Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Diane Lampert Dead: Songwriter Dies At Age 88

  • Rick Huxley

    Bass player Rick Huxley, one of the founding members of the Dave Clark Five, died on Feb. 11, 2013, at the age of 72. Though the band broke up in 1970, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2008.

  • John Kerr

    John Kerr, the stage and film actor whose credits include the movie "South Pacific," the thriller "The Pit and the Pendulum" and a Tony Award-winning turn in "Tea and Sympathy," died on Feb. 9, 2013, at the age of 81. He passed away due to heart failure at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena, Calif.

  • Donald Byrd

    Jazz musician Donald Byrd, a leading hard-bop trumpeter of the 1950s who collaborated on dozens of albums with top artists of his time and later enjoyed commercial success with hit jazz-funk fusion records such as "Black Byrd," died on Feb. 4, 2013. He was 80. No details have been released regarding his death.

  • Mark Balelo

    Mark Balelo, an auction house owner featured on the A&E reality TV show "Storage Wars," was found dead on Feb. 11, 2013. He was 40. His death has been declared a <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/13/mark-balelo-suicide_n_2674485.html">suicide</a>.

  • Mary O'Connor

    O'Connor, Hugh Hefner's longtime secretary who appeared on the reality series "Girls Next Door," died on Jan. 27, 2013.

  • Robin Sachs

    The British actor died on Feb. 1, 2013, just four days shy of his 62nd birthday. He is best known for playing villainous character Ethan Rayne on the hit series "Buffy The Vampire Slayer," but boasts a full resume and will also be remembered for his roles on "Babylon 5" and "Star Trek: Voyager."

  • Robert F. Chew

    The actor, best known for his role as drug kingpin Proposition Joe on the critically acclaimed HBO series ?The Wire,? died January 17th, 2013, of apparent heart failure in his sleep at his home in Northeast Baltimore. He was 52.

  • Freddy E

    Seattle rapper Freddy E (real name Freddy E. Buhl) died on January 5, 2013, of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. The 22-year-old is believed to have live tweeted the moments leading up to his apparent suicide.

  • Ned Wertimer

    Ned Wertimer (here seen on the left), who appeared on 11 seasons of "The Jeffersons" as Ralph The Doorman, died January 2, 2013, at the age of 89. Wertimer died following health complications at the Sherman Village Health Care Center in California.

  • Pauline Phillips

    Pauline Phillips, who as Dear Abby dispensed snappy, sometimes saucy advice to millions of newspaper readers around the world, died Jan. 16, 2013, in Minneapolis after a long battle with Alzheimer's. She was 94.

  • David R. Ellis

    Ellis, the director of "Snakes on a Plane," died in South Africa on January 7, 2013. He was 60.

  • Jenni Rivera

    In this March 8, 2012 file photo, Mexican-American singer and reality TV star Jenni Rivera poses during an interview in Los Angeles. Las Vegas-based Starwood Management, the company that owns the luxury jet that crashed and killed Rivera on Dec. 9, is under investigation by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and the agency seized two of its planes earlier this year as part of the ongoing probe. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon, File)

  • Charles Durning

    The revered actor, who played everyone from a Nazi colonel to the pope to Dustin Hoffman's would-be suitor in "Tootsie," died of natural causes in New York on December 24, 2012, at the age of 89.

  • Nora Ephron

    Director, author, journalist, playwright, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nora-ephron/" target="_hplink">HuffPost blogger</a>, and three-time Academy Award nominated screenwriter, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/26/nora-ephron-dead-dies-age-71_n_1627757.html" target="_hplink">Nora Ephron passed away</a> on June 26 after a <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/26/nora-ephron-leukemia-cancer-illness-death_n_1629152.html" target="_hplink">secret multi-year battle with acute myeloid leukemia</a>. With genre defining films like "Sleepless In Seattle", "You've Got Mail", and "When Harry Met Sally", Ephron, 71, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/26/nora-ephron-influence-movies_n_1628700.html?utm_hp_ref=entertainment" target="_hplink">left an indelible mark on the film industry.</a>

  • Herbert Lom

    Herbert Lom, best known as Inspector Clouseau's long-suffering boss in the "Pink Panther" movies, died peacefully in his sleep at home in London on Sept. 27, 2012. He was 95.

  • Michael Clarke Duncan

    "The Green Mile" actor Michael Clarke Duncan died at the age of 54 on Sept. 3, 2012 in a Los Angeles hospital after nearly two months of treatment following a July 13, 2012 heart attack.

  • Jerry Nelson

    "Sesame Street" puppeteer Jerry Nelson, shown here with "Sesame Street" character Count von Count in New York in June 2012, died at age 78 on Aug. 23, 2012, in Massachusetts after battling emphysema.

  • Conrad Bain

    The actor best known for his long run as father Philip Drummond on the hit series "Diff'rent Strokes," died on January 14, 2013, of natural causes in his hometown of Livermore, California. He was 89.

  • Phyllis Diller

    Actress/comedienne Phyllis Diller, who was best know for her stand-up act, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/20/phyllis-diller-dead_n_1812818.html">died at the age of 95</a> on Aug. 20. 2012 in Los Angeles.

  • Tony Scott

    Director Tony Scott, whose projects include "The Hunger," "Top Gun," "Enemy of the State," died after jumping off a bridge in Los Angeles on Aug. 19, 2012.

  • Scott McKenzie

    "San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)" singer Scott McKenzie, seen here in the center with "The Mamas And The Papas" 1967, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/20/scott-mckenzie-dead-dies-san-francisco-73_n_1809989.html">died on Aug. 18. 2012</a>, after battling Guillain-Barre Syndrome, a disease that affects the nervous system.

  • William Windom

    A 1980 file photo provided by CBS shows actor William Windom, who won an Emmy Award for his turn in the TV comedy series "My World And Welcome To It," died Aug. 16, 2012, of congestive heart failure at his home in Woodacre, north of San Francisco. He was 88.

  • Jack Klugman

    The "Odd Couple" star died at peacefully in his California home at the age of 90, on Christmas Eve, 2012. In the 1980s, Klugman lost his voice to throat cancer and trained himself to speak again.

  • Ron Palillo

    This June 8, 2008 file photo shows actor Ron Palillo at the TV Land Awards in Santa Monica, Calif. Palillo, best known as the nerdy high schooler Arnold Horshack on "Welcome Back, Kotter," <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/14/ron-palillo-dead-dies-welcome-back-kotter-heart-attack_n_1776155.html">died Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2012</a>, in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., of an apparent heart attack. He was 63.

  • Lupe Ontiveros

    This Oct. 7, 2008 file photo shows actress Lupe Ontiveros at Padres Contra El Cancer's 8th annual "El Sueno de Esperanza" benefit gala in Los Angeles. Ontiveros, the popular Texan actress known for her portrayal of Yolanda Saldivar in "Selena," <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/27/lupe-ontiveros-dead-star-_n_1709783.html">died Thursday, July 26, 2012</a>, of cancer at the Presbyterian Hospital in the City of Whittier, Calif., according to friend and comedian Rick Najera. She was 69.

  • Sherman Hemsley

    In this Aug. 11, 1986 file photo, actor Sherman Hemsley poses for a photo in Los Angeles. The manager for Hemsley says the late star of the television sitcom ?"The Jeffersons"? refused treatment for lung cancer in the weeks before he died of what a coroner says were complications from the disease on July 24, 2012. (AP photo/Nick Ut, File)

  • Frank Pierson

    In this Feb. 14, 2004 file photo, Academy President Frank Pierson arrives at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Scientific and Technical Achievements Awards dinner in Pasadena Calif. Pierson's family announced that <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/23/frank-pierson-dead-dog-day-afternoon-dies_n_1696126.html">he died of natural causes on Monday, July 23, 2012</a> in Los Angeles after a short illness. He was 87.

  • Jon Lord

    Deep Purple's Jon Lord, seen here in 2004, died at age 71 on Monday, July 16, 2012, after battling pancreatic cancer.

  • Whitney Houston

    With perhaps one of the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/21/whitney-houston-celebrate-jordin-sparks-sparkle_n_1532870.html" target="_hplink">greatest voices</a> of her generation, Houston was a multi-Grammy winning singer and actress left an indelible mark on both the pop and R&B genres. <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/15/whitney-houston-xanax_n_1279947.html" target="_hplink">Houston's well documented struggles with drug addiction</a> are thought to have contributed to her unexpected and <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/11/whitney-houston-dead-sing_n_1270889.html" target="_hplink">untimely demise</a> at age 48 on <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/05/whitney-houston-death-report-last-day_n_1405206.html" target="_hplink">February 11</a>.

  • Kitty Wells

    This May 1986 file photo shows country music singer Kitty Wells in Nashville, Tenn. Wells, the first female superstar of country music, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/16/kitty-wells-dead-queen-of-country-dies_n_1677532.html">died at the age of 92 on Monday, July 16, 2012.</a> The singer?s family says Wells died at her home Monday after complications from a stroke. Her recording of "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels" in 1952 was the first No. 1 hit by a woman soloist on the country music charts. Other hits included "Making Believe" and a version of "I Can't Stop Loving You." (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, file)

  • Donna Summer

    <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/18/donna-summer-queen-of-disco_n_1526799.html" target="_hplink">The Queen of Disco</a> lost her <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/17/donna-summer-dead-queen-of-disco-dies_n_1524410.html" target="_hplink"> battle with cancer</a> on May 17. Summer, 63, earned that title with dance hits like "Last Dance", "MacArthur Park", and "Hot Stuff".

  • Ernest Borgnine

    Perhaps best remembered for his<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/08/ernest-borgnine-movies-films_n_1657787.html" target="_hplink"> Oscar-winning performance in the film "Marty",</a> <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/09/ernest-borgnine-dead-remembered_n_1658937.html" target="_hplink">Borgnine</a> continued to act until his death, voicing a character on "SpongeBob SquarePants" and earning an Emmy Nomination on the TV series "ER." He was 95 when he passed away on July 8 due to renal failure.

  • Andy Griffith

    <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/03/andy-griffith-dead_n_1645969.html" target="_hplink">Andy Griffith,</a> the star of beloved television programs "The Andy Griffith Show" and "Matlock", <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/05/andy-griffith-cause-of-death-heart-attack_n_1652599.html" target="_hplink">died of a heart attack</a> on Tuesday, July 3. He was 86.

  • Helen Gurley Brown

    In this Sept. 20, 1982 file photo, Cosmopolitan editor Helen Gurley Brown poses during an interview at her office in New York. Brown, longtime editor of Cosmopolitan magazine, died on Aug. 13, 2012 at a hospital in New York after a brief hospitalization. She was 90. (AP Photo/Marty Lederhandler, File)

  • Don Grady

    <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/28/don-grady-my-three-sons-obituary_n_1633047.html" target="_hplink">The multi talented musician, composer, and actor</a> who memorably starred on the television series "My Three Sons" lost his battle with cancer on June 27. An original Mouseketeer, Grady was 68 he passed away.

  • Yvette Wilson

    Comedienne most famous for her hilarious roles on TV shows "Moesha" and "The Parkers", Wilson <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/15/yvette-wilson-star-of-moe_n_1600037.html" target="_hplink">lost her battle with cervical cancer</a> on June 14. She was 48.

  • Ann Rutherford

    This Nov. 5, 1971 file photo shows actress Ann Rutherford in New York. Rutherford, who played Scarlett O'Hara's sister Carreen in the 1939 movie classic "Gone With the Wind," <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/12/ann-rutherford-dead-gone-_n_1589753.html">died at her home in Beverly Hills, Calif. on Monday, June 11, 2012</a>. She was 94. (AP Photo/HF)

  • Robin Gibb

    <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/23/barry-gibb-tribute-video-robin-gibb-bee-gees_n_1539954.html" target="_hplink">Co-founder of The Bee Gees</a>, Gibb was 62 when he <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/20/robin-gibb-dead-bee-gees_n_1531648.html" target="_hplink">lost</a> his battle with colon cancer on May 20.

  • Bob Welch

    From AP: Bob Welch, a former member of Fleetwood Mac who went on to write songs and record several hits during a solo career,<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/07/bob-welch-dead-fleetwood-mac-gunshot_n_1579166.html"> died June 7, 2012</a>, of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, police said. He was 65.

  • Chuck Brown

    In this Feb. 13, 2011 file photo, Chuck Brown arrives at the 53rd annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. Brown, who styled a unique brand of funk music as a singer, guitarist and songwriter known as the "godfather of go-go," <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/16/chuck-brown-dead-godfather_n_1522375.html">died Wednesday, May 16, 2012</a> after suffering from pneumonia. He was 75.

  • Mitchell Guist

    Mitchell Guist, who appeared in segments of the "Swamp People" with his brother, Glenn, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/14/mitchell-guist-dead-swamp-people_n_1515423.html">died after collapsing Monday, May 14, 2012</a> while working on a houseboat he was building on Belle River.

  • Adam Yauch

    Best known as one of the founding members of the<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/23/mca-ad-rock-adam-horovitz-beastie-boys-interview_n_1539705.html" target="_hplink"> trailblazing hip-hop group the Beastie Boys</a>, Yauch, also known by his stage name MCA, was also a <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/04/adam-yauch-films_n_1478993.html" target="_hplink">film director</a> and <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/04/adam-yauch-dead-tibet_n_1478359.html" target="_hplink">human rights activist</a>. At age 47, Yauch unfortunately lost his almost three year battle with cancer on May 4.

  • George Lindsey

    George Lindsey, seen here in character as Goober Pyle on "The Andy Griffith Show" in 1982,<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/06/george-lindsey-dead-andy-griffith-show-goober-pyle-dies-83_n_1490083.html"> died early Sunday, May 6, 2012.</a> He was 83.

  • Levon Helm

    In this May 15, 2010 photo, Levon Helm performs on the mandolin during a Ramble performance at Helm's barn in Woodstock, N.Y. Helm, who was in the final stages of his battle with cancer,<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/19/levon-helm-dead-the-band-cancer-battle_n_1434772.html"> died Thursday, April 19, 2012 in New York.</a> He was 71. He was a key member of The Band and lent his distinctive Southern voice to classics like "The Weight" and "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down."

  • Dick Clark

    Radio personality, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/18/dick-clark-quotes_n_1435713.html" target="_hplink">TV host</a>, and <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nelson-davis/dick-clarks-business-less_b_1466150.html" target="_hplink">beloved producer</a>, Dick Clark died of a <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/18/dick-clark-heart-attack-death_n_1435551.html" target="_hplink">massive heart</a> attack on April 18. The host of classic programs such as <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20120418/us-dick-clark-highlights/" target="_hplink">American Bandstand</a> and <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/19/dick-clarks-new-years-eve_n_1437040.html" target="_hplink">Dick Clark's Rocking New Years Eve was 82.</a>

  • Davy Jones

    Lead singer of hit 60's band <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/29/davy-jones-dead-monkees-moments-video_n_1310837.html" target="_hplink">The Monkees</a>, Jones' <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/01/monkees-davy-jones-obituary_n_1312799.html" target="_hplink">heartthrob status</a> was cemented with hits like "Day Dream Believer" and "I Wanna Be Free". He died at age 66 on February 29 after <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/05/davy-jones-autopsy-report_n_1406273.html" target="_hplink">suffering a heart attack</a>.

  • Don Cornelius

    <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/01/don-cornelius-dead-soul-train_n_1246642.html" target="_hplink">Cornelius</a>, creator and host of the long-running, groundbreaking<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/01/don-cornelius-dead-celeb-tweets_n_1247021.html" target="_hplink"> TV dance show "Soul Train,"</a> <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/24/don-cornelius-autopsy-depression_n_1450184.html" target="_hplink">committed suicide </a> on Feb. 1. He was 75.

  • Ian Abercrombie

    In this Sept. 17, 2005 file photo, actor Ian Abercrombie is shown during the British Academy of Film and Television Arts/Los Angeles and the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences third annual Emmy Nominees Tea Party in Los Angeles. Abercrombie, a veteran British stage and screen actor whose TV roles included Elaine?s boss Mr. Pitt on "Seinfeld" and Professor Crumbs on ?Wizards of Waverly Place,?<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/28/ian-abercrombie-tv-moments_n_1239120.html"> died Thursday, Jan. 22, 2012</a> at a Los Angeles hospital from complications of kidney failure. He was 77.

  • Etta James

    The "At Last" crooner <a href="http://http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/20/etta-james-dead-legendary_n_1219083.html" target="_hplink">passed away</a> on January 20 due to complications from leukemia. James, also known as <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/22/etta-james-singers-passio_n_1222010.html" target="_hplink">The Matriarch of R&B</a>, was 73.

  • Andy Williams

    This Feb. 23, 1978 file photo shows performer and host Andy Williams at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. Williams, who had a string of gold albums and hosted several variety shows and specials like "The Andy Williams Show," died Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2012, at his home in Branson, Missouri, following a yearlong battle with bladder cancer, his Los Angeles-based publicist, Paul Shefrin, said Wednesday. He was 84. (AP Photo/Lennox McLendon, file)

  • Ravi Shankar

    In this Feb. 7, 2012 file photo, Indian musician Ravi Shankar performs during a concert in Bangalore, India. Shankar, the sitar virtuoso who became a hippie musical icon of the 1960s after hobnobbing with the Beatles and who introduced traditional Indian ragas to Western audiences over an eight-decade career, has died. He was 92. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi, File)

  • Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/24/diane-lampert-dead-dies_n_2753140.html

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    Monday, February 25, 2013

    Japan PM to seek opposition cooperation on new central bank governor

    Saturday, 23 February, 2013

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    Source: http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/breaking-news/asia/japan-pm-seek-opposition-cooperation-new-central-bank-governor-20130223

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    Sunday, February 24, 2013

    Recap: Kansas City vs. Texas

    Brandon Wood hit a two-run homer in the bottom of ninth to give the Kansas City Royals a 4-2 victory over the Texas Rangers in spring training action on Saturday.

    Jarrod Dyson had an RBI in the fifth and Mike Moustakas scored on George Kottaras' double-play groundout in the second. Guillermo Moscoso started for the Royals and struck out two batters while allowing just one hit over two innings.

    Ian Kinsler had an RBI double for Texas, which scored both its runs in the third inning. David Murphy drove him home later on a groundout.

    Randy Wells made the start for the Rangers, pitching two innings and giving up a run on three hits. Jake Brigham surrendered the homer to Wood in the ninth, recording just one out prior.

    Game Notes

    Source: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/02/23/3250250/recap-kansas-city-vs-texas.html

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    Friday, February 22, 2013

    Sequester madness: What it is, why it matters

    The automatic spending cuts, just days away, would cut $85 billion a year, having an impact on federal food inspectors, TSA officers, Department of Defense and civilian workers. NBC's John Yang reports.

    By Matthew DeLuca, Staff Writer, NBC News

    The automatic spending cuts known as the sequester have ignited a political firestorm in the nation's capital. But if America?s feuding politicos can?t come to an agreement soon, the $1.2 trillion in broad spending cuts will begin March 1, trimming $85 billion a year through 2021. Half of that money would come from the Pentagon and half from non-defense programs, including education and National Parks. Congress has the power to delay, reduce, or cancel the cuts at any time, either before or after they take effect, and programs like Social Security, veterans? benefits, and student loans will be exempt.

    Here?s what you need to know about sequestration as Washington?s gridlock drags us toward spending cuts that Congress passed and Obama signed into law, but that now few lawmakers seem to want.

    1. How did we get into this mess?

    Sequestration was supposed to be a gun that Congress pointed at itself to force lawmakers to behave and pass a budget. Instead, it?s become just the latest in a seemingly endless series of self-inflicted economic crises that threaten to damage American businesses and undermine credibility with world partners. Sequestration was built into the Budget Control Act of 2011, the bill that brought an end to a bitterly partisan battle over the government?s borrowing power, and included a provision for Congress to develop legislation in time that would have warded off the cuts. The problem with that was Congress failed to pass any such legislation, despite a heated exchange of proposals that went up to the stroke of New Year?s Eve. A bill was passed on January 2 that pushed sequestration back just a little farther ? to where we are now.

    2. Why call it the sequester?

    The term ?sequester? is adapted from the legal meaning of the power of a court to seize property, and it came into economic parlance as part of the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Deficit Reduction Act of 1985. Most people are familiar with the idea of sequestering a jury during high-publicity court trials, but in this case it refers to the threat of cuts that was supposed to "force Congress to act on further deficit reduction," according to a report on the potential effects of sequestration by the White House Office of Management and Budget.?

    3. Who?s responsible?

    The key players are President Obama, Speaker of the House John Boehner, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, and wonk lawmakers including Rep. Paul Ryan. They?re the same folks who walked the government into near shutdown in 2011 during the debt-ceiling debacle, squandered America?s AAA credit rating, and held hands to peer over the brink of the fiscal cliff together late last year. Earlier this week, Obama said the idea behind writing the sequester into law in the first place was to get Democrats and Republicans to ?find a good compromise of sensible cuts as well as closing tax loopholes.? Republicans have lately been placing all the blame for the pending cuts on the White House, but the measure passed with a majority of Republican votes, and Ryan said at the time that the bill containing the sequester represented ?a victory for those committed to controlling government spending and growing our economy.?

    4. Will the government shut down?

    No. The planned cuts aren't large enough to cripple the federal government. But if they do take place, it will mean that some military deployments may be cancelled, federal agencies and offices like the Transportation Security Administration and Department of Agriculture will reduce services, and some federal employees may be furloughed, asked to involuntarily take off a certain amount of time per week. There may be some alternatives to furloughs, as Jeffrey Zients, Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget, said in a memo last month. Those could include government hiring freezes, the release of temporary employees, and incentives for existing employees to retire early. But many Americans can lay some of their most basic concerns to rest: Grandma will not see her Social Security check reduced.

    5. When would the cuts take place?

    The cuts are scheduled to take effect March 1, but they wouldn?t come all at once. For the current fiscal year, the cuts would total $44 billion, which sounds like a ton of money but represents just 1.2 percent of planned federal outlays. Defense contractors likely would be among the individual industries hardest hit by the cuts, but even there layoffs remain ?speculative and unforeseeable,? Assistant Secretary of Labor Jane Oates said. But the Pew Center on the States said cuts in discretionary defense spending could cost more than 400,000 jobs over the next 10 years in Florida, Maryland, Texas, California, and Virginia -- the top five states for defense contracting.

    6. How are government agencies preparing?

    The White House and some federal departments already have started to buckle down to prepare for the eventuality that sequestration will go through. Deputy Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter recently told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the Pentagon had cancelled deployment of the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Harry S Truman to the Middle East. The Navy has said that it would delay repairs to the submarine U.S.S. Miami. But officials have assured defense contractors that standing deals will be honored. Future contracts, however, could be imperiled. Other federal departments may be able to shift some funds around within their department from lower priority activities where funds were not cut to higher priority activities that are hit by the sequester.

    7. What may the long-term effects be?

    This is where it starts to get really political, because it depends on who you ask. To debt hawks, a force-fed fiscal enema like sequestration may be just the purgative a bloated government needs, and they argue it would be good for the economy in the long run. But outside that circle, the economic consequences don't look so good. The Bipartisan Policy Center says that the American economy may stand to lose 1 million jobs if the full package of cuts goes ahead on schedule. And the Congressional Budget Office noted that the planned cuts will act as a drag on the country?s overall economic growth over the coming fiscal year. The long-term economic ramifications of sequestration may take years to unfold in the lives of ordinary Americans if the cuts go ahead, but for legislators who can't figure out a better way to implement the cuts, the political blowback could come much more swiftly.

    8. What can be done to stop it?

    With both chambers of Congress on what House leaders call a ?District Work Period? this week ? also known as a recess ? Democrats have called on Republican House leaders to reconvene and strike a deal. Speaker of the House John Boehner has said he?s opposed to the cuts, and has made the case it's up to the White House to break the impasse. Republicans have said they will only agree to a deal to avert the cuts if it includes a plan to cut an equivalent amount of government spending in more orderly fashion. Senate Democrats are backing a plan that includes new revenue generated by closing tax loopholes for the richest Americans. With the clock ticking down, the debate is beginning to resemble the one that set up this manufactured crisis in the first place.

    NBC News' Tom Curry contributed to this report.

    Source: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/02/21/17042974-sequester-madness-what-it-is-why-it-matters?lite

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    Monday, February 11, 2013

    Snoop Dogg blazes one during BMI songwriting panel

    FILE - This July 30, 2012 photo shows Snoop Dogg posing for a portrait at Miss Lily's in New York. The rapper smoked during the BMI's annual pre-Grammy Awards ?How I Wrote That Song? panel discussion at the Roxy in Los Angeles on Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013 on the eve of the Grammy Awards. (Photo by Victoria Will/Invision/AP, file)

    FILE - This July 30, 2012 photo shows Snoop Dogg posing for a portrait at Miss Lily's in New York. The rapper smoked during the BMI's annual pre-Grammy Awards ?How I Wrote That Song? panel discussion at the Roxy in Los Angeles on Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013 on the eve of the Grammy Awards. (Photo by Victoria Will/Invision/AP, file)

    FILE - This July 30, 2012 photo shows Snoop Dogg posing for a portrait at Miss Lily's in New York. The rapper smoked during the BMI's annual pre-Grammy Awards ?How I Wrote That Song? panel discussion at the Roxy in Los Angeles on Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013 on the eve of the Grammy Awards. (Photo by Victoria Will/Invision/AP, file)

    LOS ANGELES (AP) ? Music fans who turned out to BMI's annual pre-Grammy Awards "How I Wrote That Song" discussion got a little more than they expected thanks to Snoop Dogg ? a contact high.

    The rapper smoked marijuana during Saturday's panel discussion, lighting up a large, Kush-filled blunt on stage at The Roxy. He briefly passed it off to B.o.B before methodically reducing it to ash over a 15-minute period. The panel also included Busta Rhymes and songwriters Luke Laird and Evan Bogart, all of whom abstained ? at least on stage.

    Fittingly, the conversation eventually turned to Snoop's groundbreaking work on "The Chronic."

    Laird recalled growing up at the end of a dirt road 10 miles outside Conneaut Lake, a small town of 700 in rural Pennsylvania. Yet Snoop's work with Dr. Dre still infiltrated his world and that of all the other country kids around him.

    "Let me just say, the album everyone was listening to was 'The Chronic,'" Laird said, noting how surreal it was to be sitting on stage with Snoop.

    With acoustic guitar in hand, he played a bit of his Blake Shelton hit "Hillbilly Bone" in its original form: a rap song. The Nashville-based songwriter had everyone bobbing their heads to the beat.

    "Now I feel like more than ever you see these influences crossing genres," Laird said.

    ___

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

    Associated Press

    Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/4e67281c3f754d0696fbfdee0f3f1469/Article_2013-02-09-US-People-Snoop-Dogg/id-57daab33514b41fb95dc49ceb46f7a76

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    Friday, February 8, 2013

    Himax Technologies Fourth Quarter 2012 #Earnings Conference ...

    Thursday, February 07, 2013 @ 8:00 am ET

    Live Dial in number: 1-1-877-407-4018 or 1-877-407-4018

    Replay Dial in number: 1-877-870-5176 or 1-858-384-5517

    A telephone replay of the conference call will be available through Feb 14, 2013

    Passcode: 407795

    Source: http://www.viavid.com/?p=3234

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    Wednesday, February 6, 2013

    ClearPath for Android could be the ideal traffic app for Angelenos

    I am relatively new to living in Los Angeles, and take full advantage of the Google Navigation app on my Galaxy Nexus while getting acquainted with my surroundings. However, Google Navigation is problematic for residents of The City of Angels.

    I live near the 101 Freeway, and every time I drive anywhere, Google Navigation tells me to get on that oft-congested highway, even if doing so will add several miles to my trip. A suggested route, like the one provided for driving to the University of Southern California, that adds several miles is not insignificant. In truth, following Google Navigation is not always a bad idea. If I'm going someplace during the day, between rush hours, the freeways aren't too congested, and traveling on them at 60 miles per hour is better than going 35 and having to constantly stop at traffic lights.

    But Google Navigation wants me to take the freeway no matter what time of day it is, and on the way home from a local event at USC, it wanted me to take the 101 while traffic was at a standstill. What's worse is that the app knew that traffic was atrocious, as indicated by my route being highlighted red, and it wanted me to go that way regardless. I tried to pull up an alternate route, but the app offered none.

    I made my own route through surface streets that got me back to my home far more quickly than Google's route, using the Navigation map for guidance. So, in essence, I'm left to find my way around LA using a regular map just like in the old days. Ah, technology.

    ClearPath re-routes you to avoid gridlock

    Fortunately, the University of Southern California's Viterbi School of Engineering is trying to fix this navigational problem. Using the vast infrastructure built into the LA METRO system, USC constantly collects data on traffic patterns, and they are using this data to try to help the L.A. county government deal with myriad traffic concerns. To that end, they are building a navigation app called ClearPath which has a simple and obvious yet very smart idea: to use the data they have to map users through less congested routes. One wonders why Google has yet to come up with a solution to this issue.

    On January 29, a representative showed off ClearPath at USC?s event GLIMPSE: A Digital Technology Showcase, so we could get a better understanding of how it works. He demonstrated how at different times of day, the ClearPath app would send people making the exact same trip through all sorts of different routes, which would save the driver as much as fifteen minutes against Google's projected travel time for its inflexible route.

    The infrastructure involved is quite complex. They use traffic cameras and integrated road sensors to collect information on traffic patterns, and so ClearPath can not only interpret traffic data in real time, it can also theoretically predict patterns. Some of those patterns, of course, can be obvious, such as how at 8:30 in the morning the freeways will definitely be jammed. But it also predicts how weather (which does occasionally happen in L.A., believe it or not) and accidents will affect traffic flow. And thanks to that infrastructure, ClearPath should be more accurate in telling users where traffic is particularly slow.

    Unfortunately, ClearPath is not yet available for consumers, and so I can't test it in the field. But its logic is sound, and it is something that would be useful if it actually works as intended. This will definitely be something folks who live in or are visiting Los Angeles will want. I just hope to be use ClearPath before I memorize the entire layout of the city, which should happen in the next couple months.

    Download the Appolicious Android app

    Source: http://www.androidapps.com/tech/articles/13192-clearpath-for-android-could-be-the-ideal-traffic-app-for-angelenos

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    Fabulous Adventures of Listgirl: Write Click Scrapbook | Our Last ...

    The February gallery theme at Write.Click.Scrapbook. is ?Conversations?. When I think about conversations, the most important one I?ve had so far in my life was the last conversation I had with my mom before she passed away in 2007. I?ve never scrapbooked it before, because just thinking about it was painful and always made me cry. This hasn?t changed. I struggled with it for a few days, crying here and there.

    ChristineNewman_LastConvo_WCSFeb13
    (12 x 12) | materials cardstock (Gmund, American Crafts, Bazzill) + patterned paper (BasicGrey) + embellishments (My Mind's Eye, Pink Paislee, Simple Stories Sn@p) + twine (The Twinery) + stamps (Evalicious, Technique Tuesday, Ormolu) + ink (Ranger JBS, Prima) + digital graphics (Miss Tiina) + die-cut machine (Silhouette) + sewing machine (Brother) + thread (Coats & Clark)

    Journaling
    The weekend before you went to heaven, I knew I should stay and not go home. On Sunday night, you said you wanted to chat with me. You asked me how I felt about you leaving us. I cried and told you I loved you and I was so sad, but I wasn?t mad at God. I knew He loved us and had a plan for us. You were relieved. You told me to take care of dad. You wanted him to remarry and be happy. It was just like you to be completely selfless, even in the last days of your life. You told me it was okay that I didn?t have children. God doesn?t give that desire to everyone. You were concerned about dad?s ministry. You asked me what I thought was important to pray about, and I said that I was always praying that if God wanted to take you to heaven, that you wouldn?t have too much pain. We both agreed that this time together was precious. I thank God so much that I had this talk with you. I wrote down as much of the conversation as I could remember. Three days later, God welcomed you to heaven with open arms.

    I have a second layout in the February gallery. It is a digital layout documenting a conversation I had with Todd years ago.
    20091111_Dare155_HeSaidSheSaid_600
    12 x 12 | materials Once Upon A Story digital kit (Lili Niclass & Emily Merritt) + Bokeh Overlays (Leora Sanford) + fonts (Capture It, Pupcat)

    You can see my February gallery layouts for Write.Click.Scrapbook here and here.

    Oh I almost forgot. Make sure you click over to the WCS February gallery launch post, because I created a free Silhouette cut file that goes with the conversations theme for February.
    listgirl_WCS_hello_speechbubble

    Source: http://www.listgirl.com/2013/02/write-click-scrapbook-our-last.html

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    The Scrapbook Store | Feb Sketch.. - Our Little Family...

    Hello Everyone!? I am back today to share with you a wonderful sketch challenge over at The Scrapbook Store.? I love Nadia's sketches because they always challenge me!? LOL!? And this time was no different.? Here is the sketch..

    And my simple version of it!..

    ?

    "You Make Me Happy"?

    products used: cs - Kaisercraft; pp - Pebbles (Family Ties), Bella BLVD; other - Pebbles (Family Ties); Accent & Phrase stickers, chips; Manor House leaves, glimmermist (sunflower); tools - silhouette portrait, EK Success punch, machine stitching.

    This layout was created from my January DT kit.? It had so many gorgeous Pebbles papers and embellishments in it!!? I really fell in love with the Pebbles "chips" and I wanted to make them a feature on my page.

    ?

    ?

    ?

    I machine stitched a semi circle directly onto my cardstock and then layered the chipboard pieces and fussy cut paper flowers.? I moved them around until I found a colour balance I was happy with and then added the silhouette cut stars as an extra punch.? :)

    ?

    ?

    And sometimes the simplest of phrases can mean the most.? The title and journaling not necessarily original but most definitely heart felt..

    I hope you will join in with the challenge.? I would really love to see your version of this amazing sketch.? Thanks for visiting..x


    ?

    Source: http://leanneallinson.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-scrapbook-store-feb-sketch.html

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    Tuesday, February 5, 2013

    Dental Phobia And Its Cure - myBachelor

    Odontophobia is the proper name of the dental anxiety or commonly called as dental phobia. It is a kind of disease in which one develops a fear of dental treatment. Phobia is often observed in the form of panic attacks and anxiety. Actually, dental phobia is only a very minor disease but in some aspects and in extreme cases, the fear that is developed by the dental phobia can lead to other health issues which deals a great risk in one?s? life. This development of other health issues is through the postponement of dental care and treatments of these problematic individuals. As we all know, dental care shouldn?t be left alone as it should be provided by every individual. Psychiatric disorders are commonly the causes of this so-called dental phobia or fear of dental treatment.

    Dental phobia to some individuals is non-existent since some patients who have them at first have undergone dental procedures with a good dentist, who is more understanding and uses less irritating and painful dental procedures, so it takes care of the fear in most cases. ?Phobia are often developed and acquired due to earlier painful or humiliating experiences an individual has experienced. To some, this feeling of fear is not deep-rooted thus it is labelled as non-existent to some.

    Dental phobia is classified as belonging to Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Extreme cases of dental phobia require pharmacological and behavioural treatment. The closeness of the patient?s relationship with the dentist that leads to greater understanding on the part of the latter is vital in calming the anxiety.

    In some cases, it isn?t the pain that an individual feels is the cause of the fear of treatment but rather the behaviour or the treatment technique of the dentist that is responsible. That?s why, administration of general anaesthesia, sedation and oral sedative containing benzodiazepine is generally the pharmacological treatment techniques.

    On the other hand, dental phobia is actually curable in some cases. Relating the fear, if you are accompanied by your close friends or other individuals whom you trust the most often eases the tension. Understanding friends can comfort, sympathise with and even relate with such experiences. According to some studies, it is actually proven that being involved in online dental anxiety forums and support groups helps conquer or at least deal with the fear in a satisfactory manner. Such individuals would then not postpone important visits to the dentist. At the end, hiring a good dentist is the best solution of easing the fear of dental treatment. But a great support from your loved ones is the best way to conquer your fear.

    In totality, fear of dental treatment can bring about poor dental or oral health and greatly affecting the overall health of an individual which could easily contribute to a lack of self confidence; it must be given a proper solution immediately.

    Lack of dental care results in major health problems, as well as destroys your self esteem. Come to Tijuana where we have Tijuana dental clinics, who can give you?high quality work?for a fraction of the cost. You will find?the best?dentists, top notch dental work, and very?reasonable prices at Dental Art in Tijuana. For more information, come visit us at: http://www.dentalarttijuana.com

    Source: http://www.mybachelor.co.uk/2013/02/dental-phobia-and-its-cure/

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    Monday, February 4, 2013

    Home Improvement Show at Downtown West Chicago&#39;s ARS HVAC ...

    One Lucky Guest Will Win a Flat Screen TV in a Free Raffle!

    One of the Western DuPage Chamber?s newest business members, A.R.S. HVAC SUPPLY, Inc. (ARS) located at 210 Main St. in downtown West Chicago, is hosting a Home Improvement Show in its store on Saturday, Feb. 9, from 10: a.m. to 3:00 p.m., open to the general public.


    ARS owner Gabe Fernandez and manager James Patterson invite everyone in the Warrenville, Winfield and West Chicago area to stop by and visit their new heating, ventilation and air conditioning store. Other home improvement vendors will be on hand to help answer any questions they have regarding their home and/or business, including Airmergency Heating & Cooling , CS Enterprises Landscaping, DJC Refrigeration, Quality Home Exteriors, R&R Painting and Repair, and Zion Countertops.


    Families are welcome to attend, and along with the refreshments during the five-hour Show, A.R.S.?s next-door neighbor, the Rosy Ice Cream Shop will have free popsicles for the kids.
    Last but certainly not least is the free raffle. Every adult who attends will be given a raffle ticket, and at the close of the Show, at 3:00 p.m., a drawing will be held, at which time someone will win the following prizes: 3rd Prize -- $25 Gift Card from Best Buy, 2nd Prize ? DVD Player, Grand Prize ? Flat Screen TV.


    Please note that the winner must be present during the time of the drawing.
    The A.R.S. Home Improvement Show will kick off promptly at 10:00 a.m. with a formal ribbon cutting ceremony, at which time Acting West Chicago Mayor Ruben Pineda will officially welcome A.R.S. to the West Chicago downtown business community, and Chamber President David Sabathne will welcome A.R.S. and its owner Gabe Fernandez into the Western DuPage Chamber of Commerce.


    ??Regular ? but unusually customer-friendly and convenient -- business hours for A.R.S.: Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Phone: (630) 520-0871.

    Source: http://www.villagechronicles.net/home/item/2713-home-improvement-show-at-downtown-west-chicago%E2%80%99s-ars-hvac-supply-inc

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    Is Soccer The Ticket Out Of Rio Poverty?

    On a muddy pitch in a Rio slum, a skinny 17-year-old with big dreams of football stardom struts his stuff to attract the attention of talent-spotters watching a local tournament.

    Alan Viera is one of 800 teenagers taking part in the Favelas Cup, a tournament that draws players from 80 local shantytowns.

    In this soccer-mad nation of 194 million people, which will host the 2014 World Cup, "the beautiful game" is a ticket out of poverty for millions of poor youths.

    Viera lives in Mata Machado, a small favela nestled in the Boa Vista district near the Corcovado Mountain and its iconic Christ the Redeemer statue.

    Waiting to be bussed to the stadium, he and his team-mates trade jokes and horse around to relieve the tension ahead of the big game. Victory would ensure a semi-final spot.

    "I think that for all of us, the goal is to become a professional player, to wear the national squad's jersey," said Viera, who like all local youths, wears earrings.

    His life is a constant struggle.

    "At times we eat only rice and beans. I have to work really hard to become a football player and help my family," he added.

    Every Brazilian kid dreams of being the next Zico, Ronaldo or Neymar and the Favelas Cup is a good stepping stone.

    Talent spotters from major Rio teams watch every game to assess the players and select the best prospects.

    "Look: Botafogo, Vasco, Flamengo, Fluminense (soccer clubs). They are all here, waiting to see you play. That is what you have been waiting for, make the most of it," coach Alexander Assuncao told his players before they stepped on the field on Sunday.

    Now 36, Assuncao was among those who got that chance but squandered it.

    At the age of 15, he was invited to play for Stuttgart in Germany. But lacking discipline and missing his family, he chose to return to Brazil and to his Mata Machado neighborhood.

    During the first half of the match, Viera and his teammates played poorly, but after a telling off from their coach, they rallied and won 3-0, with Viera grabbing the final goal.

    The match was closely watched by the talent spotters.

    "We are monitoring a couple of players who had a strong performance to give them a chance to try out with professional teams," said Amilton de Oliveira, of the Deponto agency.

    Viera and 14-year-old Iuri Menegatti are being coveted by Madureira, a modest professional team.

    Meanwhile, 18-year-old Anderson Basilio has already gone though that hurdle. He leaves home early and takes three buses to reach the training center of Flamengo, one of the country's best teams.

    For the past eight months, he has been playing with the amateur team, hoping to land a professional contract.

    "When I arrived at Flamengo, I did not look back. I trained, got to know the professionals and asked myself whether I was dreaming. But it was for real. It is my dream and I am going to make it," he said as he proudly looked at the team's red and black jersey.

    Basilio played in the previous edition of the Favelas Cup and his team, Vila Carioca, finished third.

    He was voted best defender of the tournament. His 48-year-old father, who once played with Flamengo as amateur goalkeeper, is confident that his son's future as a pro is assured.

    In the neighborhood, Basilio is a celebrity. He stops to chat with friends and to kick a ball in the street.

    Asked by AFP whether Basilio would be given a professional deal, Flamengo were non-committal.

    Meanwhile Viera and his team were eliminated in the semi-final but left the pitch with their heads held high.

    Earlier on HuffPost:

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    Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/02/soccer-football-rio-poverty_n_2606935.html

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    Beyonce electrifies at Super Bowl halftime show

    Beyonce performs during the halftime show of the NFL Super Bowl XLVII football game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2013, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

    Beyonce performs during the halftime show of the NFL Super Bowl XLVII football game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2013, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

    Beyonce performs during the halftime show of the NFL Super Bowl XLVII football game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2013, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Bill Haber)

    Beyonce performs with Kelly Rowland, left, and Michelle Williams, right, of Destiny's Child, during the halftime show of the NFL Super Bowl XLVII football game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2013, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

    Beyonce performs during the halftime show of the NFL Super Bowl XLVII football game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2013, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

    Beyonce performs during the halftime show of the NFL Super Bowl XLVII football game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2013, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

    If naysayers still doubted Beyonce's singing talents ? even after her national anthem performance this week at a press conference ? the singer proved she is an exceptional performer at the Super Bowl halftime show.

    Beyonce opened and closed her set belting songs, and in between she danced hard and heavy ? and better than most contemporary pop stars.

    She set a serious tone as she emerged onstage in all black, singing lines from her R&B hit "Love on Top." The stage was dark as fire and lights burst from the sides. Then she went into her hit "Crazy In Love," bringing some feminine spirit to the Superdome as she and her background dancers did the singer's signature booty-shaking dance. Beyonce ripped off part of her shirt and skirt. She even blew a kiss. She was ready to rock, and she did so like a pro.

    Her confidence ? and voice ? grew as she worked the stage with and without her Destiny's Child band mates during her 13-minute set, which comes days after she admitted she sang to a pre-recorded track at President Barack Obama's inauguration less than two weeks ago.

    Beyonce proved not only that she can sing, but that she can also entertain on a stage as big as the Super Bowl's. The 31-year-old was far better than Madonna, who sang to a backing track last year, and miles ahead of the Black Eyed Peas' disastrous set in 2011.

    Beyonce was best when she finished her set with "Halo." She asked the crowd to put their hands toward her as she sang the slow groove on bended knee ? and that's when she the performance hit its high note.

    "Thank you for this moment," she told the crowd. "God bless y'all."

    Her background singers helped out as Beyonce danced around the stage throughout most of her performance. There was a backing track to help fill in when Beyonce wasn't singing ? and there were long stretches when she let it play as she performed elaborate dance moves.

    She had a swarm of background dancers and band members spread throughout the stage, along with videotaped images of herself dancing that may have unintentionally played on the live-or-taped question. And the crowd got bigger when she was joined by her Destiny's Child band mates.

    Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams popped up from below the stage to sing "Bootylicious." They were in similar outfits, singing and dancing closely as they harmonized. But Rowland and Williams were barely heard when the group sang "Independent Woman," as their voices faded into the background.

    They also joined in for some of "Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)," where Beyonce's voice grew stronger. That song featured Beyonce's skilled choreography, as did "End of Time" and "Baby Boy," which also showcased Beyonce's all-female band, balancing out the testosterone levels on the football field.

    Before the game, Alicia Keys performed a lounge-y, piano-tinged version of the national anthem that her publicist assured was live. The Grammy-winning singer played the piano as she sang "The Star Spangled Banner" in a long red dress with her eyes shut.

    She followed Jennifer Hudson, who sang "America the Beautiful" with the 26-member Sandy Hook Elementary School chorus. It was an emotional performance that had some players on the sideline on the verge of tears. Hudson also sang live, her publicist said.

    The students wore green ribbons on their shirts in honor of the 20 first-graders and six adults who were killed in a Dec. 14 shooting rampage at the school in Newton, Conn.

    The students began the song softly before Hudson, whose mother, brother and 7-year-old nephew were shot to death five years ago, jumped in with her gospel-flavored vocals. She stood still in black and white as the students moved to the left and right, singing background.

    ___

    Follow Mesfin Fekadu on Twitter at http://twitter.com/MusicMesfin

    Associated Press

    Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2013-02-04-US-Super-Bowl-Entertainment/id-5f7aa4feaebe47869e71ca6813dd8689

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