Masked men block Egypt subway, scuffles break out

CAIRO (AP) ? Egyptian witnesses say masked men blocked trains at a central Cairo subway station, standing on tracks and getting into fistfights with some waiting passengers who tried to stop them.

Meanwhile, protesters locked shut the doors of the main administrative building for state services just outside the station at Tahrir Square, while others blocked traffic at a main bridge on the other side of town near the presidential palace by standing in the road. Demonstrators have been sleeping in tents at Tahrir since mid-November to protest policies of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi.

The action comes on the second anniversary of the ouster of Egypt's longtime autocrat Hosni Mubarak, deposed in a popular uprising.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/masked-men-block-egypt-subway-scuffles-break-141204080.html

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The New Cost of Dying in Ohio: Kasich's 20 Proposed ?Death Taxes?

In his first budget Governor Kasich killed Ohio?s Estate Tax which he said was driving wealthy Ohioans to Florida. ? ?The tax was applied to estates valued over $338,000 ? only about 7% of those in Ohio. ? The bulk of the tax was paid to local governments and eliminating it removed $250 million a year from local coffers. ? The effect was felt throughout the state and impacted important public safety services like police?and fire.

The Estate Tax typically impacted well-off individuals with high-value estates but this year?Kasich plans to?institute a whole series of new ?service? taxes that will?hit everyone and will have a much bigger impact of those with lower incomes.

One new tax that stood out was for funeral services.

Unlike movies or bowling, which will also be taxed under the new plan, paying for a funeral is generally not a choice. ?And the costs will hit families of all income levels already dealing with the emotional and financial?struggles?of losing a family member. ? ?A host of other related services will also be taxed under Kasich?s plan?

?

Did your loved one leave you with a house?
Property sales agents and real estate title abstract services are now taxed.

Was the home full of personal items?
Packing and crating and intrastate courier service are now taxed.

Did your loved one leave you to handle his/her estate and finances?
Accounting, Bookkeeping,Tax return preparation, Legal services, Insurance services, Investment counseling, Loan broker fees and service charges of banking institutions are now all taxable.

Need your suit cleaned for the funeral?
Laundry and dry cleaning services

Or your hair cut?
Cutting, coloring, styling of hair

Traveling to the funeral?
Travel agent services?are now taxed and you?ll be taxed when you park your car at the airport.

Want to run an obituary in the paper?
Sales of advertising time or space are now taxed.

Kasich?s 2013 budget was most certainly written with an eye to the 2014 election, with the Governor hoping to cast himself as the guy who cut Ohio?s income tax. ? But choosing to greatly expand Ohio?s sales tax to offset the costs could backfire. ?Instead of closing tax loop holes, which impact only a few individuals or businesses, Kasich chose to enact a tax increase on every Ohioan who sees a movie and every Ohio small business that uses a lawyer and an account.

The impact of Kasich?s sales tax increase is broad and will be felt across the state by most Ohioans. ? His income tax cut, on the other hand, will have its largest impact on a much smaller group of wealthy Ohioans.

IF he?s lucky, Kasich might be able to sell this idea to his own people in the Republican-controlled legislature and actually get the tax plan passed.

But selling Ohioans on the idea that Kasich is a tax-cutter when they find themselves paying new taxes on everything from haircuts to cable TV to funeral services might be a more difficult sell.

?

Source: http://www.plunderbund.com/2013/02/11/the-new-cost-of-dying-in-ohio-kasichs-20-proposed-death-taxes/

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PFT: McGinest: Someone needs to talk to Gronk

Getty Images

With the Patriots tepid on the topic of keeping cornerback Aqib Talib with a multi-year deal, his former college coach has offered a surprisingly strong assessment in response to the notion that Talib doesn?t work hard enough.

?[H]e loves to play football,? Mark Mangino recently told Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald.? ?He enjoyed practice time.? He hustled, made plays, did all of his drill work full speed, played hard in the games, did what was asked of him in the weight room, got bigger and stronger when he was with us.? I find that a little hard to believe.

?Things can change, obviously, but I stopped into the Tampa Bay Buccaneers training camp [last summer]. I visited with several members of the staff, front office people, strength coaches, trainers, assistant coaches. To the person, they told me what a great job Aqib was doing. ?He is showing leadership. He is working his tail off in the [OTAs].? He?s been a leader.? He is really busting his butt, and he is really working hard.?

?That doesn?t always happen. I have been to training camps in the past where I?ve had a former player that I?ve coached, and the coaches have come up to me and say, ?This player doesn?t work hard. He?s not into it.?? They?ll tell you the truth. When you go to these NFL places, they don?t mince any words.?

The Bucs may not have minced words, but they eventually traded Talib.? And it?s no surprise.? As coach Greg Schiano tries to build a roster of players of high character, Talib was one of several who simply didn?t fit.

That said, Talib possibly was working hard; it could be that his four-game suspension for violating the league?s policy regarding performance-enhancing substances prompted the trade.? And it could be that an Adderall-free Talib doesn?t work as hard as he does when taking the banned stimulant.

Still, it seems a little odd Mangino is singing Talib?s praises.? Throughout Talib?s various on-field and off-field struggles, Mangino has not been a particularly vocal defender.? Also, it was widely known during the weeks preceding the 2008 draft that Kansas coaches were not saying flattering things about Talib to scouts.

The question now for the Pats is whether they can strike a deal that will extend Talib?s stay beyond a handful of 2012 games.? If he leaves, they won?t have gotten much in return for the fourth-round pick they sent to Tampa.

But at least they got a seventh-round pick back in return.

Source: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/02/10/willie-mcginest-thinks-someone-needs-to-talk-to-gronkowski/related/

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Sarah Silverman?s Sister Arrested and Detained in Israel

Rabbi Susan Silverman ? a member of the liberal Reform movement ? and her daughter Hallel, were arrested and detained by Israeli police for wearing a blue and white tallitot, a shawl reserved only for orthodox men. She is the sister of comedian Sarah Silverman.

Via The Independent:

Rabbi Silverman belongs to ?Women of the Wall? ? a group that visits the site each month wearing traditionally male religious garb. Yesterday as many as 300 people gathered at the Western Wall in Jerusalem?s Old City, to protest at the orthodox control of the site.

The issue of women praying at the Western Wall is fraught. Only a small section of the ancient site is reserved for women, with the rest given over to male worship. Before last month?s general election, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he would consider ways of making the situation more equitable, despite a 2003 Supreme Court decision that upheld the divide.

Ten more women were arrested for wearing the ?male style? tallitot.

Source: http://dailypostal.com/2013/02/11/sarah-silvermans-sister-arrested-and-detained-in-israel/

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Japan mulling over release of Chinese radar data in Senkaku row

Japan says that it may release recorded radar data as evidence to prove that a Chinese naval frigate locked its fire-control radar onto a Japanese ship near the disputed Senkaku islands. The Japanese government said this after Beijing rejected accusations it had targeted the destroyer last month.

The two nations are embroiled in an intense territorial dispute over the islands, known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China. Japan has assumed control over the islands, which are also claimed by Taiwan. ?The government is considering the extent of what can be disclosed,? Japanese Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera said. The action is being considered as China has continued to insist that its ship was only using ordinary surveillance radar. Earlier this week, Mr. Onodera said a Japanese military helicopter was also targeted with a similar type of radar by another Chinese frigate on January 19.

On Friday, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called on the Chinese government and military to acknowledge the January 30 incident and apologize. But China?s Defense Ministry has denied these allegations, saying that they ?were against the facts? and they are urging Japan to ?stop stirring up tension in the East China Sea?. In its statement, the Chinese Defense Ministry further added that in each incident, the Chinese vessel ?kept normal observation and alert, and fire control radar was not used?.

Since the row over the Senkakus started up again last September, Chinese vessels have been traveling in and out of what Japan says are territorial waters around the islands, prompting the heightened warnings from Tokyo.

[ via BBC ]

Source: http://japandailypress.com/japan-mulling-over-release-of-chinese-radar-data-in-senkaku-row-1123103

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Fun. takes song of the year at Grammy Awards

Taylor Swift performs on stage at the 55th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013, in Los Angeles. (Photo by John Shearer/Invision/AP)

Taylor Swift performs on stage at the 55th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013, in Los Angeles. (Photo by John Shearer/Invision/AP)

Musical group fun. perform at the 55th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013, in Los Angeles. (Photo by John Shearer/Invision/AP)

Dan Auerbach, left, and Patrick Carney accept the award for best rock album "El Camino" at the 55th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013, in Los Angeles. (Photo by John Shearer/Invision/AP)

Skrillex arrives at the 55th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

From left, Marcus Mumford, Ben Lovett, Country Winston and Ted Dwane, of musical group Mumford & Sons, arrive at the 55th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

LOS ANGELES (AP) ? You can cross one major trophy off the list for fun. at the Grammy Awards.

The pop-rockers won song of the year for their transcendent anthem, "We Are Young," featuring Janelle Monae, during Sunday night's telecast, taking the first of four major awards the group's been nominated.

"I don't know what I was thinking when I wrote the chorus to this song," lead singer Nate Ruess joked. "This is in HD, everyone can see our faces, and we are not very young."

Most of the attention has been on Frank Ocean going into the awards ? he won a trophy for urban contemporary album and is up for four more trophies during the telecast. But his fellow lead nominees got an early lead on the R&B singer.

"We Are Young" helped fun. earn a starring role at these Grammys with nominations in all four major categories after the release of their first album, matched only by Christopher Cross in 1981, and six overall. The band turned in a powerful early performance of "Carry On" early in the show as a downpour on stage began mid-song and guitarist Jack Antonoff got a kiss from girlfriend Lena Dunham of "Girls" fame after winning.

Fun. may have picked up a major win, but it was The Black Keys and Skrillex who had the early lead thanks to strong runs in the pre-telecast awards show.

The Black Keys singer-guitarist Dan Auerbach took the early lead during the pre-telecast show, picking up three trophies and assisting with a fourth. Auerbach won producer of the year alone and best rock song for "Lonely Boy" and rock album for "El Camino" with his bandmate Patrick Carney, joining electronic dance music innovator Skrillex atop the early leaderboard. He was also producer for another winner, Dr. John.

A slew of artists sit one back going into the main awards show at the Staples Center, including fellow top nominees Kanye West and Jay-Z, Gotye, former best new artist winner Esperanza Spalding, jazz man Chick Corea and Christian singer-songwriter Matt Redman.

West and Jay-Z won best rap song and best rap performance for the song "... in Paris" from their "Watch the Throne" collaboration and lost a third for short form video for "No Church in The Wild," which featured Ocean. Ocean will be up for five awards later in the evening.

Other early winners included Rihanna, Beyonce, Mumford & Sons and Taylor Swift, who opened the show as the Mad Hatter. Swift dressed in white top hat, tails, shorts and tall boots during the surreal version of her hummable hit "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" that included a troop of mime clowns and a guy on a tricycle with a flame-thrower attached.

The singer pretended to talk to the offending boyfriend on the phone: "I'm busy opening the Grammys and we're never getting back together."

Justin Timberlake debuted new tracks "Suit & Tie" with Jay-Z and "Pusher Love" in a performance that was broadcast in retro black and white. Elton John and Ed Sheeran teamed on "The A Team" and Miguel and Wiz Kalifa teamed up on "Adorn."

Adele won the first award of the night on the main telecast, taking home best pop solo performance for "Set Fire to the Rain (Live)," in one of the night's least-surprising moments ? though the singer was somewhat taken aback.

"I just wanted to be part of the night, because I loved it last year, obviously," she said of winning a record-tying six awards in 2012.

Carrie Underwood won best country solo performance for "Blown Away."

The Grammy pre-telecast awards show at the Nokia Theatre had 70 trophies up for grabs, including rock, pop, rap and country categories.

Skrillex won best dance recording for "Bangarang," featuring Sirah, best dance/electronica album for "Bangarang" and best remixed recording a year after winning those same awards in his first appearance at the Grammys.

"You know what, I thought I'd get used to it, but I tripped over every word when I was up there," Skrillex said of his acceptance speeches. "I felt like I just wanted a pool of ice water and just couldn't even breathe or think. It was crazy. I think it was even crazier than last year."

Gotye won best alternative album for "Making Mirrors" and best pop/duo performance for "Somebody That I Used To Know," featuring Kimbra.

Celebrities rolled down the red carpet in the early afternoon, showing a fair amount of skin despite CBS's mandate that stars dress appropriately with butts, breasts and other sensitive areas covered adequately.

Nevertheless, Jennifer Lopez showed up on stage in a dress slit all the way to her hip.

"As you can see, I read the memo," Lopez joked.

Celebrities also felt an increased Los Angeles Police Department presence in light of a manhunt involving an alleged cop killer. Police were everywhere, including atop the hotel across from the Staples Center.

Frank Ocean remains in contention for five awards and will perform.

"It feels cool," Ocean said on the red carpet. "It's really bright, a lot of beautiful ladies walking around being fancy. I have to perform tonight so the wheels are constantly spinning. You can't really just sit in your seat and take it all in."

Three of the night's major awards are still to come. Jack White's "Blunderbuss" competes with fun.'s "Some Nights," Ocean's "channel ORANGE," Mumford's "Babel" and The Keys' "El Camino" for the night's top award, album of the year.

Gotye's "Somebody That I Used To Know," featuring Kimbra, Taylor Swift's "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" and Kelly Clarkson's "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)" join the fun., Ocean and Black Keys entries in record of the year.

And rounding out the major categories, fun., Ocean, Alabama Shakes, Hunter Hayes and The Lumineers are up for best new artist.

There was no shortage of mashups the Grammys have become famous for, either. Elton John, Mavis Staples, Mumford, Brittany Howard, T Bone Burnett and Zac Brown are saluting the late Levon Helm, who won the Americana Grammy last year a few months before his death. The Keys will join Dr. John and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band on stage. Sting, Rihanna and Bruno Mars will perform together. Other team-ups include Miranda Lambert and Dierks Bentley, and Alicia Keys and Maroon 5.

___

AP writers Nekesa Mumbi Moody, Mesfin Fekadu, Sandy Cohen, Anthony McCartney and Beth Harris in Los Angeles contributed to this report.

___

Online:

http://grammy.com

___

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

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/4e67281c3f754d0696fbfdee0f3f1469/Article_2013-02-10-Grammys/id-2831f30c0f6344f094620e0faa6604f3

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Seagal, sheriff train Arizonans to guard schools

PHOENIX (AP) ? The self-proclaimed "America's Toughest Sheriff" joined forces this weekend with action movie star Steven Seagal to train volunteer armed posse members to defend Phoenix-area schools against gunmen.

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio announced the controversial plan in the wake of the Newtown, Conn., school shooting that left 27 people dead, including the gunman and 20 first-graders.

The exercise took place Saturday at a closed school site in suburban Fountain Hills, outside Phoenix, where sheriff's SWAT members acted as shooters and teenagers played the part of students during mock scenarios involving up to three gunmen.

Seagal, best known for his roles in movies such as "Above the Law" and "Under Siege," planned to lead training on hand-to-hand defense tactics, among other techniques, drawing from his expertise in martial arts, according to a sheriff's office news release.

Arpaio's office didn't respond to requests for comment Friday and Saturday, and Seagal representatives also did not return telephone messages from The Associated Press.

When faced with criticism in January about the school posse plan, Arpaio snapped back, "Why would people complain about my posse being in front of schools to act as prevention?"

He boldly announced the plan on the grounds of an elementary school, saying at the time he wanted the patrols publicized.

"I want everyone to know about it for the deterrence effect," Arpaio said, adding that no taxpayer money would be spent on the patrols and volunteers will be supervised over the radio or telephone by actual deputies.

Arizona Democratic House Minority Leader Chad Campbell called the plan to use Seagal as an instructor "ludicrous."

"Steve Seagal is an actor. That's it. Why don't we also have Clint Eastwood and Chuck Norris and Bruce Willis come out and train them too while we're at it," Campbell said.

Campbell has been a vocal critic of Arpaio's school posse protection plan, complaining that using untrained, armed civilians to protect students is a bad idea and likely will only make the facilities more dangerous.

"He's making a mockery out of it. You're having a movie actor train people how to protect schools?" Campbell said.

Randy Parraz, president of Citizens for a Better Arizona, also a longtime Arpaio critic, said it's unfortunate the sheriff, known nationally for his tough stance on illegal immigration, is using the "wake of a tragedy like Newtown" to grab headlines.

"We'd like to think he would take something like this much more seriously," said Parraz, who added that his group planned to be at Saturday's event with petitions to recall Arpaio.

The patrols were launched at 59 schools in January throughout unincorporated areas and communities that pay Arpaio's agency for police services. The sheriff announced this week he needs more members to continue the patrols, calling for 1,000 additional citizens to step up and volunteer.

Current posse members already are used to bolster the sheriff's office force by providing police protection at malls during the holidays, directing traffic and transporting people to jail.

Arpaio even sent one group of posse members to Hawaii to conduct an examination into the authenticity of President Barack Obama's birth certificate.

Joselyn Wells, a mother of three children at a school in suburban Phoenix, where Arpaio's posse has begun patrolling, said she was excited to hear about the initiative.

"A lot of people sit around and watch these things happen, watch key signs and no one wants to do anything about it," she said when Arpaio announced the plan. "Nobody wants conflict, nobody wants to be out in the limelight. And he doesn't care. He wants to do the right thing."

Andrew Sanchez, however, a town council member in Guadalupe, said he wants nothing to do with posse members patrolling schools in his community, which spends about $1.2 million annually for Maricopa County sheriff's patrols.

"We are paying him to have certified deputies here, not to bring a circus and not to use our town as a political platform," Sanchez has said.

The volunteers, dressed in uniforms and driving patrol vehicles, some authorized to carry guns after training, won't go onto school grounds unless they spot danger, but will instead patrol around the facilities, Arpaio said.

Seagal is already a volunteer posse member in Maricopa County and has been deputized with sheriff's offices in New Mexico, Texas and Louisiana, where a film crew followed the actor on ride-alongs with Jefferson Parish sheriff's deputies for the reality TV show "Steven Seagal: Lawman."

Arpaio says other notable people also have joined his more than 3,000-strong volunteer armed posse, including "The Incredible Hulk" star Lou Ferrigno and actor Peter Lupus of TV's "Mission: Impossible."

___

Online:

http://www.mcso.org/About/Posse.aspx

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/seagal-sheriff-train-arizonans-guard-schools-023031238.html

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