UK politicians: Banking system is corruption

[ [ [['Connery is an experienced stuntman', 2]], 'http://yhoo.it/KeQd0p', '[Slideshow: See photos taken on the way down]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['Connery is an experienced stuntman', 7]], ' http://yhoo.it/KpUoHO', '[Slideshow: Death-defying daredevils]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['know that we have confidence in', 3]], 'http://yhoo.it/LqYjAX ', '[Related: The Secret Service guide to Cartagena]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['We picked up this other dog and', 5]], 'http://yhoo.it/JUSxvi', '[Related: 8 common dog fears, how to calm them]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['accused of running a fake hepatitis B', 5]], 'http://bit.ly/JnoJYN', '[Related: Did WH share raid details with filmmakers?]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['accused of running a fake hepatitis B', 3]], 'http://bit.ly/KoKiqJ', '[Factbox: AQAP, al-Qaeda in Yemen]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['have my contacts on or glasses', 3]], 'http://abcn.ws/KTE5AZ', '[Related: Should the murder charge be dropped?]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['have made this nation great as Sarah Palin', 5]], 'http://yhoo.it/JD7nlD', '[Related: Bristol Palin reality show debuts June 19]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['have made this nation great as Sarah Palin', 1]], 'http://bit.ly/JRPFRO', '[Related: McCain adviser who vetted Palin weighs in on VP race]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['A JetBlue flight from New York to Las Vegas', 3]], 'http://yhoo.it/GV9zpj', '[Related: View photos of the JetBlue plane in Amarillo]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['the 28-year-old neighborhood watchman who shot and killed', 15]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/white-house-stays-out-of-teen-s-killing-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/cv/ip/ap/default/120411/martinzimmermen.jpg', '630', ' ', 'AP', ], [ [['He was in shock and still strapped to his seat', 6]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/navy-jet-crashes-in-virginia-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/cv/ip/ap/default/120406/jet_ap.jpg', '630', ' ', 'AP', ], [ [['xxxxxxxxxxxx', 11]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/russian-grannies-win-bid-to-sing-at-eurovision-1331223625-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/1/56/156d92f2760dcd3e75bcd649a8b85fcf.jpeg', '500', ' ', 'AP', ] ]

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Source: http://news.yahoo.com/uk-politicians-banking-system-corruption-130211529--finance.html

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Morsi to take oath as first Egypt civilian president

Mohamed Morsi, champion of the long-banned Muslim Brotherhood, was poised to take the oath on Saturday as Egypt's first civilian president, launching a tricky cohabitation with the military.

In a display of the popular mandate he claims after his run-off win in a divisive presidential election, Morsi addressed a huge crowd on Friday in Cairo's Tahrir Square, epicentre of the Arab Spring uprising that ousted veteran strongman Hosni Mubarak early last year.

In his speech to tens of thousands of jubilant supporters, the Islamist, who resigned from the Brotherhood after his election win, was careful to reach out to Egypt's Christian minority of some 10 percent.

He promised a "civilian state" and praised "the square of the revolution, the square of freedom," in what he called an address to "the free world, Arabs, Muslims... the Muslims of Egypt, Christians of Egypt."

Morsi symbolically swore himself in before the crowd, saying: "I swear to preserve the republican system... and to preserve the independence" of Egypt.

"I am one of you. I fear only God," he told supporters, some of whom had waited from early in the day for his appearance.

Before his triumphant arrival, chants against the ruling military -- which took over on Mubarak's overthrow -- rang out as people gathered under a searing sun.

In his speech, Morsi served Washington advance warning that his policies will be markedly different from those of his ousted predecessor, a staunch US ally before the 18-day uprising in January and February last year forced him out.

The president-elect said he would work to secure freedom for Omar Abdul Rahman, a blind Egyptian cleric jailed for life over the 1993 World Trade Centre bombing.

"I will do everything in my power to secure freedom for... detainees, including Sheikh Omar Abdul Rahman," Morsi said.

Abdul Rahman was convicted in 1995 for his role in the World Trade Centre attack, plotting to bomb other New York targets including the United Nations, and a plan to assassinate Mubarak.

After taking the oath, Morsi will have to square up against the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF), led by Mubarak's longtime defence minister Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, which took over on the strongman's overthrow and will retain broad powers.

The liberal Wafd newspaper reported that Tantawi will remain defence minister.

But a defiant Morsi, whose predecessors as president have all been generals, threw down the gauntlet to the SCAF, while addressing the people directly.

"You are the source of power and legitimacy... there is no place for anyone or any institution... above this will," he told them. "I renounce none of the prerogatives of president."

Morsi was to take the oath of office before the Constitutional Court, not parliament as convention provides, after the top court ordered the disbanding of the Islamist-dominated legislature elected in Egypt's first post-Mubarak polls.

The military subsequently assumed legislative powers and also formed a powerful national security council headed by the president but dominated by generals.

By agreeing to be sworn in by the Constitutional Court, Morsi is effectively recognising the court's decision to dissolve parliament.

The SCAF also reserves the right to appoint a new constituent assembly should the one elected by parliament be disbanded by a court decision expected on September 1.

The Muslim Brotherhood insists that only parliament can appoint the assembly.

Media reports said Morsi was consulting a cross-section of Egyptian society before appointing a premier and a cabinet mostly made up of technocrats.

In a meeting with Egyptian newspaper editors reported by most dailies on Friday, Morsi pledged there would be "no Islamisation of state institutions" during his presidency.

Morsi has already met Tantawi, as well as a delegation from the Sunni body Al-Azhar, and another representing Egypt's Coptic church.

International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde has told Morsi that the lender stands ready to help Egypt, whose tourism-dependent economy has taken a battering during the upheaval that accompanied Mubarak's overthrow, a spokeswoman said on Friday.

As his successor prepared to take the oath, the ousted strongman was in a Cairo military hospital, in low morale and slipping in and out of a coma, according to hospital officials.

"The former president has been greatly affected by the news of Morsi's presidential victory," said one official at the hospital where Mubarak was transferred last week from the prison where he had been serving a life sentence over his involvement in the deaths of protesters in the uprising.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/egypts-morsi-tahrir-tribute-oath-051252331.html

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Announcing...the Winner of India Ink's Finance Minister Contest ...

On Wednesday, India Ink invited you to submit your ?application? to be the next finance minister of India. Well, the entries are in, and we at India Ink have been sifting through what you sent us. You may read all of them in the ?Comments? section at the end of the original article.

Some of you, perhaps responding to the tenor of our invitation, sent in replies that can best be described as tongue in cheek. Sachi Mohanty of India told us that he?d sent in his application to ?The Family? and couldn?t reveal it to us. Mr. Mohanty presumably had in mind the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty, which has held power in India for the majority of years since India?s independence in 1947.

Mitra from Brisbane suggested that Sonia Gandhi, the current head of the clan and chairwoman of the governing United Progressive Alliance, should be forced to take an introductory course in economics at a ?nearby university.? (That would rule out Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada, where I have taught first-year principles of economics over the years.)

A number of readers made suggestions, which while laudable, would realistically be beyond the purview, and power, of any finance minister. Girid Krishna from New York City said: ?Make our economic institutions more inclusive.? Another commentator from India, calling himself or herself only ?Reader,? advocated making ?every politician, company and citizen accountable for their actions.? A. Kapoor from New Delhi proposed to ?banish corruption.?

Some readers lamented the possible political constraints a finance minister may face. ?RSB? from West Orange, New Jersey, opined that no finance minister would be able to do the job because of the interference of Mrs. Gandhi and her son, Rahul Gandhi, although he or she?used more disparaging language to describe them.

On a more philosophical note, Ramesh Raghuvanshi from Pune observed that the challenge of a finance minister is to take a ?stern decision? without ?hurting? the people. Raj Phalpher from Toronto pointed to ?rampant corruption? as the root of India?s difficulties, suggesting further that this in turn was driven by ?social inequality.?

Yet other readers, while hewing to the spirit of the contest, fell short of, or exceeded, the contest requirement of submitting three to five suggestions. That left us with about a half-dozen or so serious applications to scrutinize, which we?ve just concluded doing.

And the winner is ? Narahari Rao of Houston, Texas. Mr. Rao gave us exactly five suggestions, and they were all well-conceived, smart and, importantly, at least within shooting distance of being feasible to attempt. If actually implemented, they stand a decent chance of restoring investor confidence and helping to put the Indian economy back onto a higher growth trajectory, which is all that could reasonably be expected of any finance minister in the current economic and political climate in India and given the state of the global economy.

Mr. Rao?s specific suggestions include: cutting the income tax rate, but broadening the tax base, to stimulate the economy; lowering corporate tax rates to provide a boost to investment and growth; opening up foreign direct investment in multibrand retail (a decision taken, then reversed, by the outgoing finance minister, Pranab Mukherjee); setting up more special economic zones to encourage manufacturing; and issuing ?infrastructure bonds,? dedicated to improving the quality of infrastructure in medium-sized Indian cities.

Congratulations, Mr. Rao! Send your mailing address to IndiaInk@nytimes.com and a copy of Mr. Mukherjee?s book ?Challenges Before the Nation? will be sent to you in Texas.

Vivek Dehejia is an economics professor at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada, and a writer and commentator on India. You can follow him on Twitter @vdehejia.

Source: http://india.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/29/the-winner-of-the-india-ink-finance-minister-contest/

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Google Learns A Trick Or Two From Apple With The Nexus 7 and Nexus Q

At yesterday?s I/O Conference keynote Google unveiled two products that it believes will help expose the Android operating system a new audience. But while it says ?Google? on these products, both have a decidedly Apple feel to them.

First, take the Nexus 7 tablet. This new Android tablet features a quad-core Tegra 3 processor, 1280 x 800 HD display and comes with either 8GB or 16GB of internal storage for $199 and $ 249 respectively. It will be the first tablet to run Google?s Android 4.1 ?Jelly Bean? operating system.

Now you might be thinking that this sounds like your standard Android tablet. Well, it is, but Google has added a little Apple twist. Normally, Android tablets are kitted out with a micro SD card slot that allows the user to easily and cheaply add extra storage to the device. This way, expanding storage even by as much as 32GB can cost less than $20. This means you?re free to buy the cheaper tablet and add as much storage as you want to it.

But not with the Nexus 7. This tablet doesn?t have a micro SD card slot so you?re stuck with whatever storage you had when you bought it.

I believe I know why Google has chosen to do this too. Given the overall spec of the Nexus 7 I?m convinced that at $199 for the 8GB model, Google is selling this tablet close to, or perhaps even at, cost. However, adding an extra 8GB of storage or the tablet doesn?t cost anywhere near the $50 premium that Google is charging. In fact, that extra 8GB of storage costs less than $10.

Google wants you to buy the more expansive version because that?s when it makes money on the sale.

Sound familiar? It should do, because this is exactly how Apple works with the iPad. Apple offers the iPad in 16GB, 32GB and 64GB models, with $100 price jump between each. However, it costs Apple less than $20 to bump the storage from 16GB to 32GB and about $35 to bump it from 32GB to 64GB.

So Google has adopted Apple?s strategy or charging a premium for higher storage capacities, and forces people?s hands by not offering a cheap storage expansion option via micro SD card.

As far as the Nexus Q streaming media system is concerned, Google has gone for premium all the way. While on paper the Nexus Q is similar to the Apple TV, Google has decided that it is worth a whopping $299, as opposed to the $99 that Apple charges for its media streaming device.

Charging a premium price for a product to make it seem like a luxury item as been a mainstay of Apple?s marketing strategy for years.

Source: http://www.forbes.com/sites/adriankingsleyhughes/2012/06/28/google-learns-a-trick-or-two-from-apple-with-the-nexus-7-and-nexus-q/?feed=rss_home

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God hates us (theorists) all (Unqualified Offerings)

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

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/234812043?client_source=feed&format=rss

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Developer planning student apartments near Indiana University, Ivy Tech campuses in Richmond

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RICHMOND, Ind. ? A developer is planning to build apartments in an eastern Indiana city targeted at students attending the neighboring campuses of an Indiana University regional branch and Ivy Tech Community College.

Kyle Bach, president and CEO of South Bend-based Mecca Companies, told the Richmond planning commission Thursday night that the company expected to spend $10 million on constructing three three-story buildings comprising 126 apartments, the Palladium-Item reported (http://pinews.co/ME6fTg ).

"We think this project will be great for the universities and great for the community," Bach said. "Not only will it increase the tax base but it will also offer important housing options for IU East and Ivy Tech."

The commission voted 8-0 to endorse a zoning change to allow the apartments near the campuses on the city's north side. The City Council still must consider final approval.

Plan commission members said they believed the project could spark more commercial development in the area and help attract students, particularly to the 3,700-student IU East campus.

"I think it will bring more life to the area and agree that that might be very good to locate it there," commission member Benny Young said.

Lynn Coyne, assistant vice president for real estate at Indiana University, also spoke in favor of the project.

"We view it as a quality housing opportunity for students and we think it would be a good fit for the community," Coyne said.

___

Information from: Palladium-Item, http://www.pal-item.com

Source: http://www.dailyjournal.net/view/story/349664fcf18b4836a8fae4b3de33529a/IN--Richmond-Student-Housing/

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Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night: The Tragic Death of Brian ...

By Linda Pershing, with Lara Bell, WarIsACrime.org

Brian Arredondo never really recovered from his brother?s death in the Iraq War. When they were kids, Brian adored his older brother Alexander and tagged along with him whenever he could. They were often seen playing together in parks and schoolyards in communities surrounding Boston, Massachusetts, and Bangor, Maine, where they grew up. As teens the two boys were perfect targets for military recruiters: first-generation Americans on their father?s side (he emigrated from Costa Rica), working-class youth (Alex attended a technical high school where much of the curriculum focuses on job training), living with their mother after their parents divorced when they were young. Promises of career training, male camaraderie and ?becoming a man,? appeals to patriotism, a $10,000 signing bonus, and funding for college enticed Alex Arredondo to join the marines, just a month before September 11, 2011.

Brian was distraught and seemed to lose his focus and motivation when Alex enlisted. Shortly thereafter, he dropped out of high school at the beginning of tenth grade. On August 25, 2004, a sniper?s bullet to the head killed Alex during his second deployment to Iraq. Brian?s world fell apart. On the day Alex was killed, military officials came to his mother?s house in Bangor to notify the family. Brian, 17 years old at the time, was home alone. He guessed why they were there, but they wouldn?t tell him the news until his mother, Victoria Foley, arrived. As they waited around the corner in the government van, Brian got an emotional call from his father, Carlos Arredondo, who was living in Florida at the time and had also just been notified about Alex?s death. Brian became desperate, punching holes in the walls as he paced the floor, waiting for his mother to get home. After she arrived, Brian tried to call his father to talk with him again. His distraught stepmother, M?lida Arredondo, answered the phone and told Brian to turn on the television: news coverage of a burning van outside his father?s home. Reporters announced that Carlos Arredondo had set fire to the van and been caught in the blaze. In disbelief Brian saw his father on fire, rolling on the ground, trying to extinguish the flames. Carlos lay unconscious in a hospital intensive care, burn unit for two days and nearly died from the incident. Nine days later, accompanied by two medics, he attended Alex?s wake, funeral mass, and burial on a stretcher, wrapped in bandages and with a morphine drip to numb the pain. The story made international news.

Eventually, the war in Iraq took the lives of both brothers. Flash forward seven years to December 19, 2011, when Brian?s mother and her partner found Brian hanging from the rafters of a shed in the backyard, where he had been living. No longer able to quell his despair, Brian killed himself at the age of 24. Near his body all he left was a copy of an email instant conversation between his stepmother M?lida Arredondo and a marine in Alex?s unit, who had been at his side when Alex died. Brian committed suicide the day after U.S. troops were ?officially? withdrawn from Iraq.? Perhaps he couldn?t face the fact that, unlike other soldiers, his brother would not be coming home.

The gross inequality between the rich and the poor in our country define this story. Try to imagine an alternate reality: what if Jenna Bush, the daughter of George W. and Laura Bush, enlisted in the marines and were killed by a sniper?s bullet in Iraq?? Imagine her twin sister Barbara struggling with debilitating depression and taking her own life seven years later. Would Bush and his cronies have been so willing to invade Iraq and launch a war if their own kids were going to pay the price? It?s unthinkable, of course, because the Bush twins had so many other options: Barbara attended Yale, and Jenna was offered a job as a correspondent on ?The Today Show? after she graduated from college. Military recruiters target rural and lower income youth and first-generation Americans who have more restricted access to college and careers.

When soldiers die in battle, we tend to focus on the grief of parents and spouses. Siblings often fall through the cracks. Looking back at the years since Alex?s death, M?lida Arredondo commented that Brian?s life had been a ?downward spiral? of anguish, depression, and self-destruction. Family members repeatedly reached out to Brian and tried to get him professional help for his depression, drug use, and trouble with the law. He accepted his family?s legal, monetary, and employment assistance but declined counseling. Instead, Brian put on a good front, smiling broadly and assuring the family that he was doing fine, or that he had made a new start and would do better in the future.

In retrospect, it?s clear that Brian was in distress. After Alex?s deployment to Iraq and subsequent death, Brian started self-medicating with drugs, which he often hid from his family. With time, his drug usage became more serious. He pleaded with parents and friends to loan him money, which they later learned he used to support his drug habit. He began using marijuana, and then cocaine. After one violent confrontation with the police, Brian was admitted to Bridgewater State Hospital for psychiatric evaluation in April 2011. The clinical evaluation report noted that Brian admitted to using Percocet and heroin at least once a day; hospital intake workers discovered injection track marks all over his arms.

After he was arrested for having an open alcohol container in his car, reckless driving, and several accidents, the state of Maine took away Brian?s driver?s license. He became dependent on parents and friends to transport him, which made working a job very difficult. On occasion he worked with his father and was employed at a pizza restaurant and as a janitor, but he never worked for more than a few months at a time. For most of the past seven years he was unemployed, which only exacerbated his feelings of helplessness and dependence on others.

This wasn?t the first time Brian tried to kill himself. While military officials were at his mother?s home, informing her about Alex?s death, Brian slipped away and ran into the street, looking for oncoming traffic. Later he told his parents that he wanted to be hit by a car. Still reeling from Alex?s death, in 2006 he tried to hang himself with an electric cord but failed when the cord broke. And in 2011, when police tried to arrest Brian on outstanding warrants, breaking in to the backyard shed while he was sleeping, he raised a machete and dared them to shoot him.

His troubled relationships with young women and problems with anger management signaled another facet of his distress. Almost immediately after his brother?s death, Brian became involved with a young woman?perhaps to replace his close relationship with his brother. Her father didn?t approve, had a violent confrontation with Brian, and got a restraining order to prevent him from coming to their home. Their relationship was rocky and punctuated by abusive and destructive behavior. A second young woman also pursued Brian. There was jealousy and abuse on all sides. There were multiple incidents involving interpersonal violence and destruction of property. Girlfriends and parents called the police, who arrested Brian several times. By 2011, Brian faced a number of misdemeanor and felony charges, which had escalated in the past several years. He was scheduled to go to court on December 21, 2011, two days after he died. His mother recalled that Brian told her that he expected to be sentenced to a minimum of two years in prison, which probably wasn?t a realistic assessment. Francis J. DiMento, Jr., his attorney, told us in an interview that he thought it unlikely that Brian would do jail time for these offences (Interview, June 7, 2012).

In response to Alex?s death, M?lida and Carlos Arredondo began to speak out about their experiences. They became peace activists and advocates for support services for military personnel and their families. Carlos creates memorials designed to raise awareness about the significance of Alex?s life and sacrifice, using his military boots and uniform, medals, large photos of Alex and Brian, and numerous other mementos with personal meaning.? Sometimes he also displays a full-size coffin, calling on viewers to visualize the real cost of war in terms of individual human lives. M?lida and Carlos are well known for their activism in the Boston area, where they have lived for many years. They make it a point to meet with public officials at community events, sharing with them the stories of their sons? deaths and advocating for support services for military personnel and their families. In retrospect, since Brian?s death they have worried that they didn?t pay enough attention to him, wrapped up, instead, in their grieving for Alex and their dedication to activism. His mother, Victoria Foley, sorrowfully recounted that he seemed depressed and remote in the days before his suicide, and her attempts to get Brian into counseling were unsuccessful. The boys? deaths have taken an enormous toll on their families. The loss has redefined their lives forever, leaving them to deal with the deep despair of losing two children to the Iraq War.

This tragic series of events is a brutal reminder of the devastation that war brings: two young sons dead, with parents and family members left to wade through the unbearable grief, self-blame, devastated lives, and the narrative of youth dashed to pieces by death and sorrow. Brian never really accepted his brother?s enlistment in the military or his death in Iraq. In response, his life became a succession of dangerous actions and disastrous decisions, sending him down a path to self-destruction. It?s certainly possible to interpret Brian?s suicide as an expression of hopelessness. It?s also possible to consider that Brian ended his life as an act of resistance, reminiscent of Dylan Thomas? epic admonition to ?rage, rage against the dying of the light.?

Perhaps?compounded by substance abuse, problems with interpersonal relationships, dropping out of school, and troubles with the law?it was a refusal or inability to accept that the U.S. invasion and occupation of Iraq made sense. Many Americans willingly accepted, or remained silent, when Bush and his advisors launched these foolish wars, and as Obama continues them, increasing drone strikes in the region and ramping up U.S. involvement in Afghanistan while withdrawing troops from Iraq. Many stood on the sidelines watching as other people?s sons and daughters?usually the poorest and those with the fewest options?were swept up in the patriotic fervor, recruited by the military, and sent off to fight. Now we pay the price of public apathy and complicity. The deaths of Brian and Alexander Arredondo diminish us all.

Authors' bio: Linda Pershing is a professor, and Lara Bell is an undergraduate student at California State University San Marcos.

Memory portrait by Gina Johnson, http://operationhometies.com

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1969 meteorite yields material previously unknown to science

A new study of fragments of an ancient rock that fell to Earth in 1969 has yielded a new mineral. Dubbed 'panguite' the new mineral may hold secrets about the formation of our solar system.?

By Nancy Atkinson,?Universe Today / June 27, 2012

Scientists have discovered a new mineral embedded in a meteorite that fell to Earth over 40 years ago, and it could be among the oldest minerals, formed in the early days of our solar system. The mineral is a type of titanium oxide and has been named panguite, after Pan Gu, the giant from ancient Chinese mythology who established the world by separating yin from yang to create the Earth and the sky.

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?Panguite is an especially exciting discovery since it is not only a new mineral, but also a material previously unknown to science,? says Chi Ma, from Caltech and author of a?new paper detailing the discovery.

The Allende meteorite arrived at Earth in 1969 as an exploding fireball in the skies over Mexico, scattering thousands of pieces of meteorites across the state of Chihuahua. The Allende meteorite is the largest carbonaceous chondrite?a diverse class of primitive meteorites?ever found on our planet and is considered by many the best-studied meteorite in history.

Ma has been leading nanomineralogy investigations of primitive meteorites, which looks at tiny particles of minerals, and has now found nine new minerals, including allendeite, hexamolybdenum, tistarite, kangite and now panguite.

?The intensive studies of objects in this meteorite have had a tremendous influence on current thinking about processes, timing, and chemistry in the primitive solar nebula and small planetary bodies,? said coauthor George Rossman, also from Caltech.

The team said the new mineral is likely among the first solid objects formed in our solar system and could date back to over 4 billion years ago, before the formation of Earth and the other planets.

According to Ma, studies of panguite and other newly discovered refractory minerals are continuing in an effort to learn more about the conditions under which they formed and subsequently evolved. ?Such investigations are essential to understand the origins of our solar system,? he said.

The new mineral?s chemical name is Ti4+,Sc,Al,Mg,Zr,Ca, so it contains some unusual elements like zirconium and scandium.

The mineral and the mineral name have been approved by the International Mineralogical Association?s Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification.

Image credit: Chi Ma/Caltech

Source:?Caltech

Nancy Atkinson is Universe Today's Senior Editor. She also is the host of the?NASA Lunar Science Institute podcast?and works with the?Astronomy Cast?and?365 Days of Astronomy?podcasts. Nancy is also a NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador.

Connect with Nancy on?Facebook?|?Twitter?|?Google +?|?Website

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'Draw Something'? How About a John Mayer Music Video

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Writing Desks - 12 Designs of Diverse Architectural Languages - Part 2

8:00 AM By Article Directory

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Contemporary and authentic, antique writing desks could serve a multifunctional purpose as side tables, dining tables, coffee tables, foyer tables or bathroom vanities. Let's examine the style and function of these 12 works of art: Wooten, Cylinder, Armoire, Slant Top, Bureau a gradin, Pedestal Desk, Bureau Plat, Bureau Mazarin, Ergonomic Desk, Carrel Desk, Carlton and Cheveret desk.

1. Wooton desk: Wooton desks were probably not the costliest desks in series production, but they were possibly the ones with the most drawers, nooks and crannies imaginable. A Wooten Desk is a variation of the Fall Front Desks.

2. Cylinder desk: This desk has small stacked shelves in front of the user's main work surface, and a revolving cylinder part that comes down to hide and locked work.

3. Armoire Desk: Often referred as a computer desk, it has a writing table built within a large cabinet closed by doors to hide any clutter and give the room a tidy appearance.

4. Slant top desk: This type of desk is practically a secretary desk, without the massive bookcase on top of it.

5. Bureau a gradin: An antique desk resembling a writing table with one or several tiers of small drawers and pigeonholes built on part of the desktop surface. It is usually placed in front of the user.

6. Pedestal desk: A large free-standing desk made of a rectangular working surface nestled on two pedestals or small stacked drawers of one or two sizes, with support around the bases.

7. Bureau plat: A series of drawers directly under the surface of the table (desk), to contain writing implements.

8. Bureau Mazarin: Many of these desks are kneehole desks that are meant to be used sideways, with one knee only beneath the work surface.

9. Ergonomic desk: related to the computer desk, it is designed to comfortably and aesthetically provide a working surface and conceal office and computer equipment and their peripherals.

10. Carre l desk: A predecessor to the cubicle desk that is small and features high sides meant to visually isolate its user from any surroundings either partially or totally.

11. Carlton House Desk: This desk is similar to a normal writing table. The small drawers above the surface form a U shape around the user instead of being set up in front.

12. Cheveret (or Sheveret) desk is very small and features a single drawer under the writing surface. In some cases small drawers and pigeonholes are built on top. It is also written with an "S": Sheveret. Some variations of the Cheveret are much taller and meant to be used standing up.

Here are a few resource books to delve into the origins of antique writing desks:

1. Portable Writing Desks (Paperback) by David Harris

2. Desks, Tables and Chairs by The Woodsmith Collection

You can also find a wide variety of antique desks and affordable reproductions online from sites like eBay and Leonard's Direct.

Classical desk forms we are presently familiar with evolved from the 17th and 18th centuries. Desks of this period were typically massive structures. Not all desks have the form of a table. The generic concept of a desk is the pedestal desk, which is also referred to as an executive desk. Desks were designed with slots, nooks, crannies, pigeonholes and hooks for the convenience of storing writing implements. These built in storage units were always an attractive feature to the functionality of a writing desk.

Kym Gordon Moore is the author of the eBook, Â?"Alphabet Soup: 5 Main Ingredients for Turning Words into a Bowl of Hot Topics!Â?" Many of her articles, essays, short stories and poems appeared in a variety of magazines, newspapers, ezines and anthologies. http://www.kymgmoore.com She is fascinated with many objects d'art associated with writing. Kym is a creative marketing strategist for Moore 2 It Productions and coordinates cost effective, creative marketing packages for budget conscious new authors and new small business owners. http://www.moore2itproductions.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kym_Gordon_Moore

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Kentucky, Health Insurance, and Religious Freedom | RedState

Another writer here and elsewhere, I determined from my research, has been writing about the recent decision of a Kentucky judge regarding Kentucky MediShare, a religious based entity that, for a ?premium,? helps people with their medical bills. I applaud them for their efforts. They have been in existence now for 18 years and only now is Kentucky lowering the boom on them.

Users pay a monthly premium that is then used to pay for the medical expenses of another member. When that premium-payer then has their own medical expenses to deal with, the community reaches out to help them cover those expenses. There is no contractual agreement between premium payers and MediShare to pay medical bills. Based upon household income and family size, the person pays anywhere from $500 to $10,000 yearly to MediShare. In effect, this payment, known as the Annual Household Portion, is akin to a deductible. Seniors are also afforded a special program called Senior Assist. Designed to cover gaps in Part A and Part B Medicare coverage, payments are limited to copayments, deductibles, hospitalization, stays in nursing facilities and urgent care at out-of-county providers.

In effect, it is a faith-based community of strangers coming together to help one another with medical costs. Those who become members must ?prove their faith.? They do this in the following ways: (1) regularly attend church and actively support a ministry; (2) complete a Statement of Faith and have a ?verifiable relationship with the Lord;? (3) believe Biblical doctrines with respect to the purity of the human body; (4) not engage in extramarital or premarital sex, and; (5) not use tobacco, drugs, or alcohol. Obviously, some of these requirements would automatically exclude certain groups. For example, the sex requirement states that it must be within the context of a Christian marriage. This eliminates the gay community and, one would suspect, possibly non-Christian groups. The group also states specifically that it will not cover abortions.

MediShare is not technically an insurance program. They operate as a non-profit and the money received is never MediShare?s money. They are not required to pay any bill/request, nor do they keep any cash reserves on hand. At first glance, it appears to be a charitable organization that acts very much like an insurance program. Because it appears like an insurance program, Kentucky is requiring it to be regulated as one. However, those regulations would negate many of the aspects that make the program unique, specifically and most importantly, its religious character.

Personally, although I worry about the state?s intrusion into a religious organization- serious in and of itself- I also worry about the state?s intrusion into the right of free association. If Christians, or Jews, or Muslims, or practitioners of Wicca for that matter want to band together to help defray each other?s medical expenses, they should be allowed to do so free of government interference and regulation. If the Christian group accepts and disburses money only to Christians as they define the term ?Christian,? then so be it. Likewise, Jews, Muslims and witches can do the same. Also, nothing is preventing the LGBT community from doing the same. My only worry is the possibility of fraud. Obviously, regulations which enhance ?purchaser? awareness and knowledge would be acceptable, but the principle of caveat emptor- let the buyer beware- should be controlling here.

In an odd sense, I also understand the state?s interest. If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, chances are it is a duck. The program looks suspiciously like a medical insurance program, but without a contractual policy. That is kind of scary. But conversely, this is a Christian organization with an 18-year history of no problems or complaints. Perhaps there are; I just couldn?t find any in my research. Hence, it strikes this writer kind of funny as to why now the state seeks to regulate it. Did its popularity cause it to pop on the state?s radar screen? Are there, in fact, complaints against it with the state? Also, unlike a charity where one donates out of the goodness of one?s heart or in response to a religious doctrine and nothing is expected in return, there is an expectation of return here. Although I rue the day the government intrudes in the operation of religious organizations and charities and dictates to them who receives their largesse, I am also leery of those who would hide behind and use religion as a pretext to defraud well-meaning contributors. It would not be the first time it has happened.

It will be quite interesting to see how this plays out in court litigation. If nothing else, it illustrates an old, yet unique and innovative way to help those in need with medical bills. It would be interesting to see what percentage of anyone?s medical expenses are paid for by MediShare. Obviously, if at or near the 100%, it is de facto medical insurance (and subject to state regulation). If, on the other hand, it is used to fill in the gaps left open by regular insurance policies, then it may be more correctly viewed as a charitable receipt. I hope the motivation behind the recent state action is not some half-hearted attempt at political correctness in the name of eliminating discrimination. This is an interesting subject and one worthy of watching developments.

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UEFA charges Spain, Russia over fans' racist abuse

By GRAHAM DUNBAR

Associated Press Sports

updated 9:37 a.m. ET June 26, 2012

KIEV, Ukraine (AP) -UEFA charged the Spanish and Russian football associations on Tuesday for racist chants by fans at the European Championship.

The charges follow reports that monkey noises were directed by Spain fans at Italy forward Mario Balotelli, and that Russian fans targeted Czech Republic defender Theodor Gebre Selassie. Both players are black.

UEFA said it opened disciplinary cases for "improper conduct of their supporters (racist behavior, racist chanting)."

The European football body said its disciplinary panel will deal with the cases Thursday.

Spain and Russia will likely receive financial penalties if the cases are proven.

Russia has already been fined ?185,000 ($230,000) after being charged by UEFA over its fans' conduct at all three of its group-stage matches in Poland.

UEFA also threatened Russia with a six-point deduction in its 2016 European Championship qualifying group after some of its fans attacked stadium stewards in Wroclaw following the Czech match on June 8. UEFA has said the deduction would be enforced if fans repeated their violent behavior. The Russian FA has appealed that sanction.

In the first proven case of racist abuse at Euro 2012, UEFA fined the Croatia football association ?80,000 ($100,000) for a range of charges including insults directed at Balotelli.

Discrimination monitors appointed by UEFA reported that around 300 Croatia supporters made monkey noises at the Italy forward during a June 14 match in Poznan.

A Spanish fans' group previously reported that some Spain followers made monkey noises at Balotelli during a June 10 match in Gdansk. The group, affiliated to the Football Supporters Europe network, said other Spanish fans intervened urging the offenders to stop.

Gebre Selassie acknowledged that he was racially abused by Russians during the opening group match but declined to file a complaint.

UEFA received reports from monitors supplied by FARE, a Europe-wide fans' network, and later asked Czech team officials to help provide evidence which could be used to prosecute the case.

Russian fans displayed "illicit" imperialist flags and set off fireworks at each match, while a fan carrying a national flag aloft ran across the pitch after the match against Poland in Warsaw on June 12.

UEFA pledged a zero-tolerance policy toward combatting racism and discrimination inside Euro 2012 stadiums.

Russia was heavily favored to advance from Group A but was eliminated as the Czechs and Greece reached the quarterfinals.

On Monday, Russia FA president Sergei Fursenko announced his resignation during a televised meeting with state President Vladimir Putin.

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

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More newsCarl De Souza / AFP - Getty Images

Pirlo's peerless performance

PST: Italy's Andrea Pirlo was positively magnificent in Sunday's quarterfinal win over England. But don't take our word for it alone.

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Wild Car Wrecks From the Golden Age of the Automobile

For the younger generations it might be hard to imagine a time before seat belts, airbags and crumple zones were standard features in cars, but it wasn?t really that long ago. These astounding photos capture the golden age of the automobile around Boston Massachusetts in the 1920s and 1930s, showing the aftermath of car wrecks in the simple yet speedy cars of the era. At the time, cars had become affordable to the masses, but when you consider that people were not required to take a driving test of any sort, and drinking and driving was legal unless you were considered outright intoxicated, it?s not surprising that these wild wrecks happened frequently.

It?s wild to see how much these old autos disintegrated on impact back in the day. In some of the images we have here, we see cars wrapped around trees, spilling their interiors all over the ground and certainly the majorly injured passengers. In one shot a truck precariously hangs by one wheel off the side of a bridge. These are clearly the days before Ralph Nader?s famous automotive critique Unsafe at Any Speed.

The collection comes from the Boston Public Library and were taken by Leslie Jones, a staff photographer for the Boston-Harald Traveler newspaper between 1917 and 1956. Jones captured everything around the city for five decades before he passed away in 1967. His family then donated a huge collection of 34,000 prints to the Boston Public Library.

Known in some circles as the most amazing man in the universe, he once saved an entire family of muskrats from a sinking, fire engulfed steamboat while recovering from two broken arms relating to a botched no-chute wingsuit landing in North Korea. When not impressing people with his humbling humility, he can be found freelance writing, finding shiny objects on the internet, enjoying the company of much-appreciated friends and living out his nomadic nature. He is Managing Editor of Visual News. Follow his movements on Twitter:

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More than 100 still missing after Uganda landslide

Isaac Kasamani / AFP - Getty Images

Residents of Bududa mill around an area where 18 people were buried alive following a mudslide in Bunamulembwa village in eastern Uganda.

By msnbc.com staff and news services

More than 100 people were missing and about 30 confirmed killed in eastern Uganda on Tuesday after a landslide the previous day buried villages in a coffee-growing area on the slopes of Mount Elgon, the government said.

On Monday, the Uganda Red Cross said at least 18 people had been killed in the disaster, but on Tuesday government officials said the number of fatalities was higher and that 109 people were still missing.

The search and rescue operation was called off on Tuesday after officials said the chances of finding any more survivors were slim.

"It is feared the landslide and floods buried about 29 homes with about 30 people dead," Stephen Mallinga, the minister of disaster preparedness and refugees, told a news conference.

He said the timing of the landslide - in the early afternoon - had prevented a much higher death toll.

"When the landslide occurred at about 2 pm, many people had gone to the market and some children were at school. Both the market and the school were not affected," he said.

Up to 400,000 people could require humanitarian aid as the rain intensified, forcing them to abandon their homes for fear of further mudslides, he added.

The Daily Monitor newspaper reported that at least 11 villages in the mountainous Bududa area of eastern Uganda?had been hit and two, Namaaga and Bunakasala, had been completely engulfed.

---

Witness Rachael Namwono, 29, told the paper that at least 30 homes in Mabaya Village ? containing an estimated 300 people ? had been covered.

"At 2 p.m., the ground trembled, followed by heavy rumbling of soil and stones which covered our home," Namwono told the Monitor.

Two officials in Bunamulembwa Village said about 100 houses were destroyed, the paper added.

'Devastation'
It was not immediately possible to verify the report, but officials in Bududa told The Associated Press that they feared that hundreds of people had been killed.

The affected villages are in a coffee-growing area on the slopes of Mount Elgon straddling the Kenyan border.

Red Cross spokeswoman Catherine Ntabadde told Reuters that the latest reports had confirmed 18 people had died "but assessment of the devastation around the area is continuing."

A local member of parliament, David Wakikona -- who said he had initial reports of more than 100 people buried -- said there was an ongoing danger.

"The areas around Bududa district have been experiencing heavy rains for days now," he told Reuters. "I am told the landslides started around midday today [Monday] and that they're still going on and some villagers who survived the early slides are fleeing."

Landslides caused by heavy rains are frequent in eastern Uganda, where at least 23 people were killed last year after mounds of mud buried their homes. Scores of people were buried alive in a similar disaster in March 2010.

Reuters and msnbc.com's Ian Johnston contributed to this report.

More world news from msnbc.com and NBC News:

Follow us on Twitter: @msnbc_world

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The Girl From the Google Chrome Ad Has a Lot to Say to Her Ex [Video]

Remember that Google Chrome ad where some guy named Mark is goes all-out to try to get a second chance with his ex, Jen? It's sweet enough to give you diabetes. But every story has two sides, and Jen's response paints a very different picture. More »

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Caithness Business Index :: Article : Greener Homes Plan For Scotland

26/6/2012

The Scottish Government plans for low carbon homes will provide more than ?2 billion to help make the nation's homes more energy efficient.

More than one in four Scottish households suffer from fuel poverty with more than 500,000 homes still requiring cavity wall insulation and more than 600,000 homes with solid walls.

The investment will be delivered over the next ten years in a national programme that will transform aging houses. The measures are outlined in the Sustainable Housing Strategy, a blueprint for reduced heating costs and improved efficiency in homes across Scotland.

It is linked to the consultation on the Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing which proposes setting a minimum energy efficiency rating to be met by social landlords.

Launching the consultations in Glasgow after visiting Cube Housing Association's new Energy Centre delivering heat to housing in the Wyndford estate in Maryhill, Mr Neil said,"Scotland's housing stock is responsible for more than a quarter of our carbon emissions, which is why it is essential that measures are put in place to improve the energy efficiency of our homes.

"An estimated 658,000 households were in fuel poverty in Scotland in 2010, or 28% of households.

"These strategies provide a great opportunity for Scottish businesses and can provide a real boost to our economy. Working with the energy companies, we plan to ensure investment of over ?2 billion pounds is provided over the next ten years to ensure our housing stock is energy efficient.

"New technologies, which would bring down carbon emissions as well as household fuel bills, are key to energy efficient homes and a vital element in economic recovery."

"The drive to transform new-build through innovative design and construction approaches creates economic and export opportunities for Scottish companies, along with an opportunity to make greater use of Scottish timber in innovative products."

Trisha McAuley, Deputy Director at Consumer Focus Scotland said:"Many new-build homes have first-class insulation and green technologies which make them cheaper to run, but older properties often haven't been upgraded and this piles even more pressure on fuel bills.

"This long-term commitment and focus from the Scottish Government to help older homes become more energy efficient is good news and will help cut fuel bills for many people in this situation.

"It is also welcome news that more consideration is being given to how to reflect energy efficiency improvements when people are moving house so that they can be confident they are increasing the value of their home, as well as making their home warmer and reducing carbon emissions."

Ian Marchant as Chair of the 2020 Climate Group added:"The 2020 Climate Group aims to ensure that all sectors of Scotland's economy and civic society contribute fully to achieving Scotland's ambitious climate change targets. We support the vision of high quality, low carbon homes set out in the consultation and are committed to working with the Scottish Government to make this a reality. A key priority is understanding public perceptions and behaviour to maximise the value of the energy efficiency measures needed."

SFHA Policy & Strategy Manager David Stewart said:"The SFHA welcomes the launch of the Sustainable Housing Strategy and the Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing consultations. Energy efficiency and fuel poverty are major issues for housing association and co-operative tenants. Recent increases in fuel bills have undone some of the benefits on investment in the energy efficiency of their homes and these two major consultations show that the Scottish Government is giving significant attention to these issues.

"We appreciated the opportunity for the SFHA and housing association representatives to participate in meetings and discussions as the proposals were developed. We are pleased that area-based schemes, the most effective way to lift people out of fuel poverty, are to be funded.

"We look forward to engaging with the Scottish Government during the consultation, with the aim of developing standards that will see improved energy efficiency in Scotland's affordable rented homes. It is vital that these and standards are matched by suitable investment by the Scottish and UK Governments to allow the necessary improvements to be made."

Elizabeth Leighton of the Existing Homes Alliance Scotland said:"We very much welcome the launch of this important consultation. The Exisiting Homes Alliance believes that improving the condition of our existing housing stock is crucial if targets to eradicate fuel poverty and reduce carbon emissions are to be met. It is essential that the Sustainable Housing Strategy sets a clear direction for the improvement of Scotland's housing stock over the coming decade and beyond. As such we would encourage all of those with an interest to get involved in shaping the final strategy by engaging in the consultation process."

Cube Chairman Gordon Scott, who lives on the Wyndford estate, said:"There is no doubt our district heating scheme will make a difference to the lives of hundreds of tenants living in Wyndford.

"The project will modernise and upgrade the heating system in all our tenanted homes and we will offer owners the opportunity to take part too. Properties will be warmer, more energy efficient and more comfortable.

"We are delighted to be working with SSE and Scottish Gas on delivering what we believe is one of the biggest projects of its kind in the UK."

Gab Barbaro, Managing Director, British Gas Business Services said "Scottish Gas is very proud to be working with Cube and SSE on one of the UK's most significant energy efficiency schemes.

"Residents on the estate can expect a real transformation over the coming months. The partnership is investing substantially to improve hundreds of homes in the area, installing an insulated cladding render which will give the multi-storey blocks a fresh new appearance whilst making the flats warmer.

"Coupled with the CHP system, these improvements will make a real difference to tenants by making their homes more energy efficient and more comfortable to live in with dramatically lower heating bills."

Calum Wilson, SSE Managing Director (Scotland) said: "The Wyndford project is a great example of how district heating technology can lift people out of fuel poverty and significantly reduce carbon emissions.

"SSE is working with the Scottish Government and local authorities to develop similar schemes elsewhere and bring the benefits that will be enjoyed by the people of Wyndford to communities across Scotland."

[Printer Friendly Version]

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With Windows Phone 8, Microsoft Just Osborned Itself

Two years after scrapping its old mobile OS, Microsoft is doing it a second time?and it may be the company's only remaining option.

On Wednesday, Microsoft officially unveiled Windows Phone 8, a major upgrade to its struggling mobile OS?and shot its entire existing user base to hell in the process.

I don't own a Windows Phone. But I review a lot of them, and praise Windows Phone OS pretty much every chance I get. It has its flaws, but it shows flashes of brilliance both in UI design and overall refinement. The thing is, it's not selling?and remember, it was supposed to save the company's prospects on phones, after years of neglect with the horribly designed and bloated Windows Mobile.

Enter Windows Phone 8, which is pretty interesting. It looks a lot like Windows Phone 7.5 on the surface, aside from a neatly redesigned home screen. But underneath lies a sea change, as Windows Phone 8 will share the same kernel as the desktop version of Windows 8?something that, amazingly, Microsoft has never tried before, in the roughly 15 years it has spent trying to crack the PDA and mobile market.

With Windows Phone 8, Microsoft is also adding support for everything the OS needed, including multi-core processors, multiple (read: higher) screen resolutions, swappable memory cards, IPv6, and NFC. Developers previously restricted to working in Microsoft Silverlight can now write native code, as well as code in HTML5, XNA, .NET, and C#. The new OS will even use the NTFS file system and support enterprise-level security hooks similar to those for desktop and laptop PCs.

This is all great stuff. But Microsoft said that no existing Windows Phone devices will be able to upgrade to Windows Phone 8. To appease those users, it's offering up another version, referred to as 7.8, that will contain the home screen customizations and other superficial enhancements, but that's it.

The Osborne Effect
In doing this, Microsoft just eliminated any reason to buy a Windows Phone device today?echoing a distant-but-famous phenomenon known as the Osborne effect.

In the early 1980s, Osborne Computer Corporation was the first computer hardware company to go bankrupt essentially by unveiling a product it couldn't sell yet. The company announced the Osborne Executive, a new computer that wouldn't be available for several months. Meanwhile, the Osborne 1, which legendary computer engineer Lee Felsenstein designed, was still on sale. So what happened is that from the moment the company announced the Osborne Executive, sales of the Osborne 1 fell to approximately zero. Not only that, but various dealers all began canceling their Osborne 1 orders. Ultimately, this contributed to the destruction of the company.

I'm far from the first to bring up the Osborne effect. It's a useful parable in the tech industry to which you can refer back. Obviously Microsoft failing in mobile devices will not bring about its imminent collapse; it's much larger and stronger than that. But not only does Microsoft's decision torpedo the goodwill it had with existing Windows Phone partners?particularly Nokia?but it also affects every phone on sale right now. From now until the release of Windows Phone 8, every single Windows Phone buyer is someone who can never upgrade to Windows Phone 8.

Sean Carroll, our managing editor for software, Internet services, and networking, posed that as a result of all this, if all the various carriers sell 10,000 Windows Phone 8 users on day one, that OS will then have a user base of 10,000. In other words, Microsoft is basically wiping out every single existing user of Windows Phone and starting over.

What Purpose Could This Possibly Serve?
So with all this in mind, why would Microsoft even do this to begin with? Microsoft says that it couldn't get its new code base to work on existing single-core phones. That's sort of believable, but it doesn't do anything for Microsoft's long-standing reputation for bloated OS code.

More likely, it's a tacit acknowledgement that the company's current path on mobile isn't the right answer. To be sure, Windows Mobile needed to go, but Windows Phone isn't working, either. The thinking is that the existing user base, while important and unfortunate to screw over, is still really small. Better to do this now while Microsoft still can, in other words.

Existing Windows Phone 7.5 devices will continue to work with the 100,000 apps already available in Windows Marketplace. And developers writing new Silverlight apps will have Windows Phone 7.5 and Windows Phone 8 customers, as the new version of the OS will continue to run Silverlight apps. But apps developed for Windows Phone 8 specifically won't work on existing phones, which means it won't be long before 7.5 users can no longer update their favorite apps.

A Twitter user who goes by the name of Natasha wrote that Windows Phone fans defending Microsoft's decision to orphan 7.5 reminded her of Stockholm Syndrome. I find that hilarious, and there's probably some truth to that statement. But whether you agree or not, it's clear Microsoft is at a perilous point, and needed to do something, fast.

But I can't help but think Microsoft could have found some compromise?at least to get it working on the absolute latest Windows Phone devices, such as the Nokia Lumia 900, the HTC Titan II, and the Samsung Focus 2. All of these phones now have an orphaned OS. Only the Lumia 900 is selling in appreciable quantities, but even so, Microsoft just basically eliminated any reason to buy one of these phones for the next several months.

Would you buy a Windows Phone today?any of them?knowing all this? And knowing you'd be stuck in a two-year contract with it? Let me know in the comments.

For more, check out PCMag's Eyes On With Microsoft's Windows Phone 8 and the slideshow above.

For more from Jamie, follow him on Twitter @jlendino.

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