Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Greek isle of Lesbos shows community spirit to migrants


Mytilene (Greece) (AFP) - Beautiful beaches, olive groves and green mountains long summed up Greece's third-largest island Lesbos, but this corner of the Aegean Sea also faces an ever-rising tide of migrants reaching its shores.


Like Italy's tiny Lampedusa, site of two recent migrant shipwreck tragedies that cost almost 400 lives, Lesbos is a gateway to the European Union and refugee traffic has soared over the past year.


But locals are not clamouring for a force field around their home, also known as Emerald Island for its rich greenery of forests and mountain peaks.


Over the past few months, the residents of the capital Mytilene and other neighbouring communities have given first aid to migrants found wandering on beaches early in the morning or trying to make their way to some village.


"Lesbos is only a thoroughfare for migrants, they all want to leave as soon as possible to get to Athens and then to other countries," said Nelly Hatzidaki from the Lesbos-based citizens' movement Co-existence and Communication in the Aegean Sea.


"That undoubtedly explains why locals have never been hostile," she added.


The island's only migrant reception centre, housed in a former military warehouse, closed down in 2010 after criticism by Greek and international NGOs that called it Europe's most unhealthy place.


From then until 2012 "the influx of migrants levelled off. But when the arrivals picked up again, police and port authorities were totally overwhelmed," said Efi Latsoudi, of a local association called "The village for all."


"They would even not make arrests for lack of (detention) space."


"At first, the authorities ignored the problem," adds Hatzidaki.


"So in November 2012 we asked migrants to gather in front of the municipal theatre. It was a shock for many people to find out that there were entire families, often with very young children."


'A dignified welcome'


Immediately people brought clothes, blankets and food for the migrants and the town hall even gave local associations the keys to a former campsite, not far from the airport.


"We opened the first self-managed reception centre," says Latsoudi proudly, pointing out that thanks to volunteers the centre can feed and take care of up to 150 migrants.


Sometimes, even police bring new arrivals to the campsite, volunteers say.


But the authorities have also closed down the reception centre on numerous occasions, leaving only the overcrowded cells of the local police station or the makeshift tents set up in a fenced-off area near the port to house the migrants.


In October, a new state reception and detention centre situated in a former military camp opened its doors, promising migrants "a dignified welcome."


The volunteers' community spirit is not impermeable however, and after a few months people have been feeling the strain.


"Residents on the island have their own economic problems, and it is a heavy burden," said Hatzidaki.


Meanwhile, undocumented migrants continue to flood into Lesbos -- this week alone, dozens of Afghans and Eritreans reached the island.


Since autumn 2012, when EU border control agency Frontex and Greek authorities clamped down on the Greek-Turkish northern land border, marked by the Evros river, migrant traffic here has surged.


Greek police say 2,834 undocumented migrants were arrested in Lesbos during the first eight months of this year, compared to 253 over the same period in 2012.


"This week alone, around 70 people -- Eritreans, then Afghans," said Latsoudi.


Although arrest numbers are the only data available from the police, experts agree it provides an accurate picture of migrant traffic.


The numbers on the other Greek islands Samos, Chios and Rhodes in the eastern Aegean reveal a similar trend.


And some journeys end in tragedy. In March, at least six Syrians drowned before reaching Lesbos, while another 21 people perished in December last year.



Source: http://news.yahoo.com/greek-isle-lesbos-shows-community-spirit-migrants-154730433.html
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Sony announces U.S. availability of Xperia Z1 and Z Ultra

Android Central

Smartwatch 2 also seeing a Stateside launch alongside Sony's latest high-end handsets

Literally days after Sony CEO Kaz Hirai seemingly poured water on a Sony breakout in the U.S, today we're treated to the news of three new device launches. The Xperia Z1, Xperia Z Ultra and the Smartwatch 2 will all be available to purchase in the United States. 

The Xperia Z Ultra is available from today at Sony's online store at $649.99 for the HSPA+ version and $679.99 for LTE. For that you're getting a monstrous 6.4-inch 1080p Triluminos display, a 2.2GHz Snapdragon 800, 2GB of RAM, an 8MP rear camera and Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean. Internal storage is a slim 16GB, expandable via microSD card, and it will be available in black, white and purple. 

The Xperia Z1 is available in HSPA+ form only at a price of $669.99. Arguably Sony's finest Android handset to date, one of the marquee features of the recently launched Z1 is that 20.7MP Sony G-Lens camera on the rear. Round the front you're looking at a 5-inch 1080p Triluminos display, with a 2.2GHz Snapdragon 800 and 2GB of RAM underneath with 16GB of on-board, and expandable storage. It's also waterproof, if that's important to you. Both the Z1 and the Z Ultra are available now from Sony's U.S. online store, select Sony brick-and-mortar stores and selected online retailers. 

The Sony Smartwatch 2 is the follow up to the original Smartwatch, and can be paired with Android devices running Ice Cream Sandwich and above. It promises 3-4 days battery life, easy setup via NFC and an 'Android like' user interface. Our early hands-ons with the Smartwatch 2 find it lacking a little when compared to something like the Samsung Galaxy Gear, but it also costs much less. The Smartwatch 2 can be had via the same channels as the two phones, and can be yours for $199.95. 

You'll find links to the Sony Store at the source below, and be sure to check out our extensive review and hands on coverage with the Xperia Z1 and Z Ultra. 

More: Sony Xperia Z1 review | Sony Xperia Z Ultra hands-on

 

Source: Sony


    






Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/3ekBUZgAUFk/story01.htm
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The Apple iPhone 5s leather case is a dirt magnet, tell us how you keep it clean!

Apple made a re-entry to the accessories market with the launch of the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c, one of which is the range of pretty awesome looking leather cases for the 5s. One problem – much less obvious if you got the black – is that leather attracts dirt. General dirt, grease, the stain from the inside of your jeans pocket, it's almost impossible to prevent.

Indeed, I picked up a (Product) RED leather case for my own iPhone 5s around 10 days ago, and it's already looking a little second hand. But, think about the leather seats inside a car. They get dirty, and a little tired, but they also get cared for, cleaned and treated to keep them looking their best and prolonging the usable life. The Apple iPhone 5s case isn't a cheap phone case, so it's not an unusual idea to apply the same tactics to caring for it, right?

So, if you've got any tips or tricks you've already tried to help keep your case looking its best, we want to hear from you. Personally, for light staining and general dirty marks, I find regular old baby wipes can be a useful thing to keep lying around. Especially if you've got a few leather products in your household.

So, jump into the comments below with your own experiences, tips and tricks. Or perhaps you're perfectly OK with the 'distressed' look achieved after many days in a jeans pocket? Or maybe you avoided the leather cases for this very reason? We'd love to hear from you!


    






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Liza Minnelli performs with broken wrist in NY

The show went on for Liza Minnelli.


A spokesman for the 67-year-old entertainer said she performed Monday night with a broken wrist at a benefit concert in New York.


Minnelli broke her wrist in three places while rehearsing at home Sunday.


The "Cabaret" star performed with her sister, Lorna Luft. The event marked their first performance together in 20 years since their duet at the 1993 Tony Awards.


Minnelli returned to the hospital for further treatment immediately after the performance at the jazz club Birdland benefiting the Women's Health Initiative and the Dr. Philomena McAndrew Fund of Tower Cancer Research Foundation.


Source: http://news.yahoo.com/liza-minnelli-performs-broken-wrist-ny-014421839.html
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'WWE 2K14': 'The Streak' mode revealed















An exclusive sneak peek of "WWE 2K14" - Part 1R-Truth enters the arena: WWE App Exclusive, Oct. 14, 2013Santino Marella vs. Fandango: Raw, Oct. 14, 2013Big Show's petition removed: WWE App Exclusive, Oct. 14, 2013John Cena returns at Hell in a Cell: Raw, Oct. 14, 2013The Miz vs. Randy Orton: Raw, Oct. 14, 2013Shawn Michaels is ready to ref: WWE App Exclusive, Oct. 14, 2013




With “WWE 2K14” set to hit stores in the U.S. on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2K today announced “The Streak” mode, a brand-new game feature that celebrates the historic WrestleMania record of The Undertaker.

Deadman captured in screenshots | Exclusive 2K video playlist

2K’s Creative Director, Cory Ledesma, revealed exclusive details about “The Streak” mode, stating that the developers “wanted to do something special to pay homage to The Undertaker and pay tribute” to his astounding 21-0 record on The Grandest Stage of Them All.

“The Streak” mode will allow players two unique game types to virtually live as WWE’s legendary Deadman, and also to go head-to-head with The Phenom at WrestleMania.

With “Defend The Streak,” players will take the reins as The Undertaker himself and battle wave after wave of opponents at The Show of Shows. Also available in Exhibition Mode as “The Slobberknocker,” this gauntlet match-like mode challenges players to see how many opponents they can take out, one after another.

In “Defeat The Streak,” players will be faced with the daunting task of challenging The Undertaker in his domain upon The Grandest Stage of Them All, a stage The Deadman has dominated for more than two decades. According to Ledesma, pinning The Deadman will be no easy task, as 2K’s developers have cranked it up to an off-the-charts fifth difficulty level that will incorporate supernatural elements to mirror The Undertaker’s near-mythic WrestleMania aura.

When asked which Superstar gamer he thought might have the best shot at beating The Streak in the game, Ledesma had some fun at the expense of The Awesome One. "For sure The Miz has no chance whatsoever!" Ledesma told WWE.com. "I could be there coaching him, and he would still have no chance. The guy that has a lot of talent that I know could give The Undertaker a run for his money is Kofi Kingston. Not only is he a gamer, but he’s awesome at our game."

Do you have what it takes to beat The Undertaker on The Grandest Stage of Them All? Pick up your copy of “WWE 2K14” to find out!

Ledesma went on to detail improvements made to “WWE 2K14’s” Universe Mode, calling the feature a “total sandbox experience” wherein players can completely customize their world. With updates to the game’s Rivalry Manager, improved match AI logic, stat-tracking of all your created rivalries, the ability to create an all-Divas show and the inclusion of user-created WWE Championships into the WWE Universe Experience, “WWE 2K14” promises to be the most immersive sports-entertainment game of all time.

Additionally, Superstar Threads allows users the unique opportunity to change up the colors of Superstars’ and Divas’ ring gear and entrance attire — an all-new feature added to a completely overhauled Creation Suite. Also included in this year’s Creation Suite is the ability to use a WWE Superstar as a template in creating a custom Superstar, a feature fans have demanded in past games.

For a complete rundown of “WWE 2K14’s” all-new and improved Creation Suite, click here!


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Source: http://www.wwe.com/inside/2k/wwe-2k14/wwe-2k14-the-streak-mode-revealed
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Monday, October 14, 2013

Birds Of A Feather Spy Together


The scene: Two men in a chilly Soviet apartment converse in whispers, careful to protect their plans from enemy ears. Little do they know, the benign-looking raven outside their window is not merely a city scavenger hunting for food, but a spy for the U.S. government.


Sound too ridiculous to be true? In fact, animal spies — and their very real missions — are the subject of journalist Tom Vanderbilt's article "The CIA's Animal Spies" in Smithsonian magazine this month.


On Sunday, Vanderbilt sat down with All Things Considered's Arun Rath to discuss the furry and feathered secret agents of the Cold War.



Interview Highlights:


On the beginnings of animal espionage:


"B.F. Skinner, the famous behavioral psychologist, was working on a project with the armed services to basically install a set of pigeons inside the nosecone of a missile. And these were pigeons who were trained to basically peck at the image of a map because there would be a food reward, and this pecking would actually steer little motors in the missile and would deliver it to its target.


"There were a number of problems with the project and it never actually took off, but this was pretty cutting-edge research, in a way, during World War II."


On how these techniques were developed during the Cold War:


"There's a curious link here. There were a couple of graduate students working with Skinner at the time named Marion and Keller Breland. They were really interested in, as they called it, applied animal psychology — how could you turn these techniques into commercial enterprises.


"So they opened a theme park in Little Rock called the I.Q. Zoo, which had all sorts of characters: the educated hen, Priscilla the fastidious pig.


"Priscilla the fastidious pig appeared in a number of television commercials doing things like vacuuming, so they were really training animals to do all sorts of things.


"One day, the Brelands were called out to China Lake to the weapons research station out there, to do some research with the U.S. Navy's dolphin program — training dolphins to do things like locate submarines, or warn of enemy attack, things like that.


"And this was run by Bob Bailey, who was kind of an animal behaviorist of his own. And he was convinced to come work with the Brelands at the I.Q. Zoo."


On some of the animal "spies" used by the CIA:


"There were a number of different programs that were tried. One was the so-called 'Squab Squad.' It basically involved a flock of pigeons that would fly ahead of your troop formation, and if they detected the presence of an enemy battalion they would all basically land. And this would be the signal to give away that there were enemy troops ahead.


"Unfortunately, there were a few problems with that. I mean, sometimes pigeons would just sort of fly away and they wouldn't come back, or you weren't quite sure if they'd been shot down.


"Another favorite program was called 'Acoustic Kitty,' and this was a cat [that] had an acoustic transmitter in its ear and another relay device implanted in its ribcage.


"And as the story goes ... there was a Middle Eastern potentate who they were trying to get some intelligence on and he was a real cat enthusiast, so the thought was if they could sort of get a cat into his environment it would appear unnoticed. And the cat was trained to sort of focus in on people's conversations, so it became sort of a bug."


On what makes a good animal operative:


"Bob Bailey has told me that no animal is untrainable. Certain animals are better than others. He, for example, thinks that pigeons aren't that clever. Owls are not very smart either, despite the stereotype of the wise owl. They may be wise, but they aren't particularly smart.


"Ravens, in his mind, are the geniuses of the bird world and kind of the Jason Bourne. They can sort of operate on their own. They're very, very intelligent. They can lift things, [and] this was part of another program. They trained ravens to basically deposit things in rooms in particular places, and those things could be listening devices, for example."


On whether there are still "rogue" agents out there:


"[Laughs] There could be. Waiting to be activated and they haven't come in from the cold, as it were.


"Really, one of the only documents that's ever been released has the wonderful title, 'Views on Trained Cats,' and most of it is actually blacked out. But it hints at the problems there were within the program.


"I think, by and large, this was just an interesting activity for the CIA that showed some promise under certain conditions, but just had too many wildcard variables and was never quite as implemented as we might think.


"But because we don't really know, yes it's possible there are still rogue ravens flittering around Eastern Europe."


Source: http://www.npr.org/2013/10/13/233354052/birds-of-a-feather-spy-together?ft=1&f=1003
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