Microsoft's Involvement in Dell Buyout Getting Tricky

Microsoft has reached a "sticking point" in the leveraged buyout negotiations with Dell.

Ars Technica reports that Microsoft's role in Dell's leveraged buyout has reached a "sticking point" in negotiations. The company reportedly wants more than just an investment in return for the $2 billion it's sinking into the buyout deal. The Redmond company also wants a say in how the company will be run.

"Under one scenario being discussed, Dell would agree to use Microsoft's Windows software to power the vast majority of its devices," one source said.

Dell is already one of Microsoft's biggest Windows-based clients, but the Redmond company may be looking to prevent Dell from making a "radical" reorganization, or to prevent Dell from departing from the PC market. The problem is that Dell reportedly wants to go private so that it can break away from depending on PC sales, and to alter the way it conducts its business.

News of Microsoft's interest in Dell surfaced last week. Unnamed sources told CNBC's David Faber that Microsoft was in talks with Silver Lake, the main sponsor behind the leveraged buyout, and Michael Dell who are currently working on the deal to go private. Faber said Microsoft's investment would be "mezzanine" financing, or rather debt that converts into equity if the debt isn't paid back within a specific timeframe.

Even last week, it was obvious that Microsoft's involvement could hamper Dell's intent to "reinvent" itself by going private. But despite Microsoft's "sticking point", the deal between Michael Dell, Silver Lake and the special committee formed by Dell shareholders is supposedly on track. A formal announcement is expected to be made within the next few days.

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92% Silver Linings Playbook

All Critics (218) | Top Critics (50) | Fresh (193) | Rotten (16)

It's a rom-com that succeeds in revitalizing that discredited genre where so many others have failed, injecting it with the grit and emotion of realist drama rather than with amped-up whimsy or social satire or montages of people walking on the beach.

Silver Linings Playbook tells us that happily-ever-after may depend on finding people who coexist with our lunacy, not ones who can lead us out of it. In any case, it's crazy good.

A crazy beaut of a comedy that brims with generosity and manages to circumvent predictability at every turn.

An edgy romantic dramedy that suits our anxious times.

This meaningful film keeps the laughs, giddy anxiousness and warm butterflies from the trailer and sustains it all through two full hours of a love story.

Silver Linings Playbook puts the "fun" in "dysfunction." And sure, that sounds glib, but actually, it's a rather extraordinary achievement. Especially when you're skirting on the edges of sanity.

A bittersweet pill that's a mixture of an endearing family drama and modern romance that's an absolute delight.

tows the line of conventional, feel-good Hollywood rom-com, albeit dressed up in just enough art-house quirk to make it feel like something slightly radical

A reminder that 'sanity' doesn't make your flaws any more orderly.

Silver Linings Playbook is a fine, funny film, and one that should charm viewers who haven't been tricked by all those Oscar nominations into anticipating it as some kind of world-changing work of art for the ages.

David O. Russell's latest buzz film straddles a fine line between farce and kitchen-sink drama before settling into a groove that gets under one's skin.

It starts to fray about halfway through as it shifts into a more conventional mode, taking on the usual trappings of the genre and making its way to a predictable resolution

Both charming and gritty... Cooper is edgy, while Lawrence is dynamite

If there's one reason why you should see this film, it's to admire the wonderful performances from Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence.

Cooper and Lawrence Shine in Linings.

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/silver_linings_playbook/

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Rocket carrying US satellite crashes into Pacific seconds after ...

Published: 01 February, 2013, 11:48
Edited: 01 February, 2013, 15:11

The rocket booster Zenit-3SL on the launch platform Odyssey in the Pacific (Image from yuzhnoye.com)

A Ukrainian-made Zenith-3SL rocket carrying a US-made Intelsat-27 spacecraft has crashed into the ocean seconds after being launched from a floating platform in the Pacific Ocean. A search operation is currently underway.

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"?Approximately 40 seconds after liftoff of the launch of the Intelsat 27 spacecraft, all telemetry was lost indicating a loss of mission," Sea Launch, the company facilitating the launch, announced on their website.

The Odyssey floating platform, owned by Sea Launch, has not been damaged, nor the remote flight control vessel six kilometers from the launch site.

The US Intelsat-27 spacecraft, built by Boeing Satellite Systems, was mounted onto a Zenit-3SL launch vehicle to be lifted off the ocean-based Odyssey platform at the Earth?s equator.

Space officials said the likely cause of the crash is an engine shutdown due to an incorrect launch trajectory. "Most likely due to high ocean waves, the rocket took a wrong trajectory right off start, that's where the system began sending auto-commands for a halt," Interfax reported, quoting a source in a space bureau.

Russian vice premier Dmitry Rogozin wrote on Twitter comment that an automatic command to stop the rocket?s engines was made 20 seconds into the launch.

The Zenith rocket is joint project between Russian and Ukrainian space companies. The first two stages of the launch vehicle were designed and built in Ukraine, and the third stage is Russian-made. The Intelsat-27 satellite, made by Boeing, was designed to transmit communication signals over the US and Europe.

Sea Launch is an international company founded in 1995 that unites space construction bureaus from Ukraine, Russia, US and Norway. It is a first transnational commercial project for the creation and use of sea-based space launch pads. The Odyssey floating platform is designed for equatorial space launches, where the Earth?s rotation is most effectively exploited.

Since 2010, 95 percent of shares of Sea Launch belong to Russian company Energia Overseas Ltd., a subsidiary of Russian rocket and space corporation Energia, which oversees the technical aspects of the projects.

Odyssey has launched a total of 33 rockets. Two of those projects were failures, and one was partially successful. In the latest launch, in April 2012, a similar Zenith-3SL rocket took the Eutelsat W5A satellite into space. Friday's Intelsat-27 mission failure, however, may jeopardize the company's schedule for 2013 launches.

Source: http://rt.com/news/satellite-rocket-pacific-ocean-222/

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Active duty military personnel prone to sleep disorders and short sleep duration

Jan. 31, 2013 ? A new study found a high prevalence of sleep disorders and a startlingly high rate of short sleep duration among active duty military personnel. The study suggests the need for a cultural change toward appropriate sleep practices throughout the military.

"While sleep deprivation is part of the military culture, the high prevalence of short sleep duration in military personnel with sleep disorders was surprising," said Vincent Mysliwiec, MD, the study's principal investigator, lead author and chief of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine at Madigan Army Medical Center in Tacoma, Wash. "The potential risk of increased accidents as well as long-term clinical consequences of both short sleep duration and a sleep disorder in our population is unknown."

Results show that the majority of participants (85.1 percent) had a clinically relevant sleep disorder. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) was the most frequent diagnosis (51.2 percent), followed by insomnia (24.7 percent). Participants' mean self-reported home sleep duration was only 5.74 hours per night, and 41.8 percent reported sleeping five hours or less per night. According to the AASM, individual sleep needs vary; however, most adults need about seven to eight hours of nightly sleep to feel alert and well-rested during the day.

According to the authors, this is the first study to systemically describe primary sleep disorders and associated comorbidities in accordance with standardized diagnostic criteria in a large cohort of military personnel referred with sleep complaints.

The study, appearing in the February issue of the journal SLEEP, involved a retrospective cross-sectional cohort analysis of 725 diagnostic polysomnograms performed in 2010 at Madigan Army Medical Center. Study subjects were active duty military personnel from the U.S. Army, Air Force and Navy, comprising mostly men (93.2%) and combat veterans (85.2%). Sleep disorder diagnoses were adjudicated by a board certified sleep medicine physician.

Results also show that 58.1 percent of the military personnel had one or more medical comorbidities, determined by medical record review. The most common service-related illnesses were depression (22.6%), anxiety (16.8%), post-traumatic stress disorder (13.2%), and mild traumatic brain injury (12.8%). Nearly 25 percent were taking medications for pain. Participants with PTSD were two times more likely to have insomnia, and those with depression or pain syndrome were about 1.5 times more likely to have insomnia.

"Mysliwiec and colleagues have made a significant contribution to our understanding of the link between sleep disorders and service-related illnesses associated with combat operations," Nita Lewis Shattuck, PhD, and Stephanie A.T. Brown, MS, postgraduate students at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif., wrote in a commentary on the study. "Their findings highlight the need for policy and culture change in our military organizations and continued research to understand and ameliorate the injuries these veterans have sustained. Better appreciation of the causal factors associated with veteran's health will lead to better policies for transition to civilian life and ultimately minimize the cost of veterans' health care to society."

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by American Academy of Sleep Medicine, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

---

Journal Reference:

1. Vincent Mysliwiec, Leigh McGraw, Roslyn Pierce, Patrick Smith, Brandon Trapp, Bernard J. Roth. Sleep Disorders and Associated Medical Comorbidities in Active Duty Military Personnel. SLEEP, 2013; DOI: 10.5665/sleep.2364

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pOpqRY7F_1c/130131154408.htm

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KBGC Polarising The Men's Lawn Bowls Triples League | Other ...

Lawn Bowls ? Triples League

By Claudius Lam Created: January 30, 2013 Last Updated: January 30, 2013

We are that much better ? Chinese international Ye Sui Ying (right) skips his Kowloon Bowling Green Club team-mate to a tight victory against Pat Lai of Hong Kong Football Club. He took five shots on the last end to kill the game 19:15. (Stephanie Worth)

While the B team of Kowloon Bowling Green Club (KBGC) successfully won their fourth consecutive championship title in the Hong Kong Lawn Bowls Association?s Men?s Triples League, the attention now turns to their brothers in Team A. Sitting rock bottom of Division 1, KGBC-A need a miracle to be free of relegation fears.

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KBGC-B?s win over the A team of Hong Kong Football Club (HKFC) at home last Saturday Jan 26 represents their third 8-0 victory in a row and gives them a lead of 17 points in the table. This is enough for them to secure their title with two games to spare.

Meanwhile, Craigengower Cricket Club (CCC), who took over the second position from Kowloon Cricket Club (KCC) by beating them 6-2, maintained their push for runners-up, but may face a big hurdle when they play the leader in the last game.

As KBGC-B celebrates championship glory, their clubmates in the A team face the agony of relegation after they could only draw 4-all with HKFC-B.

Two teams will be relegated from Division 1 and, languishing at the bottom of the table, KBGC-A appears doomed ? they are seven points away from the safety line; awaiting them on the fixture is an away game to the third-placed Kowloon Cricket Club and a home game with the team just above them also in the relegation firing line, Shatin Sports Association (STSA).

For STSA the escape path is not easy either as they are five points behind the team in front and will face second-placed CCC in the penultimate game this Saturday. But the bright side is that they will be playing at home and will aim at picking up the full points.

After losing to KBGC-B, HKFC-A was also dragged into the relegation dogfight as they are now fourth from the bottom, with only six points above the relegation zone. They will play third from bottom CLP Lawn Bowls Club this week and both teams may seek a draw to move away from the drop zone.

Depending on the outcomes, the relegation battle could be settled this week leaving the final game between the bottom two meaningless.

Meanwhile, in Division 2, Greende Lawn Bowls Club (GLBC) is on their way to return to the top division, from which they were relegated five years ago. With two teams to be promoted, GLBC is leading the table with just one point, but is seven points more than the third-placed United Service Recreation Club. Should they defeat second-placed Indian Recreation Club this weekend they will probably secure their promotion with a game to spare. Further to their likely promotion, in the final week of games they will play second from bottom Victoria Lawn Bowls Club.

Elsewhere in other divisions, Seabird Sports Association looks like the biggest winner as their teams occupies the top spot in Division 6, 7 and 9.

Women?s

In the women?s section, KBGC?s slim chance of winning their fourth consecutive title is officially over when they could only draw with third-placed Filipino Club on the weekend.

Meanwhile, leader KCC won their game 8:0 against Victoria Lawn Bowls Club to extend their lead to six points; however, the campaign is still wide open as KCC needs to play the last two games away from home. First, they will travel to Victoria Park for a tough game against Victoria Lawn Bowls Club this week, before playing third-placed Filipino Club away in the final week of Divison 1?s competition.

The six points lead has never been so vulnerable before.

This week we will also see a game between second and third, when Filipino Club hosts HKFC. Both could challenge for the title should KCC stumble.

Claudius Lam is an Officer with the Hong Kong Lawn Bowls Association.

Epoch Times publishes in 35 countries and in 21 languages. Subscribe to our e-newsletter.

Source: http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/sports/kbgc-polarising-the-mens-lawn-bowls-triples-league-341882.html

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With halting voice, Giffords speaks out on guns

Former Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who was seriously injured in the mass shooting that killed six people in Tucson, Ariz. two years ago, sits with her husband Mark Kelly, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013, and gives an opening statement before the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on gun violence. Supporters and opponents of stricter gun control measures face off at a hearing on what lawmakers should do to curb gun violence in the wake of last month's shooting rampage in Newtown, Ct., that killed 20 schoolchildren. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Former Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who was seriously injured in the mass shooting that killed six people in Tucson, Ariz. two years ago, sits with her husband Mark Kelly, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013, and gives an opening statement before the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on gun violence. Supporters and opponents of stricter gun control measures face off at a hearing on what lawmakers should do to curb gun violence in the wake of last month's shooting rampage in Newtown, Ct., that killed 20 schoolchildren. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Former Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who was seriously injured in the mass shooting that killed six people in Tucson, Ariz. two years ago, center, arrives, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013, to speak before the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on what lawmakers should do to curb gun violence in the wake of last month's shooting rampage at that killed 20 schoolchildren in Newtown, Conn., From left are, the committee's ranking Republican, Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, Committee Chairman Sen. Patrick J. Leahy, D-Vt., and her husband Mark Kelly, a retired astronaut, Giffords, right. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

WASHINGTON (AP) ? She uttered just 80 halting words. But her presence was powerful.

Former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, shot in the head by a Tucson gunman in 2011, opened the Senate Judiciary Committee's hearing on gun violence in dramatic fashion Wednesday.

"OK," she began, steeling herself before a packed yet hushed committee room.

"Speaking is difficult," she continued, pronouncing each syllable with deliberation.

This former congresswoman, once blessed with a politician's easy gift of gab, spoke in a high pitch, her voice almost childlike.

"I need to say something important. Violence is a big problem. Too many children are dying. Too many children. We must do something.

"It will be hard, but the time is now. You must act. Be bold, be courageous, Americans are counting on you."

Giffords, her every movement labored, punctuated her conclusion by raising a clenched fist to her chest.

And that was it.

Her husband, former astronaut Mark Kelly, gently guided her from the table, then returned to fill out the picture.

"Gabby's gift for speech is a distant memory," Kelly said. "She struggles to walk and she is partially blind. And a year ago, she left a job she loves, serving the people of Arizona."

Giffords had been working on her statement for the past week, but didn't decide to go through with delivering it until Tuesday night, according to Pia Carusone, her former chief of staff. Her appearance at the witness table offered rare insight into her condition. Her family has closely guarded her privacy and the details of her impairment.

She continues to undergo physical and speech therapy every week. She is right-handed, and the shooting completely paralyzed that arm, so her speech therapist wrote out the testimony that Giffords read.

"This is the first time she spoke in front of that many cameras and in that sort of stressful environment, but she's made such progress recently that she felt she was up for it," Carusone said. "This is not something she could have done a year ago."

Democratic Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida told CNN it takes her good friend "a tremendous amount of rehearsal and practice" to utter even a few sentences.

"What she did today was remarkable," Wasserman Schultz said. "You could hear the emotion and the power behind the statement she was making because she feels so strongly about this."

After the hearing, Giffords and Kelly met privately with President Barack Obama at the White House.

Giffords has made only a few public appearances and interviews since the January 2011 shooting, including reciting the Pledge of Allegiance at the Democratic National Convention and casting a single vote in August 2011 on legislation to raise the federal debt limit.

She resigned her seat in Congress a year ago to focus on her recovery. Giffords and Kelly, both gun owners, have formed a political action group called Americans for Responsible Solutions that is promoting universal background checks for gun purchasers and limiting the size of ammunition magazines.

Gun control is an issue that really hasn't been debated in Congress for more than 10 years. It rarely gets an airing and engenders strong emotions.

And so it was that both sides did their all to ensure maximum impact from Wednesday's hearing.

Giffords was clearly happy to do her part.

___

Follow Nancy Benac on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/nbenac

___

AP Writer Kevin Freking contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/89ae8247abe8493fae24405546e9a1aa/Article_2013-01-30-US-Gun-Control-Giffords/id-d59f4d86f8f643ab84b8bf0890074cda

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Heavy smog halts most travel in China

Published: Jan. 30, 2013 at 7:27 PM

BEIJING, Jan. 30 (UPI) -- Heavy smog blanketing eastern and northern China Wednesday obscured roadways, grounded airplanes and raised health concerns, officials say.

The blinding pollution arrived as the country's population prepared to travel to their hometowns for a New Year's celebration, the state-run Xinhua News Agency reported.

Sections of more than 20 freeways were closed in four central and eastern provinces, the Transport Ministry said. The roads were reopened by noon.

Visibility at Beijing Capital International Airport dropped to less than 650 feet, causing the cancellation of 49 flights on Tuesday. Most flights had resumed Wednesday as the fog lightened.

The fog did not affect the country's rail system. Another 526 trains were added to cope with travelers stymied for other means of transportation.

Source: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2013/01/30/Heavy-smog-halts-most-travel-in-China/UPI-37151359592072/

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