Winner of 'Dancing With the Stars' is ...

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Ree Hines TODAY contributor

4 hours ago

Updated at 12:24 a.m. ET: It's over! Kellie Pickler is the winner of the 16th season of "Dancing With the Stars." The confetti rained down on the "American Idol" alum and country-music star as she was awarded the coveted (though some might call it a little tacky) mirror-ball trophy on Tuesday night. It's an honor she shares with her pro partner, Derek Hough, who now has the distinction of being the first ever four-time champ on the show.

"Oh my God!" a clearly surprised Kellie exclaimed when her big win was announced. "This is amazing."

It was an "amazing" win that came without the aid of the usual online voting via the official "Dancing" website, thanks to a technical glitch that affected East Coast voters. (According to host Tom Bergeron, in the spirit of fairness, none of the later votes cast on the site were counted either.)

While Disney star Zendaya (who came in second place for the season) was ahead of Kellie by one point going into the finale, Kellie's victory didn't exactly come as a shock. After all, viewers voted Kellie's emotion-packed contemporary freestyle -- the clear showstopper performance from Monday night -- the dance they most wanted to see again at the top of the show. Traditionally, the celebrity with the winning freestyle takes the trophy too, a trend that proved true once again on Tuesday night.

The results came after Kellie and her fellow finalists, Zendaya and Ravens wide receiver Jacoby Jones each performed one last dance, the dreaded "instant dance," wherein each of them learned the music they'd move to shortly before hitting the floor. (Olympic gymnast and final four competitor Aly Raisman didn't participate. She was cut just prior to the instant routines.)

Those last efforts earned rave reviews from the panel and perfect scores for all, but in fairness to Zendaya, her jive was a bit more "perfect" than Kellie's jive and much more so than Jacoby's salsa.

It was Kellie who earned the highest praise from the judges, though.

"I have to be honest with you," Bruno Tonioli told her after the dance, "you remind me of Julianne Hough."

Getting compared to the one of the best dancers ever on the show (and the sister of her own pro partner)? That almost counts as another win.

But those instant efforts weren't the only performances during the two-hour season ender. As is custom on finale night, many of the familiar faces who got the ballroom boot earlier in the competition returned to show off their fancy footwork (such as it is) too.

Reality TV star Lisa Vanderpump impressed with the crowd as she took a spin, both with her former partner Gleb Savchenko and with head judge Len Goodman. And actor-comedian Andy Dick? He reminded fans how he went from underdog to beloved ballroom beginner by delivering one last reason to cheer him on -- not so much for the second take at his Mad Hatter jazz routine (although it was just as entertaining as an encore), but for his willingness to poke fun at his own weepy ways with a mountain of tissue.

There was another returning hoofer hopeful to hit the floor too -- one who wasn't ousted from the game at all, but rather voluntarily bowed out of the ballroom bash. Former Olympic figure skater (and permanent America's sweetheart) Dorothy Hamill, who's past injuries hindered her earlier efforts, joined returning "Dancing" winner Kristi Yamaguchi in a beautiful synchronized routine. During her brief ballroom stint, Dorothy credited Kristi as her inspiration to join the show.

In an unfortunate bit of irony, Dorothy's original partner, Tristan MacManus couldn't join her due to his own injuries.

And that, plus a hefty dose of traditional finale filler, was all there was from the last Tuesday night results show of season -- and possibly ever. "Dancing With the Stars" will return in the fall, but the Tuesday episodes won't.

What did you think of the results?

Source: http://www.today.com/entertainment/winner-dancing-stars-6C10023330

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Yahoo Buying Tumblr for $1.1 Billion | Hawaii Reporter

The deal, announced Monday, is a bold bet by Yahoo Chief Executive Marissa Mayer to revitalize the company by co-opting a Web property with strong visitor traffic, but little revenue.

Yahoo made clear it was sensitive to concerns that it might damage Tumblr by making it less irreverent or more corporate.

?Per the agreement and our promise not to screw it up, Tumblr will be independently operated as a separate business,? Yahoo said in a statement.

The acquisition, which will use up about a fifth of Yahoo's $5.4 billion in cash and marketable securities, is the largest by far since Mayer took the reins in July with the goal of reversing a long decline in Yahoo's business and Web traffic.

Analysts said Yahoo appeared to be overpaying for a business that might not contribute to revenue for years, but said that Yahoo had to do something to plug a hole in its social media efforts.

RBC Capital Markets analyst Mark Mahaney called it a ?long-shot/long-term investment? but one that fits into Mayer's turnaround strategy.

?[Yahoo's] fundamentals have been subpar for numerous years, in part because of the company's missing presence in Social and Mobile. Tumblr may help [Yahoo] develop that presence,? Mahaney said in a note.

Tumblr is one of the Web's most popular hubs of so-called user-generated content, drawing young people who use the platform to post pictures and text. Tumblr has more than 100 million blogs in its network, ranging from ?White Men Wearing Google Glass? to housing-focused ?The Worst Room.?

Though Yahoo remains one of the Web's most popular destinations, it has seen its revenue shrink in recent years as consumers and advertisers favor rivals such as Google and Facebook. The deal is expected to increase Yahoo's audience by 50 percent.

Rich premium

While Tumblr is certainly popular - it has tens of millions of monthly unique visitors - analysts questioned what kind of contribution it will make to Yahoo revenue, since advertising on the site is in its nascent stages.

Media reports have pegged Tumblr's 2012 revenue at $13 million. The privately held company, based in Manhattan, does not disclose its financial results.

Yahoo expects that Tumblr will help boost revenue by 2014, Ken Goldman, Yahoo's chief financial officer, said on a call with analysts. He did not provide specific numbers.

?Even if revenue was $100 million, it means Yahoo paid 10 times revenue,? said BGC Financial analyst Colin Gillis. ?Ten times is what you pay to date the belle of the ball. It's on the outer bands of M&A.?

Yahoo could quickly boost Tumblr's revenue by combining the website with its own sales force, said Pivotal Research Group analyst Brian Wieser. Loading Tumblr up with banner ads risks alienating its users, however, and probably wouldn't provide a significant lift to Yahoo's overall revenue, he said.

?It's not clear that this deal will be favorable from a return-on-capital perspective,? Wieser said. ?One billion [dollars] for one company is a big bet.?

Gillis and Wieser were contacted on Sunday after the deal was reported by the online publication All Things D.

Mayer, on the conference call, described the Tumblr deal as an exception and said Yahoo was not necessarily planning lots of similarly sized deals.

Yahoo is one of several companies that have coughed up considerable money for buzz-worthy start-ups that hold promise. Facebook bought the popular social media photo site Instagram for $1 billion last year. In 2006, Google paid $1.6 billion for YouTube.

Shares of Yahoo rose as much as 2 percent in early trading Monday, but later fell back. They were up 18 cents to $26.70 in late-morning dealings. Through Friday's close, the shares had risen 70 percent since Mayer became CEO.

Image issues

One question Yahoo may have to address is Tumblr's reputation as a home for pornographic blogs. At one point in 2009, about 80 percent of Tumblr's top sites had something to do with adult content. Today that number is closer to 5 percent, according to Quantcast data, but the image lingers.

Mayer said on the call that Yahoo's targeting tools would allow advertisers to zero in on specific demographics and content.

One area where Yahoo plans to ramp up advertising: Tumblr's dashboard, the main landing point, akin to a newsfeed.

Dealing with that and other issues may fall to David Karp, 26, who founded Tumblr in 2007 and will remain CEO.

Karp, a self-taught programmer who left high school in favor of home schooling, did not take part in Mayer's conference call. Media reports have suggested his take in the billion-dollar sale would top $200 million.

In a 2012 interview with The Guardian, Karp seemed to be less interested in money than in Tumblr's prominence.

?There are a lot of rich people in the world. There are very few people who have the privilege of getting to invent things that billions of people use,? he said.

Source: http://www.hawaiireporter.com/yahoo-buying-tumblr-for-1-1-billion/123

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Comment Period: Feral Pig Damage Management | The Wildlife ...

Feral pigs damage vegetation while foraging, rooting, and wallowing. This resulting damage promotes weed invasions, changes dominant vegetation types, and increases erosion. (Credit: USFS)

The U.S. Department of Agriculture?s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced in the federal register both a notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and a notice of a public meeting concerning feral pig damage management.?

Now found in at least 35 states as well as Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and American Samoa, feral pigs are a growing concern for agencies tasked with controlling this prolific invasive species. The USDA reports that there are an estimated 5 million feral pigs in the U.S., which cause over $1 billion in damages annually. Feral pigs damage vegetation, increase erosion, promote the spread of invasive plant species, transmit diseases and parasites, and consume row crops, livestock feed, and small animals such as ground nesting birds. To learn more about the threats associated with feral pigs, see the USDA publication ?Feral Swine: Damage and Disease Threats.?

AHPIS has been issuing local environmental assessments for proposed feral pig damage control methods as well as providing technical assistance upon request. Due to the increasing number of requests from local governments and private entities for assistance and the continued expansion of the feral pig population, AHPIS is proposing to implement a nationally coordinated feral pig damage management program in cooperation with states, tribes, and other federal agencies. AHPIS has ?identified several environmental issues associated with a nationally coordinated management plan to be considered in the EIS. They are requesting public comment on potential environmental impacts of feral pig damage management in addition to comments on the scope of alternatives.?

Written comments can be submitted through the Federal eRulemaking Portal or by mail. Comments submitted via mail should be sent to the following address: Project Managers, Feral Swine EIS, USDA APHIS?WS, 732 Lois Drive, Sun Prairie, WI 53590. The written comment period closes on June 12, 2013.

Comments will also be accepted at a public meeting to be held on May 23, 2013 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the USDA Center at Riverdale, Oklahoma City Memorial Conference Center, 4700 River Road, Riverdale, MD 20737. Pre-registration is required. To learn more about the public meeting, get travel and parking information, security information, register, or learn about how to access the webcast, please visit USDA?s public scoping meeting webpage.???

Sources: Feral Swine Impacts on Agriculture and the Environment (Seward et al., 2004), Feral Swine: Damage and Disease Threats (USDA, 2011), Federal Register (May 13, 2013).

Source: http://news.wildlife.org/wpn/comment-period-feral-pig-damage-management/

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How to Help: Midwest storms

Several tornadoes tore through the Midwest on Sunday, May 19, laying waste to entire neighborhoods and killing at least two people. Oklahoma and Kansas bore the brunt of the damage -- the two deaths occurred in Shawnee, Oklahoma and at least 39 people were injured throughout the state, according to officials. In Wichita, a powerful twister knocked out power for thousands of people.

If you'd like to help the victims of the storms, here are the organizations that are working on relief and recovery in the region:

BAPTIST GENERAL CONVENTION OF OKLAHOMA: Disaster relief volunteers from Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma are sending relief teams and feeding units to affected areas. Please designate your gift to "Disaster Relief." Donate here.

THE SALVATION ARMY USA: The Salvation Army of Arkansas and Oklahoma is becoming active in disaster response to several areas as a result of weather related events.? The Salvation Army is providing mobile feeding units for first responders and survivors. Please designate your gift to "Disaster Relief." Donate here.

Watch for more information on the storms:

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/how-to-help--midwest-storms-182314098.html

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A Thought Experiment On How Google's New Palestine Page Could Undermine Peace Talks

The Israeli Foreign Minister has sent a strongly worded letter to Google CEO, Larry Page, warning him that their new Palestine search page could undermine Middle-East peace negotiations. “Such a decision is in my opinion not only mistaken but could also negatively impinge on the efforts of my government to bring about direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority,” wrote minister Ze’ev Elkin, about Google’s decision to change “Palestinian Territories” to “Palestine” on Google.ps (picture above). Careful followers of foreign policy news might question how exactly a tiny word change on a website could upset arguably the most resource-intensive diplomatic effort in human history, but we think such skepticism underestimates Google’s vast geo-political power. Here’s a thought experiment of 5 different ways Google could have a meaningful impact: 1. Well, maybe Google could…no, that wouldn’t do anything 2. … 3. … 4. … 5. … Ok, we can’t think of any. Google is simply following the lead of the United Nations and other major Internet governance organizations. “We’re changing the name ‘Palestinian Territories’ to ‘Palestine’ across our products. We consulted a number of sources and authorities when naming countries.” Google spokesman Nathan Tyler told the BBC. “In this case, we are following the lead of the UN, Icann [the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers], ISO [International Organisation for Standardisation] and other international organisations. While the highly controversial UN vote was an enormous symbolic victory for the Middle-Eastern region, the only way in which Google could make a meaningful impact on the global discussion is to be brazenly contrary to every other Internet body. And, it’s silly to think that “Well, Google doesn’t recognize you guys” would make much of a difference at the negotiation table. The Guardian probably had the best cheeky headline, subtly mocking the row over Google’s decision (as only the British can), “Palestine now recognised by greater power than US or Israel ? Google” When Google does choose to throw its foreign policy weight around, it does so by taking on dictatorships, either by opening up shop in China, giving Google products to Iran, or mapping North Korea’s prisons. Elkin’s letter seems like a PR gimmick with Google as the political football. A note to our readers: every time we write something about Israeli politics, people get (reasonably) heated. For the record, we’ve written a lot of positive things about Israeli civil society, especially

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/AWEvVzBASdU/

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Do Some Useful Things For Business Online With Web Hosting

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Users started finding out fast that cPanel was very easy to use and they could build up their websites fast. This is one of the many reasons as to why cPanel started becoming popular very fast. The software is known to be very friendly and people who have never made websites can now afford to create a website thanks to the cPanel hosting software online. In fact, even a person who has no previous experience in website hosting can operate various systems of a website through cPanel hosting. As is obvious, this is especially useful for online entrepreneurs who are new to the industry and, hence, are still learning the ropes.

Moreover, if the technical aspect of website hosting can be handled easily then this would leave you with the freedom to focus on making your business grow through innovative techniques for marketing and operations. There are lots of tools that you can use to help that come with cPanel and this is part of the cPanel history. They have been known for a very long time to have awesome tools and that was one of their main goals. You can research online and find out more about the tools that the cPanel software has to offer. You can also quickly install programs such as Word Press and even Joule to help you with getting the site started.

This is why it becomes especially important for an online entrepreneur to make sure that the cpanel hosting service provider that he chooses is up to the mark. Taking every precaution to ensure that your cPanel web hosting service provider is absolutely of high quality will go a long way in helping your business reach the heights that you expect from it. Try to look for recommendations from people around you or even check reviews of various cpanel hosting service providers on the internet. ?

Source: http://www.beyourownbossie.com/blog/do-some-useful-things-for-business-online-with-web-hosting.htm

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?World?s first 3-D printable handgun? under fire

The Liberator (Michael Thad Carter/Forbes)

The creator of what's being called the world's first 3-D-printed handgun is coming under fire from lawmakers concerned that anyone with a 3-D printer and an Internet connection will be able to print an untraceable arsenal.

Cody Wilson, the 25-year-old founder of Defense Distributed, is expected to release his controversial blueprint for the gun?called the "Liberator"?online this week, according to Forbes.

The report immediately drew the ire of both New York Rep. Steve Israel, who called for a renewal of the Undetectable Firearms Act, and New York Sen. Chuck Schumer, who called use of the technology ?stomach-churning.?

?Security checkpoints, background checks and gun regulations will do little good if criminals can print plastic firearms at home and bring those firearms through metal detectors with no one the wiser," Israel said in a statement on Friday. "When I started talking about the issue of plastic firearms months ago, I was told the idea of a plastic gun is science-fiction. Now that this technology is proven, we need to act now."

Defense Distributed announced plans to create the world's first entirely printable handgun last year. In March, the company obtained a federal license as a gun manufacturer.

"The Wiki Weapon project," as it's described on Defense Distributed's website, is "a nonprofit effort to create freely available plans for 3D printable guns."

?This gun can fire regular bullets,? Schumer said, according to the Daily News. ?Now anyone, a terrorist, someone who is mentally ill, a spousal abuser, a felon, can essentially open a gun factory in their garage. It must be stopped.?

Wilson, a self-described ?free-market anarchist? and University of Texas law student, is keenly aware of the controversy.

"You can print a lethal device," Wilson told Forbes last year. "It's kind of scary, but that's what we're aiming to show."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/3d-printable-gun-153109290.html

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Hong Kong prescribes new dose of old Chinese medicine

by Beh Lih Yi

Hong Kong, April 30, 2013 (AFP) - The young woman pours a pack of brown powder into a glass of hot water, stirs it well and drinks the murky mixture down, hoping the traditional Chinese medicine will cure her feverish cold.

Sofie Lau may work as a paediatric nurse and she may live in the modern, fast-paced city of Hong Kong -- but when it comes to treating her own ill-health, she prefers ancient remedies.

Despite the age of its recipes, Chinese medicine -- which has continued to thrive among Hong Kong's seven million residents -- is not standing still.

A growing number of young university-trained practitioners are pioneering changes within the industry, providing traditional remedies with modern efficiency.

Lau, 25, says it feels more natural to turn to Chinese medicine.

"I've tried Western medicine, but usually I feel very tired after I take it. Even though I can recover very fast, I will become sick again afterwards," she explains at the Chinese medicine centre where she has come for treatment.

"But I can't just sit in front of the stove and watch herbs boiling for eight hours. I'm busy with work, if we had to boil the herbal soup like we did in the past, perhaps I wouldn't consider Chinese medicine as an option."

While Chinese medicine masters used to issue instructions for the tedious hours-long process of mixing, soaking, brewing and distilling herbs, nowadays practitioners prescribe ready-made powders.

The complicated brewing process is even outsourced, with orders made over the Internet for doorstep delivery.

It is the latest development for a practice that is thousands of years old and was traditionally passed down through the generations but was regulated in 1999 as the city eyed becoming a Chinese medicine trading hub.

The health department said the regulatory framework has helped "boost public confidence".

Its popularity is growing, with imports of Chinese herbal medicines having reached HK$2.35 billion ($303 million) in 2011, up 37 percent from 2009. Health insurance plans often cover consultation costs at Chinese medicine centres.

In the late 1990s, universities began offering courses, attracting fresh thinking to the industry, which now has about 6,500 practitioners, about half the number of regular doctors in the city.

Dennis Au, 31, opened his first clinic in 2008 after a five-year undergraduate course and now has four more branches with a network of 20 colleagues.

Most of his patients are between 20 and 40, and many are surprised by how young the practitioners are, but he says it is important to keep the industry moving forward.

He offers instant medication rather than a list of boiling instructions, wears a white coat, and stores patient records on a computer.

"We didn't change the philosophy or the concept of Chinese medicine, we just changed the image of Chinese medicine," he says in a break between consultations.

"It's necessary to have this revolution. If the old trend continues, Chinese medicine will die."

Critics accuse the industry of being unscientific.

And although most cures are plant-based, in the West the image of Chinese medicine has been tarnished by its association with the use of animal parts such as rhino horn -- which has continued despite a Chinese ban in 1993.

Other traditional Chinese remedies also raise eyebrows, such as lizard-on-a-stick, dried seahorses and deer antlers, which can apparently cure ailments from acne, to colds and impotence.

But international studies have at least given credence to certain herbal concoctions, including US research last year that said a flowering plant called blue evergreen hydrangea could treat fever and ease malaria.

The Chinese have kept the faith, with the recent outbreak of bird flu on the mainland leading to a run on banlangen, a traditional Chinese medicine for colds made from the roots of the woad plant.

Hong Kong's health department is now working with the World Health Organization on a system of classification.

The industry is also obtaining a gloss of professionalism when it comes to made-to-order remedies.

David Tang set up the Hong Kong Chinese Medicine Service Centre in an industrial area six months ago, with a team of 10 staff members taking orders online, boiling the herbs, packaging them and providing next-day delivery.

"We helped simplify the logistical issues. We're a modern herb store, although we continue to use the traditional prescription," says Tang.

"We're just like the old wine in a new bottle."

Source: http://www.mysinchew.com/node/85843

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Saudi authorities detain wanted Shiite

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) ? A Saudi official says police have detained two men, including a Shiite Muslim accused of instigating violence, after a firefight in a restive eastern region.

Interior Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Mansour al-Turki claimed in a statement Tuesday that police wounded the two in the legs during an exchange of fire in the district of al-Awamiyah in the eastern town of Qatif.

He said one of them is Abdullah bin Salman al-Sraih, one of 23 Shiites wanted for allegedly instigating violent protests demanding the release of imprisoned relatives.

Saudi Arabia has not seen unrest anywhere near the scale of the uprisings that have hit other Arab nations, but some protests have taken place in the oil-rich eastern areas home to the country's Shiite minority.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/saudi-authorities-detain-wanted-shiite-101308931.html

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UK green bank, UAE's Masdar plan clean energy investments

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's Green Investment Bank plans to invest in British clean energy projects over the next seven years along with United Arab Emirates' state-owned renewable energy firm Masdar, the bank said in a statement on Tuesday.

The bank, formed with 3 billion pounds ($4.65 billion) of UK government funding, is designed to spur private sector investment in clean energy projects to help meet Britain's emissions reduction and renewable energy targets.

It said it will sign an agreement with Masdar on Wednesday during a state visit of the President of the United Arab Emirates to London.

Under the agreement, the two parties will consider potential green infrastructure projects in which to invest. Joint investments will be made and managed independently, the bank added.

Masdar has already invested over 500 million pounds in the London Array, the world's largest offshore wind farm.

Late last year, British Prime Minister David Cameron approached Emirati state energy investors, including Masdar, to persuade them to invest in Britain's energy sector.

(Reporting by Nina Chestney; Editing by David Cowell)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/uk-green-bank-uaes-masdar-plan-clean-energy-130322668.html

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CBS Blogger Calls OKC Cheerleader "Too Chunky," Kelsey Williams Reacts on Twitter

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2013/04/cbs-sports-blogger-calls-cheerleader-too-chunky-war-erupts-on-tw/

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