Sony Cyber-shot WX80 packs WiFi, 10 fps shooting, 12,800 ISO in a $199 point-and-shoot (hands-on)

Sony Cybershot WX80 packs WiFi, 10 fps shooting, 12,800 ISO in a $199 pointandshoot handson

There's no full-frame sensor or advanced mode dial here, but Sony has managed to line up a compelling set of features for its CES flagship point-and-shoot. At $199, the Cyber-shot WX80 offers a huge jump in performance with only a modest bump in price, making it by far Sony's best value of the show. Granted, we haven't seen sample images or video clips, but boy does this camera pack an impressive spec list. There's a 20.1-megapixel CMOS sensor at the core, paired with a 25mm 8x optical zoom lens with SteadyShot OIS and a new lens-shift algorithm, improved autofocus, a 10 frames-per-second consecutive shooting mode, a top ISO of 12,800, 1080p video, a new intelligent flash for more even coverage and a 2.7-inch LCD.

On the software side, Sony's brought over some features from the mirrorless camera line. There's an improved selection of picture effects, like Toy Photo, Pop Color and four color highlight modes that display either red, green, blue or yellow in color with the rest of the frame in black and white. There's also a "virtual cosmetic surgery" function, which changes skin tone, softens skin, removes shine, widens eyes and whitens teeth automatically with adjustable effect levels. As another Cyber-shot first, Sony's added WiFi to the WX80, along with the same Smart Remote Control and Send to Smartphone features we've used with the company's NEX-6.

The camera housing itself has a plasticky feel, despite the high-end internals -- the WX80 may not look like a sub-$200 camera on paper, but its true colors shine through once you have it in hand. The display is fairly basic, and while it looks alright at a distance, the UI experience doesn't exactly feel high-end. The camera will ship in pink, white and black finishes, and you'll want to opt for the latter flavor if you're after a somewhat-premium look and feel. You'll need to hang tight for a few weeks before you have a chance to evaluate the WX80 yourself, but housing and display aside, Sony seems to have a winner here. Sneak a peek in our gallery below.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/07/sony-cyber-shot-wx80-hands-on/

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Video: Downton Abbey debuts third season

>>> back now with a reason a lot of folks across the country are dressed to the 9s tonight, party guests on the list, dinner in the dining room , tea and drinks to poll low on the couch, all to celebrate the return of a tv favorite. we get more now from nbc's lady michelle franzen .

>> what should we call each other?

>> well, we could always start with mrs. crawly and lady grantham.

>> reporter: down ton be a bill, the british series where the old world of privilege and place collides with the new, casual society.

>> when i'm with her, i'm reminded of the virtues of the english.

>> but isn't she american?

>> exactly.

>> reporter: fin nal love season two drew nearly 5.5 million viewers here in the u.s., one of the top-rated shows for pbs. and tonight, in season three, grandmama, martha levinson, played by shirley maclaine , is the latest dose of american influence to cross the pond.

>> oh, dear, i'm afraid the war has made old women of us both.

>> oh, i wouldn't say that but then i always keep out of the sun.

>> reporter: in an interview with rock center, creator julian fellows.

>> what is marvelous, you have the figure of violet, you know, maggie smith , who place the dow badger and she essentially is nostalgic for the old world, whereas shirley maclaine 's character, martha leavenson, thinks all this change is great.

>> reporter: all of this change will be watched closely by fans and in some cases, a "downton abbey"-themed parties around the country where dress egg the part is just as much a part of the fun. natalie blake searched for a '20s-style hat at a new york vintage store for a party tonight.

>> is so difference the prim and properness of it.

>> reporter: the show has created a demand for vin damage frocks from the jazz era.

>> a huge boom for us.

>> reporter: along with the costumes, the sweeping scenery and epic love stories .

>> will you do met honor of becoming my wife?

>> yes.

>> reporter: are what keep fans of this upstairs/downstairs drama coming back for more. michelle franzen , nbc

Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/nightly-news/50381700/

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Google Admits It Was Blocking WP8 Maps - Business Insider

Google has backtracked. It now admits it's been blocking Windows Phone 8 users from accessing Google Maps.

Instead of maps, Windows Phone users were being sent to Google.com.

Google says it's changed its mind and will stop blocking them.

This was a strange controversy.

To recap: Yesterday a flap broke out when several tech sites reported that Windows phone users could no longer access Google Maps. Google offered a technical explanation for the problem, basically saying that the default browser in Windows 8 phones, Internet Explorer, was technically incapable of rendering Google Maps, reported Alex Wilhelm on The Next Web.

But Microsoft quickly pointed out that such an explanation couldn't be true, as Microsoft uses the same rendering engine in the version of IE used in Windows Phone 8 as the one in Windows 8.? And the PC's browser has no trouble accessing Google Maps.

So today, Google was forced to backtrack and admit that it was choosing to block Maps access from Windows phone for other reasons, namely that it didn't think that Internet Explorer was good enough. It sent a new statement to TNW's Wilhelm today that said in part:

"In our last test, IE mobile still did not offer a good maps experience with no ability to pan or zoom and perform basic map functionality. As a result, we chose to continue to redirect IE mobile users to Google.com where they could at least make local searches. The Firefox mobile browser did offer a somewhat better user experience and that?s why there is no redirect for those users."

It then said that IE has since improved and promised to stop blocking Windows 8.

The Maps flap was an odd conclusion to a week of epic battle between the two rivals. Earlier this week, Google won a big one over Microsoft when the FCC decided that Google did not need to change its search engine business practices much.

And Microsoft won one over Google when the FCC also told Google it couldn't extort huge sums of money from Microsoft and others for some of its patents.

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/google-admits-it-was-blocking-wp8-maps-2013-1

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Okla. Football Player Tackles Cancer

Austin Woods, an offensive lineman for the Oklahoma Sooners, plays hard, whether it's on the football field, in the classroom or tackling cancer.

"A lot of it is up here, between your ears," Woods said, "you know, your attitude and the heart you have and just the mentality you attack every day with."

During early spring practices, the 6-foot 4, 293-pound junior offensive lineman felt something wasn't right.

"I thought it was mono. I didn't know what it was," he said.

In late April, Woods was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma, a form of blood cancer.

It seemed inevitable that he would be sidelined for the season while he underwent twice-monthly chemotherapy treatments, but Woods was determined to not let cancer get the best of him.

"One day, he'd miss a Monday practice because he was at the hospital getting chemotherapy, and then Tuesday he'd be out there on the practice field," said coach Bob Stoops.

Despite the harsh rounds of chemotherapy, Woods continued to excel on the field and in the classroom, doing well enough to be named an academic All-American.

He posted updates and affirmations on his Twitter feed, all of them tagged #BeatCancer50, a reference to his number on the field.

His fellow offensive lineman supported him by tweeting back and shaving their heads in solidarity.

"It was my teammates, my coaches, my family and all my friends," Woods said. "It was truly a team effort."

Woods said he also took inspiration from his mother, Liz Woods, who didn't miss a single day of work when she was treated for breast cancer 15 years ago.

In early October, Woods announced that his cancer was in remission.

"Done with chemo!!! Thanks everyone for all the support throughout all my treatments!" he tweeted.

On Friday, the junior offensive lineman fulfilled a lifelong dream to play in the Cotton Bowl Classic.

The Sooners lost to Texas A&M 41-13, but for Woods, it was a triumph after a tough year.

"It really taught me a lot about myself and what, you know, attitude and the right mentality can do towards overcoming obstacles in your life," he said.

Also Read

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/okla-football-player-tackles-cancer-152454545--abc-news-topstories.html

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Tips And Tricks For Successful Internet Marketing - Maynas Eric

You do not know everything you can about Web marketing. Internet marketing is evolving on a daily basis, so there?s always room for growth when it comes to knowledge. Within this article are tips to help your efforts in marketing on the Internet.

Look at what your competition is doing and learn what works and what does not work. If you find that you are interested in their products, or see why their customers would be, then pay close attention to how you can utilize some of these strategies for your own purposes.

Derive an electronic freebie which is specifically branded with your website and business contact information. Then, get it in the hands of other websites that feature such items for free distribution. For example, an ebook can be listed with sites that list free ebooks. You can submit your item to any number of sites that list free e-zines or e-books, free articles or even just general free products.

TIP! Make sure you try incorporating prizes in a unique way. One simple contest idea is to hide an image or word in various places throughout your website, and then ask your customers to locate them.

To promote your product to the audience before the sale, introduce them to a page that is specifically about the merchandise, like a video. This will give them more information and they will be better able to decide if they should purchase the product. This educates them on your product without looking like a tacky sales pitch since they can decide to purchase it or pass.

Find your market by figuring out what people have complaints about. Why would you want to do this? This can be a good method to detect issues that need solving After you have identified a handful of problems you wish to resolve in a specific subject, you will be able to brainstorm for solutions. So, by finding problems, you are really discovering potential market niches!

Make sure to include free samples and coupons with shipping boxes that will relate to whatever product your customer will be receiving in the mail. A coupon is a great way to get some repeat business.

TIP! Try using free incentives on your site. An excellent freebie to give to your customers is the ability to download a protected article that others may need to pay for.

Get involved with a charity. Choose a charity and give a set percent of your profits to that charity. This will give you free publicity, create good will and benefit your business and the charity. You could support multiple charities; this way your customers can pick their favorite.

Being constantly aware of your competition is a smart Internet promotion strategy. Study their moves to determine what methods seem to work and which are not performing to standard. Watching others is a great way to learn. Checking out competitors can help you avoid mistakes they?ve made and set yourself apart from them.

Try to minimize the use of AJAX and Flash so customers are not overwhelmed or bombarded with them on your site. It may be aesthetically pleasing, but it will not add additional search engine results. Try to use these programs sparingly if you decide you must have them.

TIP! If you are able, you should make an interesting video that has the potential to go viral that includes information about your business. Be sure to include a link that goes back to your website in the video description.

Think of something to offer folks that no one else is doing. Draw (or have drawn) unique illustrations for your website. Offer a good e-book that provides your potential customers with valuable information. The more original you are, the more exclusive your business appears to be. It?s this type of originality that will keep people coming back time and again to your site.

When it comes to Affiliate marketing, be sure customers are aware that your site?s checkout process is secure. People are wary of sending personal information over the Internet, so make sure you ease these fears by letting customers know that their information is secure.

If you issue a news release, it might drum up some internet business. A press release that informs people in a clear and concise manner is something that many sites online would publish, depending on the market. This is a very simple way to increase your profile.

TIP! Your website should be interesting and well-designed. The core of your Internet marketing is going to be the website you build.

Submit the freebies on your website to free directories to get the word out. Give it a try to see what you can do to get some free advertising for you. There are many resources to get free e-zines, e-books and other free infomation.

Offer subscription services for your most popular products. If they buy ink tanks regularly, reward them with a discount if they buy at leat one each month.

You should find out about advertising if you want to create business online. The money spent on advertising will pay for itself because it creates recognition of your brand, thus increasing sales. This can help you generate more traffic than any other tactic you might employ.

TIP! Even if your business is just a home office with an internet presence, take the time to create a logo and slogan. Slogans and logos are important in helping to build your brand by giving customers a way to remember you.

A compilation of your client email addresses is vital. Have a subscription page on your site, or ask people for their email addresses when they buy something. This data can be used later to market your business, or for quality control purposes.

The good news is you will find no lack of information about constructing an effective Web marketing plan. Web marketing is not that hard. The information you?ve learned from this article offers you the knowledge needed to begin Affiliate marketing. There are some very innovative ideas that take no time at all that can boost your Website marketing campaign online. Keep on keeping on and you can have the results you desire.

TIP! Provide proof to support statements you make in advertisements. A lot of people will not believe what you say about your products or services until you provide more details.

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Source: http://www.maynaseric.com/tips-and-tricks-for-successful-internet-marketing

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Video: President, Congress headed toward more showdowns

>>> president obama is headed back to washington from his hawaiian vacation today. and given the fights he's about to face in washington, he may be wishing he could stay a little bit longer. our white house correspondent, kristin welker, is traveling with the president. she's in honolulu this morning. good morning.

>> reporter: good morning to you, erica. well, the president and congress may have resolved the fight over the fiscal cliff, but there are three more budget battles looming, and analysts say that could sideline part of president obama 's second term agenda which he will begin to map out soon after he leaves hawaii. president obama soaking up the final hours of vacation before he and congress engage in their next fiscal fight. at the top of the list, the debt ceiling which is like the nation's credit card , and it's about to max out. emboldened by his recent tax hike victory, president obama drew a hard line in his weekly address.

>> as i said earlier this week, one thing i will not compromise over is whether or not congress should pay the tab for a bill they've already racked up.

>> reporter: house speaker john boehner who won re-election to the speakership this week -- [ applause ]

>> reporter: told his conference he plans to use the debt limit as leverage to cut spending. in the republican address, representative dave camp echoed boehner.

>> our national debt is now over $16 trillion. we're crushing today's small businesses, and the next generation of americans under a mountain of dead.

>> reporter: if the fight sounds familiar, it is. during the summer of 2011 , the country had its credit downgraded after the president and lawmakers had a bruising fight over the debt limit. on friday, cnbc's jim cramer told andrea mitchell the upcoming partisan battle could have an impact.

>> look, first quarter could be difficult because of this. a lot of companies are going to report in theux next few weeks and say we are more cloudy because we don't know what cuts are coming.

>> reporter: there are two other budget deadlines looming in the coming months which could complicate the president's second-term agenda which includes immigration reform , pressing for stiffer gun-control laws, and new energy policies.

>> the state of the union will be critical here.

>> reporter: joe lockhart served as press secretary to former president bill clinton . lockhart says in order to achieve his other policy goals, president obama should focus on building public support, a tactic he more heavily employed toward the end of his first term.

>> the president has to lay out a program and a political game plan for how he's going to sell this and then hit the road and go city to city, talk to republicans, talk to democrats, create an environment where it's very, very difficult for republicans to oppose him.

>> reporter: now also on the horizon, according to multiple sources, president obama could announce his pick for secretary of defense as early as the beginning of next week. those who are close to the nominating process say former nebraska senator chuck hagel is the leading candidate. but white house officials stress the president has not yet made his final decision. lester?

Source: http://video.today.msnbc.msn.com/today/50371492/

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AP Source: Browns close to deal with Kelly

Oregon's Michael Clay, left, holds up the championship trophy as head coach Chip Kelly looks on after the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football game against Kansas State Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. Oregon defeated Kansas State 35-17.(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Oregon's Michael Clay, left, holds up the championship trophy as head coach Chip Kelly looks on after the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football game against Kansas State Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. Oregon defeated Kansas State 35-17.(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Oregon head coach Chip Kelly wipes his eyes after the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football game, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. Oregon defeated Kansas State 35-17.(AP Photo/Paul Connors)

Oregon head coach Chip Kelly gets soaked by his players during the final seconds of the second half of the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football game, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. Oregon won 35-17.(AP Photo/Matt York)

Oregon head coach Chip Kelly tosses a football to a Kansas State player during warmups before the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football game, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Paul Connors)

(AP) ? Chip Kelly is closer to taking his fast-paced offense to the NFL.

A person familiar with the negotiations said the Cleveland Browns are nearing a deal with Oregon's offensive mastermind to be their next coach.

The Browns interviewed Kelly on Friday and the Ducks' coach also met with the Buffalo Bills in Arizona. Kelly has a scheduled interview with Philadelphia on Saturday. However, a person familiar with the interview said the Eagles are "heading in another direction" because Kelly is nearing a deal with Cleveland.

That person, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team isn't discussing its negotiations publicly, said the Eagles planned to interview several other candidates regardless of any conversations with Kelly. The Eagles were granted permission Friday to interview Colts offensive coordinator Bruce Arians and Seahawks defensive coordinator Gus Bradley and plan to meet Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy on Sunday.

ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported late Friday night that the Browns and Kelly met for seven hours ? five in negotiations with a two-hour break for dinner ? and agreed to talk again Saturday night. Mortensen said Kelly said still intends to meet with the Eagles some time on Saturday. The Browns are "favored," Mortensen reported.

The Bills confirmed in an email they met with Kelly, but gave no indication of how long they spoke to him. The team also interviewed former Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith and Syracuse's Doug Marrone.

The Browns, who made their last playoff appearance 10 years ago on Saturday, have declined to comment on any interviews during their coaching search.

Following Oregon's win over Kansas State in the Fiesta Bowl on Thursday night, the 49-year-old Kelly said he wanted to get the interview process over "quickly."

He came close to jumping to the pros last year but turned down an offer from Tampa Bay to return for his fourth season as head coach at Oregon, where he is 46-7. He has boosted the school's national profile ? flashy uniforms helped ? with a high-powered offense capable of turning any game into a track meet.

"It's more a fact-finding mission, finding out if it fits or doesn't fit," Kelly said after the Ducks beat No. 7 Kansas State 35-17. "I've been in one interview in my life for the National Football League, and that was a year ago. I don't really have any preconceived notions about it. I think that's what this deal is all about for me. It's not going to affect us in terms of we're not on the road (recruiting). I'll get an opportunity if people do call, see where they are.

"I want to get it wrapped up quickly and figure out where I'm going to be."

Kelly has been at or near the top of the Browns' list of candidates since the team fired Pat Shurmur, who went 9-23 in two seasons. Cleveland owner Jimmy Haslam and CEO Joe Banner have been conducting interviews in Arizona all week, searching for the team's sixth full-time coach since 1999.

Cardinals defensive coordinator Ray Horton confirmed he interviewed with Cleveland earlier this week. The Browns have reportedly met with former Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt, Marrone and Penn State's Bill O'Brien, who removed himself from any consideration on Thursday night and intends to stay at the school.

The Browns might have been interested in Alabama's Nick Saban, but the 61-year-old doesn't seem to have any interest in returning to the NFL after two seasons with Miami.

Kelly doesn't have any pro coaching experience, but aspects of his up-tempo offense are already being used by some NFL teams, including New England and Washington.

Kelly wouldn't say if he was leaning one way or another following the Ducks' bowl win.

"I said I'll always listen, and that's what I'll do," he said. "I know that people want to talk to me because of our players. The success of our football program has always been about our guys. It's an honor for someone to say they'd want to talk to me about maybe moving on to go coach in the National Football League. But it's because of what those guys do. I'll listen, and we'll see."

Oregon could be facing possible NCAA sanctions for the school's use of recruiting services, but Kelly indicated he isn't running from anything.

"We've cooperated fully with them," he said. "If they want to talk to us again, we'll continue to cooperate fully. I feel confident in the situation."

Oregon's players gave Kelly a Gatorade bath as the final seconds ticked off the clock in Thursday night's game, and afterward a few of the Ducks seemed resigned to their coach moving on.

"We'll have to see," quarterback Marcus Mariota said. "Whatever he decides to do, we're all behind him. He's an unbelievable coach. He's not only a football coach, but he's someone that you can look to and learn a lot of life lessons from. Whatever happens, happens. But we're all behind him.

"We'll see where it takes us."

___

AP Football Writer Rob Maaddi in Philadelphia contributed to this report.

___

Online: http://pro32.ap.org/poll and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2013-01-05-Browns-Kelly/id-c270f821601d478c865f86793e501eea

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Rethinking bacterial persistence

Friday, January 4, 2013

It's often difficult to completely eliminate a bacterial infection with antibiotics; part of the population usually manages to survive. We've known about this phenomenon for quite some time, dating back nearly to the discovery of penicillin. For more than 50 years, scientists have believed that the resistant bacteria were individuals that had stopped growing and dividing.

Up to now, in fact, it hasn't been possible to track the growth of cells before and after their exposure to antibiotics, which makes any analysis of the phenomenon quite imprecise. "Using microfluidics, we can now observe every bacterium individually, instead of having to count a population," says John McKinney, director of EPFL's Microbiology and Microsystems Laboratory (LMIC).

Active survivors

This new tool has revealed quite a few surprises. "We thought that surviving bacteria made up a fixed population that stopped dividing, but instead we found that some of them continued to divide and others died. The persistent population is thus very dynamic, and the cells that constitute it are constantly changing ? even though the total number of cells remains the same. Because they're dividing, the bacteria can mutate and thus develop resistance in the presence of the antibiotic," explains LMIC scientist Neeraj Dhar.

This point is extremely important. "We were able to eliminate a purely genetic explanation of the phenomenon," continues Dhar. In other words, "a population of genetically identical bacteria consists of individuals with widely varying behavior. Some of them can adapt to stressors that they have not previously encountered, thanks to the selection of persistent individuals. This could lead to a revision of the entire theory of adaptation," says McKinney.

Intermittent efficiency

The EPFL scientists were particularly interested in a relative of the tuberculosis bacterium. Their observations enabled them to formally challenge the argument that persistent bacteria are those that have stopped growing and dividing. "We were able to reveal the role of an enzyme whose presence is necessary in order for the antibiotic to work, and show that the bacilli produced this enzyme in a pulsatile and random manner," explains Dhar. "Our measurements showed that bacterial death correlated more closely with the expression of this enzyme than with their growth factor." The research is being published this week in Science magazine.

These conclusions could mark the beginning of a new theory of bacterial resistance, or perhaps even introduce a new view of how such resistance evolves. Further research is being done using other microorganisms, such as tuberculosis and E. colibacteria. The persistence of some cancer cells to treatment could also be studied in a different manner. "It's a new approach for trying to figure out why some infections are so difficult to eliminate. The techniques we've developed for this study are now also being used to develop new antibiotics, in collaboration with pharmaceutical companies," says McKinney, adding that "it is the microengineering expertise at EPFL that has enabled us to create these innovative tools and open up new avenues for investigation."

###

Ecole Polytechnique F?d?rale de Lausanne: http://www.epfl.ch/index.en.html

Thanks to Ecole Polytechnique F?d?rale de Lausanne for this article.

This press release was posted to serve as a topic for discussion. Please comment below. We try our best to only post press releases that are associated with peer reviewed scientific literature. Critical discussions of the research are appreciated. If you need help finding a link to the original article, please contact us on twitter or via e-mail.

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Source: http://www.labspaces.net/126133/Rethinking_bacterial_persistence_

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US pushes to finish Afghan dam as challenges mount

KAJAKI, Afghanistan (AP) ? In the approaching twilight of its war in Afghanistan, the U.S. is forging ahead with a giant infrastructure project long criticized as too costly in both blood and money.

It's a $500 million effort to refurbish the massive Kajaki dam and hydro-electric power system with an extensive network of power lines and transmission substations. It is supposed to bring electricity to 332,000 people in southern Afghanistan, increase crop yields and build up a cohort of trained Afghan laborers in a region badly in need of them.

But completion, which originally was envisaged for 2005, now is projected for some time in 2015, the year after most combat troops will have left the country. And there are some crucial ifs:

If a convoy carrying 900 tons of concrete can make it up a dangerous road to the dam site without being attacked by the Taliban. If the Afghan army can hold out in an area that took thousands of U.S. Marines to secure. If the Afghan government can take on the management of the dam.

"It's a long-term bet. I've said to people: We have to be patient and we have to persevere," said Ken Yamashita, the head of USAID in Afghanistan.

The desire to succeed is understandable. The Kajaki dam on the Helmand River symbolizes for both the Afghans and their American backers what they had hoped the infusion of U.S. troops and cash would produce nationwide: an Afghan government that can provide for its people and in turn count on its support against the Taliban insurgency.

The U.S. has spent $22.34 billion on governance and development in Afghanistan since it invaded the country following the Sept. 11 attacks, much of that on projects to build roads, schools, power plants and irrigation systems. In the past two years alone, $800 million was earmarked for infrastructure projects.

Kajaki is also a symbol of the American presence in Afghanistan dating back to the 1950s and the Cold War. That was when the U.S. built the original dam, with a powerhouse added in the 1970s. But before the three turbines could be installed, the Soviets invaded and construction stopped. The dam was still squeezing out a bit of power in 2001 when the U.S. attacked and, ironically enough, bombed the dam's power transmission line.

In the latest phase of the Kajaki saga, fighting as well as limited oversight of spending has led to huge delays and cost overruns, and now Helmand province, home of the Kajaki dam, is seeing the first and largest wave of U.S. troop reductions, with 10,000 of 17,000 U.S. Marines already gone. That means most of the Kajaki project is going forward with Afghan forces providing nearly all the security in an area that was a Taliban stronghold until a year ago.

Afghans here are already hedging their bets.

The number of workers on a U.S.-funded construction project next to Kajaki has dwindled from 200 to 20 since last fall, and those remaining say workers feel the risk isn't worth the $6 daily paycheck.

"They can't come here because all the routes to the district are controlled by the Taliban," said Abdul Razziq, a 28-year-old villager working on construction of a new district government center next to the dam.

His family supports the government, so he at least doesn't have to lie to keep his place of work secret. Not so Timur Shah, who spends a couple of months at a time working at Kajaki. "My immediate family knows I am here. But if anyone else asks they will make something up," he said.

Shah said security improved when U.S. Marines flooded the province, but is deteriorating as the Marines leave.

"Just at the time the American forces started leaving here, the Taliban started to appear again, in the whole area," Shah said.

Cellphone service also stopped working in Kajaki district in late fall. It is common for insurgents to disrupt service in areas they control, though the construction workers say they're just as ready to believe to say the Americans blocked calls.

U.S. officials say the wariness is to be expected at a time of transition. They point out that Afghan security forces have increased their presence around the dam and that attacks, while still regular, appear to be decreasing.

"There's an ebb and flow," said Marine Capt. Glen Baker, one of a small group of Marines who continue to hold an outpost in Kajaki and advise Afghan forces in the area. "There was an increase when the Marines pulled out and there has been a decrease subsequently."

The company working on building the dam has also been able this year to send supplies via road ? four convoys of trucks have made the trip without incident. Previously, equipment was being helicoptered in at enormous cost.

The core of the project is the installation of a third power-generating turbine at the dam, an effort that planned since 2002. The installation was originally budgeted at $18 million. Now it is getting another $85 million and is scheduled to be installed in March, after being delayed by efforts to weed out subcontracting applicants suspected of having Taliban ties.

But many in Afghanistan have already given up on Kajaki.

"It is 10 years now that Kajaki dam has been as it is. Too much money has been spent there in the name of reconstruction ... all of that money wasted," President Hamid Karzai said in a speech in December.

Shah, the construction worker, echoed the complaint.

"When the international forces first came here they told us, 'In one year you will have the dam, you will have power, you will have roads.' But that didn't happen. ... and we are still waiting," he said.

Even if the project now overcomes the security and logistical barriers, there are questions about whether it's worth the cost.

The dam can't provide enough power to sustain the main city in the region ? Kandahar ? and the price tag is steep for the extra irrigation it brings to the Helmand River valley.

And there are also signs of the difficulties the Afghan government may face when it takes over the management of the dam.

One area already controlled by the Afghans is the management of irrigation water. The water has to hold to a certain level through the winter to keep electricity flowing, but last year the manager in charge of irrigation yielded to pressure from farmers and kept the water valve open.

"He ignored the need to close it in September. So the level of water was reduced," said Shaqib Nassar, the utility's chief operations officer, which oversees the dam. As a result the dam can only produce 24 megawatts, rather than 33 megawatts, he explained.

And the Special Inspector General for Afghan Reconstruction, the U.S. government watchdog for spending in the country, said in a report in December that $12.8 million in electricity distribution equipment provided to the Afghan energy utility in Kandahar was sitting unused because the Afghan staff "lacked the technical and operational capacity to properly install and manage it." The Kandahar utility also oversees Kajaki dam.

As recently as mid-2012 the U.S. was considering scrapping the whole project and switching the money to less unwieldy projects. Then it doubled down.

"Several months back we had a lot of discussion about whether continued investment in this would be worthwhile ... There are certainly voices that say, 'We've invested this much, let's finish it,' and there are others that say, 'We've invested this much, however the additional investment just won't get us there,'" said Yamashita, the USAID official.

"In the end, the discussion and the conclusion was that the output of electricity plus the development programs in the Helmand valley, plus the security it brings, equals a risk worth taking."

From the air, the Helmand River is a narrow turquoise ribbon through the desert. The dam is a stacked concrete wall that bisects the river, creating a reservoir ringed with trees ? a few spots of green in a vast field of brown.

The helicopters that fly to the dam are owned by a U.S. contractor and depart from a U.S. military base. As resources and Americans become fewer, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and USAID say they expect oversight to depend increasingly on Afghan partners. Everyone says they are committed to finishing the project; they'll just have to manage much of it from afar.

Sayed Rasoul is an Afghan engineer with decades spent in the management of Kajaki as well as the Kandahar and Helmand power grid. He says he's confident the dam will be completed and deliver the riches promised.

He also says he's certain that the Americans will be in Kajaki long after the last of the combat troops leave.

"Maybe the American forces will leave here," he said, "but the engineers will be with us."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/us-pushes-finish-afghan-dam-challenges-mount-111536382.html

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Who Wants a uPhone?

Canonical this week announced Ubuntu for smartphones, a version of the Ubuntu Linux operating system aimed mainly at high-end superphones and entry-level basic smartphones. Ubuntu is compatible with a typical Android Board Support Package, said Canonical, which provides engineering, online and professional services to Ubuntu customers.

Source: http://ectnews.com.feedsportal.com/c/34520/f/632000/s/27311ce3/l/0L0Stechnewsworld0N0Crsstory0C770A0A60Bhtml/story01.htm

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