US vulnerable to cyber attacks: military chief

LONDON?? The top U.S. military officer said on Monday the United States was vulnerable to cyber attacks, and called for more aggressive action to bolster America's online defenses.

The comments by General Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, were the latest by U.S. military officials flagging cyber security as an area of growing focus and investment even as the Pentagon braces for declining budgets.

"We lose enormous intellectual property rights. We're under constant attack every day. And it's going to take a whole government approach," Dempsey told a forum in London, in what was billed as his first full-scale address since taking over the Pentagon's top uniformed job in September.

Recent attacks on U.S. corporations such as Google, the Nasdaq stock exchange, Lockheed Martin, and RSA (the security division of EMC), have given U.S. government and military officials a renewed sense of urgency about addressing threats to U.S. computer networks.

An arm of the U.S. intelligence community released a report earlier in November identifying China and Russia as the most active and persistent nations that are using cyber espionage to steal U.S. trade and technology secrets.

But data theft is only one area of concern. U.S. officials stepped up warnings about possible destructive cyber attacks after the computer virus Stuxnet emerged in 2010.

Stuxnet is believed to have crippled centrifuges that Iran uses to enrich uranium for what the United States and some European nations have charged is a covert nuclear weapons program.

"We are not immune to coercion in cyber. And we have to get after it," Dempsey said. "We're working on it .... but in my judgment we need to work harder."

Copyright 2011 Thomson Reuters. Click for restrictions.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45469416/ns/technology_and_science-tech_and_gadgets/

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Cain campaign crumbling after affair allegation (Reuters)

WASHINGTON (Reuters) ? Republican presidential contender Herman Cain told aides on Tuesday he would reassess the viability of his struggling campaign after an Atlanta woman accused him of conducting a 13-year extramarital affair.

The allegations could be the end of the political line for Cain, who led the Republican White House race barely more than a month ago but has nosedived in polls after a series of sexual harassment charges and campaign missteps.

Cain, 65, denies he had an affair with businesswoman Ginger White, who told an Atlanta television station that her on-and-off relationship with Cain began in the mid-1990s.

In a fundraising email to supporters entitled "Stand With Me," Cain called White a "troubled Atlanta businesswoman" who is pushing a "fabricated, unsubstantiated story."

"I do know Ms. White. I have helped her financially at times over the past few years, just as I have helped many friends and acquaintances throughout the years. I thought Ms. White was a friend in need of a supportive hand to better her life," he wrote.

The former pizza executive told aides in a conference call transcribed by the conservative magazine National Review that he would gauge the impact of the charges over the next few days and see if they created a cloud of doubt in supporters' minds.

"Obviously, this is cause for reassessment," Cain told staff members, adding he would continue his campaign schedule over the next few days.

"The public will have to decide whether they believe her or whether they believe me. That's why we're going to give it time, to see what type of response we get from our supporters," he said.

The news began to take a toll on Cain in New Hampshire, where WMUR television reported that two Cain supporters, state representatives William Panek and Sam Cataldo, will now back Newt Gingrich.

LITTLE TIME BEFORE IOWA

The allegation of an affair comes five weeks before Iowa kicks off the Republican battle for the right to challenge Democratic President Barack Obama, giving Cain little time to resurrect a once high-flying campaign.

In addition to sexual harassment allegations by four women, Cain also has stumbled on the campaign trail. He raised alarm among conservatives with confusing comments about abortion and badly fumbled a question on Libya policy.

His fundraising also appears to have stalled. Aides who crowed about his strong surge in donations in October have declined to answer questions about his cash flow in recent days.

"It's over for Cain. On the heels of everything else, I don't see how you come back from this," Republican strategist Rich Galen said.

Cain's difficulties have opened the door for Gingrich, the former House of Representatives speaker who has zoomed to the top of opinion polls with the support of conservatives hunting for an alternative to the more moderate Mitt Romney in the Republican race.

Conservatives have failed to coalesce around a single candidate this year as several contenders - first U.S. Representative Michele Bachmann, then Texas Governor Rick Perry and then Cain - have risen in polls only to fall back.

'ONE MORE THING'

"I don't see a path to victory for Cain anymore," said Ryan Rhodes, founder of the Iowa Tea Party. "He was already looking at the end of the line, but this is one more thing to finish him."

Gingrich has seen his poll numbers rise as Cain's crumbled. Support for Romney, the former Massachusetts governor, has held relatively steady in the mid-20s in polls for much of the year.

Gingrich, who is in his third marriage, told CBS News the accusations did not disqualify Cain and he should be given a chance to recover.

"Remember, I was supposed to be dead in June and July," said Gingrich, who hit bottom in opinion polls after a mass staff exodus over the summer. "I am not going to go around and declare anybody else dead."

The Cain campaign worked to reassure supporters that the scandal would not end his bid. Steve Grubbs, Cain's Iowa chairman, said he was unaware of any volunteers who had backed away from their support.

He sent state backers a memo reminding them that Democrat Bill Clinton and Republican John McCain survived accusations of extramarital affairs during past races.

"What Herman Cain is going through is not unique," Grubbs told Reuters. "It's certainly a challenge and it's a distraction, but we're weathering the storm."

On the conference call with aides, Cain said the claims of an affair were taking an emotional toll on him and his wife but he promised to wage an upbeat campaign starting with an appearance in Michigan on Tuesday night.

Cain said his planned reassessment was similar to what he did at earlier key junctures in the race.

"During the summer we had to make some reassessments based upon our financial situation," he said. "We also did a reassessment after the Iowa straw poll and we made another reassessment after the Florida straw poll."

The charge of an affair differs from prior harassment claims in that White says she had a consensual long-term relationship.

White said the two met at a presentation Cain gave for the National Restaurant Association in Kentucky, and afterward the two had drinks. Cain invited her back to his hotel, she said, and the relationship took off.

The woman provided cellphone bills showing calls to a number she said was Cain's personal mobile phone.

(Additional reporting by Kim Dixon; editing by Doina Chiacu and Mohammad Zargham)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/us/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111130/pl_nm/us_usa_campaign_cain

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Giveaway: A Disney Universe Video Game (a $40 Value!)

Enter for your chance to win a Disney Universe video game in our giveaway this week.

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Leaked Verizon document hints at white Droid RAZR, leaves speculation to us

Is there a white Droid RAZR looming on the horizon? According to the above screenshot, there is. Obtained by the folks over at Droid Life, this image purports to give a glimpse into Verizon's device management system, which apparently boasts a previously unmentioned white version of Motorola's ultra-thin handset. If it's legit, the RAZR would join the likes of the Droid 2 Global and R2D2 alongside the manufacturer's predominantly white offerings, though Motorola has yet to confirm its existence. Details, then, are still scarce, but we'll let you know as soon as we hear more about any alabaster arrivals.

Leaked Verizon document hints at white Droid RAZR, leaves speculation to us originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Nov 2011 23:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Judge blocks Citigroup-SEC settlement (Reuters)

NEW YORK (Reuters) ? A federal judge angrily threw out Citigroup Inc's proposed $285 million settlement over the sale of toxic mortgage debt, excoriating the top U.S. market regulator over how it reaches corporate fraud settlements.

U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff in Manhattan said that in agreeing to the settlement, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission appeared uninterested in actually learning what Citigroup did wrong. He also said the regulator erred by asking him to ignore the interests of the public.

"An application of judicial power that does not rest on facts is worse than mindless, it is inherently dangerous," Rakoff wrote in an opinion dated Monday.

"In any case like this that touches on the transparency of financial markets whose gyrations have so depressed our economy and debilitated our lives, there is an overriding public interest in knowing the truth," he added.

Rakoff called the settlement "neither reasonable, nor fair, nor adequate, nor in the public interest," and said it was hard to tell whether by settling the SEC was getting more than "a quick headline." He set a trial date of July 16, 2012.

Monday's decision throws into question the SEC's policies toward settlements with publicly traded companies, at a time when the regulator is trying to burnish its reputation for tough enforcement amid skeptics in Congress and elsewhere.

Many SEC cases against Wall Street banks and investment firms are settled out of court, without any admission or denial of wrongdoing. The absence of agreed-upon facts can make it harder for shareholders, bondholders and others to bring their own civil lawsuits against those same defendants.

THORN

Both the SEC and Citigroup on Monday maintained that the settlement was reasonable.

Robert Khuzami, the SEC director of enforcement, said the $285 million sum "reasonably reflects the scope of relief that would be obtained after a successful trial," but without the "risks, delay and resources" required.

He also said Rakoff ignored "decades of established practice throughout federal agencies and decisions of the federal courts."

Citigroup spokeswoman Danielle Romero-Apsilos called the settlement "a fair and reasonable resolution to the SEC's allegation of negligence." She said if a trial occurred, the bank would present "substantial factual and legal defenses."

The SEC and Citigroup did not in their statements address whether they might be able to reach a revised settlement that could win court approval.

In its complaint, the SEC accused Citigroup of selling a $1 billion mortgage-linked collateralized debt obligation, Class V Funding III, in 2007 as the housing market was beginning to collapse, and then betting against the transaction.

The SEC said the CDO caused more than $700 million of investor losses. One Citigroup employee, director Brian Stoker, was charged by the SEC, and is contesting those charges.

Rakoff has been a thorn in the side of the SEC. In 2009 he rejected its initial proposed settlement with Bank of America Corp over its takeover of Merrill Lynch & Co.

Bradley Bondi, a partner at Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft and former counsel to two SEC commissioners, said the decision will hamper the regulator's ability to settle cases in the Manhattan court.

"But the judge's decision to probe the settlement to ensure it is in the best interest of shareholders - and requiring the SEC to show the facts in support ... are in the best interests of process," Bondi said in an email.

'POCKET CHANGE'

Rakoff called the Citigroup accord too lenient, and noted that the bank was charged only with negligence. Private investors cannot bring securities claims based on negligence.

"If the allegations of the complaint are true, this is a very good deal for Citigroup; and, even if they are untrue, it is a mild and modest cost of doing business," the judge wrote.

The settlement would have required the third-largest U.S. bank to give up $160 million of alleged ill-gotten profit, plus $30 million of interest.

It also would have imposed a $95 million fine for the alleged negligence, less than one-fifth what Goldman Sachs Group Inc paid last year in a $550 million SEC settlement over a different CDO.

Rakoff called the $95 million fine "pocket change" for Citigroup and said investors were being "short-changed."

Khuzami said the regulator will review the ruling and "take those steps that best serve the interests of investors."

In striking down the SEC's $33 million settlement with Bank of America over Merrill, Rakoff said it unfairly punished shareholders. He later approved a $150 million accord.

Citigroup shares closed 6 percent higher at $25.05 on Monday. Stocks rose broadly on optimism that leaders in Europe might take steps to address the region's debt crisis.

The case is SEC v Citigroup Global Markets Inc, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 11-07387.

(Editing by Matthew Lewis, Gerald E. McCormick and John Wallace)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/personalfinance/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111128/bs_nm/us_citigroup_sec

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Syracuse chancellor: Boeheim's our coach (AP)

SYRACUSE, N.Y. ? Syracuse University Chancellor Nancy Cantor gave men's basketball coach Jim Boeheim a vote of confidence Tuesday amid an investigation of child molestation allegations against his former longtime assistant coach.

Cantor emerged from an economic development conference with state officials and said: "Coach Boeheim is our coach."

Some commentators and sex abuse victims' advocates had said Boeheim should resign or be fired after three men, including two former Syracuse ballboys, accused former assistant coach Bernie Fine of molesting them and Boeheim verbally attacked the accusers.

"Coach Boeheim is our coach; he's getting the team ready tonight," Cantor said. "We're very pleased with what he said Sunday night, and we stand by him."

After initially saying Fine's first two accusers were lying to make money in the wake of the Penn State University sexual abuse scandal, Boeheim backed off those comments in a statement Sunday.

"What is most important is that this matter be fully investigated and that anyone with information be supported to come forward so that the truth can be found," Boeheim said after the firing of Fine, who has denied the allegations. "I deeply regret any statements I made that might have inhibited that from occurring or been insensitive to victims of abuse."

Bobby Davis first contacted Syracuse police in 2002 about Fine, but there was no investigation because the statute of limitations had passed. Kevin Quinn, a spokesman for the university, said police did not inform the university of Davis' allegations then.

On Tuesday, the Syracuse police chief said Dennis DuVal, a former SU basketball player who was police chief in 2002, knew of the allegations against Fine.

Police Chief Frank Fowler said DuVal, who played for the Orange from 1972-74, was aware of Davis' accusations in 2002 that Fine sexually abused him. Fine, who has been fired, denies the allegations.

Because Davis said the abuse stopped 12 years earlier, Syracuse Det. Doug Fox told him the statute of limitations had passed, meaning an arrest was not possible. Fox advised his supervisor in the abused persons unit but didn't file a formal report. The detective is still with the department but not in the same unit.

A phone message left with DuVal was not immediately returned.

On Nov. 17, Davis' allegations resurfaced.

Davis, now 39, told ESPN that Fine molested him beginning in 1984 and that the sexual contact continued until he was around 27. A ball boy for six years, Davis said the abuse occurred at Fine's home, at Syracuse basketball facilities and on team road trips, including the 1987 Final Four. Davis' stepbrother, Mike Lang, 45, who also was a ball boy, also told ESPN that Fine began molesting him while he was in fifth or sixth grade.

On Sunday, a third man, Zach Tomaselli, who faces sexual assault charges in Maine involving a 14-year-old boy, said he told police last week that Fine molested him in 2002 in a Pittsburgh hotel room.

Cantor stressed the university is working with authorities.

`'We've been very straightforward and candid about this whole process," she said. "We've gone through our due diligence when things came up, and we felt it was important both for Bernie Fine and for the university to move forward."

The chancellor has previously acknowledged that a man, now known to be Davis, contacted the school in 2005 with allegations against Fine. The school, which did not contact police, conducted its own investigation at that time but found was unable to find any corroboration of the allegations. The university has turned over the results of the inquiry to the DA's office and has retained an independent law firm to review their procedures and response to those 2005 allegations.

The U.S. Attorney's Office and the U.S. Secret Service have taken the lead in the current investigation.

And Fowler said Syracuse police will change their procedures moving forward.

"I was not the chief in 2002 and I cannot change the procedures in place at that time or the way this matter was then handled," Fowler said in the statement. "But what I can and will do as chief today is ensure that moving forward all reports of sexual abuse are formally documented."

In an interview with the AP, Fowler said he wouldn't be notified about all sex abuse allegations. But in a high-profile case like the Fine investigation: "I'm very confident I would know about it. I'm sure it would be brought to my immediate attention."

The chief also said the department only notifies the district attorney when an arrest is made, not during the investigation phase. Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick has been sharply critical of the police for not sharing the information from the 2002 allegations or from the current investigation.

Fowler has ordered a review of all department policies regarding sexual abuse allegations made over the phone and will make changes if needed. A phone database now logs every call the department receives.

He gave this account of what the department knew, and when of the 2002 allegations:

? A local attorney called Det. Doug Fox of the Syracuse Police Department's Abused Persons Unit in 2002 to say that he'd be getting a call from a woman, now known to be Davis' friend Danielle Roach, who wanted to discuss a sexual abuse case.

? Several weeks later, Roach called Fox and said Fine had sexually abused her friend. Fox told her to tell her friend to contact him directly. About a month later, he called the detective from Utah. In what Fowler described as a brief conversation, Davis said Fine had sexually abused him while growing up and that the abuse had occurred at least 12 years earlier.

? Fox told him the statute of limitations had expired, so he couldn't make an arrest. Fox told Davis that if he wanted to meet in person or if he was aware of any current victims, he wanted Davis to share additional information. The two never met face to face.

? Fox notified his supervisor, and they decided that unless Davis met with the detective or provided names of other victims, then no investigation would be started. No formal report was prepared.

? Several months later, in 2003, the department received an inquiry from the Syracuse Post Standard newspaper as to whether an investigation had been conducted on Fine. The Post Standard was informed no investigation had taken place.

Fowler said the police department never met in person with any possible victim until Nov. 17 of this year and began its ongoing investigation on that day.

On that same day, Fowler said, the university handed over results of an internal 2005 investigation into sexual abuse charges against Fine; this was the first time Syracuse police learned of that inquiry.

___

Associated Press Writer Michael Hill in Syracuse contributed to this report.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/topstories/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111129/ap_on_sp_ot/us_syracuse_fine_investigation

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Three asset managers win $254 million Powerball prize (Reuters)

(Reuters) ? In a twist of lottery fate, three Connecticut money managers took home the state's largest Powerball jackpot. The trio came forward with the winning ticket at a press conference on Monday.

Tim Davidson, Brandon Lacoff and Greg Skidmore, of Connecticut-based Belpointe Asset Management, claimed the $254 million prize -- the result of a $1 ticket purchased at a gas station by Davidson in Stamford.

Belpointe has about $82 million in assets under management, according to SEC documents.

The winning digits were 12, 14, 34, 39, 46, with a Powerball number 36. The prize was the 12th-largest jackpot in Powerball history, according to the Connecticut Lottery Corp. After taxes, the trio will take home about $104 million.

Davidson, Lacoff and Skidmore later decided to form and become trustees of Putnam Avenue Family Trust after realizing they had the winning ticket.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/oddlyenough/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111129/od_nm/us_moneymanagers_lotto_odd

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FarmPolicy ? Blog Archives ? Crop Insurance; Budget & Farm Bill ...

Crop Insurance; Budget & Farm Bill; Ag Econ; Trade; and Senate Ag Committee Hearing

Crop Insurance Developments

Linda H. Smith reported yesterday at DTN (link requires subscription) that, ?Midwest corn and soybean growers could see savings of $2 to $3.50 an acre on their crop insurance premiums next year after USDA?s Risk Management Agency re-rated the two crops using a new formula.

?RMA on Monday announced the results of re-rating states actuarially, using a 20-year rolling average (currently 1990 through 2010).

??On average, these new rates should reduce corn farmers? rates by 7% and soybean farmers? by 9%,? said RMA Administrator Bill Murphy. Given most Midwest farmers pay between $30 and $50 an acre for crop insurance, they could see savings of $2 to $3.50 per acre. A few states such as Texas and Pennsylvania will see modest increases because of their loss experience.?

The DTN article added that, ??We reviewed our methodology because grower groups said we were letting the bad years have too much weight, and we agreed,? said Shirley Pugh, RMA spokesperson. The new methodology should better capture actual results with today?s hybrids, she said.

?A few months ago, RMA also announced it will make trend yield adjustments to corn and soybean yields in 2012. In effect, this addresses some of the yield drag that corn growers in particular complained about. The combination of these two actuarial changes should give Corn Belt farmers more bang for their insurance buck.?

Reuters news reported yesterday that, ?U.S. corn and soybean growers will pay lower rates from crop insurance in 2012 ? down by an average 7 percent for corn and 9 percent for soybeans, the federal overseer said on Monday.

?The U.S. Agriculture Department?s Risk Management Agency said the lower premium rates were a result of updated methodology for setting rates. Administrator Bill Murphy said premium rates will more accurately reflect risks under the revisions.

?The USDA pays 60 cents of each $1 in crop insurance premiums. Crop insurance subsidies were forecast for $7 billion in the fiscal year that ended on Sept. 30.?

The Reuters article pointed out that, ??Our farmers have historically paid more than their fair share of crop insurance premiums and we are pleased to see this is finally coming to an end,? said Gary Niemeyer, president of the National Corn Growers Association [related news release].

?But the Illinois Corn Growers Association said corn rates were still too high, compared with losses. It said ?over-payments have accrued to crop insurance companies as profit.??

Yesterday?s article added that, ?An industry trade group, National Crop Insurance Services, said growers ?should pay fair premium rates, based on sound actuarial methods and principles? but it had questions about the new procedures.?

A news release yesterday from the Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau (CIRB) stated that, ?As providers of crop insurance and jobs across rural America, the member companies of the Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau (CIRB) expressed concerns about USDA?s announcement today regarding the implementation of a new rating methodology for setting corn and soybean crop insurance premiums. While CIRB appreciates that the novel methodology proposed in August was not fully adopted, CIRB remains concerned about implementing certain rating adjustments in 2012 ? at a time after providers have made business decisions for the upcoming crop year, have already submitted business plans to the Risk Management Agency for approval, and during the period in which providers are in the process of acquiring commercial reinsurance.

?CIRB supports an actuarially sound crop insurance program and urges USDA to consider all consequences ? technical, operational, and programmatic ? in a transparent manner as it moves forward with any evaluation of additional rating methodology changes.?

Meanwhile, a Radio News Service item from USDA yesterday (?USDA Moving to Lower Corn and Soybean Insurance Premiums? -one minute audio overview) indicated that, ?Corn and soybean producers may be pleasantly surprised at what they may be paying to insure next year?s crop.?

An additional USDA audio clip from RMA Administrator Bill Murphy is available here, ?Actuality: One Reason Crop Insurance Rates Are Changing.?

?

Budget and Farm Bill Issues

Manu Raju reported yesterday at Politico that, ?Can the Senate?s Gang of Six finally rise to the occasion?

?In the wake of the supercommittee?s pre-Thanksgiving Day failure, the six negotiators plan to meet Monday evening in Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin?s office to discuss the bipartisan plan they have struggled with since January.

?But don?t expect much from the meeting, aides said, especially because the six senators have routinely held talks for months. Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) said the meeting was being held because Durbin had promised dinner for the group and that it would be a ?challenge? to propose new legislation by year?s end.?

The Politico item added that, ?Still, it?s a sign that the group may try to reassert itself into the deficit debate with Republicans and Democrats at loggerheads on tax reforms and entitlement cuts and Congress unable to reverse the mounting $15 trillion debt.

??The question is where do we go from here?? said Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.).?

The update noted that, ?But the group never publicly unveiled its legislative language ? offering only a brief outline of its ambitious proposal ? and left many of the details on cuts and tax reforms to the congressional committees of jurisdiction to meet certain goals on budget savings. It?s uncertain how far the plan would go given the general lack of enthusiasm from congressional leaders, especially Republicans uneasy about its $1 trillion goal in new revenues. And if the details of the bill are publicly unveiled, some of that initial support could erode, participants acknowledge.?

Meanwhile, Jonathan Allen reported yesterday at Politico that, ?In official Washington-speak, the process is known as sequestration.

?But the mandatory reductions of $1.2 trillion in spending ? also known as the trigger ? are very real and are on track to slash many government programs.

?By any name, they mean pain, both for the Pentagon and for the weaklings among domestic programs.?

The article stated that, ?Unless Congress reverses the trigger before January 2013, the federal government will have to start making plans for these cuts.?

?Because big agricultural subsidies fall on the mandatory side of the spending ledger and most other mandatory spending has been exempted from the cuts, farm-state lawmakers and their constituents are on a course to get hammered by the trigger. That?s why farm-state lawmakers in both chambers and in both parties scrambled to come up with a bipartisan plan for deficit reduction in areas under their jurisdiction. But to no avail. Some argue the sector is doing just fine and can take the cut,? yesterday?s Politico article said.

And Alexander Bolton reported yesterday at The Hill Online that, ?Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) plans to move a $1 trillion spending bill in December, a strategy that will spark a backlash from Tea Party conservatives.

?If conservatives torpedo the omnibus measure, Reid and other Democratic leaders would likely be forced to accept another long stopgap spending measure or risk a government shutdown when funding runs out at midnight Dec. 17.

?The federal government has been operating on stopgap spending measures since the fall of last year, and many lawmakers are tired of ceding their oversight authority.?

The Hill article explained that, ?During a conference call with reporters on Monday, Reid said that appropriators have done too much work to default to another yearlong stopgap. There?s not enough time to pass the spending bills individually or in smaller packages known as minibuses.

??We hope to work this process through so we won?t do a CR,? he said, using an abbreviation for a continuing resolution to fund government. ?We have already passed a number of appropriations bills. We would put all the others into one package and try to get them done.??

In more specific news regarding the Farm Bill, in this week?s Agri-Pulse Open Mic program, Agri-Pulse Senior Editor Stewart Doan interviewed Rep. Jack Kingston (R-Ga.).

A summary of the interview stated in part that, ?The Chairman of the House Appropriations Agriculture Subcommittee is our guest this week on Open Mic. Georgia Republican Jack Kingston reviews the just-enacted USDA spending bill for fiscal 2012 and explains how the contentious floor debate on the House version of the bill served as a preview of the 2012 Farm Bill debate.?

The entire Open Mic interview is available here, while a short clip from the discussion regarding the appropriations process and the prelude to the Farm Bill debate is available here (MP3- 3:17).

An Inside U.S. Trade article from Friday reported that, ?With the failure of the congressional ?super committee? to reach a compromise on deficit reduction, the fate of a rushed budget cut proposal affecting U.S. agriculture subsidies is now unclear, with agriculture sources saying it could serve as a template for future farm legislation or simply be scrapped altogether because of its controversial aspects.?

The article added that, ?Whatever happens, the failure of the JSC [Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction- supercommittee] means that the process of creating the next farm bill will become more complicated than it was with [Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.)] and [House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas (R-Oklahoma)] hammering it out behind closed doors, sources said. Lucas has a number of Republican freshman on his committee who identify with the Tea Party and are unfamiliar with agriculture policy, and they may demand cuts or changes that stakeholders would find unpalatable.?

The ?Washington Insider? section of DTN reported yesterday (link requires subscription) that, ?Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., says that following the Thanksgiving recess, she plans to continue work on the proposed farm bill that she and House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas, R-Okla., drafted for the failed supercommittee.

?Stabenow and Lucas prepared their draft in secret, largely unaided by members of their respective committees. Their hope was to convince the supercommittee to include their farm bill in a deficit reduction proposal that would have been brought to Congress under the condition that no amendments were permitted. Thus, when the supercommittee gave up efforts to draft a deficit reduction proposal, it also short-circuited the unusual farm bill process.

?The Stabenow-Lucas draft now will see the light of day, perhaps even receiving a subcommittee or full committee hearing. Once that draft is made public, it should be interesting to see how it changes once all parties ? members of Congress, farm groups, consumer groups, environmental groups, anti-hunger groups, agricultural researchers, and others ? have an opportunity to register their suggestions.?

And a news release yesterday from Senator Tim Johnson (R-SD) stated that, ?[Sen. Johnson] brought together a cross-section of South Dakota?s agricultural leaders for a farm bill listening session to hear their priorities for the rewrite of the legislation. Johnson also highlighted the results of his farm bill surveys, which he sent to South Dakotans across the state over the last year to get their input on the current farm bill and how it can be improved during the reauthorization process.?

?During the listening session, Johnson released the results of his farm bill surveys, which he mailed to South Dakotans across the state and featured on his website to get their feedback in preparation for the reauthorization process. More than 1,000 people shared their input with Johnson, who will be forwarding the results to the Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee.?

?

Agricultural Economy

The AP reported earlier this week that, ?The United Nations has completed the first-ever global assessment of the state of the planet?s land resources, finding in a report Monday that a quarter of all land is highly degraded and warning the trend must be reversed if the world?s growing population is to be fed.

?The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that farmers will have to produce 70 percent more food by 2050 to meet the needs of the world?s expected 9 billion-strong population. That amounts to 1 billion tons more wheat, rice and other cereals and 200 million more tons of beef and other livestock.?

Meanwhile, with respect to U.S. crop prospects for next year, University of Illinois Agricultural Economist Darrel Good noted yesterday (?Corn and Soybean Demand and Acreage Prospects for 2012?) that, ?While the markets will continue to reflect changing demand prospects for the 2011 crop, the potential size of the 2012 U.S. crops will also begin to have more influence as the new calendar year begins.? Prospects for the 2012 crop begin with expectations about planted and harvested acreage for all crops and for individual crops.? Anticipating total planted acreage is made difficult by the fact that planted acreage varies considerably from year to year.? In general, an increase in total acreage is expected next year due to the large area of prevented plantings in 2011.? The USDA?s Farm Service Agency reports 9.6 million acres of prevented plantings in 2011, up from 6.9 million in 2009 and 4.2 million in 2008.? However, the change in prevented plantings is not closely correlated to the change in planted acreage.? The USDA?s National Agricultural Statistics Service estimates that planted acreage of all crops increased by 1.4 million acres in 2011 even though prevented plantings increased by 2.7 million acres.? Harvested acreage of hay declined by 2.26 million, so that total crop acreage declined by only 860,000 acres.

?Another reason to expect an increase in crop acreage in 2012 is the net decline of 1.6 million acres enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program in 2011.? It is not clear how much of that acreage will be planted in the fall of 2011 or spring of 2012, but some of that acreage will likely come back into crop production.

?In addition to an increase in planted acreage in 2012, it is generally expected that a larger percentage of the acreage will be harvested in 2012 than in 2011.? While harvested acreage estimates for corn and sorghum silage have not yet been made, it appears that unharvested acreage of all crops in 2011 was nearly 9 million acres larger than in 2010 and 3 million acres larger than in 2009.? Most of the year-over-year increase in abandoned acres was for area planted to wheat and cotton, reflecting the widespread drought conditions in the southwest.?

?

Trade- EU

Philip Brasher reported yesterday at the Green Fields Blog (Des Moines Register) that, ?The ethanol industry?s main subsidy is set to end soon, but that hasn?t stopped European competitors from trying to get taxes slapped on the U.S.-made biofuel, claiming that subsidies make it unfairly cheap.

?The European Commission has opened an anti-dumping case against U.S. ethanol that could result in duties being imposed on the product at a time when the American industry has been relying on exports as a growing market.?

Also yesterday, Reuters writer Doug Palmer reported that, ?The United States and the European Union took a step on Monday toward launching bilateral trade talks to help create jobs on both sides of the Atlantic by capitalizing on already strong economic ties.?

?

Senate Agriculture Committee Hearing

Bloomberg writer Silla Brush reported yesterday that, ?Jon S. Corzine, the former New Jersey governor and U.S. senator who led MF Global Holdings Ltd. before the firm sought bankruptcy protection on Oct. 31, has been called to testify Dec. 13 at a Senate Agriculture Committee hearing on the collapse.

?Corzine, who was chairman and chief executive officer of the New York-based firm, was asked to testify alongside MF Global customers who face as much as $1.2 billion in missing funds, Senator Debbie Stabenow, the Michigan Democrat who leads the panel, said in a statement today.?

A news release yesterday from Sen. Ag. Comm. ranking member Pat Roberts (R-Kansas) indicated that, ?[Sen. Roberts] today applauded Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) for honoring his repeated requests for a hearing solely examining the MF Global bankruptcy and for also responding to his calls asking for former MF Global CEO Jon Corzine to testify.?

Keith Good

Comments are closed.

Source: http://farmpolicy.com/2011/11/29/crop-insurance-budget-ag-econ-trade-and-senate-ag-committee-hearing/

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Animal shelter holds sale on dark-fur pets | BrainerdDispatch.com ...

[unable to retrieve full-text content]HASTINGS, Minn. (AP) ? A Minnesota animal shelter is aiming to end prejudice against dark-furred pets by holding a "Black Friday" sale. To clear out its backlog of black animals, the Animal Ark No-Kill Shelter in Hastings cut ...

Source: http://brainerddispatch.com/news/2011-11-27/animal-shelter-holds-sale-dark-fur-pets

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danlatorre: Hearing more about the pervasive impact of Facebook+SMS in the favelas of Rio. #DigitalPlacemaking #UNHabitat

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Pakistan says NATO ignored its pleas during attack

People offer funeral prayers of Saturday's NATO attack victims in Peshawar, Pakistan on Sunday, Nov 27, 2011. Pakistan on Saturday accused NATO helicopters and fighter jets of firing on two army checkpoints in the country's northwest and killing 24 soldiers. Islamabad retaliated by closing the border crossings used by the international coalition to supply its troops in neighboring Afghanistan. (AP Photo/Mohammad Sajjad)

People offer funeral prayers of Saturday's NATO attack victims in Peshawar, Pakistan on Sunday, Nov 27, 2011. Pakistan on Saturday accused NATO helicopters and fighter jets of firing on two army checkpoints in the country's northwest and killing 24 soldiers. Islamabad retaliated by closing the border crossings used by the international coalition to supply its troops in neighboring Afghanistan. (AP Photo/Mohammad Sajjad)

A Pakistani boy, bottom, shouts slogans along with other protestors during a rally to condemn NATO helicopter attacks on Pakistani troops, on the outskirts of Islamabad, Pakistan, Sunday, Nov. 27, 2011. (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen)

Pakistani soldiers pay tribute to their colleagues who lost their lives in Saturday's NATO attack, during their funeral in Peshawar, Pakistan on Sunday, Nov 27, 2011. Pakistan on Saturday accused NATO helicopters and fighter jets of firing on two army checkpoints in the country's northwest and killing 24 soldiers. Islamabad retaliated by closing the border crossings used by the international coalition to supply its troops in neighboring Afghanistan. (AP Photo/Mohammad Sajjad)

A Pakistani boy holds a dagger before a placard reading "who is terrorist, America", during a rally to condemn NATO helicopter attacks on Pakistani troops, in Lahore, Pakistan, on Sunday, Nov 27, 2011. Pakistan on Saturday accused NATO helicopters and fighter jets of firing on two army checkpoints in the country's northwest and killing 24 soldiers. Islamabad retaliated by closing the border crossings used by the international coalition to supply its troops in neighboring Afghanistan. (AP Photo/K.M.Chaudary)

Pakistani protesters rally to condemn a NATO airstrike on Pakistani troops, in Lahore, Pakistan, Sunday, Nov 27, 2011. Pakistan on Saturday accused NATO helicopters and fighter jets of firing on two army checkpoints in the country's northwest and killing 24 soldiers. Islamabad retaliated by closing the border crossings used by the international coalition to supply its troops in neighboring Afghanistan. Placard on left reads "do not use Pakistan army as a fuel of American war." (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary)

ISLAMABAD (AP) ? The NATO airstrikes that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers went on for almost two hours and continued even after Pakistani commanders had pleaded with coalition forces to stop, the army claimed Monday in charges that could further inflame anger in Pakistan.

NATO has described the incident as "tragic and unintended" and has promised a full investigation. Unnamed Afghan officials have said that a joint Afghan-NATO force on the Afghan side of the border received incoming fire from the direction of the Pakistani posts, and called in airstrikes.

Ties between Pakistan and the United States were already deteriorating before the deadly attack and have sunk to new lows since, delivering a major setback to American hopes of enlisting Islamabad's help in negotiating an end to the 10-year-old Afghan war.

Army spokesman Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas said the Pakistani troops at two border posts were the victims of an unprovoked aggression. He said the attack lasted almost two hours and that commanders had contacted NATO counterparts while it was going on, asking "they get this fire to cease, but somehow it continued."

The Pakistan army has previously said its soldiers retaliated "with all weapons available" to the attack.

The poorly defined, mountainous border has been a constant source of tension between Pakistan and the United States. NATO officials have complained that insurgents fire from across the frontier, often from positions close to Pakistani soldiers who have been accused of tolerating or supporting the militants. NATO and Afghan forces are not allowed to cross over into Pakistan in pursuit of militants.

Saturday's strikes have added to popular anger in Pakistan against the U.S.-led coalition presence in Afghanistan. Many in the army, parliament, general population and media already believed that the U.S. and NATO are hostile to Pakistan and that the Afghan Taliban are not the enemy.

By claiming it was the victim of unprovoked aggression, the Pakistan army is strengthening this narrative.

While the United States is widely disliked in Pakistan, the army has accepted billions in American aid over the last 10 years in return for its cooperation in fighting al-Qaida. It has been accused of fomenting anti-American sentiment in the country to extract better terms in what is essentially a transactional and deeply troubled relationship with Washington.

Saturday's deadly incident also serves to shift attention away from the dominant perception of the Pakistani army in the West over the last five years ? that of an unreliable ally that supports militancy. That image was cemented after al-Qaida's chief Osama bin Laden was found to have been hiding in an army town close to the Pakistani capital when he was killed.

For Pakistan's weak and much criticized elected government, Saturday's airstrikes provide a rare opportunity to unite the country and a momentary relief from attack by rivals eyeing elections in 2013 or sooner.

By contrast, deaths of soldiers and civilians in attacks by militants, some with alleged links to the country's spy agencies, are often greeted with official silence.

Abbas dismissed Afghanistan's claims that the joint Afghan-NATO troops were fired upon first.

"At this point, NATO and Afghanistan are trying to wriggle out of the situation by offering excuses," he said. "Where are their casualties?"

Abbas said the two military posts, named "Volcano" and "Golden," were located on a ridge in Mohmand region around 300 yards (meters) from the border with Afghanistan. He said their exact location had been provided to NATO and that the area had recently been cleared of militants.

Hours after the attack on Saturday, Pakistan closed its western border to trucks delivering supplies to NATO troops in Afghanistan, demanded that the U.S. abandon an air base inside Pakistan used to operate drone strikes, and said it will review its cooperation with the U.S. and NATO.

However, a complete breakdown in the relationship between the United States and Pakistan is considered unlikely. Pakistan relies on billions of dollars in American aid, and the U.S. needs Pakistan to push Afghan insurgents to participate in peace talks.

After the bin Laden raid, ties almost collapsed but slowly resumed, albeit at a lower level and with lower expectations on the American side.

A year ago, a U.S. helicopter attack killed two Pakistani soldiers posted on the Afghan-Pakistani border, prompting the army to close one of the border crossings. A joint investigation by the two nations found that Pakistani troops had fired first at the U.S. helicopters. The investigation found that the shots were probably meant as warnings after the choppers passed into Pakistani airspace. The U.S. apologized, and the border was reopened.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2011-11-28-AS-Pakistan/id-d90d474ecc2a474286a67c9853e9e994

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Voting Rights Advocate Raided by SWAT Team (Theagitator)

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10 Tips to Avoid Cyber Monday Scams (Mashable)

Bari Abdul is Vice President of Check Point's Consumer Business, ZoneAlarm, focused on innovating consumer security for the digital age. He has over 20 years of experience developing and executing go-to-market strategies that deliver record revenue and market share. It seems that the holiday shopping season comes earlier and earlier each year. Luckily, in the digital age, you can ditch the long lines of Black Friday and join the Cyber Monday crew by doing all your shopping online. However, even though shopping online is quick and convenient, there are risks involved.

[More from Mashable: Shop Small: Small Business Saturday Takes to Twitter]

According to Forrester Research, online shopping this holiday season is expected to generate almost $59.5 billion. And 90% of consumers will shop online, according to PriceGrabber?s winter holiday shopping survey. This increased traffic turns the virtual marketplace into a winter wonderland for hackers, who are gearing up to swipe credit cards and personal information to commit fraud and identify theft.

Cybercriminals exploit the holiday season and target Internet users through a variety of methods, including online shopping scams, fraudulent emails, e-card and phishing schemes and more. One of the main focuses for hackers this holiday season is social media. Beware of fake profiles on social networking and ecommerce sites that are meant to mimic well-known corporate brands and coax users into clicking on their content. Malicious content can easily hide in Facebook links and Twitter posts.

[More from Mashable: Black Friday Online Sales Up 24.3%]

So how do you keep naughty hackers at bay this holiday season? Follow these 10 tips to protect yourself while shopping online.

1. Install, update and activate your security software
At a minimum, use a firewall and antivirus software to protect you from malware that gives cybercriminals easy entrance into your computer and accounts. There are many free options. If you only use antivirus, be sure to add a two-way firewall to block hackers from entering your computer and using it to send out attacks and spam.

2. Use strong, unique passwords
Always create strong passwords (read: not these ones) for all online accounts and include letters, numbers and symbols. Longer passwords are more secure and harder to crack. Hackers employ special password-cracking software to guess their way into your accounts. Avoid using the same password for every account -- it makes it easier for hackers.

3. Only connect to legitimate Wi-Fi networks
Before you connect to a network and start shopping online, verify that the Wi-Fi network name (SSID) you are connecting to is from a legitimate service. Do not connect to random, unsecured Wi-Fi networks. It increases your security risks.

4. Make sure it?s the real site
Scammers often target users through phishing on email and social media. These messages include a link or popup that encourages you to click on it for ?special deals? or to verify some sort of information from a seller or courier, such as FedEx and UPS. The site may look similar to a real site, such as Amazon, but is actually a trap meant to steal your login or financial information. When shopping online, do not click links. Instead, access a legitimate company?s website by typing the company?s information directly into the web browser. And never enter personal information on a popup screen -- this is another way for thieves to steal personal information.

5.Only shop from secure sites
When paying online, verify that you are on an SSL secured site -- the web address will start with https:// and have a little padlock icon next to it. Websites that are SSL-secured will encrypt sensitive information such as credit card numbers during the transaction. You can also click on the padlock icon to verify the identity of the certificate owner.

6. Look for third-party seals of approval
If you see a Better Business Bureau or TRUSTe symbol, it means the site must adhere to certain standards regarding business practices and personal information.

7. Beware of deals that are too good to be true
The holiday season means some goods and gift cards are hot properties on the market, and cybercriminals will exploit consumers trying to get their hands on them. For example, one known Facebook scam promotes a free $1,000 Wal-Mart gift card. But you must first share the link with your friends and take a survey, which collects personal information. You are then re-routed to a seemingly legitimate website that requires you to participate in various promotions and purchase subscriptions, fees or products -- all are ploys to get your banking and personal information. Stick to legitimate retailers and avoid these types of gimmicks.

8. Use a dummy email account
Many sites require accounts/email logins to use. If you set up an additional email account to be used only for marketing, newsletters or online shopping, your personal correspondence and information won?t be at risk (and you won?t get as much unwanted spam).

9. Use a credit card
Shopping with a debit card online puts your checking and savings account at risk if the information is stolen. Credit cards offer protections that debit cards don?t, and you can dispute charges if needed. Some banks also offer virtual credit card numbers to use. These are temporary credit card numbers with an expiration date and a purchase maximum, which can be very useful for some transactions.

10. Read privacy agreements
If you don?t want to increase the chances of your information being accessed online, keep an eye out for websites that sell your information to third parties. Carefully review all privacy agreements and decide for yourself whether you?re willing to click ?Agree.?

If you do encounter fraud, contact the Federal Trade Commission and submit a complaint form on the FTC website.

Bottom line: The holiday shopping season means more security threats. If you follow these tips, take the proper precautions and trust your gut, you will greatly decrease your chances of being scammed by hackers. Happy Cyber Monday!

This story originally published on Mashable here.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/internet/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/mashable/20111126/tc_mashable/10_tips_to_avoid_cyber_monday_scams

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