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Sunday, May 12, 2013

DNA test shows Ohio kidnap suspect fathered girl

Culema Nevarez adds balloons to a growing tribute outside the hole of Gina DeJesus in Cleveland Friday, May 10, 2013. DeJesus was freed Monday from the home of Ariel Castro where she and two other women had been held captive for nearly a decade. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)

Balloons surround the porch at the home of Gina DeJesus in Cleveland Friday, May 10, 2013. DeJesus was freed Monday from the home of Ariel Castro where she and two other women had been held captive for nearly a decade. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)

Deborah Knight, grandmother of Michelle Knight, drives her wheelchair past the home of Gina DeJesus in Cleveland Friday, May 10, 2013. Michelle Knight was freed from the home of Ariel Castro along with DeJesus and Amanda Berry Monday where the 52-year-old man had held them captive for a decade. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)

A member of the Guardian Angels stands watch outside the home of Gina DeJesus in Cleveland Friday, May 10, 2013. DeJesus was freed Monday from the home of Ariel Castro where she and two other women had been held captive for nearly a decade. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)

Deborah Knight, center, grandmother of Michelle Knight, drives her wheelchair past the home of Gina DeJesus in Cleveland Friday, May 10, 2013. Michelle Knight was freed from the home of Ariel Castro along with DeJesus and Amanda Berry Monday where the 52-year-old man had held them captive for a decade. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)

CLEVELAND (AP) ? As relatives of the Cleveland kidnapping and rape suspect recounted claims of his unnerving paranoia and violent outbursts, DNA testing confirmed the man accused of holding three women captive for nearly a decade is the father of a 6-year-old girl who also escaped from the house.

Ariel Castro, charged with rape and kidnapping, remained jailed Friday under a suicide watch on $8 million bond while prosecutors weighed more charges, including some that might carry the death penalty. Public defender Kathleen Demetz, who said she is acting as Castro's adviser while he awaits a full-time attorney, said Friday she can't speak to his guilt or innocence and said only that she advised him not to talk to reporters.

But those who know the 52-year-old Castro are speaking up, saying he was often angry, paranoid and prone to violent outbursts against the now-dead mother of his adult children. He frequently beat her, played bizarre psychological games and locked her indoors, they said.

The stories, repeated in separate interviews with The Associated Press by members of Castro's extended family, have surprised people who knew him as a musician who played bass in several bands around Cleveland the last two decades.

Miguel Quinones, manager of a group Castro played with twice as a backup bass player about five years ago, said he had nothing bad to say about Castro based on his own experiences.

But in the interviews, some of Castro's ex-relatives said he frequently flashed his compulsions for secrecy and terrifying rage that often led him to beat his common-law wife, Grimilda Figueroa.

Figueroa left Castro years ago and died in 2012 after a long illness. Their early years together were happy, but something inside Castro snapped after the birth of their first child, they said.

Castro pushed her down the stairs, fractured her ribs, broke her nose several times, cracked a tooth and dislocated both shoulders, they said. In one incident, he shoved Figueroa into a cardboard box and closed the flaps over her head, they said. He kept her and children imprisoned, cut off from friends and family, and Figueroa couldn't even unlock her own front door, they said.

Figueroa filed domestic-violence complaints, accusing Castro of threatening many times to kill her and her daughters. She charged that he frequently abducted the children and kept them from her, even though she had full custody, with no visitation rights for Castro.

"When I go over there to visit her, and I ask her, 'Nilda, I'm here, open the door,' she's like, 'I can't. Ariel has the key,'" Figueroa's sister, Elida Caraballo, recalled.

Two of the women freed from Castro's home, including the one who gave birth to the girl, returned to relatives' houses earlier this week. The third woman, Michelle Knight, was released from a hospital Friday with a request that her privacy be respected.

"Michelle Knight is in good spirits and would like the community to know that she is extremely grateful for the outpouring of flowers and gifts," the statement said.

On Friday, Knight's grandmother, Deborah King, visited the home of one of the captives, Gina DeJesus, to meet the DeJesus family.

She said she loved and missed Knight, "and if I get to, she's going to get the biggest hug and kiss from me that she ever did have."

A police report alleged that Castro impregnated one of his captives at least five times and made her miscarry by starving her and punching her in the stomach. The report also said another one of the women, Amanda Berry, was forced to give birth in a plastic kiddie pool.

Tests by the state attorney general's office on a sample of Castro's DNA confirmed he fathered Berry's 6-year-old daughter, who was rescued from his house, the office said Friday. After her release, the girl returned home with the 27-year-old Berry. Officials also were entering the DNA profile into a national database to see if it links him to other crimes.

The three women said Castro chained them up in the basement but eventually let them live on the home's second floor. Each woman told a similar story about being abducted after accepting a ride from him.

The FBI has not recovered human remains in its search of the house, spokeswoman Vicki Anderson said Friday. Agents removed more than 200 pieces of evidence, she added, declining to say what was found.

Berry and former captive Gina DeJesus, 22, went home with relatives Wednesday.

The AP does not usually name people alleging sexual assault without their consent, but the names of the three women were widely circulated by their families, the media and law enforcement for years.

The women have begun hiring lawyers to deal with the expected large amount of donations to a charitable fund set up for their recovery. City Councilman Brian Cummins said the lawyers will become a primary point of contact for the victims as money comes in so the focus can remain on their needs and the integrity of the donation process is ensured.

The women are entitled to up to $50,000 from the state crime victim compensation fund, which covers a variety of medical, rehabilitation and transportation costs associated with their recovery, Lisa Peterson Hackley, spokeswoman for the Ohio Attorney General's Office, said Saturday.

The office also has an attorney working with people setting up charitable funds for the women and child to ensure they're created properly, Hackley said.

___

Associated Press writers Meghan Barr, Mike Householder, Thomas J. Sheeran and Andrew Welsh-Huggins and AP freelance writer John Coyne in Cleveland; Brendan Farrington in Florida; and Dan Sewell in Cincinnati contributed to this report along with news researcher Rhonda Shafner in New York.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2013-05-11-US-Missing-Women-Found/id-ddf96573b4724f85bc74822a9d4ee519

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Pakistan's Sharif declares election victory

Pakistani women line up to enter a polling station and cast their ballots, on the outskirts of Islamabad, Pakistan, Saturday, May 11, 2013. Pakistanis streamed to the polls Saturday to vote in a historic election pitting a cricket star-turned-politician against an unpopular incumbent and a two-time prime minister, but twin bombings killing nine people and wounding dozens underlined the dangers voters face. (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen)

A Pakistani man comforts a family member next to the body of their relative who was killed in a bomb blast near a polling station on election day, at a hospital morgue in Karachi, Pakistan, Saturday, May 11, 2013. The blasts in the port city of Karachi targeted the political offices of the Awami National Party, one of three secular liberal parties that have been targeted by Taliban militants during the run-up to the election, said police officer Shabir Hussain. (AP Photo/Fareed Khan)

Former Prime Minister and leader of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz Sharif, center, waves to his supporters as he leaves a polling station after casting his vote in Lahore, Pakistan, Saturday, May 11, 2013. Defying the danger of militant attacks, Pakistanis streamed to the polls Saturday for a historic vote pitting a former cricket star against a two-time prime minister and an unpopular incumbent. But attacks that killed several people and wounded dozens more underlined the risks many people took just casting their ballots. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

An elderly Pakistani woman casts her ballot at a polling station in Karachi, Pakistan, Saturday, May 11, 2013. Defying the danger of militant attacks, Pakistanis streamed to the polls Saturday for a historic vote pitting a former cricket star against a two-time prime minister and an unpopular incumbent. But attacks that killed and wounded dozens of people underlined the risks many people took just casting their ballots. (AP Photo/Shakil Adil)

Pakistani women show their election ink-stained thumbs after casting their ballots at a polling station on the outskirts of Islamabad, Pakistan, Saturday, May 11, 2013. Pakistanis streamed to the polls Saturday to vote in a historic election pitting a cricket star-turned-politician against an unpopular incumbent and a two-time prime minister, but twin bombings killing nine people and wounding dozens underlined the dangers voters face. (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen)

ISLAMABAD (AP) ? Former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif declared victory following a historic election marred by violence Saturday, as unofficial, partial vote counts showed his party with an overwhelming lead.

If his victory is confirmed, it would be a remarkable comeback for the 63-year-old Sharif, who has twice served as the country's premier but was toppled in a military coup in 1999. He spent years in exile before returning to the country in 2007. His party weathered a strong campaign by former cricket star Imran Khan that energized Pakistan's young people.

Sharif expressed a desire to work with all parties to solve the country's problems in a victory speech given to his supporters in the eastern city of Lahore as his lead in the national election became apparent based on unofficial, partial vote counts announced by local Pakistan state TV.

The results indicated Sharif's party has an overwhelming lead, but would fall short of winning a majority of the 272 directly elected national assembly seats, meaning he would have to put together a ruling coalition.

"I appeal to all to come sit with me at the table so that this nation can get rid of this curse of power cuts, inflation and unemployment," Sharif said.

Despite attacks against candidates, party workers and voters that killed 29 people Saturday, Pakistanis turned out in large numbers to elect the national and provincial assemblies. The high participation was a sign of Pakistanis' desire for change after years of hardship under the outgoing government, and it offered a sharp rebuke to Taliban militants and others who have tried to derail the election with attacks that have killed more than 150 people in recent weeks.

"Our country is in big trouble," said Mohammad Ali, a shopkeeper who voted in the eastern city of Lahore. "Our people are jobless. Our business is badly affected. We are dying every day."

The vote marked the first time a civilian government has completed its full five-year term and transferred power in democratic elections in a country that has experienced three coups and constant political instability since it was established in 1947.

The election was being watched closely by the United States, which relies on the nuclear-armed country of 180 million people for help fighting Islamic militants and negotiating an end to the war in neighboring Afghanistan.

Passion and energy were seen throughout Pakistan, as millions of people headed to the polls, waving flags and chanting slogans in support of their party. Some were young, first-time voters and others elderly Pakistanis who leaned on canes or friends for support as they dropped their vote in the ballot box.

One man, Bilal Masih, even came to a polling station in the central city of Multan dressed in his wedding attire, saying his bride could wait until he voted. He decorated his wedding car with flowers and a stuffed tiger, the symbol of the Pakistan Muslim League-N party he supports.

"I thought that this was my national duty," said Masih, who was wearing a white and red turban and had garlands of flowers around his neck.

The Pakistani Taliban, which has been waging a bloody insurgency against the government for years, tried to disrupt the election because the militants believe the country's democracy runs counter to Islam. The government responded by deploying an estimated 600,000 security personnel across the country to protect polling sites and voters.

Many Pakistanis seemed determined to cast their ballots despite a series of gun and bomb attacks against candidates, party workers and voters in cities across the country that killed 29 people Saturday.

"Yes, there are fears. But what should we do?" said Ali Khan, who was waiting to vote in the northwestern city of Peshawar, where one of the blasts took place. "Either we sit in our house and let the terrorism go on, or we come out of our homes, cast our vote, and bring in a government that can solve this problem of terrorism."

Many of the attacks in the run-up to the vote targeted secular parties. That raised concern the violence could benefit hard-line Islamists and others who take a softer line toward the militants, like Sharif and Khan, because they were able to campaign more freely.

Many Pakistanis expressed pride that so many of their fellow citizens chose to vote.

"More political activity means more awareness," said Nasira Jibran in Lahore. "More awareness means more accountability."

The apparent victor, Sharif, is best known for testing Pakistan's first nuclear weapon in 1998, and his party is seen to have a pro-business stance. He was toppled in a military coup by then-army chief Gen. Pervez Musharraf in 1999 and spent years in exile in Saudi Arabia before returning to the country in 2007. His party came in second in the 2008 elections to the Pakistan People's Party and is seen as more religiously conservative.

Sharif faced a strong challenge from former cricket star Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party. The winner of the 1992 cricket World Cup tapped into the frustrations of many Pakistani youths fed up with the country's traditional politicians.

"It's now our turn. We youngsters want our say in national affairs," said voter Rubina Riaz in Lahore.

Khan suffered a horrific fall off a forklift during a campaign event Tuesday in Lahore that sent him to the hospital with three broken vertebrae and a broken rib. He didn't vote Saturday because he couldn't travel to his polling place.

Sharif countered the challenge from Khan by pointing out how much more experience in government he has and touting key projects he completed while in office, including a highway between the capital Islamabad and his hometown of Lahore.

"It's all about delivering," said Nayyar Naseem, a voter in Lahore. "Nawaz Sharif has delivered. He is experienced."

The battleground between Sharif and Khan was in Pakistan's most populous province, Punjab, where both parties appealed to urban middle class voters. The province contains nearly half of the 272 directly-elected seats in the national assembly.

The outgoing Pakistan People's Party was expected to fare poorly in the election because of unhappiness with its performance leading the last government. The party, which rose to power in 2008 in part by widespread sympathy after the death of party leader Benazir Bhutto, has carried out what many called a lackluster campaign.

Their effort has been hampered by threats of Taliban violence and a lack of high-profile figures to rally the party. Benazir Bhutto's son, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, is officially the party chairman and had been expected to play a high-profile role in the election. But he has appeared at few election events, and was out of the country Saturday.

The election commission said it was investigating reports of a lack of polling staff and materials, and threats to election commission staff in some areas of the southern city of Karachi.

The election winner inherits a country struggling on a number of fronts. Pakistanis suffer from rolling blackouts that can be as long as 18 hours a day as well as a stuttering economy. The country is also battling Taliban militants who want to overthrow the government, while on the western border there are fears that a U.S. military departure from Afghanistan will send violence spilling over into Pakistan.

Sharif has favored negotiations with militants in the country's tribal areas. That could put him at odds with the country's powerful military. While Pakistan has been under civilian rule for the last five years, the military still is considered the country's most powerful institution and usually makes the major decisions when it comes to militancy or foreign policy issues such as Afghanistan or India.

In what appeared to be a show of support for democracy in Pakistan, the country's most powerful military officer, Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, went to the voting booth himself instead of mailing in his ballot. His gesture was broadcast live of local TV.

___

Associated Press writers Munir Ahmed and Zarar Khan in Islamabad, Atif Raza in Karachi, Riaz Khan in Peshawar, Rasool Dawar in Mir Ali, Anwarullah Khan in Khar, Abdul Sattar in Quetta, Matiullah Achakzai in Chaman, and Asif Shahzad in Lahore contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2013-05-11-Pakistan/id-d29c8d2186f84795ac6ec3e5acea344d

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Saturday, May 11, 2013

Air pollution increases risk of insulin resistance in children

May 9, 2013 ? New research shows that growing up in areas where air pollution is increased raises the risk of insulin resistance (the prescursor to diabetes) in children. The research is published in Diabetologia, the journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD), and is by Elisabeth Thiering and Joachim Heinrich, Helmholtz Zentrum M?nchen, Neuherberg, Germany, and colleagues.

Previous studies have identified links between air pollution and other chronic conditions such as atherosclerosis and heart disease. However to date, epidemiological studies that have examined associations between long-term exposure to traffic-related air pollution and type 2 diabetes in adults are inconsistent, and studies on insulin resistance in children are scarce. Thus this new study sought to explore the possible association between air pollution and insulin resistance in children.

"Although toxicity differs between air pollutants, they are all considered potent oxidisers that act either directly on lipids and proteins or indirectly through the activation of intracellular oxidant pathways," says Heinrich.

"Oxidative stress caused by exposure to air pollutants may therefore play a role in the development of insulin resistance. In addition, some studies have reported that short-term and long-term increases in particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) exposure lead to elevated inflammatory biomarkers, another potential mechanism for insulin resistance."

In this new study, fasting blood samples were collected from 397 10-year-old children within a follow-up of two prospective German birth cohort studies. Individual-level exposures to traffic-related air pollutants at their birth address were estimated by analysing emission from road traffic in the neighbourhood, population density and land use in the area, and the association between air pollution and insulin resistance was calculated using a model adjusted for several possible confounders including socioeconomic status of the family, birthweight, pubertal status and BMI. Models were also further adjusted for second-hand smoke exposure at home.

The researchers found that in all crude and adjusted models, levels of insulin resistance were greater in children with higher exposure to air pollution. Insulin resistance increased by 17% for every 10.6 ?g/m3 (2 standard deviations [SDs] from the mean) increase in ambient nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and 19% for every 6 ?g/m3 (2 SDs) increase in particulate matter of up to 10 ?m in diameter. Proximity to the nearest major road increased insulin resistance by 7% per 500 metres. All the findings were statistically significant.

Heinrich says: "There is some evidence that air pollution is associated with lower birthweight and growth restrictions -- also shown previously in one of the cohorts of the present study -- which are known risk factors for type 2 diabetes. Thus, one may speculate that lower birthweight is an intermediate step or 'phenotype' between air pollution and insulin resistance. However, we found no evidence to suggest that this may be true in our cohort of children, all of whom had birthweights above 2.5kg."

He concludes: "To our knowledge, this is the first prospective study that investigated the relationship of long-term traffic-related air pollution and insulin resistance in children. Insulin resistance levels tended to increase with increasing air pollution exposure, and this observation remained robust after adjustment for several confounding factors, including socioeconomic status, BMI and passive smoking."

Currently, the 15 year follow-up of both cohorts is ongoing and the authors are planning to investigate how their findings translate into older age during or after puberty. "Moving from a polluted neighbourhood to a clean area and vice versa would allow us to explore the persistence of the effect related to perinatal exposure and to evaluate the impact of exposure to increased air pollution concentration later in life," says Heinrich. "Whether the air pollution-related increased risk for insulin resistance in school-age has any clinical significance is an open question so far. However, the results of this study support the notion that the development of diabetes in adults might have its origin in early life including environmental exposures."

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lTZQ5vfrL3k/130509184817.htm

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Bloomberg bars reporters from client log-in data

LOS ANGELES (AP) ? Financial data and news company Bloomberg LP said Friday that it had corrected a "mistake" in its newsgathering policies and cut off its journalists' special access to client log-in data on the company's ubiquitous trading information terminals after Goldman Sachs complained about the matter last month.

A person familiar with the matter said Goldman Sachs became concerned about outside access after a Bloomberg reporter, investigating what she thought was the departure of a Goldman employee, told the securities firm that the employee had not logged into a Bloomberg terminal for a number of weeks.

The person was not authorized to speak publicly and did so on condition of anonymity.

In a memo sent to staff Friday, Bloomberg CEO Daniel Doctoroff said the company had "long made limited customer relationship data available to our journalists," but added, "we realize this was a mistake."

After the complaint last month, Bloomberg "immediately" turned off its journalists' special access and limited it to what clients can see themselves, he said.

The dispute was earlier reported by The Wall Street Journal.

Bloomberg News reporters had been able to see when any of the company's 315,000 paying subscribers, mostly stock and bond traders, had last logged into the service. They could also view the types of functions individual subscribers were accessing.

Doctoroff said in his memo that access did not extend to "trading, portfolio, monitor, blotter or other related systems or our clients' messages. Moreover, reporters could not see news stories that clients read, or the securities they viewed."

He said senior executive Steve Ross had been appointed to the new position of client data compliance officer to review Bloomberg's policies.

Although Goldman's concerns caused the change, JPMorgan Chase & Co. had also expressed concerns about Bloomberg journalists' access to sensitive data.

A person familiar with the matter at JPMorgan said multiple Bloomberg reporters had used the data to try to break news in the last several years. The person said Bloomberg journalists used their access attempting to find out whether disciplinary action had been taken against Bruno Iksil, a JPMorgan trader nicknamed the "London whale" who was blamed for a $6 billion trading loss last year.

One reporter knew details about the log-in times of multiple traders on a single desk and called daily to ask about potential layoffs, the person said. JPMorgan complained to the reporters about the technique but Bloomberg managers weren't made aware of a formal complaint.

The person was not authorized to speak publicly about the matter and requested anonymity.

Bloomberg reporters are renowned for aggressive techniques in a competitive field.

In November 2010, the news service reported on the earnings of The Walt Disney Co. and NetApp Inc. well before the companies' scheduled releases by guessing the unprotected website addresses of the press releases before they were made public.

The public relations gaffes, which resulted in immediate but fleeting dips in the stock prices of both companies, resulted in the companies taking action to prevent a recurrence.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/495d344a0d10421e9baa8ee77029cfbd/Article_2013-05-10-Bloomberg%20News-Journalist/id-147754ab59bd420abb565f05823390f1

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Friday, May 10, 2013

Mastering the art of business travel - Stuff

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It's important to hit the ground running and maximise every moment of your working day and the down-time that gives you the chance to explore your surroundings.

When travelling the world is part of your business, it's important to hit the ground running and maximise every moment of your working day and the down-time that gives you the chance to explore your surroundings.

It can be hard to know where to find good restaurants, meet locals or even where to stay. Not to mention what to pack.

Our frequent flyers share their travel tips on how to make the most of your time abroad no matter where you're heading, and have an experience, not just a work trip.

Ben Groundwater, travel writer and author of Five Ways to Carry a Goat

Use a guidebook - but not too much Groundwater believes the old faithful guidebook is an ideal way to orientate yourself in a city, find out which neighbourhood appeals to you and which streets to wander in search of a great restaurant or bar. "Once you're on that street, however, close the book and look around. You'll discover far more by exploring on your own."

Think outside the hotel box To save money and live like a local, Groundwater suggests trying sites such as Airbnb that allow you to rent out someone's apartment.

Chris Zeiher, Asia Pacific sales and marketing director, Lonely Planet

Arrive refreshed Plan your sleep on the plane to match when night time is at your arrival destination, says Zeiher. Also, drink lots of water onboard, dose up on Vitamin C and don't be scared to use products that can help. "Recycled plane air can wreak havoc with your skin. I always travel with Aesop Ginger Flight Therapy and a small tube of Kiehls Eye Alert," he says.

Get lost If you're not in a rush, forget cabs and walk, or take a chance on public transport - you might get lost, but that's the best part. "Recently I stumbled across Street Coffee in Bermondsey, London when I took a wrong turn. I knew it must be good as it was heaving with locals waiting for a brew. It's now one of my favourite coffee shops."

Try the language We know it's embarrassing to sound like the foreigner, but a few phrases in the local tongue will earn you respect and better service, Zeiher advises. Key phrases to know? Please, thank you, hello, goodbye and where's the toilet?

Robert Ferris, head buyer, Harrolds luxury men's department store

Carry noise-cancelling headphones Not only will they drown out the crying baby in 12H, you can also use them to watch movies, listen to music or just cut out the engine noise for a while. "I wouldn't get on a plane without them," Ferris says.

Forget tourist spots, explore regions When it comes to investigating a new city, Ferris suggests picking a suburb and exploring by foot for a day rather than running from landmark to landmark. "I had the best sashimi in Ginza at a tiny place I would not have known was there unless I had walked past it just as someone was coming out," he explains. "I do remember ordering more sake than sashimi though."

Finn Kelly, financial advisor and co-owner of Wealth Enhancers

Prepare your carry-on Have a carry-on suitcase filled with toiletries, a change of underwear, painkillers, socks and a clean t-shirt, advises Kelly. You never know when luggage will get lost in transit and you'll be stuck in a foreign country with just scratchy airplane socks and toothpaste.

Orient yourself with a run When you land, Kelly suggests a quick run outside - it'll help you freshen up, reduce jetlag and also provides you with an opportunity to see what's around your area.

Jason Harwood, founder of JetSet Travel

Use technology Harwood finds apps handy on the road. He recommends Trip Case, to keep all your flight details updated in real time; Wenzani for nightlife, food, culture and shopping; and Translate for those lost in translation moments.

Get an international SIM card There's nothing worse than being hit with the roaming bills after you return from a trip. Yes, it's convenient to keep the same number, but according to Harwood, it's always worth getting a cheap International SIM.

What are your best tips for getting the most out of business travel?

- The Age

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Source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/8653171/Mastering-the-art-of-business-travel

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Samson Expedition Express PA does Bluetooth and XLR, ships this month for $200

It's been a while since we've looked at enhanced PA speakers, and one of the last big hitters in the category was a little ostentatious. Samson's new Expedition Express keeps things a little lower-key. The one-piece system will take both Bluetooth audio as well as quarter-inch and XLR instrument inputs, but it's subtle enough to feel at home at both the beach and the boardroom. It's also more portable than others -- the small, 10-pound box should be easier to shlep around and lasts a reasonable eight hours on its rechargeable battery. The Expedition Express won't be cheap when it ships this month for $200, and it certainly won't make up for our ham-fisted guitar skills. It might, however, be a solid choice for a backyard party soundtrack.

Filed under: Peripherals, Portable Audio/Video

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Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/t9UpKfvI-Bs/

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Regal outfits almost 6,000 theaters with Sony closed-captioning glasses

Sony's subtitle glasses have been a long time in coming: the US rollout began more than a year ago, but the gradual launch has left hard-of-hearing Americans with few modern closed captioning options at the movies. They'll have a much easier time of it as of this month, as Regal is providing the glasses to nearly 6,000 theaters before May is over. While the wide-scale deployment is coming later than the original first quarter target, it could be welcome for viewers who've had to either deal with clunkier subtitle systems or else stay at home. The Sony solution still won't be ubiquitous, especially when it sells for $1,750 per pair, but there's now a good chance that at least one captioning-friendly theater will be within reach.

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Wearables, HD