s bills," said Amy Brundage, a White House spokeswoman.
"Unfortunately, the latest proposal from House Republicans does just that in a partisan attempt to appease a small group of Tea Party Republicans who forced the government shutdown in the first place."
Senate Democratic Majority leader Harry Reid vented fury at the latest House maneuver, saying they undermined the Senate compromise bid.
"Let's be clear: the House legislation will not pass the Senate," Reid said.
And, in an unusually public attack on Boehner, he accused the House speaker of appeasing a small fringe of radical conservatives at the expense of America's interests, and all just to keep his job.
"I am very disappointed with John Boehner who would once again try to preserve his role at the expense of the country," he said.
Senate Republicans were to convene to review a compromise plan being hammered out between Senate Democratic Majority Leader Harry Reid and Republican Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.
Investors endured a roller coaster day on the markets due to the fast moving political developments.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down nearly 100 points at one point, but recouped its losses by mid-morning trade, only to head on a downward track again.
China and Japan -- which between them hold more than $2.4 trillion of US debt -- have urged Washington to get its house in order.
Japan's Finance Minister Taro Aso said many US politicians "don't seem to understand well the magnitude of the international impact this problem could have".
"We demand," said China's Vice Finance Minister Zhu Guangyao in Beijing, "that the US side, as the issuing country of the major reserve currency and the largest economy in the world . . . should undertake its due responsibility. That is to uphold and develop the stability of international financial markets."
China and Japan between them hold more than $2.4 trillion in US debt.
Adults fueled another strong weekend at the North American box office as Warner Bros.' Gravity stayed at No. 1 with a record $44.3 million and Sony's Captain Phillips opened to a solid $26 million.
From director Alfonso Cuaron, Gravity raced past the $100 million domestically to end the weekend with total earnings of $123.4 million. Worldwide, the space epic -- starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney -- has earned well north of $150 million.
GUEST REVIEW: Astronaut Buzz Aldrin on 'Gravity'
Gravity slipped only 21 percent in its second weekend domestically -- the lowest decline in history for a film that opened over $55 million (The Incredibles was the previous record-holder at 29 percent). This doesn't count holiday weekends. It's also the lowest decline of the year to date for a movie playing in more than 2,000 theaters.
The movie continues to be a big draw in 3D (82 percent), with Imax theaters alone taking in a record $9 million over the weekend for total sales of $26.5 million. It's the largest second weekend gross in Imax history.
The other big headline of the weekend was Paul Greengrass' Somali pirate pic Captain Phillips, which reverses a dry spell for Tom Hanks at the box office. The critically acclaimed film did better than expected after earning an A CinemaScore, eclipsing the $19.5 million earned a year ago by fellow adult drama Argo.
THR COVER: Inside the Intense 'Captain Phillips' Shoot
Captain Phillips, based on real events and costing $55 million to produce, skewed slightly male (52 percent), while more than 60 percent of the audience was over the age of 35. The film's awards prospects should be boosted by its promising box office performance.
Hanks' last several films have underperformed, particularly Cloud Atlas (2012) and Larry Crowne (2011).
After Captain Phillips, the weekend's only other new wide player was exploitation action film Machete Kills, from writer-director Robert Rodriguez. Machete Kills quickly fizzled, debuting to roughly $3.8 million -- the worst wide opening of the filmmaker's career.
With a cast led by Danny Trejo and Michelle Rodriguez, Machete Kills, receiving a B- CinemaScore, is the third film based on the fake trailers accompanying Grindhouse.
Machete Kills placed No. 4 after Gravity, Captain Phillips and Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2.
Cloudy 2, from Sony, grossed $14.2 million in its third weekend to place No. 3 and pushing the family film's total to $78 million.
Rounding out the top five was New Regency's gambling thriller Runner Runner. The movie, starring Justin Timberlake opposite Ben Affleck, continued to struggle in its second weekend, falling 52 percent to $3.7 million for a tepid domestic total of $14.1 million.
As Beatles lore has it, Paul McCartney and John Lennon first met as wee lads in Liverpool on July 6, 1957. That's when the two aspiring rockers were formally introduced by mutual friend Ivan Vaughan at St. Peter's Church. Two weeks later, Lennon invited McCartney to join the Quarrymen and the rest is music history.
Now, fans can own a piece of that historic meeting thanks to congregation member Donna Jackson, who is helping auction off a piece of the floor board from the hall on Ebay. According to Jackson, via the Examiner, the 22cm x 7cm x 3cm block, which comes with a certificate of authenticity, originates from a side room that was damaged by fire in 2001.
PHOTOS: The Beatles to The Wanted: The Evolution of Boy Bands
It's not, however, the first time such a memento has been sold. Another block auctioned to benefit the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts (LIPA) went for £250 in August.
The price of the current Ebay auction, which ends on Oct. 23, has already surpassed £500, which is approximately $799. All proceeds from its sale will go to the Church.
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - AMC's cult zombie horror series "The Walking Dead" drew its largest audience in the show's history, 16.1 million viewers, for the season premiere on Sunday, the U.S. cable television network said on Monday.
According to Nielsen data provided by AMC, the hour-long season premiere was the top-rated show across all U.S. television programming on Sunday night in the 18-49 demographic, including NBC's NFL "Sunday Night Football" game, which usually draws the largest viewership in the demographic.
Out of the 16.1 million viewers, 10.4 million were in the 18-49 age group most coveted by advertisers. The season three finale of "The Walking Dead" in March attracted a previous high of 12.4 million viewers, with 8.1 million in the 18-49 group.
"The Walking Dead" also went head-to-head against NBC's primetime football game in much of the country, except for the West Coast. The football game between the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins drew a total of 19.7 million viewers.
AMC said more than 5 million users discussed the season four premiere on Facebook and Twitter, and the episode generated more than 1.1 million tweets on Sunday.
"The Walking Dead," based on a comic book series of the same name, follows a sheriff's deputy as he tries to save survivors from flesh-eating zombies in a post-apocalyptic world.
AMC, owned by AMC Networks Inc., has been expanding its audience with stylized shows, such as period advertising drama "Mad Men" which drew a series high of 2.7 million in June this year, and the series finale of gritty drug drama "Breaking Bad," watched by 10.3 million viewers last month.
(Reporting by Piya Sinha-Roy; Editing by Eric Kelsey and Cynthia Osterman)
The Jonas Brothers recently axed their comeback world tour, which left fans wondering about the reasons behind the cancellation.
Sources reveal that Joe Jonas has picked up a nasty drug habit. Joe has reportedly become addicted to heroin after dating addict Blanda Eggenshwiler.
An insider reveals Joe has previously used heroin but is now fully addicted to the same drug that took the life of “Glee” star Cory Monteith in July.
Joe Jonas finished off their international tour before his drug use came to light. He drank and did heroin with his girlfriend Blanda during the tour, which worried crew members.
Joe’s family are fully aware of his escalating heroin and alcohol abuse, but are worried what that could mean for their clean-cut image.
A source said Joe Jonas admits he has a problem and just wanted to postpone the tour so he could receive treatment. But his family members said he was being selfish by putting their livelihoods at stake. They reportedly wanted him to pray about it and continue on with the tour.
Many of us are shocked to hear rumors of Joe’s drug habit, but it appears to be true.
The Jonas Brother was spotted with addiction specialist Mike Bayer, the CEO of Cast Recovery Services, who previously worked with Demi Lovato through her issues.
Click thumbnails for larger pictures
Images: wenn.com
October 07, 2013 03:44 PM EDT
(Updated: October 07, 2013 03:46 PM EDT)
Invest/Investing . Ezekiel 7:19 . Ezekiel 7. Matthew 6:19-21 . Zephaniah . I Peter . Proverbs/Mishle . I Timothy . James 5:1 . Gospel of Matthew. Gospel of Luke . Gold/Silver . Treasure . Wealth/Riches . Lord/God
Wonder why I'm sharing on this area? I was invited to stay with a friend on the weekend and we talked about our Sunday School Lesson. I shared my notes with her & in the mean time I looked at some of her books and magazines and noticed some things that I begin to ponder on.
Now understand that I have no Seminary/Theological teaching/training, but read and study the Scriptures for yourselves.Ezekiel 7 ... Israel's final desolation. Mournful repentance of those who escape. Under the type of a chain is shewed their miserable captivity. The enemies defile the sanctuary because of the Israelites' abomination.
Matthew 6:19 ... Our treasure. Where our treasure is to be laid.</ins></ins>
Ezekiel 7:19 ... They shall cast their ... silver ... in the streets, and their ... gold ... shall be removed (for a separation, or uncleanness); their ...silver(Proverbs/Mishle 11:4/Zephaniah 1:18) and their ... gold,... shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the Lord: they shall not satisfy their souls, neither fill their bowels: because it is the stumblingblock (Ezekiel 44:12; 14:3,4) of their iniquity.
Civil & Social Life; Social Relations & Duties; Riches, Of No Real Profit to the Wicked
Matthew 6:19-21 ... Lay (Proverbs/Mishle 23:4; I Timothy 6:17; Hebrews 13:5; James 5:1) not up for yourselves treasures upon earth where moth & rust doth corrupt, & where thieves break through & steal: ... But lay (Matthew 19:21; Luke 12:33,34; I Timothy 6:19; I Peter 1:4) up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, & where thieves do not break through nor steal: ... For where your treasure is, there will you heart be also.
Eschatology/Last Things; Heaven; Descriptions of Heaven, A Secure Abode
Scripture reference used/taken from: The International Teacher's Handy Bible Encyclopedia/Concordance KJV Precious Promise Bible & KJV Topical Reference Bible
Angela Watkins, Book Reviewer, Blogger, Content Marketing awatkins12@yahoo.com, http://angelawatkins57.blogspot.com
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